Slimming World to Harcombe?

[FourArms]

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!

[FourArms]

I think for the first five days you were allowed to mix carb & protein for one meal? Just if you stayed on it longer you had to separate them?

Just realised I'm doing something wrong too:

Q2) Should I have natural yoghurt with a fat meal or a carb meal?
A2) If you have a fat meal you can have any kind of natural yoghurt – even full fat Greek yoghurt if you like it (or crème fraiche or fromage frais). With a carb meal you would need to have (very) low fat natural yoghurt /crème fraiche/fromage frais. This is why you can have skimmed milk with cereal, as the milk is so low fat it is OK to have with the carb. Not mixing fats and carbs takes a bit of effort, but it is so worth it, as this ‘rule’ really impacts weight loss.
If you want something with yoghurt for dessert, the one fruit that you can have after meals is berries – strawberries, raspberries, blackberries etc. Berries are so low in carbohydrate that they can be eaten with fat meals and they also don’t cause bloating after eating other foods.

I've been having full fat NLY with oats for breakfast. :( Will have to buy low fat for that in future.

No weight change today. OK with that since I'm down 3lb since Tue.

Found this for last nights dinner. This would be a no no wouldn't it?

Potato Starch, Tomato Powder (21%), Salt, Potato Flakes, Sugar, Spices (7.5%) (Paprika, Garlic, Cayenne Pepper, Black Pepper), Flavouring, Yeast Extract, Onion, Herbs (2.8%) (Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, Bay Leaf), Vegetable

Have a good day everyone!

[Notsurehowthathappened]

Well done on your 3lb FA you mustt be really chuffes. I am down another 1/2lb, so 4 1/2lb in four days (but bear in mind that I have not been dieting for several months now)

Have any of you bought the Harcombe Recipe Book and is it worth having?
I wouldn't have any problem continuing this way of eating but could definitely see boredom creeping in without some recipe inspiration.

Just trying to decide what to shop for ready for next week I realise that I am still confused about what I can and can't combine. Does anyone know why we are not allowed Mushrooms? What about Pulses? i am a bit of a lentil fan.

Hope everyone has a great day today

[Notsurehowthathappened]

Chuffed not chuffes

[Beechview]

FourArms you're not really meant to have potatoes.

So its Friday. This is when I start weakening. I'm going for a meal out tonight. Its Indian so I should be able to stick to some tandoori chicken and veg curry.

I'm doing so well at the moment and am 3lbs down since Monday. I have to make sure I don't gain those 3lbs back over the weekend.
I do this every weekend.
I have to break out of that and stay strong.

Any tips will be greatly appreciate :)

[Beechview]

appreciated

[Beechview]

Notsure I think you can't eat mushrooms as they feed candida which can cause cravings? or something like that.
Have a look at this menu and see if any of the meals appeal;

www.allaboutyou.com/health/diet/the-harcombe-diet-five-day-eating-plan

[Beechview]

Notsure I got a bit confused too but its basically one carb meal a day - brown rice, oats or rice pasta with veg only
Other meals are protein and any veg but not potatoes.
Snack on natural low fat yoghurt and veg.

I find it easier to just have porridge for breakfast then no carbs for the rest of the day.

[FourArms]

NSHTH - wow! That's brilliant! Is this your last day of P1 then? I haven't got the recipe book, but there seem to be lots of receipes available online. I suppose the books would be 'official' though. Amazon has them all for Kindles if you need it ASAP.

BV - I know :( My mum cooks for us some nights and isn't aware of what I can / can't eat on this plan, although she was responsible for my masses of random veg bless her because she knew I couldn't eat potatoes (from SW Red days). :) Was mega stuffed after tea.

Looked online and the values below are per 100g of the ingredients in the sachet. It's a 33g bag and was between 3 people, so I only had 10% roughly of the values below. Oh well, it's eaten now. Can't cry over spilt milk!

Typical values per 100g

Energy 1260kj
Energy 300kcal
Protein 10.3g
Carbohydrate 56.8g
of which sugars 27.5g
Fat 2.1g
of which saturates 0.8g
Fibre 5.9g
Sodium 6.16g

I think I agree with carbs for breakfast and then nothing else being easiest, although I may try no carbs at all for a couple of days and see how that changes things - I was white-carb free until this week anyway but I was eating masses of fruit before.

No headache today, skipped my bedtime coffee, so just the one yesterday and only one so far today with breakfast (probably the worst time to have it if the caffeine promotes insulin and I'm having a carb breakfast?!?).


School lunch is OK - pork and salad (hope pork is Harcombe-friendly), a pack of baby corn and a pot of full fat yoghurt.

Not sure how next few days will pan out. Away tomorrow from lunch and overnight. Will do my best with the meals and I may take some food with me to eat. I've got my period coming up which might slow things too, just detected some slight fluid retention in my breasts (really painful) this morning although I don't think it shows up much on the scales.

I can do this - Harcombe Phase 1 until Christmas for me! I will hit my 2.5 stone target!!!

[SolidGold]

I have just got the book out to reread. I'd forgotten so much of what is allowed in phase 1.

My boss has brought egg custard tarts for us all this afternoon.! I don't want to be rude and decline, might try to get away with just one bite.

I think my biggest challenge will be not having wine tonight.

I have the recipe book and find it useful, I must admit but that's because I'm hopeless at thinking of what to cook!

[Notsurehowthathappened]

Thank for all the advice and the link BW

I did buy the Cookery Book on Kindle this evening and am glad I did. There is much more info about what you can eat and how to combine.

This is my last P1 day FA but, having read the Cookery Book this afternoon, reckon I will easily be able to keep you company until Christmas. However, I am going to slightly change what I am doing in P1 for the next phase. I can't cope without some fruit and I am going to add cheese back in. This gives me much more versatility when out and about. I am also planning to eat lentils occassionally.

I have also bought Hugh Fernley Whittingstall's Veg Everyday book. There are some fab recipies in there.

Hope you managed to avoid the Custard Tart SG and that you all manage the weekend without two many slip ups.

[Notsurehowthathappened]

too !!

[SolidGold]

Couldn't avoid the egg custard tart unfortunately, as the boss made us coffee and sat with us whilst we ate them.

However, otherwise I've had a good day. Bacon, egg and tomato for breakfast, chicken and veg soup with roasted veg for lunch and pork curry with cauliflower for dinner. Just need to drink more water.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

[FourArms]

One slip isn't the end of the world SGB - the important thing is staying on the plan!

I haven't drunk enough today either :( 500ml bottle of water, 3 mugs of herbal tea and one coffee. Will try and get another pint down before bed!

[SolidGold]

Thanks FourArms, I'll try and stay on track.

[FourArms]

Bought some low-fat yog as well today to have with oats at breakfast. :)

[FourArms]

This would be day 5, but there will be some lapses today as I'm away so won't have the same choice.

Saving my carb portion for later and having bacon, eggs and NLY for breakfast. Can't remember what lunch starter I've ordered, but sure main was a roast so I'll skip potatoes and eat lots of veg.

Going to take porridge and LOW-FAT NLY with me for dinner (usually pizza and crisps) and breakfast. We're visiting close family so that won't seem offensive :)

DOWN 1.8lbs today :) I'm 0.8lb away from losing 15% of my starting weight and I've lost 3lb on Harcombe in 4 days. Bearing in mind that I've been on SW for a while doing red days, the only change I've made is to cut down coffee intake (1 a day now) and fruit intake. My yoghurt intake is through the roof now though!

Anyone else sleeping worse than normal with very vivid dreams?

Sorry missed your post last night SG - hope everyone has a good day today!

[Notsurehowthathappened]

Fantastic FA you must be delighted. I am stunned that you can achieve that sort of loss when you have already been dieting for some time.

I have managed another 1lb today so 5 1/2 in 5 days.

Don't worry too much about this weekend. It's real life and your plan sounds good.

I have no idea how you are enjoying porridge with natural yoghurt. Have you got some way of sweetening it that I havent twigged. All the yogurts I have tried are sharp and for me porridge has to have some sweetness to be palatable.

Yes, my sleep is much worse than normal with very vivid dreams. I am putting that and the black rings under my eyes, down to detox. I wonder if it is worse for you because of caffeine withdrawal.

Have a fab weekend !!

[Beechview]

Well done FourArms. Good loss.

Confession time - so I went out with friends last night for an Indian meal and I didn't stick to the plan :(
However, I don't think I did too badly. I had a chilli chicken curry (tomato based) and plain rice with sparkling water and a coffee with cream for afters with 1 little chocolate which came with the coffee.
I'm not going to feel too guilty about that.
Ds2 has chicken pox, dd is teething and I'm feeling a bit run down.
I've had porridge this morning, I'm having my coffee now and have planned quorn sausages and veg for lunch (not sure if that's allowed but I can't face more meat for lunch). Dinner will be a chicken curry (again! though I don't mind) with cauliflower.
I've got a lot of housework to do and am going to go for a walk later.

Hope you all have a good day. Stay strong!

[Beechview]

Well done NotSure! That's a really good loss. Are you carrying on with phase 1?

[Notsurehowthathappened]

You didn't stray too much Beechview but I am envious of the little chocolate. I am a real chocoholic and am feeling the absence!!

I feel for you with Chicken pox and teething to contend with. It is all much easier for me because I am alone. My DD is married with children of her own and I lost my Husband several years ago.

I am also planning housework, gardening and a walk today. Supper will be Salmon with Salad and Spinach. I am going to carry on with a modified P1 just adding cheese if I want it and one piece of fruit or some berries each day. I plan on making the fruit an evening treat and will write the Christmas Cards tonight just to ensure I am not tempted to pick.

I hope you also have a good day.

[FourArms]

NSHTH - I know, I'm amazed how much the fruit has been holding back my weightloss!

Re the porridge - literally just 50g oats (currently Tesco finest, but from reading elsewhere apparently Flavanan's (sp?) are nicer so moving across soon) mixed with approx 250g of yoghurt. Admittedly up to now it's been full fat so might not be as nice with low fat. I definitely recommend trying a few yoghurts - yeo valley is my fave so far. Having said that, I never have milk with cereal and could eat dry weetabix and muesli!

Had my coffee with semi milk this morning (because it was a fat meal). Tasted like cream!

Amazing loss for P1 NSHTH and I think your P1/P2 plans sound good. Can you feel any difference in your clothes?

BV - sounds like you're going through a rough time :( Remember sock of porridge oats in bath eases itchy CP spots. DS2 just spent the week in the bath!

Sorry for typos in car on phone! Have a good day everyone :)

[Notsurehowthathappened]

Might have solved my Porridge problem.

Was out gardening, with no energy when I realised that I was brewing a migraine. Made porridge half milk, half water and chopped 8 small strawberries into it. Yummy. The little bit of milk made it creamy enough for me and the strawberries added enough sweetness to make it palatable.

Am relieved at that solution. Not sure how many more bacon & egg breakfasts I could take. Will now be able to switch to Porridge breakfasts and save the protien for later in the day.

[SolidGold]

Sounds good, NotSure.

I seem to have eaten lots today. I had egg, bacon and fried tomato for breakfast, scrambled egg and Mediterranean veg for lunch and burger with curried cauliflower and med veg for dinner. I'm so full!

[Notsurehowthathappened]

Oh I'm glad I'm not alone SG

I feel like I have really pigged out today.

Scrambled Egg and Smoked Salmon (clearing out the freezer) for breakfast. Porridge and Strawberries for lunch. Salmon, Salad and Avocado for tea. Then a frenzied attack on the second piece of baked Salmon, a Nectarine and 6 squares of Chocolate.

I am now working on the basis that as I can't control myself not to eat, I need to find something to do. With the Laptop on my lap it's harder to keep getting up and find food.

The only consolation is that tomorrow is a whole new day and these are changes for life, not just today.

[SolidGold]

I'm so full, I couldn't eat any more, but am struggling with cravings for something sweet. I'm drinking one cup after another of black decaff coffee!