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Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

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Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Low-carb diets

Slimming World to Harcombe?

835 replies

FourArms · 02/12/2013 11:30

I've been doing SW since 29/8. Initially on EE and now mainly on red days.

However although I've lost 1lb short of 2
stone I haven't lost any weight this week and I've stuck to the plan with the exception of maybe not enough syns / HEB.

Have seen the Harcombe diet and this seems to be more like what I'm doing at the moment although I'll have to swap coffee and skimmed milk for herbal tea and stop my 10 a day satsuma habit ;)

Just wondered what people's losses had been in phase 1 switching from SW? My BMI is still in the low 30s so I've got plenty to lose!

OP posts:

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SolidGold · 04/12/2013 23:31

Can I join too? I've followed Harcombe before but have slipped back into bad habits again and my waistbands are starting to feel a bit tight.

My downfall is always chocolate. I cope well without bread, potatoes etc.

Have any of you tried celeriac chips? I cut it into fat chips, toss in olive oil and salt and roast them. Lovely.

I can't really have dairy, which makes things difficult, because I love cheese, but I try to limit my intake to just a little.

FourArms · 05/12/2013 07:13

Welcome SGB :)

I've never had celeriac I don't think. Will buy some tonight. Am loving lots of chips at the moment (albeit made from swede!)

What phase are you going to be doing?

I'm luckily not missing chocolate - had virtually given it up with SW and was almost forcing myself to want some of my low syn treats, but I didn't need them.

Day 3 here. 1lb down on scales. Down 2lb since starting.
Same breakfast as yesterday - 50g oats and Onken NLY. It kept me going all morning yesterday, hope it does the same today! I'm also having a coffee with milk. I've decided I'm having two per day, then I'll be off plan while we're away Sat/Sun, then I'll try and drop to one a day for the next week.

Leftover chicken with salad for lunch.

Have a good day everyone :)

20 days until Christmas - want to lose 5lb by Christmas Day

OP posts:

FourArms · 05/12/2013 08:37

Little bit of excitement for the day - could do the buttons up in a cap sleeve top - always worn with them undone previously :) :) :) And there's space to spare!

OP posts:

SolidGold · 05/12/2013 09:19

Sorry, forgot to say, I'll be doing phase one and will then introduce a little cheese in phase two.

I'm making a big pot of soup this morning from the chicken carcass left over last night, so that's lunch for the next three days.

Well done on being able to button up your top

Notsurehowthathappened · 05/12/2013 09:36

Morning, welcome Solidgold and well done on your second lb FA.

Day 4 for me today. Really excited this morning 4lb off now in 3 days and my fasting blood sugar down to 5.4, which takes me out of pre-diabetic range. I have also slept well, the headache has gone and I am feeling great.

I nearly slipped last night, I made coffee with milk but then when I tasted it I realised that it just didnt taste the same as pre diet. So I did a taste test, with and without milk. No real difference. Presumably my taste buds have been affected by the diet and coffee will just taste different now. Thats fab for me because I think I have a slight dairy issue (I have constant Sinus problems) so can cut the milk out of my diet.

My thoughts are now starting to turn to stage 2. Have you read the old MN threads about Harcombe. I am trying to decide whether to do Harcombe stage 2 /3 or switch at some stage to either the Insulin Resistance (my big worry) diet or low GI. How did you get on with the later stages on Harcombe SG.

I am struggling with Broadband today because of a horrendous storm, so if you don't hear from me later I will the thinking of you and will catch up as soon as I can log in.

P.S love the sound of those Celeriac chips.

Notsurehowthathappened · 05/12/2013 10:22

Woops and welcome Wombat as well.

My broadband is dropping out every few minutes and in my speed to post a message I missed your message at the bottom of the page.

SolidGold · 05/12/2013 12:37

So, day 1 of Phase 1 for me. I had a late breakfast of scrambled egg with some fried bacon and fried tomato and homemade mayonnaise. I drink black decaff anyway, but will try and drink more herbal tea and water.

I might not weigh myself, as I have a tendency to get obsessed with weight and lose the plot if my weight fluctuates, so I'll probably stick to measuring myself.

I can definitely recommend the celeriac chips, they are lovely

Beechview · 05/12/2013 15:47

I'm doing day 2 of a slightly relaxed Harcombe diet. Can I join this thread please?

I've done this before and lost really well on stage 1 and then didn't lose anything on stage 2. This time, I'm going to carry on with stage 1 til I lose all the weight I need to. Of course, I'll have a few meals off here and there.

I didn't give up coffee last time and I haven't this time either. I only drink 1 cup a day.

The main things I've relaxed a bit is the coffee and having 1 portion of fruit a day. I got a bit constipated last time too and I don't want to be dealing with that again!

I'm having porridge every morning as my carb meal and then protein and veg for the rest of the day (plus 1 bit of fruit mid afternoon)

Beechview · 05/12/2013 15:53

My main aim is to lose as much as I can by Christmas. Hopefully I'll have got used to eating this way and I can carry on afterwards too.

I have a meal out tomorrow but nothing else planned before Christmas.

SolidGold · 05/12/2013 16:47

How do you make your porridge Beechview? With water? I'm not sure I'd like it without milk.

I'm cutting fruit out completely, I think I have big sugar dependency problems, so can't have anything sweet at all. I generally struggle with constipation too, but found last time that as long as I drink plenty of water and include enough fat in my diet, it's ok, better than normal. I do eat plenty of veg though.

Notsurehowthathappened · 05/12/2013 16:50

Welcome Beechview.

Day 4 has constituted Bacon, Tomatoes and scrambled Egg for Breakfast and then Kedgeree (Smoked Haddock, brown Rice, Peas, fried Shallots, Boiled Egg and natural Yoghurt) for late Lunch / early Supper.

The latter was my reward for coping with the Breast Clinic today (worrying dimple & breast changes) but all OK thank goodness.

Bought the John Briffa book on Kindle this morning and started reading it at Hospital. It is really interesting and is really beginning to help me understand where some of my food cravings and blood sugar issues have come from.

Do you understand why phase 2 of Harcombe didnt work for you Beechview? I am reading lots of posts on MN and elsewhere, saying the same thing and want to decide whether to trust that phase 2 will work for me, or consider switching to something else.

SolidGold · 05/12/2013 17:29

NotSure, I read the John Briffa book recently too, very interesting.

Also heard on the news recently that I think it was Sweden are changing their recommendations for dieting from low fat to low carb, hopefully the rest of the world will catch on too.

Beechview · 05/12/2013 18:00

SolidGold I make my porridge mostly with water and some unsweetened almond milk. I'm not sure if its technically allowed or not but it works for me. Porridge with just water is a bit unappetising!

Notsurewhathappened I don't really know why it didn't work. I just maintained on it. Maybe it was because portion sizes aren't specified and I was eating too much? Who knows. I'll just carry on doing what I'm doing and hopefully that will work.

So today I had porridge for breakfast, home made lamb burgers with veg for lunch, 1 pear, salmon in a leek and tomato sauce for dinner. I've got some plain yoghurt and herbal tea for later.

FourArms · 05/12/2013 18:41

Sounds like we've all had a good day. :) Glad the hospital appt was positive HSHTH :) :)

Good day here. Porridge & yoghurt for breakfast with the forbidden coffee & milk.

Had a rather extended lunch - knew I had a lunch mtg and our lunch is late anyway (1.30) so had some of my lunch at break time (11.30 - baby sweetcorn), some at the end of lunch (2.30 - chicken tikka) and the rest at the end of school (3.45 - salad). Very naughty grazing, but will probably be common on teaching days.

Dinner was mainly good - chicken, carrot & swede mash, sprouts, fried courgette and mushrooms (if it's meal!!). Chicken was done in a spices bag though - need to investigate the ingredients of that.

No headache. 1.5l of water & one coffee so far fluid wise :)

OP posts:

wombat22 · 05/12/2013 20:03

Hello everyone. I tried Harcombe earlier this year and did well on phase1. Lost my way trying to move onto phase 2. Recently tried primal/paleo but didn't lose any weight (too many nuts and double cream). Had an excessive week and weekend and put on about albs, hence starting again. I think I have a problem with milk so cut that out for this week and following the diet rigidly. Eating plenty of Greek style yoghurt. Weighed this morning and lost 6lbs since Tues morning. Amazing. Good luck to every one and thanks for the welcome.

SolidGold · 05/12/2013 20:03

I've a long day at work tomorrow (usually only work half days), not sure what to take in case I feel hungry. I've got home made thick veg and chicken soup for lunch. I thought about cold roasted veg, but don't have much in, what could I roast? I've got onions, carrot, peppers, frozen cauliflower!

Or I could make a frittata and take that with me cold? Actually that sounds easier, I'll probably do that.

wombat22 · 05/12/2013 20:04

That should say put on about 6 lbs

SolidGold · 05/12/2013 20:04

Well done Wombat!

wombat22 · 05/12/2013 20:06

solidGold I love hard boiled eggs as a snack and they keep me full for ages

wombat22 · 05/12/2013 20:09

Thank you SolidGold. It's really spurred me on. Most of it will have likely been fluid from the alcohol over the weekend

FourArms · 05/12/2013 21:25

Well done Wombat :)

Frittata sounds good SGB. Wonder if you could make low carb scotch eggs? Mini ones would be lovely. Maybe egg & NLY mixed, coated in pork mince & fried?

Have come to bed without an evening coffee. Avoided biscuits and cake at school too. Had a sneaky few spoons of NLY though. Bought a few diff ones, Yeo Valley is my fave so far. Bought some Cornish organic dairy stuff tonight - Trervivien? Was a bit sour. Also bought lots of small tubs of Yeo Valley for work etc. 50p isn't bad for those.

Night all :)

OP posts:

SolidGold · 05/12/2013 21:51

I decided on roast veg after all. I roasted some carrots, peppers, onion and cauliflower. Smells lovely!

Home made scotch eggs would be nice, I could roll the sausage meat in a little Parmesan or something?

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Notsurehowthathappened · 05/12/2013 22:00

Oooooh really fancying a roast veg Frittata now. I think I will put that on the menu for the weekend because we can add cheese by that stage.

I have cheated tonight and had a Nectarine. Having put it into Fitness Pal I dont understand why it is so bad though. The calories & carb units were the same as a 20g portion of puffed rice which we are allowed even on stage 1.

Does anyone have any idea of how many carb units we should be eating to continue weight loss? I know we are not supposed to count carbs or calories but I would rather count units than end up plateauing.

SolidGold · 05/12/2013 22:44

Notsure, it's to do with sugar and how it causes your body to produce insulin and the effect it has on your body. It's also about breaking sugar cravings in phase 1. Do you have the book? This way of eating is not about counting calories, it's about food combining.

Notsurehowthathappened · 05/12/2013 23:27

Solid, i do have the book and have been re-reading some of the theory tonight.

I have also realised that the brown rice in my Kedgeree today broke the no Protein with Carbs rule.

Not such a good day after all!! I shall have to be more xareful tomorrow.

Flip

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