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

ahh, thanks for that. The book seems to complicate things. The magazine article was very straight forward, and I think I'll stick to not combining.

Are home made potato wedges (with skins on) OK in the same way jacket potatoes are?

Yes - I had a whole load with tomato salsa and NLY (acting as the sour cream!) the other day

Bit disappointed with myself today after a promising start. I had lost 5lbs in two days! I had bacon and eggs for breakfast and packed a lunch which was chicken, tuna, eggs and tomatoes (loads of it) and two pots of NLY. Anyway, ended up in a meeting at lunchtime and I could not get my lunch so ate two brown bread sandwiches, one with sliced egg and tomato and one with chicken and bacon combined then, I ate a white bread one with chicken salad, followed by a packet of Thai curry crisps and a piece of swiss roll.. I am now eating my packed lunch for dinner but so depressed I put salad cream on it

I shall keep going though. Just really annoyed with myself.

So back to day 1 for me again tomorrow.

I love reading the menus/food combinations you are all trying out as it will now give me some good ideas.

You might not have done so badly, don't beat yourself up, just think 'back on track' tomorrow

I had chicken in pitta bread (with mayo) and chips at Nandos last night. With a glass of wine. And half a bag of chocolate covered peanuts at the flicks afterwards, if that makes you feel any better Was bloated, but no heavier this morning.

I'm the queen of diet slip ups and have managed to lose nearly 2 stones in a year
You will lose weight still, it just might be a bit slower. Don't worry about it and just carry on with the diet as soon as you can.

I'm back on track after my afternoon slip up.
I forgot who asked for chicken ideas but I've got chicken thighs with some bbq seasoning in the oven and have got a rocket and cherry tomato salad to have with it.
I often have tandoori chicken too. Its lovely. Jerk chicken is another favourite but you have to be careful as the seasoning is often really, really hot and its hard to eat without rice or bread to take a bit of the heat off.
What about chicken casserole and curry? The curry is brilliant with raita.
I usually put butternut squash and carrots with the casserole and its really filling.

mmmm love the potato wedges with salsa idea.
(can you tell I'm hungry? )

Thanks for the chicken ides squid.

Can we have creamed coconut in phase 1?

Candlewax don't beat yourself up remember its only 1 day and tomorrow will be a new one to start again.

Oh Candlewax, I can really empathise with you, esp the salad cream thing

Thanks for that OFFS. I am definitely fired up and want to keep going.

LOL - I had to go away from the computer and posted my message half an hour later after being composed, so thank you to all of you!

Hello all, have been lurking on here for awhile and was waiting for the book to arrive to start.
I started this morning, yoghurt for breakfast, eggs, bacon and salald for lunch and chicken stirfry with rice for tea.
And I feel awful!

I ahve had a headache since about 3, not helped by DD1 (3.7) having a friend round to have lunch and play so I couldn't hide behind cbeebies. I ache all over, I feel sick and I want to weep and fall asleep.

I am stones overweight and have a lot to use, and I scroed over 75 of the candida test thing (I stopped counting at 75 but could have gone on) so am pretty sure this is Candida Die Off.

Need encouragement!

Hi Welcome JB! That's great you've decided to join
Candida's the problem for me as well. I felt quite bad this time round of starting phase 1 again but I promise it definitely does get better. I actually had thrush when I first started - which obviously is candida - and that cleared up ages ago, pretty much in the first week. Just stick at it is all I can say

Hi Mammy - yes you can def have creamed coconut in any phase (actually she recommends it for fighting candida)

Squid - your chicken ideas sound lovely. I love spicy chicken with NLY actually anyway, whether i'm dieting or not so it's great on this.

Hi Jack. Definitely stick with it. You'll be so pleased you did when you weigh in after 5 days
It is hard. I felt awful but it was amazing how controlled I felt. I had no cravings at all during phase 1. The other day, I had a craving for biscuits and I actually only had 1/2 a biscuit and happily left the rest. I actually had no desire to eat anymore. That would never have happenend before.
I've kind of lost that control a bit due to a couple of slip ups but I'm trying to stick with it and am hoping to get it back.

Hi JB and welcome.

Again i am voicing what the others have said. It does get better and you really will see a huge difference by day 5 or 6. Keep with it post on here as much as you need for support.

Good luck

Today I am having
NLY
Chicken salad
Something with eggs
Probably more NLY

MOrning (just). I feel a bit better today, was exhausted when I woke up though.
Had omelette for breakfast and then went shopping this morning and got prawns, tuna, salmon steaks bacon and ham, along with some butternut squash, so I am all ready

Spaghetti bolognese for tea, so I will have mine with my rice and some prawn salad for lunch.
What do you all use for mayo/salad dressing? Making mayo takes so long I really am not sure I can be arsed bt I am seriously considering it...

Morning everyone

Glad you're feeling a little bit better JB

This company www.tracklements.co.uk do sugar free mayo - bit pricey at £3 though!

Today I had
Bacon & Egg
Salmon & fried veg
Chicken & Veg
Snacking on NLY

What cajun seasonings do you use by the way? I was looking in Tesco earlier and they all have maltodextrin in which is a sugar. They were in packets though. Maybe I should look in the spices aisle next time?

Weigh in tomorrow! Really really hoping for a loss and proof I've broken through the plateau.

Have a great day everyone

I've just seen this thread and wondered if anybody knows if this is feasible if you are a vegetarian - especially as no dairy is allowed so cheese is out of the equation.

Hi Dizzy - the author Zoe is a vegetarian. In her book she does a 5 day plan for veggies (for phase 1) after that it 's probably quite straightforward for you.

Obviously natural live yoghurt is the only dairy you can have in the first 5 days. You can have extra brown rice being a veggie as well - 150g instead of 50g for a meat eater.HTH

Aaagh help everybody, I'm in a downward spiral - the chocolate addiction has kicked back in and I've been generally throwing caution to the wind.

This is so annoying after I've been doing so well. God knows what the scales will say tomorrow.

I think I did so well before because the 2 major 'planned cheats' I had coming up made it all feel finite. Now the long-term-ness of it is subconsciously daunting me I think.

Support please!!!

Franch I was just like you last weekend and had to give myself a huge kick up the arse to get me back on track this week.

Why don't you start a fresh again on Monday. Back at the very beginning and no cheating.
I had what I liked (within reason) last weekend and also had a huge bar of chocolate. I had put on 4.5lb that I had lost. I started again on Tues and am only 1lb up at the moment.

Get back into it you know you can and you know its good for you

Fraggle I will have a look at my cajun seasoning when I get home from work and will let you know if sugar is in it.

Thanks mammyto1

Franch - like mammy said, it took a huge kick up the arse to get me back on track after I defaulted for a week. I had thoughts of just giving it all up ((but I know now that was the sugar talking!!)) - I'm so glad I pulled myself together and started again from scratch because by day 2 I was feeling really happy and motivated and that feeling has pretty much lasted.

In fact it's probably good you're having this lapse because it's showing you what life is like if you don't reign your cravings in!

Like someone once said re weightloss - you've got to choose your deprivation. Either you deprive yourself of sugar and cakes OR you deprive yourself of a slim healthy body. It's up to you as you're going to be deprived in one way or another no matter how you look at it!

Remember as well though that when at your target weight you can have a full 100g bar of dark chocolate every day if you want. There's less carbs in one of those than an apple

Hope that's the kind of support you were after

Wow fraggle a whole blooming big bar - Can't wait to get to target!!! Woohoo.

You lot are brilliant. Thanks so much mammy and fraggle.

Choose your deprivation. I will remember that.