Well I haven't had a single sugary drink for years now and I am still struggling to lose fat. With all of the things I have done, which were eat a lot of vegetables exercise regularly.
The only processed food is protein powder but that's for recovery the rest of my food comes from eating vegetables and quinoa.
I think it's very hard to stop people it's like cigarettes it is like an addiction once you crave it you can't really stop and let's face it the human race is too stubborn to give it away, we are too spoiled.
Water is huge in losing weight. HUGE. It makes the difference between success and failure. In the beginning of Atkins, not drinking enough water actually stalled me. 5 liters a day, no less. You can save big by getting a filter pitcher like a Brita, then refilling 1-liter bottles and putting them in the fridge. I have 5 empty Fiji water bottles which are 1-liter each. By the end of the day, if I do not have 5 empty bottles ready to refill, then I guzzle the remainder.