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

I didn't get that Nikki, but did feel pretty bad on day 2 and 3. Hang in there!

Ah thanks! Thought I was the only freak with an intolerance to meat. Have eaten quite a lot today as I was starving!

B: 2 eggs, 4 rashers streaky bacon and cherry tomatoes
L: Oven roasted veg
Snacks: 2 salmon fillets and a few bits of crispy bacon (realised afterwards it was smoked )
D: Sardine fillet with loads of stir fried veg and 50g wholegrain rice

Is that too much? I know I probably shouldn't be snacking so much but I am starving!

Have been invited to the pub for a friends birthday on Friday How will I resist the booze?!!

Hi Nikki, I think you can eat as you are on phase one but then after that you should try to limit to 3 meals a day. Sounds like your doing it the right way. Do not go hungry!!

Yesterday I had:
NLY
Tuna and roasted veg
Salmon and steamed veg
I did have 3 dark chocolates
Note to self - must try harder!!

Today:
NLY
Salmon & roasted veg
fish stew/curry type thing

Hope your all having a good week!!

Hi all, sounds like everyone's doing really well.

Nikki I agree with mammy - you're aiming to eliminate the snacks so if I were you I'd have the salmon AND the veg for lunch, to fill you up till dinner time.

What day will you be on on Fri?

I did well yesterday (finally):

porridge with blueberries
2 fried eggs and fried cherry tomatoes; NLY
chicken curry, green beans and cucumber; NLY

Thanks franch. Yeah I should have had the salmon with the veg but haven't been prepared this week as my weekly shop day is tomorrow. The problem I have it that I have breakfast at 7.30 before the school run, lunch at midday then dinner is not until 8 as I eat eith DH after the kids are in bed. 8 hours is a long time with no food!

Friday will be day 5 so will only be 12 hours off the start of phase 2 - grrr!

Nikki If you're going to the pub you could have sparkly water or if that's too boring have a gin and slimline, or vodka and diet mixer with lots of ice. Not as bad as beer or wine. Have chicken wings, or a cheese plate to eat. I like pork scratchings as a low carb snack but they are high in fat.

ZH says if you really must have alcohol then a glass of red wine with your dinner would be the best option (I personally have a bottle)

well checking in briefly as was away at weekend at oldest and bestest friends wedding in Scotland.
Okies we did have a few drinks, some toast and some spuds with the main dinner, but we both came back lighter than we'd left!
DP has more to lose but seems to be losing more slowly then me, despite the fact that I have healthy BMI and am only doing it to help shift beer gut and mummy tummy, he needs to shift 2 stone.
He is doing really well though, seems very committed
I am getting to the gym 2-3 x a week too and have noticed tummy gone down a lot.
Really enjoying now not eating refined carbs. I stick to the odd slice of good wholegrain bread with soup etc
I feel a lot lighter and in a much better temper!
DP is doing another 5 days of phase 1, I am mostly phase 1 (puffed rice and yoghurt still which I really like now) and phase 1 dinners, but tend to have a phase 2 lunch.

Oh quick question

SWEET potato? Ok on phase 1???

I am sticking to phase 2 pretty easily
would like some more recipes so might buy the book
Having chilli tonight
Good to hear everyone is managing to do some of it!!

The book is worth getting for inspiration Cesario altho I find a lot of my existing recipes are ok on this diet - just have to leave out the rice/potato/pasta/whatever accompaniment in the meat dishes etc.

Piffle - sweet potato - I'd guess not, it's extremely carby ...

Had another good day:
porridge + blueberries
crab, celery, cherry tomatoes; NLY
whole baked trout with roast veggies; Greek NLY with blueberries

Yes, phase 2 seems very easy, if it works I will be very happy!

Hello again

I finally got my book from Amazon. I am very disappointed, its not an easy read and she repeats the information over and over again. The recipe book is worth getting (I think the recipes in the diet book are repeated).

I'm back on Phase 1 Monday - Friday, and slackening off at the weekends. Its going well.

IIRC the more colourful the veg the more carby, so sweet potato, butternut squash, pumpkin all carb loaded.

I postponed my starting until today, 1st of the month nice round date to start.

Breakfast has been scrambled eggs.

Lunch has been rib eye steak, grilled garlic aubergine and tomato and coriander salad, and NLY.

Dinner will be roast pork with peppers and fennel, cabbage and cauliflower, NLY.

I'm not hungry but I'm noticing the distinct lack of carbs - bit of a sugar fiend so no doubt will be suffering a bit soon enough. Still, definitely want to do this and still feeling enthused.

Hi All

Today I have had
NLY
Soup and homemade bread
Dinner I am out to the GBK - yum yum

Hi there, this is Day 5 of Phase 1 for me. I didnt have a huge amount to loose, just some post holiday weight of about 5lbs, but desperate to try and break out of my chocolate habit ! The weight has dropped off no problem, which is great, but I can tell that my chocoholic status is still firmly in place, plus I seem to have now developed a habit for NLY !!! Can anyone tell me how long I need to follow Phase 1 or 2 for, before I loose the sweet cravings ?

PS. For anyone starting to contemplate doing this diet, do it, its the easiest way of loosing weight that Ive found. Yes you are restricted in what you eat, but not how much and the real restriction is only for 5 days, I can't wait to have cheese for my lunch tomorrow, oh and more NLY of course :-)

Thanks Foxy, I was on the verge of buying the book, but don't think I'll bother now!

Yeah the book is a bit hard going (agree with the repetition stuff - very annoying).

I am still going strong. Today has been

Eggs and Bacon
Salmon Fillet and egg (had no veg as hadn't been shopping yet)
Dinner will be sardines, stir fried veg and 50g rice

Have been finding it surprisingly easy and after nearly two years of calorie counting it is a huge relief to just eat and not worry about the amounts. Because of this I am eating 3 good sized meals and not feeling the need to snack.

After 3 days (weighing this morning) I have lost 4 and a quarter pounds and an inch off my waist and an inch off my hips. Shows how much water I was retaining!

Feel very good and am not missing the carbs at all which surprises me as I am a massive bread monster but I don't feel any cravings for it.

Very happy with the diet so far

at Wildstrawberry - your meals sound delicious!

Its worth signing up to the website. I've just had her latest newsletter which says red wine is recommended with food, and if you go out and drink and fancy a take-away, have some chocolate.

I knew I liked this diet

Oh good, as I just had ILs over for dinner and had a glass of wine. I don't suppose chocolate cake and ice cream are recommended though .

Well done Nikki!

Just checking in quickly. I'm still trying . (I've not been able to check in very regularly as I've suddenly got really busy since ds1 has started school and dh uses the laptop occasionally for work.)

October is definitely my month to lose the weight. I have a spa day booked early November with friends. They're all slimmer than me and I don't want to be the fat one in the jacuzzi!
I'll be thrilled with a 10lb loss so here we go....

Hi all

I didn't weigh myself today as I forgot but will do tomorrow morning. Good luck with your weight losses

I shall join you squid! I have 20lbs to lose in three months so a 10lb loss this month would sort me right out

I am going back to Phase 1 again on Monday. I seem to be slipping up too much now. Having said that, I have lost 7.5lbs since really trying to be good. I want to lose another 6.5lbs as that is the goal I set myself before I try to stop smoking again and continuing to lose weight. I am so fed up with this extra weight. I did manage to lose 2.5 stone with Slimming World a couple of years ago but it has all crept back on. I know I can do this, I just have to be more focussed.

Wahay everybody I've lost 3lb this week

That's 12lb down, only 5lb to go!

Amazing since I was bingeing on chocolate biscuits and fudge for 3 out of 4 days!

Yesterday I had:
porridge & blueberries
trout with spicy ratatouille (day before's roast aubergines, courgettes, red onions etc simmered up with tinned tomatoes and chilli flakes)
3 bowls of kallo with soya milk & NLY (was supposed to be going out for dinner but was so tired this was all I could rustle up!)

2bay: You sound like me. I'd guess your choc cravings will go in another week (on phase 2), though you'll never lose interest in choc! I've cheated a few times (all catalogued above) and the cravings have returned but I've found since being on this diet that they never take as long to die off as they did the first time. Eating huge amounts of NLY is fine I think - it hasn't interfered with my weightloss.

Sputnik I would recommend getting the book - not the best written in the world (which is maybe why this amazing diet hasn't caught on as much as it should) but it's really good for motivation and the food tables etc are great for reference. Also a few useful recipes.

Well done with the loss nikki