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Cambridge Diet
A liquid diet that may be too calorie restrictive for long-term success.
BACKGROUND
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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
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User Feedback
(Page 20 of 57, 1131 total comments)Kels
Hi day 4 today feel really good full of energy
posted Oct 16th, 2008 11:15 amThe key to this diet is the more water you drink the better you feel. Way in on Monday looking forward to it as my clothes starting to feel losser already
Lola
Day 4 and I am still on it! The first three days were a bit tough as your body craves all sorts. It is amazing how you can master not eating when everyone else is. To be honest I am praying for strength to get through each day and it is working. All the best to everyone.
posted Oct 16th, 2008 9:34 amruth
Hi there just started cd on my second day, had a really bad headache today just can't shift it. got my first way in on tuesday so fingers crossed. I have a bout 5 stone to loose..I hope i feel better tomorrow i,m really tired today aswell..will let you no how i do on my weighin....
posted Oct 15th, 2008 3:48 pmSarah
I started this diet in January this year. In my first 2 weeks I lost just over 1 stone. I was so impressed! I'm a big girl and need to loose a lot to get to my goal weight. I found in the past that diets like Weightwatchers, although affective, just didn't cheer me up. I lost the same amount of weight in over a year with WW.
posted Oct 15th, 2008 8:04 amAdmittedley CD is a very hard diet to follow if you love your food like me. I stopped the diet 2 months a go (and ate like a horse) but only put on 1 stone of the 2 and half I'd lost.
Now I'm back on it again and this time will stick to it until I reach my goal weight.
Good luck to all those who are starting out. Don't do what I did and give up...stick with it! It really works, and if you exercise you'll be like posh spice in no time!! lol
Minidee
I wanted to lose this last 20 lbs of baby weight quickly. Lost 30 lbs already. As I am of Asian descent, I have a strong likelyhood of getting Type 2 diabetes (had gestational daibetes twice), I need to be very slim. I am on day 3 of the diet, and I have lost 6 lbs so far. I am entering ketosis as I actually don't feel hungry anymore, I was ravenous on the first 2 days. I am using ketostix and there was a slight change in colour. Hopefully by the end of the day, there will an obvious change.
posted Oct 15th, 2008 7:30 amJulie
I have tried it many times and I always fail. While drinking it and not eating any foods, I felt like i am in hell. I could not concentrate on doing anything because i kept thinking about FOODS. I know that I have to win myself, but the feeling of floating and upsetting stomach are my big excuse. Does anyone know how to go over this?
posted Oct 15th, 2008 4:59 amI have read many comments over here and I am really surprised of how you guys are doing it. I am motivated now and I will start doing it again soon....Thanks...
weezielou
Ive been on the cambridge diet now for one week, had my first weigh in last nite i lost 9lbs. it was a hard first week but really worth it. today i feel fine and full of energy my house has never been so clean!!
posted Oct 15th, 2008 4:41 amChrissie
Well I have just finished day 1. So far so good. Tried the Porridge for breakfast. I found it tasted too salty. Tried Cappuccino for lunch. It was nice but a bit sweet. Tried the Chocolate for tea, that was nice so will be having lots of them. And for my evening meal I tried Mushroom Soup. It tastes just like a cuppa soup so I will be having more of them as well.
posted Oct 14th, 2008 4:17 pmIm feeling quite thirsty throughout the day so it makes me drink plenty of water.
Next step - Day 2
Jeannie
I have enjoyed reading your reviews, I think you all amazing and I would like to try this diet, but are you more likely to gain weight after reaching goal because it is so radical? Jeannie
posted Oct 14th, 2008 3:53 pmkels
day 2 felt a bit hungerey at lunch time try to hold out the lunch time shake untill 2 oclock then dinner at 7. so far so good.
posted Oct 14th, 2008 11:08 ami have noticed the more water you drink the better you feel.
good luck everyone x
karen
I've lost 16.5 pounds in four weeks
posted Oct 14th, 2008 10:44 amIts a tough diet but once you have your head around it the losses are fantastic. Only a stone left to go until BMI 25
Charley
I am on day 2 of SS + meal and so far so good! Reading all your reviews has been really insirational and im now even more motivated to stick with the diet. I am actually surprised how full the shakes make you. Im drinking green tea as well as water which probabaly helps. Cant wait for my first weigh in next Monday
posted Oct 14th, 2008 8:55 amKeep up the good work C x
angela
well yes its a good diet if you want a quick fix. i know because i have been on it....i lost TWO stone...GREAT....or is it?
posted Oct 14th, 2008 8:35 amI finished the diet in february and by may i had put on THREE stone, ONE stone more than i started with and all this was by eating as healthy as i could....now i cant shift it at all!
Everyone has their own opinions and reviews on the cambridge diet good and bad...this is mine and i say i lost waight fast and put it on again(and more) even faster.
Chrissie
I am starting Sole Source Plus tomorrow for the first time. I am looking forward to it. Cant wait to start loosing weight. I will check in again after my first week
posted Oct 13th, 2008 4:32 pmSuzanne Windsor
Love it, have been on it for 12 weeks lost 46 pounds and went on cruise for 10 days in between. People are shocked when they see me and have not seen me recently. I feel great- can wear lovely clothes. No amount of cakes, chocolates or chips can make me feel as good as I do now. 9 pounds to go - all diets are hard - this was is hard but gives you such quick results that you are spurred on everyday.
posted Oct 13th, 2008 10:56 amEverybody at work is now on it, I am becoming a councillor soon. Just take it a day at a time. Food does not now rule my life - I think of others things.
cordy
Hi , i have just started the diet today ...felt like i was gonna be sick this morning when i first had shake ..but then i got used to it ..it was ok !does this diet really work ? i have tried so many things ..i don t have massies to loose ..about 2 stone and want to know if it comes off as quickly if your not in the obese catorgary ! Can anyone help ??
posted Oct 13th, 2008 10:56 amLola
The diet certainly works. I was 15stone 5lbs but lost 4 and a half stone. I've been exercising and eating healthier ever since but the truth is that it really challenging to maintain the weight. I've put back some on (7lbs) over a year but I am having to retrace my steps. So here we go again - Day 1. I'll keep you posted.
posted Oct 13th, 2008 10:48 amMichelle Baird
Excellent fast weightloss for focussed and committed dieters. Not without minor side-effects, but is probably the most effective diet on the market today.
posted Oct 13th, 2008 4:47 amPAmela Redpath
Lost stone and half but was selective as soups disgusting. I added veg to them but mostly stuck to drinks. Weight is creeping back on.
posted Oct 12th, 2008 11:30 amnick
im on day 8 and lost 11ibs so far but is suffering from acid in my tummy. has anybody else experienced this,its driveing me crazzzy!
posted Oct 12th, 2008 6:45 am