Advertisement
Cambridge Diet
A liquid diet that may be too calorie restrictive for long-term success.
BACKGROUND
Start the Diet Now Advertisement
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
Featured Diets
Related Diets: Cabbage Soup Diet, Juice Diet, Liquid Diet, Master Cleanse Diet, New Lifestyle Diet, Slim-Fast, Isopure Shakes, 21 Pounds in 21 Days
User Feedback
(Page 24 of 57, 1131 total comments)lorraine
hi guys was thinkin do any of you do any exercise was wonderin ,if so are u on ss or 810 thanks
posted Sep 11th, 2008 6:18 pmlorraine
hi just had my 3rd weight done and lost 6lbs thats 1st and 5lb in 3 weeks really pleased because i have been a little bit naughty this week ,well keep it up its worth it
posted Sep 9th, 2008 12:17 pmLoopylau
Hello everyone... Im only on day 2 of the SS and finding it a little hard! Can anyone tell me if its normal to feel sick, but not actually be sick? Will this feeling pass? A little cold too, but have read back and can see other people have had the same effect! BUT... i am determined to do this and have made a mood board of images and people who i can look up too (figure wise!) lol! Keep up the good work all! xx
posted Sep 9th, 2008 12:17 pmcheeky
hiya guys how are you all doing hope you have all had a good w'end and a good week so far., loopylau at weekends i have to keep myself busy cuz if i don't thats when i start to want to pick. i have been doing this diet for 17 weeks and so far i have lost 66lbs and 42 inches still got a bit more to go but i will get there. i lost 7lbs on sat which i was shocked abdout as my counsellor was on hols. keep up the hard work speak soon x
posted Sep 9th, 2008 12:17 pmSue
Hiya, am on day 6 of the sole source and getting weighed today for the first time, fingers crossed. Have found it hard and feeling sick most of the time, does anyone know why? Have about 8 stone to loose and know its a struggle to do as been dieting on and off for the last 10 years.
posted Sep 8th, 2008 7:25 amBabyGhurl
hey guys i am 11 stone and 5ft1 as you can see thats really overweight would really like to get down to 8 stone:) i am going to try this diet if you have any comments for me and what kind of excercise i could do and how long it would take me much appreciated x
posted Sep 5th, 2008 8:26 pmLoopylau
Hi all! I have my first meeting this evening with my counsellor to get things started & just wanted to say... after reading all your comments and discussions you have given the boast i needed to get onto this!!!! Im excited about waking up Monday morning & beginning somthing new and rewarding, but at the same time feel scared and nervous i wont be able to stick through the hard times!!! Can anyone tell me what they do over the wkends to take your mind off eating snacks!!!!!!! Thanx again peeps & keep up the good work!!! x
posted Sep 5th, 2008 8:26 pmLaura T
Hiya, am in the early days still of sole source but am looking ahead and wondering about the best way to maintain the weight loss once the Cambridge part is finished and when I will be at my goal weight. People keep saying that as long as you eat correctly once the weight has come off then you will be ok, but what is the best diet. 1,500 calorie per day, atkins, GI, food combining? Anyone out there lost weight and kept it off can advise?
posted Sep 5th, 2008 8:26 pmcheeky
hey guys how are you all doing i have had such a miserable 2 weeks, my counsellor has been on hols and it has been horid, first week was okay but this week is not good i paid for extra bars so if i do get the urge to pick at summat naughty i can pick at my bar. all i keep thinking about is sat to get weighed half of me is excited as iam hoping i have lost weight and the other half is dreading it in case i have put any on! fingers crossed! damian that is a fantastic weight loss bet you so happy keep it up and everyone your all doing so well. by christmas or before we will all be slim to enjoy a good shopping spree and see the new slim us in the new year!
posted Sep 3rd, 2008 8:57 amDamian
I have been on this diet for 2 weeks now. I'm 21 and had piled on about 3 stone by pigging out and drinking alcohol at least 4-5 times a week. At first everyone is telling me "I couldn't do without food", it's a mind over matter thing because obviously I couldnt do without food to be the weight I was. My first week I lost a stone, the second week i lost 1/2 stone! It's easy.. there's no negative things to say about it!
posted Sep 2nd, 2008 10:02 pmlynne
hi i have just read all the comments and am really excited i have my first appiontment tonight which is the first step to me losing 4 stone and keeping it off!! i feel really posative and think i will just log in and have a read if a feel down in the next few days! I WILL not give up i dont know why but i know that this is it i will lose this weight in the next 4 months!
posted Sep 2nd, 2008 8:37 ammonkeytrace
1st Sep went out this weekend and did not have a drink pheww tough one I tell you. So I am going to start having two shakes then a meal at night so I can go back to gym. Has anyone else done this and how did you find it going back to sport if anyone has any advise on cambridge + eating + sport please can you email me - because I don't want to stop loosing weight, I have got just over 3 months till I go home for Christmas and gotta get into a bakini (as dawnting as that sounds). Does anyone else drink green tea as well. I do this because I smoke just to have some other taste besides water. Hope you all have a good week. Keep it up I can feel it in my clothes and things actually fit loosely now and I dont feel like a giant overflowing cup cake anymore :-)
posted Sep 1st, 2008 8:33 ammonkeytrace
Cheers for the website address dizzydonna. I know the amount of good smelling food I go through in a day it is a killer. I keep running to my room or outside to escape. But one day SOON we will get to the point were we can eat healthy and spoil ourselves once a month and look like a skinny doing it :-)
posted Sep 1st, 2008 8:33 amlorraine
hi to u all ,2nd week lost 16lb in two weeks so all good dew on soon and i just wont to eat ,got to keeo goin must lose at least 4 to5 stone keep up good work ,
posted Sep 1st, 2008 8:32 amkimm
hi all im goin to see my councillor l8r and pick up my supplies although scared an really excited ,i just so wanna do this.
posted Sep 1st, 2008 8:32 amhayley.c
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!!!!
posted Sep 1st, 2008 8:32 amjackie68
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
posted Aug 27th, 2008 10:44 amdizzydonna
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 :-(
posted Aug 27th, 2008 10:44 ammonkeytrace
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.
posted Aug 27th, 2008 10:44 amAmanda Stuart
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!
posted Aug 27th, 2008 10:44 am