Could you give up sugar for a solid year? This week's guest did just that for a magazine assignment, and the changes in his weight, mental health and virtually every other aspect of his life are staggering.

Michael Mackie is a writer for In Kansas City Magazine. He's also a longtime friend and former colleague. Michael and I met more than 20 years ago working at KCCI-TV in Des Moines, Iowa.

I never in a million years thought Michael would survive going sugar-free for a year. Two reasons. One, he has an addictive personality and sugar was one of his biggest vices. And two, sugar is in EVERYTHING!

UC San Francisco researchers just released the bitter results of a study about sweets. The average American consumes an average of 17 teaspoons of sugar a day. The recommendation? No more than 6 added teaspoons for women and 9 for men.

One year after going sugar-free, Michael is down 50 pounds and says he'll never go back to his mindless sugary ways.

On this Dying to Ask:

• The near immediate physical changes in his skin, hair and even libido Michael noticed when he eliminated sugar from his diet