Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Amelia Freer - The 10-Day Plan

74 replies

KingstonWood · 19/04/2017 17:10

Hi, I've bought the book and made a lengthy shopping list - has anyone done the 10 day plan? Is it good, does it work as a kick start/lifestyle change? I have 2 stone to lose and want something (not juicing - i've tried that) that will help me change my relationship with food and not crave sweets, chocolate, biscuits and cake 24 x 7 :-) :-)
I can't find anything anywhere apart from 'celebs' who say it's great. OH is going to hate it and have to eat something else as I know he'll not take part so I'll have to deal with food still as well as for my 3 year old. Would love to hear from someone who has had a go.....

OP posts:
Original poster
KingstonWood · 26/04/2017 22:26

Octopus - how are you feeling? Have you managed to perceive? xx

OP posts:
jenster1976 · 26/04/2017 22:50

Hi, joining here. On day 5 and going really well. Not been a fan of any of the breakfasts so far but lunch and dinner all been hits. DH and I doing it together which makes some of the planning / portions tricky! But definitely feeling better now the caffeine headache has subsided. Looking forward to chicken and chips tomorrow night!
For me, whilst being organised and prepping is a faff, it's made me realise how much easier it is to stick to when you know what you've got coming..,

OctopusArmEnvy · 27/04/2017 11:59

Morning everyone :-)
I'm feeling much better today and can't wait for my curry lunch. It was runny but I think I'll just add less water. Good luck today everyone xx

antimatter · 27/04/2017 12:50

I used an exact amount of water Kingston, I thought it would be too watery but it was just right and surprised us being nice. It was like a chunky soup. My dd had i wit naan and some basmati rice, I drained liquid, added some spiralised courgette as I felt that I needed to bulk it up :) I am much bigger than most of you and I need to slowly retrain my stomach to schrink

antimatter · 27/04/2017 12:51

I meant to say that I drained some liquid and cooked spiralised courgette in it for another 3 min. I overcooked it to start with (in a pressure cooker) and didn't want spinach to wilt more.

Original poster
KingstonWood · 27/04/2017 13:12

Hey Octopus, glad you're on track and feeling better. Just finished lunch did some greens on the side. It's delicious - I asked DH to at least try it but he didn't seem that enthused :-) too much veg, no meat, no rice and/or bread!!!
Feel I've really been let off prep and cooking these last 2 days the kitchen has remained chaos free. I had tomorrow's breakfast today as I'm wfh, but on road before 7am tomorrow so I thought i could quickly eat the oats and granola (oh my word is the like sweeties and so yummy!) on my way out the door take apple sliced to eat in the car and grapes instead of sultanas! Hope today is a good day for you. xx

OP posts:
Original poster
KingstonWood · 27/04/2017 13:21

Thanks a-m I agree with your description of chunky soup so that's good I did it right. It actually is perfect and just so tasty - even my pathetic version with no chilli :-)! I wonder how well it freezes pre-spinach and coriander as would be good to have a few of these in stock as cooking more never takes any extra time so this could work well.

OP posts:
Original poster
KingstonWood · 27/04/2017 13:31

Jenster great to have you on, you're 2 days ahead of us! You've done a weekend, that's the bit where I always fall off the diet wagon. But as you say knowing what you are cooking and not thinking about 'what to eat' is actually helping me not think about food as much as if I was on a diet - that and being completely full. HOWEVER I did get on the scales this morning and i know I've only done 3 days but only lost 1lb which I am surprised in a way I haven't lost more in water retention alone. I am pleased I'm doing it and want to be healthier which this is but it would be a lie to say that losing weight wasn't the main goal, still 6.5 days to go...you're over halfway through have you noticed a loosening of waistbands at all? Are you doing it principally
to lose weight or to be healthier?

OP posts:
antimatter · 27/04/2017 14:57

I think it would freeze well even with greens in

jenster1976 · 27/04/2017 21:02

Like you both, I def have weight to lose but just want to get into better long term habits too, e.g. Cut down my over reliance on bread (and biscuits!)
Started on Saturday and so far all been good but I think a BH weekend might see me cave on the alcohol front!
Dinner tonight was good, but DH and I aren't keen on sweet potato, so will give breakfast tomorrow a miss and have either plain eggs or granola.
I have lost 5.5 lbs which I'm pleased with and I feel a lot better!

jenster1976 · 27/04/2017 21:02

Like you both, I def have weight to lose but just want to get into better long term habits too, e.g. Cut down my over reliance on bread (and biscuits!)
Started on Saturday and so far all been good but I think a BH weekend might see me cave on the alcohol front!
Dinner tonight was good, but DH and I aren't keen on sweet potato, so will give breakfast tomorrow a miss and have either plain eggs or granola.
I have lost 5.5 lbs which I'm pleased with and I feel a lot better!

jenster1976 · 27/04/2017 21:03

The banana nutty Ice cream was delicious and felt like a much needed treat! Worth doing even though DH said he didn't fancy it, he wolfed it down too

Original poster
KingstonWood · 27/04/2017 21:38

Thank you Jenster, I needed some motivation and your 5.5lbs sounds brilliant, well done!
I haven't done without a mid afternoon 'date'! I think because the pack is sitting there on the counter wondering if it was worth the effort of buying them for the 1 chopped into the chia porridge! It's my perfect afternoon pick me up it totally sweet and chewy (gives your mouth a feeling of food) and keeps me going but then I've added 6 almonds the last 2 afternoons as well. So slipping back to a snack habit just need something between 1ish lunch and 8+pm supper. So I need to nip that in the bud and start thinking of the lbs that need to go! I know BH with no wine, I didn't think that bit through, I just thought might be easier for cooking than work time but I'm not so sure I will last, I need to lose something by Saturday morning and that will encourage me through I think/hope.

OP posts:
antimatter · 27/04/2017 22:43

I am taking my dd to uni on Monday so I have to cook her some food ahead of that (she has diabetes T1 and is self catering) and I think I will properly start from Tuesday as I din't have time to do proper meal planning last weekend.
I think I am feeling slightly less sluggish despite not having my coffee and am not starving at 5 PM!

EmmaLosingIt · 27/04/2017 22:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

EmmaLosingIt · 27/04/2017 23:08

Hey KingstonWood,
I love the 10 day recipes but, I'm going to ask you honestly; can you eat like that for more than a few days? Have you got ingredients or time or enough willpower? ... and when you're still feeling hungry?? I'm not against these recipes - I love them!!! But there is something in dieting as a way to behave not just a way to eat. The 'how' not the 'what'. The Diet Groove was a site that opened my thinking. And it works like the dog's...

antimatter · 27/04/2017 23:27

I think I could eat like that Emma. With new recipes it's always slow start because of the ingredients and learning new kind of cooking but this stuff is tasty and you don't get hungry much.

What I tried so far is tasty and liked by others in my family and that makes my life much easier when cooking.

I think unless you are feeling crap (like I still am to some extend) which is side effect of eating too much processed food you don't value difference that wholesome food makes to your day.

I had a look at the website you recommend but this isn't a thread to talk about it.

Few of us want to support each other here and share few tips based around principle of Amelia Freer books. I know in principle what made me fat and I was able in the past to work through bad habits. I lost my first 1.5 stones very slowly and am religious about not putting any weight on as with age it is much harder to drop weight I find.

Not sure what I am trying to say here apart from that we are trying our best!

Moanranger · 28/04/2017 18:49

Can I Jon in? I am not actually on the AF plan yet. I am going to a de-tox camp mid-May, to start me off, but I wanted to immediately follow it up (rather than binge immediately after) & I thought AF looked rather good. I went to this camp last year, & followed it up with the Whole 30, but for some reason I got terrible headaches on it, which I never got at the de-tox. (de-tox is mostly veg-based.)
So I bought all the store cupboard basics amazingly at Sainsbury's. Thought I would have to go to a health food shop, but not necessary. That in itself is a recommendation. My plan, then, is to do the initial fresh food shop on my "release" so I am ready to go. Glad to note so much positive feedback on the recipes.
The chia seed -mango -turmeric breakfast looks very strange, though!

Original poster
KingstonWood · 28/04/2017 20:37

Hey Moanranger, going to a de-tox camp sounds brilliant and an amazing way to 'reset'. 'mmmm not sure about that chia seed mango pot, imo not her finest start to the day but oh my goodness, if the overnight oat crumble with berries could sustain life forever I think I might die happy :-)

OP posts:
Original poster
KingstonWood · 28/04/2017 21:03

Hi Emma - in answer to some of your questions/statements. I absolutely agree about needing a way to behave and not just to eat but this plan has given me that. It may depend on who you are and where you are on your journey but I have tried over the last 3.5 years to diet, I've juiced to kick start, I've been back to slimming world but couldn't find the time to go to meetings, I then tried it online - couldn't get my head into it. I bought a £65 personalised plan from a nutritionist online which had OK recipes but just told me to stop snacking - I KNOW THAT! I just tried to be good on my own: I'm not stupid, a pretty good cook, grew up with my mother cooking everything from scratch even bread every other day and know quite a lot about nutrition, read quite a lot about clean eating (for and against) but nothing was working for me.

This has just clicked for me, the recipes always work, are simple, yes the prep's a hassle on some days but has been quite enjoyable (even though I've had to cut a bit of sleep to manage timewise I don't anticipate that staying same as I can tweak/modify and get quicker, more batch cooking) and I like knowing what to cook, what to buy, when to do what, I've stopped thinking about food all the time and obsessing like I have in every other diet about food and what to cook/what am I allowed. I have not been hungry once, I have had a 'date' a day, it's been my guilty pleasure but has been enough to keep my sweet tooth at bay, after it I don't want any more, not have another and no other snacks. You probably won't believe me but this has been life changing, I have snacked for so long I didn't know how to stop. AF suggests being mindful, she teaching you exactly how to put a meal together to keep hunger at bay and to plan. I am not familiar with your recommendation but this is really working for me and I am appreciating feedback from others. I'm so pleased with it to the point my sister and her husband are borrowing the book as soon as I am done, she's seen photos of each meal and needs some help she has 4 stone to shift and I do believe this could work to help her get going. I appreciate it might not work for some and if something else is good for you - great and I wish you success. x

OP posts:
Original poster
KingstonWood · 28/04/2017 21:14

Sorry that was a long one! On the road today but it worked great, ate breakfast in the car overlooking the M6 :-) from a pot but still delicious!! I still had some Asian-Style Salad left over, some dressing left, some houmous left over, cut up some celery, peppers, carrots to dip and 6 cherry tomatoes 1/4 avocado and 20g cashews - I think that was OK and other than water to drink lasted all day til home at 8pm, had kids snacks in the car and not even tempted stuck in BH traffic! Prawns tonight were a little underwhelming though, not sure why. It was fine though and quick and I'm not hungry so still on track and all good! How's everyone else doing? AND Happy Bank Holiday Weekend to you all xx

OP posts:
jenster1976 · 29/04/2017 08:49

Can I just let you know the choc pudding is delicious, I was dubious and again nearly didn't bother but, wow! Like adult angel delight, poss too much honey as next time would make it less sweet but there will def be a next time. Felt really indulgent and naughty and I feel like it was needed!!

jenster1976 · 29/04/2017 08:50

Out for a BBQ lunch today, so not following plan. It hoping there'll be enough salads etc and a bit of grilled chicken to make it work. To be honest DH had put his foot down over sweet potato so might have to go back and revisit some of the earlier recipes for our last couple of days!

OctopusArmEnvy · 30/04/2017 18:45

Hi everyone!! Sorry I've disappeared for a few days but been celebrating a friends birthday and am away at the moment so not really following the plan BUT I did manage to cook the stuffed pepper chilli yesterday and it was amazing.
Totally agree Kingston this is what is working for me at the moment. Prep is a hassle but well worth as the meals are so tasty :-) I'm not quite as good on the no snacking but baby steps 😜 Xx

Original poster
KingstonWood · 30/04/2017 21:28

Arghh I fell off the wagon today! My poor DH wanted to do something, I had made no plans to see friends because everything revolves around food and wine and I just wanted 10 days!! BUT BH bad timing. So we tried the new restaurant he wanted, I could have ordered vegan option which would have sort of worked, but I failed and ordered burger with salad but no relish, no bun, no chips and red cabbage, apple and beetroot side salad (fully dressed). Sort of good choice but about an hour later I felt so bloated and lethargic - surely that's got to be psychosomatic, right? I can't have gone from feeling good to rubbish that quickly and not like I ate a loaf of bread with a milkshake!! Anyway I then caved and had 2 delicious large filled praline lindt chocolate thingys, then had 2 dates and rest of my daughter's apple......I AM SO WEAK, it's only 10 days and I just couldn't manage it. So my deal with myself is for every day I fail I have to stick religiously to 2 further days of the 10 days plan maybe doing some of the vegan days. I've ordered the cook book as I need more ideas too.

Hope you did OK Jenster with your choices at BBQ, and Octopus no way you can stick to this plan celebrating and not being at home! But I do think as you've started it and tried stuff it's good to know it's OK to do when you have a block of time. Life always gets in the way somehow though.

Also good to know about the peppers I didn't really fancy them, mind you the cottage pie picture on P.280 looks a bit like sick on a plate! I had the coconut quinoa porridge late morning for b'fast when knew going to burger place for lunch (thought day 10 might be as close as possible option) first time I've had quinoa, i had a 2 year out of date bag in the cupboard clearly needed eating and was just lovely and huge portion. xx

OP posts: