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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

This could change your life

849 replies

fraggletits · 04/08/2009 12:30

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

OP posts:
RinkyDinkyPinky · 25/08/2009 19:42

Thank You Franch!

Can you tell me what the Kallo cereal is please? Is it the same as rice krispies? or are there different things I should look for?

kmowell · 25/08/2009 21:12

What a popular thread!!!Hey girls, you all sound like you are doing so well, ordered my book by amazon this afternoon so hoping to get to grips with it and shed some weight.Have a 6 week old and not weighed myself in months but think prob about 2 stone to lose. However, sounds a bit complicated, maybe i should follow the link to the paper it was in while i work things out from the book?
How is everyone getting on with their weight loss, good results make me want to start straight away.....(grin)

YouLukaPrettyAmazing · 25/08/2009 21:13

I've also ordered the book from Amazon and hope to begin phase one tomorrow. Looking forward to the support. My evening wine will be my biggest stumbling block I think. I have two stone to lose and am feeling motivated by you all.

thedailymailiscrap · 25/08/2009 22:42

Hello all,

I'm now on day 4 of phase 2. I've been very strict in following the diet, but have been eating loads and have taken the opportunity this week to have 2 carb meals a day and 1 fat - I didn't feel great eating so much animal protein last week.

The scales this morning showed I'd put on 1lb though... I shouldn't judge by just one weigh-in, so I'll see how it goes. And I'm still over 3lb lighter than the start of last week, so it's going in the right direction.

It may be that, as I'm within a healthy weight range and would just like my clothes to fit better, I may be reaching what ZH calls my "natural weight", which is still about 1 stone over my pre-dc weight, but they are teenagers now.

TMI alert now - has anyone else found they're opening their bowels less and producing less poo? I wonder if this is because there are less toxins to get rid of and I'm absorbing more nutrients? I certainly feel very healthy this week!

franch · 25/08/2009 23:03

Rinky - Kallo def not the same as rice crispies. It's like sugar puffs without the sugar - and brown, not white. Ingredients 100% brown rice.
This is it.
Where to buy - scroll to the bottom.

hambler · 26/08/2009 00:54

fraggle I need to lose about 20 pounds.
Book expected to arrive on Sept 1st

mammyto1 · 26/08/2009 07:27

Hello all, franch thanks for the yogurt update. I think the 1st set of natural yogurt was off because I bought some as sainbos yesterday and tastes completely different.

Also franch I think this is the most supportive diet thread I have ever been on so you are at the right place

I have been doing phase 1 since Saturday and so far have lost 3.5lbs.

Yesterday I had
Kallo + soy milk - (1st time for soy milk and don't think I will have it again)
Chicken salad and roasted veg
Chicken and a load of roasted veg

I haven't gotten round to buying brown rice but haven't missed the carbs to be honest.

mammyto1 · 26/08/2009 07:59

I am thick sometimes, just realised I am having carbs for my breakfast

Squidmission · 26/08/2009 08:00

I'm on day 3 now
Yesterday was much easier. I had 75g of porridge for breakfast, a can of tuna and roasted veg for lunch and somechicken and salad for dinner. I had 2 pots of yoghurt too.
I didn't feel hungry at all.

My main problem is I'm a bit constipated at the moment. I may have to give in and eat an apple or something.

Squidmission · 26/08/2009 08:01

Well done on your weight loss mammyto1!

mammyto1 · 26/08/2009 08:16

Thanks squid. I am the same as you but it does only last 5 days and then you can get back to eating a bit of fruit

Squidmission · 26/08/2009 09:32

What fruit can you eat after the initial 5 days? I looked at the phase 2 download and all it says is low sugar fruit.

Thedailymailiscrap (I enjoyed typing that ) I think if you're having 2 carb meals, your weight may go a little bit up as you hold more water with carbs. Hopefully, fat is still going down though!
I've hardly gone to the loo in 3 days!

I don't like eating that much protein either. I'm fine with once a day so I'll switch to 2 carb meals too.

franch · 26/08/2009 09:41

Why don't you try psyllium husks for the constipation squid? Neris & India recommend them on their low-carb diet and they do work.

I'm stalled, guys! Put 2lb back on at the weekend (despite sticking to phase 1) and can't shift it. My period's due early next week but I am on the pill and haven't stopped it yet - does my body really know I'm about to? I thought the hormones only changed when you came off it for the week. Maybe I'll start a thread about that.

I need to stop weighing daily but just can't resist the temptation every morning (maybe this is replacing my other addictions!). I did promise myself after I put the 2lb back on that as soon as I started losing again I'd start weighing once a week - I feel like I need the encouragement of a little bit of loss before I leave them alone. Also I have some cheating planned on Fri (10th anniv - eating at Le Gavroche) so any weigh-in after that is not going to be good news! I at least need 1 more weigh before then ...

franch · 26/08/2009 09:43

squid I think you can have any fruit with a carb meal on phase 2. And low sugar fruits are berries which you can have with anything. Is that right, everyone?

Squidmission · 26/08/2009 09:56

Franch I definitely agree that you should only weigh once a week. Otherwise you'll have a day like this and feel down and de-motivated. The 2lb could be anything - a bit of water retention, stomach a bit clogged up etc. Don't worry about it and stick to one day to weigh yourself, like fri am?

Don't forget how much you've lost already You've done really well.

franch · 26/08/2009 10:24

Thanks Squid, you're so right. Of course I'm ok with 1 bad day but have now had 3 in a row which I wasn't expecting! But yes I have still lost 4lb, so the weight to be lost is still under 1st which is good.

Will try to resist till Fri AM

mammyto1 · 26/08/2009 10:40

Also franch I am on the pill but when I am due I still put on a few pounds but they go again when my peroid starts. Again 4lb is a lot - its like 8 packs of butter - just imagine that and it will cheer you up (hopefully)

Squidmission · 26/08/2009 10:46

Just a thought though, are you snacking? If so try to do just the 3 meals.

squashedfrogs · 26/08/2009 10:49

I'm having problems with the daily weighing too. I was so excited at the prospect of losing weight this week that after only losing 1/4 of a lb yesterday and being back to my starting weight today (day 3) I have been glum this morning.

I'm going to persevere through and am thinking of blitzing my house to distract me today.

On the plus side though I haven't had any cravings for the food I would normally be eating and I'm not feeling hungry between meals.

franch · 26/08/2009 11:13

Thanks mammy Maybe it is that.

Squid: I am snacking a bit, but only when I get really hungry. I know hunger works against this diet - but snacking does too - so it's tricky ...

You have my sympathy squashedfrogs! Do persevere, am sure you'll get there.

Here's to weekly weigh-ins

mammyto1 · 26/08/2009 11:17

Shall we all report in on a friday to say how much we have lost in that week?

mammyto1 · 26/08/2009 11:19

Plus I have been snacking a little on roasted veggies at about 11ish and a bit of yogurt around 4ish. If I didn't do that I think I would be grabbing chocolate

Squidmission · 26/08/2009 14:00

I'm really struggling to not eat bread. The kids have been having toast. To me, there is nothing nicer than butter and marmite on toast.

I'm not going to eat any and I'm determined to do this but its darned hard.

[Repeats to self 'nothing tastes as good as being slim feels']

Squidmission · 26/08/2009 14:01

Good idea for Friday weigh in.

YouLukaPrettyAmazing · 26/08/2009 14:35

Friday weigh in sounds like a good idea, although I'm going away for the weekend and my anniversary is on Monday so think I'm going to put off starting til Tues, kids back in school next week so time to get into a routine, plus gives me time to look at the book and decide what's going on. Great to hear how everyone's doing. Glad I stumbled upon this thread.
Franch - am very at Le Gavroche. Happy Anniversary!
Squidmission - think I may have to borrow your little ditty sometimes if that's ok?