The Harcombe Diet: Stop Counting Calories & Start Losing Weight

About me: 6'4", 230-235 lbs, 46 years old. Relatively fit. Workout 3-4 times/week: weights, high intensity training, and cardio. I am considered 'skinny', 'in good shape' and 'fit' by my peers (who only see me with my clothes on!-). I have a sedentary work schedule with 12 hour shifts in front of a computer the entire time. I have historically ignored the scale entirely. I am a mirror feedback person who gauges his fitness on how I choose to look physically and how my body performs in real world situations. I typically have a relatively muscled physique with problem areas in the 'spare tire' area and inner thighs where my body fat tends to collect regardless of workout patterns. I purchased Zoe's book in May 2016 and as of today 9/24/2016 (4 months) I am down 16 pounds to 215 lbs. I have not done body fat metrics so I can't make those comparisons. I can however say that I have clear and obvious abdominal muscle visibility as well as significant reduction in the 'spare tire'. I still don't quite have the 'perfect' upper body V shape that body building enthusiasts covet but I have a feeling it may be on its way. Side note: since I started the diet my workouts have fallen off significantly to about 2 times per week due to work and family constraints, but the weight continues to come off. I recently cut back my alcohol consumption to zero just to see what impact it was having on my approach to my 'natural weight'. My alcohol consumption had been fine tuned to Budweiser 55 and straight bourbon to significantly minimize carbs but my gut feeling was that it was still limiting my progress. To be honest, I am probably not the purist on the diet that some here are. My phase 1 was perfect and since phase one I've rarely shifted from it since I really don't care for carb/veggie meals at all other than beans and rice which I've probably had twice since I started. For the most part I eat meat and veggies at every meal. I eat until I'm full but i don't read salad dressing bottles, i just pour it on to taste. I also have an occasional square of 72% dark chocolate as my late night treat before bed, and I drink water, 1.5 cups of black coffee per day and the occasional coke zero. I have ZERO cravings for ANYTHING and am surrounded by sugar addicts in my house who still eat processed carbs like they're going out of style. My wife exercises like her life depends on it and binges on sugar at night and is considering lipo for her birthday. (all I can do is lead by example. The rest is up to them.) This lifestyle change (diet is a dirty word to me) WORKS. This is the first system I've tried that I know without a doubt I can maintain ad infinitum. Oh, and yes I've had the occasional cheat day too in the past 4 months. A bacon cheeseburger with my wife for lunch, wedding food (it was disgusting), and a piece of pizza a couple times. The next day I go right back to meat and veggies and never look back. No guilt or concern (nor nasty side effects to date). My next stop is my annual physical. I can't wait to see what my typically borderline high cholesterol is doing. I'll report back with updates when they come in. If you want results just try it. Do a month. You'll be sold. 4 months later I still am.

I began Phase 1 on January 29, 2017 and on February 1, I opened an account with Higi.com to Track My Numbers for free using the Higi station located at my local pharmacy (found all over the USA). I mention the station just to explain that if it wasn't for the recorded information I wouldn't believe the numbers. I am stunned by my results after only 3 weeks!Beginning of Harcombe Diet:On February 1, 2017:Blood Pressure - 99/59Pulse - 71Weight - 138Body Mass Index - 23.853 Weeks on Harcombe DietOn February 24, 2017:Blood Pressure - 90/58Pulse - 71Weight - 128Body Mass Index - 22.14I finished Phase 1 on February 2 and on February 3 I left for a vacation in Maui with my family and started Phase 2 the same day. Being on vacation, I was afraid that I would not stay on track, but I did. On the flight over, I finished reading the book. It was not hard at all to stick to the plan. I just followed the book.I absolutely love this plan. It really isn't a diet it is a wonderful lifestyle to follow over a lifetime. I am a lifelong vegan (having never tasted meat or fish). So yes this plan does work even if you are a vegan, and no, I do not eat tofu and avoid processed soy products at all costs, yet I can manage to do Zoe's plan and it works perfectly.The Harcombe Diet is just perfect. I can't believe my results. I want to still lose 10 more pounds to reach my ideal weight of 119 lbs. I have struggled for 7 whole years to get my weight to budge and have been met only with bitter disappointment.Only the Harcombe Diet has done it for me. Zone didn't do it. Atkins didn't do it. Wheat Belly didn't do it. Alkaline didn't do it. Fully Raw didn't do it. Raw Til 4 didn't do it. Dr Fuhrman didn't do it. Forks Over Knives didn't do it. (In combination with) Jazzercise didn't do it. Jillian Micheal's didn't do it. Yoga didn't do it. BeachBody didn't do it. Bellicon didn't do it. ONLY The Harcome Diet did it, which is why I felt compelled to take the time to write this review.I still apply the basic ideas and principles of all of the above and workout by doing all of the above. What I am trying to say is that after 7 years of trying, I thought nothing would do if for me. I thought The Harcombe Diet would be just like the rest - unsustainable and unable to deliver. I was so wrong. Turns out the Harcombe Diet did work for me! Her plan is a subtly different yet at the same time completely different plan than anything I have ever tried.I won't give away the secrets contained in her book, I will just say, if you're like me do yourself a favour. Read the book, follow the plan precisely and you will receive the results of your dreams. I know I did. Zoe is very smart to figure out what she has, and I enjoyed her book immensely. I plan to read every book she has written.No, by some standards it may seem I didn't have a huge amount to lose. Yet I know millions of others know how it feels. Yes,I have eaten a healthy diet since the time I was born. (Zoe explains very well how that's not the problem.) Yet I was miserable every single day that my old clothes didn't fit and that it was seemingly impossible for me to reach my goal of losing 10, 15, and then 20 pounds (that's right, I was seeing the weight actually increase despite all my efforts to diet and exercise. I don't want to be obsessed every day with how I feel and worried about the affect the food I eat will have on my body. I just want to enjoy my life and that is what I can do now with Zoe's help.Zoe and her plan:Different than anything else; just brilliant.Zoe, if you ever read this:THANKS A MILLIONI will update as soon as I reach my goal to lose another 10 lbs (10 + 10 = 20 lbs) and include before & after pics. Thanks for reading.

A really interesting read, which I thoroughly recommend. It was helpful that Zoe had gone through yo-yo dieting and struggled with weight issues in the past - she shows empathy to those struggling with their weight and eating, including food addictions. Her honesty was refreshing! The eating plan (I hate the word diet!) was explained simply and clearly, backed up with sound reasoning - watch your insulin levels (too much makes you put weight on).As a vegetarian, it can be difficult to follow some plans - Atkins works well for me for losing weight but maintaining this afterwards has been difficult (for me) - the weight goes back on (and some!). I struggle with carbs, in terms of weight gain, so know I have to restrict my intake; however, you can eat a sensible, yet low carb diet on the Harcombe plan (with more carbs than Atkins). Not mixing fats and carbs has also been quite easy (there may be special occasions where you break this, which Zoe acknowledges, that you do not need to beat yourself up about!). It reminds me of Atkins combined with The Hay Diet but it has worked brilliantly for me. I lost two stone in four months - I have been on it for five months now, including going on holiday (I was 11 stone 8lb in May, at 5ft 3ins, and am now down to 9 stone 4lb and still losing weight quite easily but more slowly now).This book has genuinely transformed the way I eat and not only do I now weigh less, I feel so much better in myself - no headaches or IBS - apart from when I have the odd off day due to a special occasion. I also know I will not return to my previous bad eating habits - this will be how I eat for the rest of my life. I have bought this for two of my friends who have had similar problems to me - I look forward to seeing their journey! Good luck to you if you choose this eating plan!

This was recommended to me by my sister-in-law. I'd be trying to lose 14lbs for a while but not managed - but now I have.Initially reading the book and understanding what you're doing is quite hard but once you get into it the diet is easy/ The first 5 days are quite difficult, especially if you're giving up caffeine, but I lost 6lbs in the first week.Phase 2 gets easier and it is a case of planning your menu and understanding that carbs and protein shouldn't be mixed. It's also all about avoiding processed food and, I find, sugar.What has amazed me is that my taste for sweet things has disappeared. No chocolate cravings and just the occassional scone.I'm now into phase 3 and so long as you're sensible it's easy to stick to good food and maintain weight - even when you're eating out.Not written in the style of usual diet books which some people may find hard but very effective. I now have 6 other people on the same diet!!!

Waste of time, this is just a rehash of the Hay diet, written 100 years ago and based on food combining, whilst Dr Hay can be forgiven for not knowing any better, nutrition and our understanding of it has come on in leaps and bounds since then. Zoe Harcombe can’t be so easily let off the hook. I looked her up and she is widely regarded by serious scientists and doctors as a quack. Since this book was published she has made several spurious claims in the media that fruit, vegetables and indeed fibre are not necessary and are rather pointless. She’s another low carb fan. This book advises you don’t eat foods containing fat and carbs together because of some weird theory that the stomach can’t digest them.The upshot is if you are expecting anything new or innovative you are going to be disappointed. To my mind the science is bogus, the chapters on Candida and food intolerances contain a long list of extremely vague and very common symptoms which could apply to almost anything. And the dietary advice and recipes are not practical. It’s just more low carb advice and mantra.I’m afraid the only way to lose weight and keep it off is to adopt a healthy, balanced diet and take some exercise. Rather than buying the book put the money towards a gym membership or a bicycle.

This proclaims you can eat all your favorite foods and then goes on to say you cannot eat fat with carbohydrate...so spaghetti bolognaise out then.This is a rehash of the age old HAY Diet.

Best diet EVER if you’re not vegan! It WORKS!!! No other diet is ever needed. This is healthy wholesome eating, this loses weight like nothing I’ve seen before (I’m a nurse) ... my partner lost 4 stone in 3 months and came off his BP tablets.. BUT not easy for Vegans... I have tried as a vegan but found it difficult for variety and psychological food comfort... Zoe has taught me loads about nutrition and health and I dip into this diet as soon as I feel unhealthy, which I’m not and I’m using it to battle my cancer... since using her book I cannot stand cheap sugary snacks, I cannot even eat less than 70% chocolate or confection it tastes fake ! I’m back on this diet after chemo etc but I’m doing it as a non vegan (I still don’t eat meat only fish on occasions) mainly because I’m eating cheese again and avoiding all PROCESSED food, which sadly a lot of vegan food is processed so has added sugars. If you follow her rules you will notice SUCH a difference in your life... it’s hard to go back to ‘normal’ you won’t WANT to, you will know what food does to your body, you know how insulin works and how bad candida is! I bought the kindle AND the paperback and carry it around with me! I’ve recommended it to so many people after comments I had about how slim I looked. I went down to my goal weight of 8 stone which is healthy for me.. my only snag is chemotherapy and steroids which creeps my weight up, (8.5 stone) as it causes hunger and cravings, but I can’t stop the treatment, however this should not affect everyone though !!!!! So give it a try :)))))