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

Hi again

I started the plan on 18th August, and lost 10 lbs in 10 days. Then I went to a wedding and put 3 on, but now I'm just under where I was.

Big news though:

AS OF TODAY I AM OFFICIALLY NOT OVERWEIGHT! YAY!!

According to my old WW charts, I am now 'within range'.

A total of 12 lbs off. I haven't really ventured off phase 1 and am finding it really easy to stick to now.

Today I had 2 boiled eggs with asparagus tips (oooh, get me ). Really nice if you soft boil the eggs, not go and put the washing away and come back to rock hard ones!

Not sure about lunch- probably smoked mackerel salad - but going to cinema tonight so will probably have Nandos chicken with salad.

Throughout I've had a few squares of good, dark chocolate and have had Actimel Fig (my favourite - yum) to snack on or for pudding. I do lots of stir frys (marinade the fish or meat in some olive oil, chopped ginger, garlic and a squeeze of Gourmet Garden chilli). Actually, those Gourmet Garden tubes - although off plan - are really great, though not real food I know. But I can't stand chopping chilli. Always rub my eyes by accident!

I never, ever, ever want another tuna salad again though. This diet has put me off it for life!

That's brilliant news OFFS! Well done!!!

I'd love to reintroduce dark choc (G&B's 85% is my favourite) but it was a huge addiction for me so I'm delaying it for now.

Actimel has sugar in it doesn't it? That'd trigger big cravings for me, definitely.

Gourmet Garden tubes sound OKish tho - what have they got in them?

Well done OFFS!!!! thats nearly a stone in a month, wow

I think the gourmet garden tubes only have oil and chillies, don't they?

I've been doing well for the past couple of days and sticking to phase 1.

Well done OFFS. Thats so encouraging to hear. I'm aiming to stick to phase 1 for a while. I think I just got a bit confused on stage 2
I'd love to match your loss.

Hope everybody else is doing well.

Hi everyone - welcome OFFS - that's amazing weightloss in such a short time congratulations!!

I'd never heard of the Gourmet Garden tubes, they sound good.

Hi everyone else -

Still haven't weighed myself. Actually have locked the scales away as it's too tempting and I don't want to disappoint myself. I think I might have broken through this plateau though as I'm sure I feel a little slimmer - will have to wait though.

Today had no breakfast as DD2 was up all night, we all slept in and I had to race DD1 out the door for school!
Lunch is a jacket potato and cottage cheese, cucumber & tomato
Dinner - pork chops and fried courgettes probably

Have a great day everyone

Thank you SO much

I think the GG tubes have some sort of syrupy stuff, I'm not sure. And yes, the flavoured Actimel have sugar in, so I'm not following it to the letter. I was definately suffering from candida as all my cravings fitted the bill. I was in the downward spiral of no energy, grab quick fix, energy high, energy slump etc etc. Now I don't have those massive crashes. And I so enjoy a square of Maya Gold after dinner!

I would really, really like to see some of recipes, but Amazon have taken over a month to get the book to me, I've had to re-order and STILL its not here. And I haven't found a single shop to buy it in. I've also just ordered the recipe book thanks to this thread. Although I was still happy on the diet, I'm inspired again thanks to this thread. Infact, its brought me back from a lengthy spell of lurking on MN too!

Fraggletits - a sleepless night would really test me - how are you coping? I'd be desperate for cake right about now...

OFFS - I've plumped for just being lazy today instead! I was really tempted by cake the other day actually, but fought through it

I've got an engagement do to go to on Saturday so I just keep thinking of all the lovely foods and champers I'll have then!

Hope your recipe book arrives soon!

One of the great things about this is that even if you do have other food and drink, you know it'll only be a few days before you're on track again. So enjoy!

Saying that, I found that I was so uncomfortable and felt dreadful afterwards I couldn't wait to get back on The Plan.

BTW I've checked the Gourmet Garden ingredients, and its definately a no-no if you are a purist. It has dextrose (sugar) and lactose (from milk) so no on two counts.

Well I've definitely been a purist these last few days. So much so that I think one glass of wine and I'll be totally sozzled.

Planning on having a great saturday night, hangover sunday with lots of stodge and then back on it on Monday

May leave Gourmet Garden for now then!

I succumbed to chocolate crispie cakes of all things! Ok so its not as bad as it could be but it still disrupted my eating plan.

I've got cod with salad tonight but its coated in breadcrumbs. I'll have to try scrape it all off.

today's food

porridge
homemade lamb burger and salad
crispie cakes
nly
cod and salad

How long have you been on it Squid?

If you had chocolate rice crispie cakes made with brown rice puffed cereal and 85% chocolate, would that be OK?

Well 1st day back at phase one and have managed to stay away from the cake and chocolate. My craving seem to be worse this time round than the 1st time I did it.

I ended up having spag bol with roasted veggies and the NLY for dinner.

Hope you have a fab time on Sat night fraggle.

Is it just me or does it seem we have lost quite a few diet buddies?

Hi all, just dropping in briefly.

Today I've had:

porridge
tomato & pepper soup; rye bread; NLY & blueberries
brown rice pasta with tomato sauce (from a jar so it had a bit of sugar in it I'm afraid); broccoli; NLY & blueberries

After saying I was going to leave chocolate for a bit, I ended up having a square after each meal today. Didn't enjoy it as much as I used to.

I should really be being a bit stricter after the weekend I had. Will be v v happy indeed if I've stayed the same weight this week - am dreading the scales on Fri. Will do my best the next couple of days!

Who have we lost mammy?

I am really missing desserts today! Trying hard to keep strong.

OFFS I started 3 weeks ago and lost 6lbs.I then went on break and stayed with my pregnant sister for awhile and had a couple of nights out etc. I ended up putting 3lbs on and started back again on phase 1 on Saturday. I'm hoping to stay on phase one and lose a stone.

Well done for not giving in Mammyto1.

Keep with it Franch. You'll be so thankful you did

RnB, fimbles, beonit, ggirl - quite a few have seem to have gone in the last couple of weeks.

Hello everyone, sorry for my absence! Have had a little blip but aim to get back on track today.

when I say little blip I mean HUGE blip, of course involving pizza, chocolate bars, and even a chinese takeaway

Bugger.

I need to post on here everyday to keep me encouraged.

How's everyone else?

Rnb I had a huge blip just like you and had put on 4.5lb but happy to say that is done to 1.5lb now.

I think you need to keep posting here even if you are having a blip. Good luck for today.

Glad to see you came back RnB - thought we lost you

Today I am having:
NLY for breakfast
Spag bol and roasted veg for lunch
Tuna steak with veggies for dinner

Good luck for the day all!!

Hi

Welcome back RnB! Don't worry about the blip you'll get back on it quick enough.

Don't think Hambler will be back either after the 6lbs gain her DH had!

Mammy think I'll do the spag bol (minus the spag) with veg as that sounds really nice.

Today it's -
bacon & egg
Roast chicken leg with veg
Spag bol (no spag) & veg

Pretty much no carbs. Had a jacket potato with cottage cheese yesterday for lunch. I'm quite happy on phase 1 but occasionally dipping into phase 2 when I want a bit of stodge.

Have a great day everyone

Hi fraggle - Yeah it was no spag for me either but was so yummy last night with the veg and will be having the left overs today

Anyone have any great ideas for chicken - I am getting a bit bored of it at the mo and need something to livin it up a bit?

I quite like chicken in tomato and coriander

Fry the chicken pieces skin side down - transfer to a casserole dish
saute onion and garlic in the same frying pan until soft
add tin tomatoes and bay leaf and seasoning. Bring to boil and then pour over the chicken.
Bake in oven for hour
When done, take out chicken, keep warm - put casserole dish on hob full heat and reduce the sauce a bit to thicken
Add fresh chopped coriander

• used to be really yummy with roast potatoes but is just as nice with any veggies!

Or a jerk seasoning or just paprika and oil and salt rubbed on before roasting.

That's what I'm having for lunch today I think.

Thanks fraggle that sounds yummy - will give it a go

Thanks for the welcome back

That chicken sound divine Fraggle...

So far I've had NLY for breafast.

Will have Salad Nicoise for lunch I think
And Spag Bol (sans Spag) for dinner.

Do you think it's ok to stay on Phase1 for a while? Am worried I will get too used to it and it will slow down my weight loss...

Hi all. I have been lurking on this thread since its conception I have done phase 1 for about 9 day, tried to do phase 2, got in a right mix up. Got fed up. Ate bread and had 5 days off. Tried again, same senario. I dont know why I get in a tiz about phase 2 - I have bought both books as well. I thought the recipe one was great.

Anyway, I have lost weight and I feel much better than Iwas but still a way to go. I made a great fried rice on the phase 1.

Cook and leave to go cold brown rice allowance. Chop clove garlic, spring onion, any left over meat / chicken scraps and/or prawns, and a handful of frozen peas (warm them before putting them in). Chopped chilli if you like it.

Heat olive oil in pan, add 1 beaten egg, let it cook for less than 30 seconds, throw in brown rice, and keep stirring. Then add the above. I did put a dash of soy sauce on as well, at the time I thought it was OK, but since I think soy sauce is out on phase 1 - anyway it was delicious. DH loved it!