Cambridge Diet
A liquid diet that may be too calorie restrictive for long-term success.
BACKGROUND
With new diets hitting the market faster than we can lose a pound, it is not too often that you stumble upon a diet that has been around for more than 20 years. The Cambridge Diet has proudly clocked some years under its svelte belt. Developed in the 80s, it still enjoys a very loyal and passionate audience of dieters who have been successful at losing weight and keeping it off.
It is a liquid diet program that involves drinking 3 servings of the signature Cambridge Diet formula each day with or without food. The three servings provide you with protein (either 30 or 50 grams), carbohydrates, fat, fiber and your daily-required vitamin and mineral allowances.
About ten years ago, the Cambridge Diet added an additional product to their 330 Original Product. The 420 Food for Life product contains 100% of the required daily protein needs in 3 servings whereas the 330 Product contains 75% of the required protein. The protein source comes from whey and soy. Both of them are nutritional supplements that do not contain drugs, medicine, stimulants or herbs.
There are four ways for you to follow the Cambridge Diet: - The Fast Track: Consume 3-4 servings of Cambridge a day and no additional food. - The Alternate Program: Use 3-4 servings of Cambridge for one day with no food and then the following day, consume 3 servings of Cambridge with the addition of 400-800 calories of low fat, low calorie health food. Continue to alternate in this manner. - The Regular Program: Eat 3 servings of Cambridge 15- 20 minutes prior to each low calorie meal. Calories should not exceed 400-800 for the entire day. - The Regular Program 2: Consume 3 servings of Cambridge and eat one meal of low calorie food each day. Calories should not exceed 400- 800 calories for the entire day.
PRO
- Cambridge Diet contains all the essential nutrients
- Has a proven success rate
- Safe for diabetics and those with high blood pressure
CON
- Its limited consumption of food may incite excessive eating
- May be too calorically-restrictive for some individuals
- Does not teach you to eat in a healthy and long-term way
- Long-term weight loss may not be sustained
- Calories might be too restrictive for exercise
DIET and NUTRITION
The foundation of the Cambridge Diet is its signature line of shakes. They come in an array of flavors like chocolate, vanilla, eggnog, strawberry, cappuccino, banana cream and many more. The shakes come in two styles: The Original and the Food for Life.
The Food for Life product contains 51 grams of protein, 54 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fat and 140 calories per shake. It also includes 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamins and minerals. The Original contains 31 grams of protein and contains about 110 calories per shake.
There is also a line of additional Cambridge products like soups, nutrition bars, and super oats.
When taken the prescribed three times a day, you'll only consume 420 calories. If you select to follow a plan that allows for food, you should not consume anymore than an additional 800 calories a day and these calories should come from low-calorie and low-fat foods like vegetables and lean proteins. If you are on the smaller side, it is recommended that you only consume an additional 400 calories on top of the 420 calories for the Cambridge products.
You are also strongly encouraged to drink at least 3-4 liters of water each day.
EXERCISE
Since the Cambridge Diet is so restrictive, exercise should be done cautiously. It is not recommended to start a new strenuous exercise program while on the Cambridge Diet. Moderate exercise like walking or biking is useful once you start to lose weight, providing that it is approached with caution and not done with excess.
CONCLUSION
There is no question that The Cambridge Diet has been around for a long time. And in the process, many have had luck losing weight by following its strict dietary regimen. Since the diet is so low in calories, check with your doctor before starting it, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
The Cambridge Diet devotees swear by the diet's ability to help them lose weight as long as the program is followed correctly. But like most diets that rely on shakes or supplements to shed pounds, its potential for long-term weight loss and for instilling sound and healthy eating habits in you is not that promising.
Common Misspellings
cambrdge Diet, cambradge diet, cambridge deit, camebridge diet, cambridge liquid diet, cambridgediet.com
Related Diets: Cabbage Soup Diet, Juice Diet, Liquid Diet, Master Cleanse Diet, New Lifestyle Diet, Slim-Fast, Isopure Shakes, 21 Pounds in 21 Days
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Hi! i was just looking for a bit of advice, i have done this diet so many times and the longest i have lasted is a wk and a half! i really want to do this diet as i no it works but i just seem to get so hungry, even though im drinking 4 ltrs of water a day, by lunchtime and then by the time i finish work i just want to have a proper meal. how do you all keep going?! i have 4 stone to shift and could do with some advice on how you all get through the hunger stage!!!!
27th aug hi everyone hope every1 is doin ok just a quick update i am now in week 4 of ss and have lost 22lb so far i am soooo pleased as i wanted 2 lose 2 stone b4 my hol i av only got 6lb left 2 lose in my first goal and 2 weeks left b4 my hol 2 do it in, then wen i get bak of hol straight bak on ss cus still got 4-5 stone to lose, i am finding cd really easy and it feels like its my way of life now just 3 shakes aday and water i av got 2 introduce food on sat (which will be weird) cant wait for my hol and i am also takin shakes with me and just havin the meal at teatime i will update wen i get bak off hol 2 let every1 no how i did (hopefully not put 2 much bak on), well keep up the good work every1 and just remember its not 4 ever being so strict on ss i just no i will maintain this wen i av reached my goal i never want 2 go bak 2 the size i was b4.JANE: that is wot i am scared of that i wont be able fasten the seat belt but hopefully with losing 2 stone i shud be ok will let u no wen i get bak, takecare every1 bye xxxxx
Hiya monkeytrace, that website is www.reachmygoal.co.uk Had a bad weekend with a planed 30th on sunday and carried on eating monday. Back on it now but the other half is cooking bacon butties forhim and the kids and i really want one :-(
27 Aug - Hi all had my weigh in last night lost 2.2Ibs so in total that is 15 Ibs in 3 weeks so 1 Stone down Whoo Hooo. Got 2 more to go - really craving the food now and a drink. Going to start substituting a shake for a small meal at night so I can go back to gym. Did some gardening on the weekend and almost passed out. Good luck to everyone over the weekend. Keep it up.
I really struggled with the Cambridge Diet although i'm please to say having fallen off the band wagon so many times before I'm now back on it and determined to lose the 6 stone Ihave to shift, ideally before christmas although I feel thats pushing!
Had a very hard weekend, let myself go on Friday, however got weighted in yesterday and lost another 3 lbs so well happy with that. Have 12 lbs left to go. AMANDA: I had the bars last week and still had a very good weight loss, they are only 30 kcals more that a shake etc, Toffee is nice! Good luck to all this week x
Hi all, some great weight losses I see. Stretch that is an amazing loss! Very good message regarding maintenance hope you keep us updated on the changes that you have made and how it has gone. I have been on the diet nearly four weeks but havent had my fourth weigh in as of yet. I have had a few vodka diet cokes 3 each time I have been out. Which I know is cheating but Im 21 my social life is going out and it is so hard to not have anything at all. It doesnt make me wanna stuff my face though because I feel like I have had a little treat. So when my mates head to the chippy on the way home I ring the taxi and stand outside. Am finding drinking all the water is getting harder not easier and this month has been one of the longest months of my life! haha sounds dramatic but I didnt realise when I started this how much food is part of my social and family life. Definately takes some major adjustments. But I am proud of my progress and I will hang in and hopefully will be feeling a million dollars by Christmas! Best of luck to all the new starters and congratulations to everyone who is sticking at it! xxx
Hi all, started ss today... feeling terrible. have a severe headache. have cheated already with half a packet of crisps. ;-) got 4 stones to loose. so wish me luck. would anyone advise me how do i survive with ss during ramzan? (especially with no liquid and food.).... HELP.
26/08/2008 my first day on ss. have a terrible headache. m starving already, have cheated already with half a packet of crisps.(could'nt resist it). gotta loose 4 stones. can anyone advise me how i can stick with my ss during ramzan especially with no drinking at all from dawn to dusk.. please advise.
i went on holiday 3 weeks ago and i put on 8ib i was very pleased i could,nt back on it. last week i went camping i tryed to be good i wasnt now i am back with no holidays for a while i carnt get back on track i just want to eat please help what do i do
Almost 3 weeks now got my weigh in tomorrow lost 6kgs so far 14 more to go by Dec 11th. This long weekend has been really hard you just don't realise how much food is appart of everything and everyone, this would be easier if I lived alone - no smells of pizza and hot dogs :-) but will hang in there. Agree deff feeling colder I use to never get cold. Dizzydonna what is that website address? Good luck to everyone this week, keep the faith.
Started the Cd late June and have lost 3.75 stone in nearly 8 weeks. I followed the instructions to detail in regards to drinking the 3-4 litres of water daily and made sure I had the required shakes/soups spread out during each day too. I'm now starting to move towards the latter stages of the program and have done a lot of research in how to maintain my new weight. Remember when you start this diet you should be making a commitment to change the way you view food for the rest of your life. I for one found this diet extremely easy to follow. Good luck to anyone who tries this diet but I would advise use a good CD Counsellor their guidance and advise will be invaluable.
Hi all! Glad to hear about all of your successful weight loss. I've been on the cd for 6 days and have lost 6 pounds - but I still feel really rough with headaches, tiredness and nausea. Has anyone found anything similar? Also do you find you loose less weight eating the bars? Thanks
Hi to you all - have not long got back from hols and have enjoyed reading your comments. well i took my cd products on hols with me for breakfast and lunch, and ate a meal during the evening - no problem. However, I drank like a fish which is extremely unusual for me (really), and consequently, because i wasnt eating much, was fairly drunk most of the time - even looking for my tia maria fix at 10.30 in the MORNING. However - had a fantastic holiday - put on 7lbs, just been for my first weigh in since coming back and have lost 11lbs!!. So I am a very happy bunny. Just booked our hol for NEXT year - and hopefuly will b looking for size 10 clothes!!. PS wonderful being able to actually do the seatbelt up on the plane - and it was LOOSE!!. Keep up the good work everyone - I think we all agree its worth it. x.
Well done EVE64 you must feel fantastic. SIBELLE: Thanks for all those tips, certainly going to try the ice cream one and the strewberry mousse. Can i cook my chicken in water with like a chicken oxo cube then? Havent got a booklet like that so will ask her on Monday. VIKKI: Your doing well, how long have you been on it for? So how many vokda's do you have at a weekend and how come you manage not too eat as my will power goes after a good few!! Hope you all have a good bank holiday weekend, weigh in on Monday so will inform you all have i've gone next week, x
Sutfhunny: I have felt freezing since being on SS, even got heating on in my office, everybody moans when walking in!! Good luck in weigh in tomorrow, let us know how it goes x
Hi surfhunny- yes i was always cold at first its the amount of water i was drinking,it does get better though,i have just got to my goal of losing 4 stone since the end of April and i feel great i am now off the cambridge and on low GI food,keep it going if i can do it any one can as i was a foodaholic,my outlook on food has changed as well no more crisps and chocs 4 me i have done all the hard work and am not goin to ruin it now,even my neighbours have walked passed me and not recognised me !!!
Well, I've just been for my first weigh in, and have lost 9 and 3/4lbs. So I'm pleased with that, looking forward to week 2. Still haven't had the temptation to cheat, so hopefully it stays that way. I felt so good after my weigh in that I even ventured back to the gym, I was really surprised to find that I can still do almost as much as I used to before I started. That's great because it was the one thing I was worried about - not being able to exercise.
19 Aug - I have only lost half a pound this week!! Very frustrating, but I did lose some inches and my ketostix are telling me i'm still in ketosis so it must all be water retention. I hope so anyway! I'm gona keep at it and maybe it'll be a bigger loss next week?! Did anyone else have this problem? GEMMA, I don't think using 1kcal spray will be a problem. I usually cook my chicken in some water with half a cube of chicken stock to give it some flavour. Did your counsellor give you a booklet? It tells you how to make 'muffins' or out of your choc shakes. I have tried making mousse out of choc shakes and choc tetras but found that the colour and consistency reminded me of liver! I did quite like the strawberry shake as a mousse. And i love the choc tetra as an icecream. DIZZYDONNA, i used to get very hungry at night and coped by eating a quarter of a cambridge bar (I love the caramel one) and a glass of water. stick with it, am sure u will be fine! good luck everyone!
p.s. what are people's experiences of add-a-meal week like? Do you still lose weight?
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