This could change your life

[fraggletits]

Anyone doing Zoe Harcombe?

I would never have known about her had I not tried her diet that was serialised in the news of the world magazine 3 months ago.

It appealed to me because it was proper food, no calorie counting - but I was going away on hols so decided to do a kerry katona last blow out and then I'd start it when I got back.

I've bought the book and am so far 5lbs lighter and I am only on day 4 of the 5 day kickstart. Phase 2 looks really good and Phase 3 is a return to completely normal eating and drinking with just a couple of simple rules to follow.

It's brilliant. I can't recommend it highly enough. I thought I was a hopeless big dinner portion fan - a crisp and chocolate addict with alcoholic tendencies. But she has just blown all that apart for me. (It's more than just a diet - it's an explanation of why we crave things and why we feel helpless - phase 1 and 2 eliminate these cravings pretty painlessly so that by phase 3 you can eat all the things you used to but with a couple of simple rules and with a new found awareness and control over food, gained from phase 1 and 2)

She's got a couple of websites - one under zoe harcombe, one under thedietguru I think.

Hope this helps anyone struggling with calorie counting and exercise

Oh, and I believe bread dough can be frozen, so worth making mammyto1's 3 loaf quantity and freezing some for another day.

TDMIC I got the recipe from the cooks at work and it is by hand but I can't see using the bread machine doing any harm.

The yeast is dried & you do need to let it prove 1st until it is duoble the size then cut into three and place in bread tins until it doubles in size again.

Hi all.

Feeling very down today.....been to MIL for sunday lunch - I had told her about the diet and she knew I had started this plan and yet dished up mostly stuff I couldnt have or dont like - cue me eating just dry chicken and peas and sweetcorn and no pud whilst everyone else was tucking into full sunday lunch with all the trimmings and apple pie and custard

Am also very at the thought of not being able to have any of my ds2's 1st birthday cake in 3 weeks time....that really depresses me.

Sorry for depressive post, its just how I feel today.

mammyto1 Can I ask how you did your chips? I like the idea of the oven baked ones but am not sure how to cut them and what size they should be!

M&S do a wholemeal loaf with no sugar but its TINY - will need 2 slices to amke 1 normal sized one!!!

Off to Tesco tomorrow to find that sugar free ham xx

Becaroo! Don't feel Look at it this way - forget today's sunday lunch, you're on phase 1 and by the end of your 5 days you will start feeling much much better - in 3 weeks time you will be on phase 2 and will have lost a good amount of weight - you can have some of your DS's birthday cake, it's not going to pile on the pounds. I firmly believe in being good 80% of the time and being bad 20% of it - life is toooo short!

The chips can be any thickness you want - just as long as you keep the skin on and cook them in olive oil.

Becaroo- big hug.
I suppose this diet is a concept too far for people of a certain generation. Put it down to experience and stay determined and focused on yourself. Just think that next time you endure enjoy Sunday lunch at your MIL's you will be more lean and glowy and feeling good whatever you can/ can't eat.

My DD1 is 3 in 5 weeks time and to be honest I'll prob have a teeny bit of B-day cake and then make sure I'm super-good the rest of the time.
Don't be down about it- if you have a party at home you can make sure there are plenty of carb or fat foods so you can choose which you'd like to indulge in. Plan it in advance because unlike at you MIL's you can control this situation.

Hi all, I'm back! Thanks so much for all the lovely anniversary wishes We had the best, best time.

Well, Le Gavroche was pretty amazing. Turn away now if you're feeling hungry ... Had octopus and gorgeous deep-fried soft-shell crab; an incredible rabbit dish; and hot passionfruit souffle. Plus they gave us an extra chocolate dessert with 'Happy Anniversary' on the plate in melted chocolate, plus the usual extras, petits fours etc. Oh yes, and champagne. Plenty of champagne.

It's our 'tin' anniversary and DH gave me a tin of gorgeous dark chocolate biscuits - I hate to go on about diets and stuff so just said I'll save them for a bit.

We took 3 hours over lunch and saw a show in the evening so weren't hungry again till about 11pm - shared some starters in our hotel restaurant and, um, another (small) chocolate dessert

Was very tempted by all the sweet and fruity items on the room-service breakfast menu but had decided the 'cheating' stopped at midnight so had bacon, fried eggs and tomato instead. Felt so full we skipped lunch, then yesterday evening had dinner with the kids: jerk chicken, curry goat and a lovely cabbage dish + salad. Found the cravings kicking in a bit, not surprisingly, but resisted.

Still craving quite a bit today but have had:
porridge
cold beef & salad
dinner out: salmon burger (minus bun) with red onion & parsley salad, and spring greens

So am feeling back on track. Have also drunk loads of water as she advises, to flush everything out.

Becaroo, you were feeling sad about not having your DS's birthday cake - I would say have a bit. As ZH says in the book, you can have a phase 3 day anytime. Just don't binge (as I would've done in the past). I'll let you know how much damage my 'day off' has done (I don't think it even classes as phase 3!), and that may help you decide! I've got DD2's AND my bday coming up in a fortnight and intend to 'cheat' a bit then - which is why I'll be on phase 1 for a good while longer.

(By 'not even phase 3' I mean it was beyond phase 3, of course!)

By the way, re. CHIPS (homemade in the oven) - I'd reiterate what fraggle said - do make sure they have the skins on. I adore potatoes done this way and often cook extra jacket potatoes then chop them up and roast them in olive oil - did that for the family this week and cannot wait till I can partake again! Oh what bliss to be on a diet that allows such things

I have read the book.
Me and dh will be joining you all starting tomorrow. SO now I am eating toblerone and drinking wine

Franch it sounds like you had a wonderful time

becaroo - I get the baked potatoes and without peeling them cut them into chips - its up to you on how big or smal you want them. I the add olive oil, salt and pepper an bung them in the oven for about 50 mins.

Hambler keep us updated on how you get on.

Yesterday I had:
Breaskfast - eggs
Lunch - chicken beast with green ved and some salad + fesh fruit with a but of ice cream.
Dinner - Shredded wheat with skimmed milk.

Franch it sounds wonderful!

Becaroo sorry you had a miserable time at lunch. Hope you feel better now. I agree with everybody else - don't get upset about the birthday cake! You'll be fine with having a little a bit.

I agree with those chips being delicious! They are so easy to do - I actually just cut them into small wedges, toss them in a bit of oil, and cook them in a hot oven for about 20mins. I never buy oven chips.

I have AF today so have been feeling a bit bloated. I also had about 2 tablespoons of left over apple crumble yesterday and a couple of crisps. I'm hoping it won't mess things up for me too much but I was craving a bit of comfort food. I know its all hormonal. I really, really want tea and toast this morning but have had my usual porridge.

Glad you're joining us hambler

I've been craving big-time today and feeling sick of Phase 1. I'm staying on it because of (1) zero weightloss in week 2; (2) cheating last Friday; (3) more cheating planned in 2 weeks - but will move on to phase 2 if I feel in danger of falling off the wagon. Haven't felt deprived till today when I just did not want veg soup, or meat and salad, for lunch. Rummaged in freezer for something tastier, and found an old lamb keema so stuffed myself with that, lots of green veg and a 500g pot of yogurt to quash the cravings. Seems to have worked for now ......

I think the cravings were probably triggered by my blowout on Fri, plus hormones (like you Squid). It's great having you lot to report back to though - makes me far less likely to give in

I have just had a salad sandwich! It was lovely. I had 3 slices of bread from a small loaf so am hoping it wasn't too much but I really needed it.

I've got grilled chicken and salad for dinner tonight. I'm hoping I'm still losing weight but it doesn't really feel like it. Anyway, I'm not weighing myself til friday.

Franch keep those cravings at bay. Don't give in. Think how much you've acheived. You don't want to undo all that work.

Dh bought croissants today and I was so tempted to just say to hell with he diet today and have one but now, I'm feeling really pleased I didn't have one and I could've been feeling really pissed off instead. Its not worth it

Just ordering some bits and bobs for DD2's birthday and planning her cake ... It's a 'giggle party' and I'm making a clown cake something like this. Just came across a wheat-free sponge recipe (eggs, sugar and cornflour) - I think wheat is one of my problems so do I make this, or do I accept the fact that it's not just for me (!), it's going to be smothered in sugary icing anyway and that a rich chocolate cake is likely to taste much nicer ... ?

Thanks Squid, I'm feeling much better now so will stay strong. I've probably overeaten a bit at lunchtime but guess it's better to do that with allowed foods than to stray and let the cravings spiral.

Hello ladies. Wow!! Thanks for all the support and sorry I was such a moaning minny yesterday - I think its my time of month coming up and I'm never at my bet then

Will try the chips on phase 2. Sound yummy!
Have decided that as my ds2's party is nearly 3 weeks away I might be ok to have what I want at his party if I am good up to the party and again straight afterwards???? Does that sound like a plan?

His party is animal themed so I have decided I am buying him an M&S chocolate caterpillar cake (which I am not that fond of) so I know I will only have 1 piece!!!

franch Sounds wonderful...sigh....

I am very pleased with myslef today. HAd to do the weekly shop round Tesco and didnt but anything bad. Then went to my mums whose house id full of lovely biscuits and cakes and sweets (supposedly for the grand children but my dad eats most of it!!) and I didnt have anything BUT I REALLY wanted too! I am on day 4 and the cravings have really hit today Didnt sleep well last night either....when is it I am supposed to start feeling better as the book says?????? Its my last day on phase 1 tomorrow and I dont feel any better than when I started - has anyone else experienced this?

Hope you have all had a great bank hol!

I have a question.
Much is made in the book about how calorie restricted diets don't work.

But this IS (indirectly) a calorie restricted diet!

Reading the menus posted here noone seems to go above about 1500 calories in a day - some a lot less.

Please can someone who is further along then me advise?

For example today I have had scrambled eggs and bacon, chicken salad, and spicy thai chicken curry (with 50 g brown rice!)

The total calories is probably only about 1000

Do you all eat loads more in phase two?

becaroo I didn't start to feel great until day 6 and even they my body ached for a further few days. .

Hambler you are probably right but its not about the cals its your body only needing the deal with either carbs or fats at the one time. As your body breaks down the carbs or fats & when burnt off it then eats your stored fat. Does that make sense?

I had a piece of chocolate and toffee cake today and it tasted fake, it was horrible. A few weeks ago I loved it. its mad how this died has changed my taste buds so much.

Hope you all had a great BH weekend

Hambler- you're right, every weight loss diet must involve restricting the calorie intake.

I think this one is different in that it deals with the causes of perceived hunger (cravings) very effectively. The effect of insulin on appetite is v interesting IMO.

And it claims to maximise your own body's fat metabolism to force your body to use dietary fat that would otherwise be put in long-term storage to be used for immediate energy, in the absence of insulin from eating carbs at the same time. As well as filling us up on slow-release un-processed carbs in carb meals. Certainly the brown rice is less energy dense than white wheat products!

Nonetheless I'm finding this diet satisfying, and effective. And apart from the first few days- fun. And I'm sticking to it much better than weightwatchers processed low fat crap.

Franch- yummy

today:-
mahoosive bowl of Kallo
chicken and boiled egg salad w loads of veg

veggie thai green curry w brown rice

God I feel so much better without my shocking cafffeine addiction!

Mammy said

" As your body breaks down the carbs or fats & when burnt off it then eats your stored fat. Does that make sense?"

Yes I agree but this still presupposes a calorie deficit so that the body uses its own fat stores

Rinky :
"And it claims to maximise your own body's fat metabolism to force your body to use dietary fat that would otherwise be put in long-term storage to be used for immediate energy, in the absence of insulin from eating carbs at the same time. "
I get this too but that would just make your weight stay the same ..UNLESS there was also a calorie deficit.

I have no problem with there being a calorie deficit but the author does go on at length about how her diet is NOT dependant on calorie deficit and that diets which are are fatally flawed.

I am sticking rigidly to it anyhow!

Stick with it rigidly Hambler!

I think Zoe has just been drumming into us how her diet is better than all the calorie counting, low fat (i.e high carb) diets out there which are well known as being ineffective in the long term, and unhealthy if you eat lots of replacement low fat junk in place of your old full fat faves.

It's great not calorie counting, being able to eat umlimited amounts of food that I enjoy, not having to weigh things and obsess over amounts of things.

Franch - your dinner and weekend sounded really lovely! What a treat!

Becaroo - hold in there. It will get better

Hope everyone else has had a great weekend.

Phase 1 again for me tomorrow! I think I've put on about 3lbs since having people staying this weekend. Hmmm not good! Anyway, i'm feeling positive

I'm back to phase 1 too Fraggle so I'll be there with you

I had a big slice of homemade banana bread. I wasn't going to but weakened at the last minute

Apart from that I wasn't too bad. I think having a salad sandwich sent me off course a bit. I'm sticking to phase 1 for a while.

Hambler I agree with you that it does work on calorie deficit. I just like the way this diet works regarding cravings. I don't like that fruit is restricted but I'm willing to put up with that for a while to lose 2 stones.
I've actually been able to stick with this for a while and see results.

fraggletits I am very focused - but only one day down !

Squid, that is what I am hoping for - the bit about curing cravings. How long have you been on it and with what results

DH is joining me on it which is great although he has had a sore head and is very grumpy today and not pleased that he only gets 50g of rice, the same as me despite being much bigger!

I atarted it last Monday and on Saturday I ha lost 6lbs I was thrilled to bits.
I would really love to lose 4lbs this week.
I did feel quite bad for the first 3 days though.

Good luck and keep going