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

Hello everyone !
I've just printed the summarised 5 day plan and am already worried about the lack of caffeine and how I will cope.
I have to check the contents of fridge etc and see if I can make a start in the next few days.

BUT I'm really worried about how I'll cope. I love my morning tea and by mid afternoon I am desperate for a coffee, or two, or three...

I have lost a little bit of weight with WW but it's such slow progress and I'm sure that sugar/ carbs etc has a lot to do with it.

Please could someone reassure me because I really want and need to loose the extra weight.

Rinky its really easy to follow. I haven't craved chocolate any were near as bad as I was. You can have decaf tea and coffee but your not aloud milk or sugar with it. Would you be ok with that?

Hi Rinkydink,

I suggest you switch to decaf coffee and tea and try to stick with it. Phase 1 doesn't allow milk, but if you really can't give up milk in coffee, perhaps try skimmed goat's milk? That isn't a ZH tip btw but it might help you get through.

And try herbal tea - mint is very refreshing.

She's very definite about needing to give up caffeine for the five-day stint though - unfortunately if you're very addicted to caffeine you'll probably have withdrawal symptoms.

Also do any of you add anything to the live yogurt as I find it makes me gag?

Hi Mammy - you can have berries with yogurt in Phase 2, as a snack - can't think of anything else.

If you're having full-fat yogurt as part of a fat meal, you could put some fresh mint and cumin in it and use it as a dressing -would be lovely with lamb. Or if you're veggie with tofu kebabs.

Thanks daily, I am still in phase 1 and was thinking of having it at breakfast but is really hard to swallow on its own

Welcome Rinky

Is goat's milk OK though TDMIC? ZH lists it in the same 'food family' as cow's, so would it have similar properties within the context of this diet? She says soya milk is ok though ('not a disaster' in phase 1 and fine in phase 2 - here.)

Mammy - of course you don't have to have yogurt at all. But you may be like me - not keen on savoury breakfasts and wanting to save your carbs for later in the day. Luckily I adore yogurt and am eating bucketloads - I'd say if you're not keen, avoid it - this diet is not about suffering!

Had a great day - hope I haven't eaten too much! (I know there's no rationing but she does warn against stuffing yourself silly!)

I had:
Yogurt
Salad with trout (leftover from last night), dressed with olive oil; yogurt
Roast chicken, salads (green and tomato), green beans and roasted onions & courgettes; large portion of yogurt!

As I had a large portion of chicken, it was really dry so I'm afraid I did have a tiny bit of gravy just to moisten it. (And yes it did have flour in.) Showed amazing self-control over the roast potatoes though

Fingers crossed ...

Hi Rinky! Welcome

Have you ordered the book? It explains so much to you about why we crave things and why they make us fat. She's really strict about caffeine because it raises your insulin like sugar/bad carbs and too much insulin makes you store fat.

I'm so looking forward to my first (decaff) coffee and milk tomorrow - it's the end of phase 1 for me tonight and milk is allowed from tomorrow. Just can't drink black coffee at all, but found decaff tea or decaff earls grey nice in the morning.

Remember it's all about killing your cravings. Just keep that in mind - if you can get through just 5 days without caffeine you'll feel great.

Hi Franch - no, I don't think goat's milk is the best thing to have at all - ZH certainly doesn't recommend it in Phase 1 - but if it stopped someone reaching for the caffeine I'm guessing it would be the lesser evil. It tastes more similar to cow's milk (logicially, if it's in the same family).

But I hadn't read the bit about soya milk, so obviously best to go for that instead - however imho soya milk tastes very different to cow or goat milk.

But best of all in Phase 1 is to do without milk completely - it is only 5 days.

I've just had surf n turf - a tiny bit of steak and various white fish with mixed veg roasted in olive oil - onions, aubergine, butternet squash and asparagus - yum! Am now considering berries and yogurt.

I managed to avoid the temptation to have wine, although really felt like some - there's a bottle of white shouting at me from the fridge. It's certainly one of the "foods" I crave so I'm trying to stick to ZH advice and not reintroduce alcohol soon.

Franch that sounds yum! Doubt the gravy had an affect at all.

TDMIC - wine's one of my weaknesses too. From what Zoe says it seems like it's a candida thing! I'm out for a drink on Wednesday - will just do no carbs at all on Thurs to make up for it

Thanks for the reassurance fraggle

Your dinner sounds gorgeous TDMIC

Chocolate's my biggest weakness - though luckily the 85% cocoa variety - but yes, wine's not easy to avoid is it ...

I've just read through this thread and I'm really inspired by everyone's weight losses.
I've decided I'm going to give this a go
This diet really does look do-able. It doesn't seem boring and the meals look quite straightforward.

I'm going to try the one that's linked to The Mirror. I'm starting tomorrow.

I have 2 stones to lose.

Thanks everyone for the responses and the encouragement. It's inspiring to hear the successes.

I've ordered the book tonight. I'll try to follow the summarised version until then, although I'm not sure if I have the right food in the fridge at the mo. And I'm having the girls over on Thurs and have promised moussaka.
Anyway I'll take it one little step at a time.

I can't wait to read about the caffeine and insulin relationship. It could answer for a lot since I've become a bit of a caffeine fiend of late and have been having trouble shifting the pounds...

I'll be stocking up on eggs and brown rice tomorrow... And I'll report on my coffee hangover- wish me luck!

I've been following this thread since Friday and I'm now feeling totally inspired by the success stories and how easy to follow this looks. I'm starting tomorrow and am looking forward to seeing how it all goes.

Hi welcome along squashedfrogs - great name lol!

Glad everyone's feeling inspired and motivated

Rinky - drink plenty of water. You'll probably have a few headaches, but just keep flushing yourself out.

I didn't attribute some of my bloatedness to all the coffee and diet cokes I would drink until I read the book. I was having about 3 or 4 a day but then I was using it for energy as have 3 yr old and 1 yr old at home. Easily done....but then easily stopped as well

I'm intrigued - might try this diet, but I am breast feeding a 5 month old. Will doing this diet affect my milk supply? should I hold off dieting altogether until baby is weaned?

Hi Squashedfrogs & welcome

Jemart I can't see it being a problem as it is heathy eating.

I must say I did cheat with the yogurt last night and added a wee bit of honey. I have 3 pots to get through so willl try without the honey today

Hi Jemart

In her book she says this diet is absolutely fine throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding as you aren't denying your body of anything.

Well weighed in this morning and that's another 2lbs since Friday - making that 5lbs since Wednesday - the textbook 5lbs in 5 days! Really chuffed, phase 2 for me now

Have a good day everyone

Well done fraggle thats great!!!!!

Hi all - first post on here.

I have been reading through this thread this morning and it sounds interesting but i have one major question. How would the diet work for a veggie-phobe like me? I have real problems with salad and veg (have been around for years and can't seem to shift them) and i love carrots (raw or cooked) but not much else! I don't mind veggie soups if they are blended so no chunks but was wondering whether it was worth giving the diet a try or would it just not work without the veg?

Thanks

I was once like you choccyfiend, have improved greatly with my veg eating since having children because I forced myself to eat veg to set a good example for them.
Initially my approach was to have a a mixed forkful so as not to notice the taste/texture as much. Roast dinners are a good place to start with this approach cause you can smother it all with gravy.
I actually quite like veg now, especially broccoli
I have yet to conquer salads though

I've now completed day 1

I must admit that I found it quite difficult. I don't think I had enough for lunch and was starving all afternoon.
Can I ask how much food everyone is eating? What veg do/did you eat in phase 1?
According to the bikini diet, you can have any except mushrooms and potatoes but I understand you can't really have sweetcorn or sweet potato?
I think I need some filling veg

I don't really like eggs so am probably going to have porridge or that rice cereal evry morning then stick to fish or meat and veg or salad for lunch and dinner.

Hope I get a good loss too!

Hi. Book has arrived and I have skimmed through it, but I have a couple of questions that I cant find answers to in the book...is mayo classed as a fat or carb? And there are no mention on tinned bakes beans...tinned tomatoes but not beans...can anyone shed any light on this for me?

Am planning to start on thurs/fri as I think the 5 day detox is going to hit me HARD! Dh is thinking of doing it with me though, which will make life easier

Good luck everyone. Hope you are feeling better tomorrow fimbles.