Harcombe Diet?

[DudeWheresMyVulva]

I did a search on the Harcombe diet and found a few old threads, so might have missed a more recent one.

Does anyone want to join a support thread? I am starting Phase 1 day 1 today.

I have not weighed myself in ages.... about to do that. But I have at least 3 stone to lose and am desperate. I bought the book off amazon and plan to follow the menu plan in it exactly. (minus the bacon for breakfast as we do not have any on).

[Sedgewick]

Am starting the Harcombe diet again! It is not unusual to lose 5-7 ibs in five days.

When I last tried it I was the slimmest I've ever been and people kept asking me how I had such an amazing figure. I didn't even exercise although I always took the stairs rather than the lift.

The rational thing would have been to keep doing what works but after a while I started feeling worried about eating so much meat and eggs. I thought if I did Phase 1 indefinitely BUT substituted the meat/fish for loads (and loads) of veg and only had meat once a day and didn't do the 50g of brown rice, I would HAVE to maintain or lose weight...

IT DOESN'T WORK... I have been trying to lose those last 6 pounds for 7 YEARS....

Assume my body went into starvation mode?

You do have to do the diet as it is written. I have spent years trying to prove otherwise but you do need a lot of meat/fish/eggs to make this work. And then you can also have unlimited veg and your 50 grams of brown rice/brown pasta a day.

I really think it is the best diet in the world in that it works and is delicious and you're never hungry. Just feel a bit guilty eating eggs and bacon or eggs and salmon each morning.

Anyway today is DAY 1 of PHASE 1 and I have so far got through it successfully except for having one forkful of cottage cheese!

If anyone wants to do it with me - here is a reminder of the rules for phase 1:

no dairy (except for Natural live yoghurt)
no booze
no vinegars inc. balsamic
no fruit (except a squeeze of lemon in water/dressings)
no potatoes and other really carby veg but carrots, swede, green veg, tomatoes and other stuff allowed
no white carbs (bread, pasta etc).
no processed crap (althhough you can have bacon or ham as long as it doesn't have any dextrose/sugar and isn't smoked
no caffeine
no sugar, no sweeteners

Eat ANY veg you like - in any quantity you like (except mushrooms and potatoes of any kind - both are off limits)
Eat ANY unprocessed fish or meat you like - in any quantity you like
You are allowed 50g of porridge oats made with water
OR 50 g brown rice or brown pasta (dry weight).

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

[Moonandstarsandback]

How's it going everyone?

[Moonandstarsandback]

Oh wow scarlet, that's so exciting. Congratulations. What a fantastic reason not to be losing more weight.

[vxa2]

Congratulations !!

[ScarletBegonia1234]

Hi vxa2! I lost only 2lb on phave 1 this week...thinGSM were going really well for a couple of weeks but I seemed to have v just stalled. Turns out I'm 6 weeks pregnant 😁 think I'm going to stick to phase 2 to try and keep healthy eating but looks like my dream of being thinner is over for the time being!

[vxa2]

Can I join please. I did this back in August and lost about 8lbs but I have put it back on. I stopped drinking in March and since then I have really noticed I crave sugar and carbs much more. I didn't think I had a sweet tooth but I was probably getting loads of sugar from wine!!

Anyway Day 1 Phase 1 here. Eggs for breakfast. Soup for lunch and probably fish and veg for dinner. If I need a smack might have plain yoghurt or blitz something up in my nutribullet - non fruit. Here goes

[ScarletBegonia1234]

I have been good today. Feeling more motivated. I put 5 of the 7lb I lost back on during my birthday weekend (oooops) so hope I lose some of them again this week. Going to try and stay off the beer this weekend and stick at it as I always undo all my hard work! How's everyone else doing?

[HmmmHashtag]

I've had wine, gin, cheese and chocolate tonight... no wonder I'm fat

[Moonandstarsandback]

I think I've put in everything I lost in phase 1

[HmmmHashtag]

Oh god CAKE 😍

[ScarletBegonia1234]

Welcome hmm! I'm trying to resist all the cakes someone has brought into the office. Will be weighing myself on friday morning and really want to get back on track after the weekend!

[HmmmHashtag]

Hello I'd like to give this a go, bought the book on my kindle earlier, but my grocery shopping came today and has a few things in it that aren't allowed on phase one so will probably try to just low carb this week and start next week!!!!

[Moonandstarsandback]

I've already eaten toast!

[longdiling]

I'm going to tentatively say yes after a weekend of excess. I'm supposed to have lunch out with my mum tomorrow though so we'll see!

[ScarletBegonia1234]

Right then team...Who's in for phase 1 tomorrow?

[Moonandstarsandback]

That's a great thing to focus on - the lack of symptoms. Could be wheat or dairy (or both) giving you the symptoms then? Maybe on phase 2 reintroduce 1 before the other?

Enjoy your Saturday night out. I lost 5lbs in phase 1 and it made me look and feel very different. Although premenstrual and bloated now though and craving sugar/carbs

[longdiling]

Oh dear moon. I have the incentive of a night out with a load of skinnies on Saturday night. I know I'm not going to drop a dress size but even a few pounds might give me a boost. I intend to repeat phase 1 then from Sunday. I really need to kick the diet coke though, I've buckled again today and I think it will ultimately sabotage my healthy eating as it just makes me crave sugar. Eating wise I've had scrambled egg and bacon again and just had some slices of beef and a big salad. Lamb chop and green beans for dinner.

Only other thing keeping me going is that I have no ibs symptoms for the first time in ages; no bloating and wind and constant trips to the loo. I'm trying to focus on how good that makes me feel.

[Moonandstarsandback]

Long....it is hard isn't it?! I didn't get any hunger pangs as ate such big meals of vegetables with something! Lol. Yday I ate about 5 x chocolate mini rolls and toast this morning. Think I've fallen off the wagon a bit. I'm away this weekend so will try and get going properly again on Monday too Scarlet. I hate to think about my weight

[longdiling]

Ugh, it's so hard isn't it?! I made the mistake of having a diet coke which has set off hunger pangs. I'm starving!

[ScarletBegonia1234]

I've had fajitas and birthday cake and almost a bottle of red wine. the temptation is to say fuck it I'll start phase 1 again next Monday as I have a birthday meal out on Sat too but actually I'm going to try and stick to it again starting tomorrow morning to minimise the damage!

[Moonandstarsandback]

Long! You're doing well.
I find it easier to just not eat bread or pasta and go for the meat/ fish and veg! I'm more if less doing that, but when I try and venture off a bit I'm getting mixed up. I have s steak to cook tonight and bought stir fry veg but then added rice noodles! So mixed carbs and fat! Again! I need to concentrate more!

I think at this rate I might just end up low carbing instead! Not easy when premenstrual though. LOVED my potatoes last night.

[longdiling]

Hello! Yes, I'm worried about phase 2, I've had a brief read through and it looks quite complicated compared to phase 1. I've had tuna salad for lunch and chicken stir fry with brown rice for tea and some celery to snack on. Think I'll end up going to bed early to prevent me snacking!

[Moonandstarsandback]

Hello to all the newbies!

We've all been ill in our house. First me, then the dog and then my son! So phase 2 has gone slightly off piste! Yday I had chicken snd toasted dome veg with chickpeas and tomatoes and realised that's mixing carbs and fats! I found it easier on phase 1 to be honest (except I'm enjoying tea and wine now )

Can I ask - has it changed the regularity of your toilet habits?! Ahem

I had lost 5lbs and got to 10st8, but I noticed I had gone back up to 10st9 yday! It's also premenstrual time now, so wonder if I'll put on weight? Hmmmm.

Glad your lo is better and out of hospital now scarlet. Hope everyone else is doing ok?

[ScarletBegonia1234]

Hey long! Welcome! Bacon and eggs today for breakfast and chicken salad for lunch...I'm having fajitas for dinner though which I think is unlikely to be phase 1!

[longdiling]

I'm having another stab at this so I hope you don't mind me joining in. Day 2 for me and I've started it with some scrambled egg and bacon. I'm hoping that this diet will sort out the ibs symptoms I've had for about a month now. Or at least help me work out what triggers them once I start adding stuff in on the different phases.

I'm mostly craving diet coke, green tea just doesn't cut it :(