Time to check in on the experiment. I’ve been good, friends. Seriously, I haven’t eaten any refined sugar, white flour or dairy yet this week. Amazing. Truly. If you know me, you know I like me my treats. Here are a few observations…
- I feel good after everything I eat, which isn’t always the case in “normal” life – more often than I’d like, I have meals that make me feel heavy and sorta yucky. That hasn’t happened this week.
- I’ve never done any kind of diet before. Now I know firsthand why they don’t work. If you can’t have something, you think about it and want it even more. That is no way to live and I know why it doesn’t work.
- It is really tricky planning meals without sugar, white flour or dairy allowed. The salad I had planned for the week? Sugar in the dressing. The bolognese recipe I was going to try called for 1 cup of cream. Even when I thought I had planned meals that would work, they didn’t. It’s been tough!
- Sugar is in everything. Seriously. When you cut sugar, you realize how much you eat it. Now I totally believe the stats about the amounts of sugar Americans eat each year. That’s because it’s in everything we eat! Pasta sauces, salad dressings, cereals, dried fruit, the list goes ON.
- I was so hungry (and grumpy) the first 2 or 3 days! But that’s getting better…I think because I’m figuring out better snack foods, planning our meals better, etc.
I’m proud that I’ve stuck to my plan and I will continue to do so through the end of the week. But, I have to admit, I can’t wait to be done.
However, I am not going to simply revert to my old ways. I will definitely watch my sugar intake more closely from now on. White flour was the easiest to cut for me, so I think that won’t be too hard to keep to a minimum. I’m not a huge dairy person normally, so there won’t be much of a change there. I have to say, though, I can’t wait to eat some cheese!
PS – Some of you were wondering why dairy got the kabosh this week. I don’t have a good scientific answer for you yet, but here is a nice, short, balanced article about the pros & cons: Dairy: Good or Bad?
Hello! My name is Jane Maynard and you've landed yourself on my blog, This Week for Dinner™. Every Sunday I share a weekly menu...and then count on you to share your own! You'll also find other deliciousness that I hope you'll enjoy!
I’m impressed you could do that–we have a lot of family members going on radical diet changes lately and I just can’t do it. I have been trying to cut the sugar (and all additives), and really the only way to do that is to make everything yourself. Even then there are some things that take sugar, but I guess everything in moderation. I really don’t think I could dairy–it’s one of the few nutritious things my kids will eat and we’re mostly vegetarian so I’d worry about getting enough protein and calcium without it. I do skim milk and other dairy mostly though.
Jane,
I have really enjoyed following your adventure here- I am trying very hard to eat more “whole” foods and to cut my sugar- so hard but I think so worthwhile!
I’ve been eating more whole grains and trying to stay away from white flour. I’d love to cut out sugar too, but that’s harder for me!
Love your blog – I’m a lurker – have never commented!
We’re vegan and don’t eat any refined flour…we bake alot but only use whole wheat pastry. Anything that calls for white, you can use whole wheat so there you go on the refined flours. Other than having nearly no nutrients, we just really don’t care for the taste of anything with white flour. For “sugar, we either use raw cane, maple syrup, or agave nectar.
If you eat a diet that has an excess of protein (which meat eaters/dairy drinkers do) then you’re body has a harder time absorbing calcium…also if you drink dairy or soda, you most likely have high phosphorous levels which also inhibits calcium absorbtion. We get all of our protein and calcium from kale, spinach, molasses, quinoa, almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds (and thus tahini), lentils, beans, brown rice, and everything whole wheat. And we don’t have anything (dairy, soda, etc.) inhibiting our absorption. But poor absorption of calcium, as you know, can lead to osteoporosis so it’s something to concern yourself with.
Also, dairy (and meat) is high in saturated fats, which leads to high cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease and whatnot…anyway, those are SOME of the reasons to cut out dairy. PLUS you have tons more energy!
Sorry this was so long – I just wanted to comment finally
…Check out John Robbin’s “The Food Revolution” if you’re interested in more of the above. It’s a great book.
about 2 years ago, I stopped cooking and baking with white sugar altogether. I use raw/turbinado sugar for everything. I also use honey and maple syrup. I also use alot of wheat flour as well. I’ve noticed a difference it makes not eating a lot of refined foods. Good Luck on your journey to better health!
I need recipes that have NO sugar,NO meat, NO dairy….
I need whole wheat,soy,etc……. Oh and lots of veggies and fruit…….with NO sugar subs
I too need no diary, no meat, no sugar or white bread style recipes. If you look on http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com, there is an article about how doing this for just 3 weeks will lower blood sugar and blood pressure. I have started with salads and soups, just fruit or a handful of nuts for snacks and desserts. I’m hungry, but really need to do something about my health, so I’m going to keep plugging. If I can really feel better in 3 weeks, then it’s a no-brainer to continue, if I cannot find recipes, I’ll just have to be creative.
I am so glad I found your blog I have been wanting to try this no sugar no white flour week thing but have had no will power so when I Googled it I found your blog and have had some success. I have to go to the store right now or I cant eat anything all day everything I have has sugar or flour in it. I also have a daughter who is allergic to milk so I have also been trying to cut dairy. Thank you so much.
It is extremely difficult on one end, to dodge sugar and wheat, on the other hand life becomes simple: there is only a hand full of things I can eat now. I quit meat, poultry and dairy too. Good- bye! Was a bit dizzy for the first week, but pressed on. Much easier now. Veg, fruit, grain and some fish sparingly. And, oh, nothing fried. Also running a couple of miles every morning outside in any weather except pouring rain – helps.
People generally have a lot more respect for their pets diet than for their own.
Not everything one supposed to ingest just because you can chew it and swallow.
Going to check the blood work in a couple of weeks. Will see.
Impossible to eat in restaurants though!
love hearing about your experience. great perspective.
you’re right, restaurants are very hard!!!
and I love the part how people feed their pets better themselves…applies to kids, too! I definitely feed my kids better than myself. why are we so self-destructive?
will be interesting to see your blood work results!