Product Description

This is the first book to truly explain why we overeat. We all want to be slim. Some of us so badly that we will consider life threatening surgery to help us. So why can't we stick to diets? "Why do we overeat? When all we want is to be slim."
Anorexic at 16 and Bulimic by 19, Zoë Harcombe has spent twenty years trying to answer this question. As she sat in her room at Cambridge University, where she won a scholarship to read maths, she could not understand why she was overeating when all she wanted was to be slim. The twenty years have been spent researching calories, carbohydrates, fats, insulin, overeating, bulimia, anorexia and every aspect of food and nutrition that could hold the key to this million dollar question. During this time Zoë experienced addict-like food cravings and was diagnosed (separately) with three conditions that are well known to cause addict like food cravings. None of the doctors made the link – she has.
The result is this revolutionary book. It spells out in simple, non medical language, why we overeat. It details the three medical conditions that cause addict-like cravings – what they are, how we get them and more importantly, how we can get rid of them. When we overcome these conditions we can rid ourselves of the food cravings that go with them. The even better news is that two of the three conditions can be practically eliminated within five days.
The results from the eating plan recommended by the book are quite staggering – testimonials can be found on the web and are flooding in by the day. Weight loss of up to 14 pound in the first week is not uncommon – a sure sign that the person has been suffering at least one of the conditions. Just as rewarding as the weight loss is the sense of well-being that people report having. Because the eating plan is so healthy, people have reported arthritic conditions clearing up, headaches disappearing and skin and hair looking better than ever. The one common factor is energy – people say that they have more energy than they have had for years and a mental clarity (no foggy feeling) that they never want to lose.
The eating plan is all about real food – fruit, vegetables, salad, meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, whole wheat pasta, brown rice and even red wine! People can go back to eating anything (literally anything) in the final stage of the diet but they often find they feel so well eating real food they never go back to total junk! Chocolate is allowed but only real chocolate (at least 70% cocoa). There are just three very simple rules about what you eat but no limit on how much. You will not go hungry or feel deprived in any way.
If you ever crave food. If you would like to lose weight. If you would like to feel as healthy as possible, this book is for you. At last there is an eating plan that ticks all the boxes:

It works

It’s practical

It’s long term

It’s healthy

It’s enjoyable

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23017 in Books
• Published on: 2004-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 314 pages

From the Author
The research and experience that led to this book changed my life and I genuinely hope that it can change yours. I have been where you may be now. I have been anorexic and bulimic. I have feared food and craved food – and never understood what on earth was going on. We are not greedy or weak willed. We want to be slim so why, why, why do we stuff our faces with food that we barely even taste? I now know the answer to this question.

I’ve found a way out and, thanks to the nagging from my team at work, I have been persuaded to write the secret down to share it with others. They got fed up seeing me eat so much and staying so slim and I got fed up telling them how. So, I decided to put it all on paper and the result is this book.

Since writing the book my life has changed again. The joy of helping people lose weight is indescribable. People’s lives literally change when their size does. They feel healthier and happier and more at peace with themselves in a way that has to be seen to be believed. The best thing about this eating plan is that it gives control back to the person who deserves it – you! People report feeling out of control with food – it rules them rather than the other way round. This book explains why and it gives the way out. People have said to after just starting the diet "I know now I will be slim", "I now know why I was overeating and why I never will again." The sense of power that comes from being in control of food is fabulous.

I really hope that this book helps you lose weight, feel great and get on with something far more important than dieting – life!

With very best wishes – zoe@whydoyouovereat.com

About the Author
Zoë Harcombe was the first person from her state school to graduate from Cambridge University having won a scholarship to read mathematics/economics at this famous institution. Zoë has worked since in Management Consultancy, Consumer goods, Pharmaceuticals and Telecommunications for many blue chip organisations – including Mars Confectionery! She has been most fortunate to travel widely during her career and has worked in the US, Canada and Europe which she has thoroughly enjoyed. Zoë currently works as Executive Director for Human Resources for the Welsh Development Agency – a not for profit organisation.

What has all this got to do with overeating you may ask?! Zoë was anorexic before studying at Cambridge; bulimic during her period there and spent the early years of her career fighting food cravings to rival any drug addiction. She has suffered all of the three conditions detailed in this book but no longer suffers from any of them and knows how to make sure that they never return. She has been free from food addiction for over 10 years and has just recently taken the time to put her 20 years worth of experience and research on paper. This book is the result.

Since publishing the book Zoë has appeared on HTV and BBC television, on Real and BBC Radio and has been in the Welsh and Scottish national press. Her pet hate is nutritionists and government advisors who are still telling people to eat less and do more (calorie counting in other words). She explains in her book how this leads directly and indirectly to people becoming hungry, overweight, food addicts!
Zoë’s personal values are Health, Relationships, Integrity, Mutuality and Growth. She enjoys rugby (supporting!), socialising, travelling and chocolate. Zoë writes regularly for Human Resource and lifestyle magazines. She lives with her husband, Andy, and two cats in the beautiful Welsh countryside.

Customer Reviews

The answers I needed.
This isn't a diet book, it's about uncovering why one overeats when they know they shouldn't. It answered many, many questions for me and really opened my eyes to the fact that by overeating, I am only doing myself harm. I think it's a great read for anyone who has weight problems and wants to figure out how to overcome them. Another good one is Goodbye, Fatty! Hello, Skinny! How I Lost Weight And Still Ate The Foods I Loved-Without Dieting.

A Very Interesting Diet Book
I bought this book at the airport on my way on holiday in the summer and read every page. I have bought another copy for my daughter from Amazon and recommended to someone else who also bought it!!
This works for me, so I was a bit dissapointed to see the somewhat negative reviews. I lost 6 lbs in the first five days and this proved a very useful start for a long term dieter! I have now lost 15 lbs in 2 months and I have had another 3 week holiday in Spain since the summer. Yes it does seem to amalagamate a couple of diets, but having already used a diet of low carbs and found it worked, it was interesting to use the other idea of seperating the carbs and proteins at each meal I believe that this is like the Hay diet.

Whatever it is it has worked well for me,has reduced my cravings for certain foods and I have lost weight more easily, than in a long time!!! . I look forward to the cookery book!

Good 5 day diet but some dodgy "facts"
This book includes a very interesting analysis of the reasons that we overeat, including an examination of the impact of Hypoglycemia, Candida and Food Intolerances. There is a 5 day diet which aims to restrict key trigger foods and "cure" these problems, to free the body to lose weight. The main thing about this is the total lack of any sugar, including fruit sugar. As someone who is sugar sensitive, I found this very effective and it has successfully helped my sugar cravings. However, the book goes on to mix a lot of different diets and studies (high protein, food combining) with no real science behind it, and appears to be based on the anecdotal knowledge of the author who has no scientific or medical background but claims that her knowledge is based on a history of eating disorders. Therefore, while some of the advice is actually pretty helpful, I believe that this book should be viewed with some caution and used flexibly, maybe following the 5 day diet and then some of the broad principles about sugar and refined carbs.