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

Also, can anyone give me any advice as I ma allergic to yoghurt and cheese and dont really like fish much apart from cod....is the diet still do-able?

goodness me, no wonder you lose weight on this. I weighed out 50g of brown rice with dinner tonight - it looks like a mouse's portion

Becaroo - I think baked beans aren't there as they have sugar and salt added and are considered as processed.

Plus yes it is very do able without cheese, yogurt and most fish.

Squid - Today I had eggs and bacon for breakfast, a prawn salad and yogurt for lunch and cod cooked with tinned tomatoes, garlic and herbs + roasted pepper, onion, sugar snap peas and mange tout.

Can any one tell me if I can have natural greek live yogurt?

Thanx mammyto1 but I'd like to know how much people are eating, if they don't mind. How big was your prawn salad? How much cod did you have etc
Sorry to be a pain - I just don't want to be hungry all the time but still want a good loss
I think I'm going to have to order the book, aren't I?

Hi, just finished Day 1 too. I didn't feel hungry but I've been sooo tried. I had 2 egg omelette for breakfast, chicken salad for lunch and really enjoyed brown rice & veg this evening. (Hambler- the 50g is pre-cooked weight!)

The lack of caffeine has hit me hard and I've found it difficult to keep up with my 2 little DDs this afternoon. Hoping that will pass soon.

No problem squid. I had 3 eggs and 2 bacon, 200g of prawns and plenty of salad, I suppose the cod would have been about 8cm by 5cm and was quite thick.

You can eat as much of beef, chicken, fish etc as you can but to try and stick to 3 meals a day. If you need to snack you can eat carrots and cucumber etc to keep you going.

I am not 100% clued up yet I haven't fully read the book yet

But I hope that helps!

Hi Squid

When I first started phase 1 for the first time, I had huge portions. I had about 4 rashers of bacon and 2 eggs for breakfast, for lunch - the measured 50g rice but with a large portion of the curry with side veg (usually fried courgette)
and for dinner 2 large pork chops, a whole fried courgette, tons of runner beans - I mean it looked like something a man with a death wish would eat frankly!

But, here I am over phase 1 now (for the 3rd time) and my appetite has significantly decreased. For instance, today all I wanted for breakfast was a few handfuls of dry kallo cereal (odd, but there we go) - pretty average portion of rice pasta with cottage cheese and spinach - and for dinner I had 3 chicken thighs which were quite small and a fried courgette.

Thanx
I think I'll have to eat more tomorrow. I was so tired and hungry today and even now after quite a good size dinner, I feel hungry.
I'll just have a big bowl of porridge for breakfast. Hopefully that'll sort me out.

Hi everyone,

I've almost finished my first day now and it isn't as bad as I thought it might be. I've found it a bit weird that you can eat as much as you want and all my food has been fried (except the salad and veg!). It's not how I've obviously been programmed to think being on a diet should be. That said I haven't been snacking and have eaten a pretty large amount of salad and veg.

For info Squid I had 3 rashers of bacon and 2 eggs for breakfast, lots of salad inc 5 smallish cooked beetroot and 2 salmon fillets for lunch and carrot, runner beans and tomato with lamb leg steak for dinner.

I'd forgotten about the yoghurt until just now so will have that as an after dinner treat.

I haven't been particularly hungry today which makes a big change as I'd usually be looking in the fridge and cupboards constantly whether I'm dieting or not! But on the downside I have been a bit out of sorts instead which I suppose is a result of not snacking on loads of processed food.

Hi girls

Its been my first day too. Not found it too difficult - breakfasts probably the most difficult as I worked today, and I usually have cereal at my desk! I ordered the book last night so Ihope it arrives before this 5 days is up!

I don'tknow if I am making this up, but I think I feel less bloated - anyone else?

Another question - I've just had half a large tub of light natural greek yoghurt (2.7% fat). Is that ok or does she specify what type of yoghurt in her book?

I needed that anyway, was starving

Day 2, here we come . (I'll try to make a better job of it!)

Rinkydinky my 50g portion was indeed precooked weight
Am I the only one who finds this a teeny tiny portion?
No wonder I am fat!

ANyway thanks to you ladies , I have ordered the book and plan to join you in your shrinking endeavours

Hi all, wow this thread has really taken off!

Just checking in briefly but -

squid: You can eat as much as you like of the allowed foods remember. Don't think about portion size - as long as you're not eating yourself sick. Do not go hungry or it will not work.

Porridge and rice are the only limited things. Go for 75g porridge tomorrow, made up with water.

My Greek yogurt is made of yogurt + cream. As pure live yogurt is the only dairy allowed, Greek isn't on in Phase 1 AFAIK.

hambler - yes 50g is a small portion of rice. It's not meant to be the main part of your meal! I added tons of veg to it and followed it with yogurt. You need to make sure you do fill yourself up.

My food intake today:
Kallo + soy milk
Mum's for lunch: she made fish pie followed by fruit - I managed to have a small portion of just the fish pie filling (felt really picky but think she understood), loads of green beans and carrots, and then cheekily asked for yogurt instead of fruit. Phew.
Felt really hungry after this so had more yogurt when I got home.
Dinner out: crab salad. This had mayo and vinaigrette on it so not strictly phase 1 but best thing I could find. More yogurt back home.

Well done everyone with the losses so far and have a great day tomorrow

Thanks Franch.
CAn anyone who has completed the first 5 days comment on how hard it was or indeed wasn't?

It does look VERY tough!

Easy peasy compared to any other diet I've done. As you'll see above I did feel pretty bad for a couple of days but nowhere near as bad as I did on an Atkins-style diet, and never hungry which is wonderful.

Hi Hambler

I found phase 1 really easy because I love all veg, meat, fish, rice and yoghurt. I didn't really miss caffeine at all and felt motivated like I was doing myself good as I could feel myself slimming up from day 2/3. All I can is compare it to the misery I suffered on Rosemary Conley's 14 day kick start diet a few months ago where she promises 7lbs loss in 14 days.....I lost a pound. I was almost suicidal.

Someone was asking about Mayonnaise and Baked Beans - she recommends baked beans from health shops - I haven't tried them yet but have bought kidney beans from tesco whole food section where no salt or sugar added.

Mayonnaise - she recommends you make it yourself in the traditional way from egg yolks and olive oil! I enjoy cooking but that's a bit beyond me so I'm happy without for a while I think.

Thanks Franch and Frags (sounds like a trendy organic bakery )

Not wanting to rush these things I am enjoying a big glass of wine and a granola bar...
But I will be joining you very soon!

Frags what was the gist of the RC diet that failed so miserably?

Hey hambler, hope that wine going down well

I don't know about RC....well I've got a better understanding since learning about calories and caffeine through this diet.

I exercised every other day, I was really strict, but felt bloated all the time - it was the coffee and diet coke you're allowed in unlimited quantities probably and the fact I was starving myself!

Any low fat/low cal diet I've ever tried and lost weight on always goes straight back on eventually. I really feel differently this time.....here's hoping anyway!!

frag that's great. I did RC too and lost nothing but it was so long ago I don't really remember it.

Do you have much to lose?

Hambler I've got 1st 5lbs to go. It's shifting faster than I've ever seen on any other diet which is why I'm such a Zoe fan!

How much have you got to go?

Hi Squid - you can have full fat greek or any kind of yoghurt you want in phase 2, but in phase 1 it has to be low fat natural live yoghurt. I use Tesco own brand.

Thanks for letting me know about the greek yogurt. I did have some of the M&S one yesterday and it was delish. So much easier to eat than natural live yogurt

I had headaches and tiredness yesterday but feeling a lot better today. I was thinking work was going to be trying as they have cakes in the canteen. Normally I would really want one but today not a bother. God this is an easy diet. I am loving it!!!!

I'm just about to join you - starting tomorrow - as I am at my heaviest, having gained half a stone since June - yikes! It's probably because I have rediscovered a love of a glass or three of wine in the evening, which just goes so well with a couple of bags of crisps! Don't like being this heavy, though and really want to do something about it and a quick start would be just the thing to get me going.
That said, I had a pre diet McDonald's for lunch, followed by a double decker for an afternoon snack
Fraggle a friend of mine makes her own mayo using a hand blender and says she just puts the ingredients in and whizzes it together. I've never tried it myself, but if it really IS that easy...

Day 2 (?)
The Bad News- my fish was out of date and fridge is full of non phase 1 stuff so not sure what I'll do for supper yet...

The Good News- my book has arrived today and I can't wait to get stuck in once the DDs are in bed...

Hambler- I'm really not a fan of rice so it's not surprising that I'm fine with the little portion. I've padded it out with uber- loads of veg. That works for me particularly because it "hides" the rice.

I am so very much missing tea and coffee . All I want is a big fat frothy cappuccino made with proper espresso . Or just a nice comfort- mug of tea!

fraggle/mammy: it doesn't have to be low fat live yogurt in phase 1. On the news of the world site she says: "You don't have to eat low fat yoghurt in Phase 1. The key thing is to get the live/bio yoghurt, as this has good bacteria that help kill off Candida.
Go for a higher fat, creamier version - it really is delicious. If you hate it, don't have it - just stick to the meat/fish/veg/salad/eggs/brown rice instead."

Good luck MrsM!

I've been getting what I deserve from weighing daily the last couple of days. Yesterday I found I'd put 2lb back on (my weight always does this - no surprise - plus I'm getting near my period); no change today. Part of me is of course worrying that I'm stalling just as I did on the Atkins-style diet and that this is all too good to be true - so I'll need some extra support if this carries on. Will try to stop weighing daily soon.

Today I ate:
Breakfast: kallo + soy milk
Lunch out: salmon salad (minus the avocado)
Dinner: was so hungry when I got in that I ate a load of yogurt, and then was too full for dinner. Will have a bit of something later if I get hungry again but am trying not to snack too much.

Rinky really well done with the caffeine! That's fantastic and I promise you it will get easier. You might as well consider yourself on phase 1 - ZH is very hot on postponing - just go for it