Day 2- Sugar Mintuea for my own records-

Today went pretty well.
Most notably, my mood and energy levels were even all day. That is huge- that is my main complaint and the leading reason for me to give up sugar in the first place. I took a nap this evening because I could but not because I felt like I had to. I felt fairly motivated throughout the day and was not eye-crossingly sleepy at any time. (I usually am on any given day at any given time.) I was able to do some light housecleaning (let's not get carried away-), do errands with the girls, play with the girls, do bath times and go running after they were in bed. Most importantly, I didn't get frustrated or irritated repeatedly.
I still haven't had/made the time to plan meals, or had any money to go grocery shopping for that matter, so my food choices may not be ideal or balanced, but it worked for today. For breakfast I made a smoothie, my breakfast of choice on most days. I made it with cooked sweet potatoes, banana, skim milk, protein powder and oatmeal. Oh and lots and lots of ice. 2 trays I think. Don't knock the sweet potatoes, it's really good. Bella loves it too. So I got my fruit, vegetable, good carb, protein and fat-free dairy. Then for lunch I had a quick bowl of brown rice, canned chicken and whole peas. I had a snack of cheese later and plain shredded wheat with skim milk for dinner. After my run I finished some more of my sweet potato smoothie and some Triscuits. Kind of random, but ZERO sugar or flour today. I feel good. AND- our home teachers brought us a box of Dunkin Donut's donut holes, and I abstained. Of course, they're still on the kitchen table so Timm better get eating.
To answer a repeatedly-asked question, I am doing this before vacation because if I didn't I would probably come back 50 pounds heavier. I have already been reading about it and thinking about doing it and I figured I had better get a head start before I enter the lion's den. The lion's den is a diet-free zone where I am not in complete control of the menus, the food selection and will be buffeted with sweets and treats on every side. If I didn't have some sort of buffer ahead of time I'm afraid I would just eat my way through 3 weeks, come back heavier than before i started Weight Watchers and in a downward spiral of weight gain. So I'm heading it off at the pass.
I (briefly) tried to quit sugar a few years ago, but I think it was based on some noble and lofty ideal. This time it is because I have long suspected that sugar has something to do with my mood swings, depression and chronic fatigue. This time I am doing what I do best, reading all I can about the subject, so I am backed with scientific evidence and horrific nutritional facts. This time I am approaching it from a holistic viewpoint as a way to help treat the depression and other nagging complaints I have been plagued with for years.
As for couponing, you raise a good point, kind of. For one thing, I really believe there can be benefit for anyone to coupon, no matter what you buy or eat. For instance, it will still enable me to get toiletries for free or nearly free. I still buy rice, oatmeal, couscous, frozen and canned veggies, meat, cooking ingredients, whole-grain cereal, yogurt, cheese, milk...I have coupons for all of these things. Plus, the only better deal than a really great deal is not buying it at all. It's true that I do not get coupons for some things which is regrettable. I haven't quite figured out what to do about that. For instance, I wish we could eat salmon twice a week but we can't afford it. We don't even eat t once a month, but we all love it. I am planning on starting a garden and growing it as large as I can handle eventually, doing lots of canning and preserving so that will help cut down on the budget. It's too bad that eating well frequently costs more than poor nutrition.
I do have an advantage that I have been 'dieting' for 5 months already, having lost 33 pounds, so these new restrictions are not totally foreign. I have been in training for a while now. If I were going from my previous eating habits straight to no sugar and flour I would have hurt many people by now, day 2.
So we continue.
And really, check it out- Sugar Shock!
p.s. I went to the high school tonight for the first time. I only felt like doing 9 laps instead of my intended 12 to make 3 miles, however I only walked 1.5 of the 9 laps! Yay me!