Harcombe diet or Paul McKenna? Or what?

[TooBusyByHalf]

Over the past 20 odd years I've done every diet under the sun in fits and starts, from cabbage soup through Atkins to 5:2 - and many others along the way. Most successfully I did Dukan in 2012 and lost 15kg, reached my target weight (and size) and kept it off for around 18 months. But it's definitely creeping back up - interestingly, or perhaps just because of my age, this time I'm getting really fat round the tummy when it's all been on my bum and thighs in the past (still is, I will never be straight up and down).

I can't face another diet, and I already exercise when I can, but I really need to kick this once and for all as it really gets me down. I don't want to be fat and I can't keep yoyoing like this. So I need to changes eating habits to something that is sustainable forever and will be healthy and that I can stick to. My problems are

1. I can't bear waste so I'll eat almost anything to prevent it ending up in the bin
2. Doubly so if I've paid for it
3. I always think if I have something now I'll eat less later but rarely do
4. I don't have time to eat separately from the DCs
5. I can't resist free food (eg at work dos)
6. I love cheese and chocolate
7. My willpower at present is non-existent
8. I like a drink or 3

So, to change all that is going to be hard.
Sorry for the long post.

How can I find a new way of eating that will fix all that and help me lose those 15kg again (ideally more as even that will only get me back to a 12ish dress size), and that doesn't involve giving up alcohol? (Or at least not long term)

Just bought the Harcombe book to read when I'm home from the hols. If in doubt, read! Well that's not going to burn any calories is it?

Just bought the Harcombe book to read when I'm home from the hols. If in doubt, read! Well that's not going to burn any calories is it?

Sorry blooming phone

So does no-one like either of these? surely someone has an opinion? :)

Paul McKenna method is not knew. It is a way of instinctive eating that puts you back in touch with eating when you are truly hungry and stopping when you are satisfied. Eating consciously and tasting the food and flavour. It is re learning how to eat like someone who has never dieted or had food issues of any kind. We would all like to be like that.
I eat this way and it is brilliant. I buy all the foods I want and that includes chocolate, crisps, fruit, veg, salad, meat, cheese, olives, cakes, sweets, icecream, bacon, sausages, bread, cream etc etc etc. I eat when I am truly hungry and stop when satisfied.
If you listen to your bodies signals it is like body led calorie control (if you want to think of it like that). Your body tells you when it needs food and when it has had enough. Usually you only need a couple of mouthfuls before you start to feel satisfied. Its not much is it but that is what my body says. If I am hungry again in an hour or two then I have something else. You do lose your excess fat this way but its something for life. Its eating like a naturally slim person does. They don't eat for any other reason than being properly hungry. That's how most of them remain slim. The rest of us (most of us) having been on the diet merrygoround for so long now that it seems normal to diet. Its not. Its a huge money making industry. Even fasting is disordered eating. Starving yourself and seeing how little you can eat on certain days. Might work for a while but most seem to end up bingeing and disappearing from the thread.

I've started the Paul McKenna emotional eating version recently.
It's been just over two weeks, but I have been delighted so far.
Have lost 8 lb as of this morning with a long way still to go.

I have not been eating between meals and haven't wanted to.
My Easter egg is still unopened and I am leaving it on top of the kitchen cupboard for the moment.
Previously I would have probably eaten some of the bag of family chocolate eggs and replaced them twice before we got to Easter.

Well done toobig.

Thank you Millyblods. How long have you been doing the Paul McKenna way? Sounds like you have it pretty much cracked now.

Harcombe - friend has lost lots with this and it's stayed off

Hi TooBig. I have been doing it for about 10 years. Before Paul brought it to the mainstream. I first read a book called Overcoming Overeating by Jane Hirschman and it was amazing and liberating. I bought all the foods I loved and still do. Brought my kids up eating this way. I have all foods in my house and kids pretty much take them or leave them. It has removed the problem that having "treat" food causes. I keep a drawer full of chocolate, have done for ten years or so, and no one binges on it. Its just there and is food.
Funnily enough my sons friend was buying heaps of chocolate from the shop the other day and he asked my son why he wasn't buying any. Son said that we had a drawer full of the stuff at home. Friend said, O that is so unhealthy, having all that chocolate. My son said that we have always had it. My son is 6 ft 2 and very slim. Whenever his mates come over they head for the chocolate drawer and go mad over it. They just think its amazing. My son doesn't get it. ha ha. My daughter is the same. 5ft 8 and slim. Again she can take or leave the chocolate drawer or the crisp cupboard. Its just food. She loves olives and cheeses more.

I digress. This way of eating frees you for life as long as you only eat when truly hungry and stop when satisfied and really really enjoy and taste your food. Isnt that how we should eat normally?
Anyway, TooBig you are an inspiration and well done.