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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 25 of 57, 1131 total comments)Gemma
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
posted Aug 26th, 2008 10:34 amvikki
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
posted Aug 26th, 2008 10:34 amshazia
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.
posted Aug 26th, 2008 10:34 amshazi
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.
posted Aug 26th, 2008 10:34 amFAN
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
posted Aug 26th, 2008 10:34 ammonkeytrace
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.
posted Aug 25th, 2008 10:02 amStretch
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.
posted Aug 24th, 2008 8:31 pmAmanda
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
posted Aug 24th, 2008 11:26 amjane
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.
posted Aug 21st, 2008 4:14 pmGemma
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
posted Aug 21st, 2008 8:58 amGemma
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
posted Aug 20th, 2008 5:10 pmeve64
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 !!!
posted Aug 20th, 2008 5:10 pmSurfhunny
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.
posted Aug 20th, 2008 5:10 pmSibelle
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!
posted Aug 20th, 2008 5:10 pmSibelle
p.s. what are people's experiences of add-a-meal week like? Do you still lose weight?
posted Aug 20th, 2008 5:10 pmlorraine
hi had my 1st way in lost 11lb really pleased feel a bit better this week changed my trears for normal shakes much better well will let u no about next weigh in keep it up good luck ////
posted Aug 20th, 2008 5:10 pmvikki
I have posted two comments before and they havent come up? How annoying. Have lost a grand total of 16lb's and if Im honest Ive had vodka and dietcoke every weekend. I've had chicken every other day. But I do about 2 or 3 hours exercise a week aswel. I fell off the bandwagon at the weekend as was away for a friends 21st and still lost weight...Am gonna try and be very strict for the next 3 weeks before my boyfriends birthday as Id love to lose another stone. Ive not used any spray or oils with my chicken but I have added some tobasco, coriander and chili powder. V. Nice. Well Done everyone keep me in the loop. xxx
posted Aug 20th, 2008 5:10 pmpipz5
Hey Guys !! well done to everyone on their loses! it is amazing! I am due to start next weds as away for this wkd coming ! Starting on 810 see how i go with that and then poss go ss. I have got 3-4 stone to loose so fingers crossed !! good luck everyone xx
posted Aug 20th, 2008 5:10 pmSurfhunny
Well guys I've made it to the end of week 1 yay!!!! I've survived a family bbq and my friends wedding without mishap and I'm so proud of myself! LORRAINE- I felt a bit sicky on day 5 too and I had the runs, but it didn't last long, I haven't had the tetra shakes though, so I wonder if it's just one of those things??? Has anyone else felt really really cold in the first week?? I know the weather isn't exactly tropical, but I've been freezing for the last 3 or 4 days. I'm really looking forward to weigh in tomorrow. I'd love a big loss but I'm not expecting miracles.
posted Aug 19th, 2008 9:06 amdizzydonna
19/08/08: Hiya All. Well, first week on sole source is now over and done with. I made it and I haven't cheated once (although I have been tempted). My councillor finished so I have had to find a new one. Th new cambridge councillor has her own website, reach my goal. They're trying to get as many people on it as possible by all accounts, and i think its good, they have all recipes and things on there, so worth a look!! I have lost 9 and 1/4 in my first week. Still another 5stone 4lb 3/4 to go tho :-s. Felt extremely disheartened to have only lost so much, although not sure what i was hoping for. Been woken a few times with major stomach cramps and nausea, but not actualy vomitted. Struggling to drink all the water, especially as usually I am a pepsi girl! I'm hoping to lose as much weight as physically possible by the end of november as I am going to choose my wedding dress and will have an initial fitting!! My final fitting will be in February so I am hoping to be as close to my target weight as possible.
posted Aug 19th, 2008 9:06 am