The Harcombe diet.
Discussion
I caught a little snippet on the radio yesterday about this diet.
http://theharcombediet.com/
Any views?
What attracted my attention was mention of bacon and eggs for breakfast!
http://theharcombediet.com/
Any views?
What attracted my attention was mention of bacon and eggs for breakfast!
Just reading this makes me angry. The whole thing about "The calorie theory is wrong" is total BS. It doesn't work for people who hopelessly lie to themselves about how much they are eating, and in many cases, do not have a clue how many calories they are intaking.
The details are vague, but "3 phase" approach leads me to believe it is similar to the Ducan/South Beach diet. The vagueness is worrying, and really, there are no shortcuts and there is nothing new under the sun.
Most prescriptive diets do work, but typically because it's much easier to focus when you're following a plan, than when you're trying to feel your way around. For a start, virtually all the best snack foods are carbs, if most people cut out cake/crisps/bread/chocolate/sweets from their diet, they would probably lose weight.
Unless you're trying to get down to a very low body fat percentage, then most strict diets are overkill. 3x healthy meals per day and 2x healthy snacks with no junk and a light amount of exercise will see most people shedding 1 - 2lb per week, until you are at your ideal weight.
The details are vague, but "3 phase" approach leads me to believe it is similar to the Ducan/South Beach diet. The vagueness is worrying, and really, there are no shortcuts and there is nothing new under the sun.
Most prescriptive diets do work, but typically because it's much easier to focus when you're following a plan, than when you're trying to feel your way around. For a start, virtually all the best snack foods are carbs, if most people cut out cake/crisps/bread/chocolate/sweets from their diet, they would probably lose weight.
Unless you're trying to get down to a very low body fat percentage, then most strict diets are overkill. 3x healthy meals per day and 2x healthy snacks with no junk and a light amount of exercise will see most people shedding 1 - 2lb per week, until you are at your ideal weight.
This is the diet advice I was given by one of the most senior medical researchers in the UK:
Most fad diets are exactly that. They are usually based on unscientific nonsense and never from peer-reviewed scientific work.
The calorie counting system works. Your body needs X amount of calories a day, and carbs are the best source of these. Carbs are broken down into sugars ready to be used and are stored in your liver for approx 8-10 hours after you've eaten and are used as your body required. Any unused calories that exceed your body's energy requirements are stored as fat. If you continue to overeat, your body begins to store the excess not only in cells but also in your arteries, which is the point at which your health starts to become more seriously affected by your weight and the risk of heart disease etc increases.
Likewise if you burn more calories than you consume, your body starts to used stored fat to make up the shortfall in energy, and you lose weight.
The exact content of what you eat is important too, but the amount you eat relative to the amount of exercise you do is more important as far as weight loss goes.
In short, don't overeat, and get plenty of exercise.
With dieting there really is nothing new under the sun, and I suspect the Harcombe diet is utter bolleaux, scientifically speaking.
Most fad diets are exactly that. They are usually based on unscientific nonsense and never from peer-reviewed scientific work.
The calorie counting system works. Your body needs X amount of calories a day, and carbs are the best source of these. Carbs are broken down into sugars ready to be used and are stored in your liver for approx 8-10 hours after you've eaten and are used as your body required. Any unused calories that exceed your body's energy requirements are stored as fat. If you continue to overeat, your body begins to store the excess not only in cells but also in your arteries, which is the point at which your health starts to become more seriously affected by your weight and the risk of heart disease etc increases.
Likewise if you burn more calories than you consume, your body starts to used stored fat to make up the shortfall in energy, and you lose weight.
The exact content of what you eat is important too, but the amount you eat relative to the amount of exercise you do is more important as far as weight loss goes.
In short, don't overeat, and get plenty of exercise.
With dieting there really is nothing new under the sun, and I suspect the Harcombe diet is utter bolleaux, scientifically speaking.
I am now recording all exercise and food I eat with a Garmin and Training Peaks website. Yesterday I overate by 1500 calories, despite taking part in a 10k race. I think it was the 3 beers and half a bottle of wine. Oh well. Seems to be working, lost half a stone recently and am much fitter!
Sparta VAG said:
This is the diet advice I was given by one of the most senior medical researchers in the UK:
Most fad diets are exactly that. They are usually based on unscientific nonsense and never from peer-reviewed scientific work.
The calorie counting system works. Your body needs X amount of calories a day, and carbs are the best source of these. Carbs are broken down into sugars ready to be used and are stored in your liver for approx 8-10 hours after you've eaten and are used as your body required. Any unused calories that exceed your body's energy requirements are stored as fat. If you continue to overeat, your body begins to store the excess not only in cells but also in your arteries, which is the point at which your health starts to become more seriously affected by your weight and the risk of heart disease etc increases.
Likewise if you burn more calories than you consume, your body starts to used stored fat to make up the shortfall in energy, and you lose weight.
The exact content of what you eat is important too, but the amount you eat relative to the amount of exercise you do is more important as far as weight loss goes.
In short, don't overeat, and get plenty of exercise.
Carbs, especially refined are the devils own work, without a doubt THE reason why westerners are fat and lethargic. Eat them in very small amounts, they fMost fad diets are exactly that. They are usually based on unscientific nonsense and never from peer-reviewed scientific work.
The calorie counting system works. Your body needs X amount of calories a day, and carbs are the best source of these. Carbs are broken down into sugars ready to be used and are stored in your liver for approx 8-10 hours after you've eaten and are used as your body required. Any unused calories that exceed your body's energy requirements are stored as fat. If you continue to overeat, your body begins to store the excess not only in cells but also in your arteries, which is the point at which your health starts to become more seriously affected by your weight and the risk of heart disease etc increases.
Likewise if you burn more calories than you consume, your body starts to used stored fat to make up the shortfall in energy, and you lose weight.
The exact content of what you eat is important too, but the amount you eat relative to the amount of exercise you do is more important as far as weight loss goes.
In short, don't overeat, and get plenty of exercise.
k up your blood sugar and actually help you store fat, in fact they should be reclassified as fat so people have a clue!.The only way most people over say 30 can lose a lot of weight is a lifestyle choice, high protein, cut back on processed/ refined carbs, maybe exercise as well, not very exciting but seems to work for a lot of peoPle.
^^^^^ THIS!
3 months ago Doc informs me I have high blood pressure, scared the sh*t out of me. I'm 38 years old and at the time weighed just over 93KG (5'11''). I don't smoke but enjoy my beers and back then a couple of currys a week or some pasta or potatoes depending on the evening. A fairly rich carb based diet.
Took action. Got a personal trainer - 3 x a week circuit training and cut white carbs - bread, rice, potatoes, pastas. Never was one for sweets or soda.
Roll on 3 months... Now 85 KG and full of energy.
Still enjoy the beers though
3 months ago Doc informs me I have high blood pressure, scared the sh*t out of me. I'm 38 years old and at the time weighed just over 93KG (5'11''). I don't smoke but enjoy my beers and back then a couple of currys a week or some pasta or potatoes depending on the evening. A fairly rich carb based diet.
Took action. Got a personal trainer - 3 x a week circuit training and cut white carbs - bread, rice, potatoes, pastas. Never was one for sweets or soda.
Roll on 3 months... Now 85 KG and full of energy.
Still enjoy the beers though
Huntsman said:
What are refined carbs? Can anyone give me examples of such foods?
White sugar, white pasta. white bread, bagels, white rice - I guess you sense a running theme there.With respect to the thread this Harcombe thing has the "D" word after it . . . I'm not even going to give it the attention it's after by clicking on it, but suffice to say, anyone trying it is predisposed to long term failure if weight loss is their goal.
Exercise + good diet is all anyone need do to maintain a good body composition.
It really isn't as difficult as some people would have you believe.
Well I've bought the book off Amazon, hook line and sinker
I'm running 2-3x per week, a bit of bagwork and stuff, cut back on alcohol (nothing at all on a school night). Cut back on refined carbs, no sugar in tea, not as many sweets and stuff.
Lost 0.5kg in a month...shyte.
6'4" and 106kg...I don't look fat though, got a bit of a belly but it's mainly muscle, ovbsiously. I'd consider myself fit, but a bit fat.
I'm running 2-3x per week, a bit of bagwork and stuff, cut back on alcohol (nothing at all on a school night). Cut back on refined carbs, no sugar in tea, not as many sweets and stuff.
Lost 0.5kg in a month...shyte.
6'4" and 106kg...I don't look fat though, got a bit of a belly but it's mainly muscle, ovbsiously. I'd consider myself fit, but a bit fat.
dave_s13 said:
Well I've bought the book off Amazon, hook line and sinker
I'm running 2-3x per week, a bit of bagwork and stuff, cut back on alcohol (nothing at all on a school night). Cut back on refined carbs, no sugar in tea, not as many sweets and stuff.
Lost 0.5kg in a month...shyte.
6'4" and 106kg...I don't look fat though, got a bit of a belly but it's mainly muscle, ovbsiously. I'd consider myself fit, but a bit fat.
To be honest, if you are not losing weight then you need to look closer at your diet. How are your portion sizes? How long have you been that weight?I'm running 2-3x per week, a bit of bagwork and stuff, cut back on alcohol (nothing at all on a school night). Cut back on refined carbs, no sugar in tea, not as many sweets and stuff.
Lost 0.5kg in a month...shyte.
6'4" and 106kg...I don't look fat though, got a bit of a belly but it's mainly muscle, ovbsiously. I'd consider myself fit, but a bit fat.
As for thinking you're mainly muscle, I think you may be surprised how much really isn't unless you are working out or doing a heavy job that requires a great deal of mass. You don't get lots of muscle naturally, thats for sure.
Tongue was firmly in cheek.
I'm not one of these feckless morons that blames there glands.
I do eat too much (in terms of portion sizes), must do or I wouldn't be a bit overweight.
I do eat good, freshly prepped food though and avoid processed stuff as much as is possible to not become terminally depressed.
Working on it.
I'm not one of these feckless morons that blames there glands.
I do eat too much (in terms of portion sizes), must do or I wouldn't be a bit overweight.
I do eat good, freshly prepped food though and avoid processed stuff as much as is possible to not become terminally depressed.
Working on it.
The thread on why humans crave fatty foods reminded me to update on what happened with the Harcombe diet in our house.....
Having started this thread I said to Mrs H that once we got back from joliday I'd cut the carbs out for a bit, as it happens this years joliday was a trip in France, us in our Morris with a chum in his VW. It happened that his wife had the Harcombe diet on her kindle.....
Much evening discussion ensured and we decided to give the Harombe diet a ago.
Mrs H eats hardly anything all day then scoffs a load of Hagen Dazs ice cream in the evening, she's not fat, in fact I've eaten a french fry with more fat on than her, but its not a great diet.
Day 2 of the Harcombe diet she was poorly in bed with chronic tummy ache, to the point she didnt go to work (2nd day sick in 9 years).
When I got in from work I felt crap, I was certain the drastic change of diet had made her poorly so I coked some pork with peppers, shrooms, in cider, added a bit of cream, few veg and a nice pile of Jersey Royals. She was fighting fit within an hour or 2.
As far as I am concerned the first 5 days of the Harcombe diet intending to force one into Ketosis is foolish.
Zoe Harcombe is £6 better off (less Amazon's fees) and there a bloody great butternut squash looking at me everytime I go into the kitchen which I've got no idea of what I should do with it!
Having started this thread I said to Mrs H that once we got back from joliday I'd cut the carbs out for a bit, as it happens this years joliday was a trip in France, us in our Morris with a chum in his VW. It happened that his wife had the Harcombe diet on her kindle.....
Much evening discussion ensured and we decided to give the Harombe diet a ago.
Mrs H eats hardly anything all day then scoffs a load of Hagen Dazs ice cream in the evening, she's not fat, in fact I've eaten a french fry with more fat on than her, but its not a great diet.
Day 2 of the Harcombe diet she was poorly in bed with chronic tummy ache, to the point she didnt go to work (2nd day sick in 9 years).
When I got in from work I felt crap, I was certain the drastic change of diet had made her poorly so I coked some pork with peppers, shrooms, in cider, added a bit of cream, few veg and a nice pile of Jersey Royals. She was fighting fit within an hour or 2.
As far as I am concerned the first 5 days of the Harcombe diet intending to force one into Ketosis is foolish.
Zoe Harcombe is £6 better off (less Amazon's fees) and there a bloody great butternut squash looking at me everytime I go into the kitchen which I've got no idea of what I should do with it!
GBDG said:
Chop it up, give a light coating of olive oil, season and wack it in the oven until it looks brown and goes soft. Cook up some usual soup stuff like onions in a pan, add the butternut squash, blend and consume.
This is actually a bloody good soup.With chilli to taste and loads of cream/butter added before blending, obviously
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