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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 28 of 57, 1131 total comments)Jan
Hi everyone, did Cambridge last year and lost 3 stone before giving up and have now put two and a half back on - my own fault completely - eating five cakes and three bars of chocolate is serious binge eating so can't blame anyone but myself!!! Am starting again tomorrow. Have made appointment with my wonderful counsellor and am so determined to do it this time. Think this column will help. My sister did it after I'd suggested it and she's lost and kept off 5 and a half stone; she's now pregnant and doing really well managing her eating. I'm 17 and a half stone and would like to be 11 and a half, so six to lose. At my heaviest I hit 21 stone but lost about three just cutting back on eating junk. Anyway, good luck everyone! x
posted Aug 1st, 2008 8:51 amLizzie
Hi All, just wanted to check in after my first weigh in yesterday. I've lost 7lbs in 6 days so really chuffed and I think that I can already start to see it in my face. That's a fifth of what I want to lose so it has really given me the motivation to see this diet through! I did cave last night and have a slice of sandwich ham but it totally satisfied the cravings I've been having and have checked this morning and I'm still in ketosis so I hope no harm done. Feel so much better today having been weighed... lets hope I can keep this feeling and not start to get demotivated again!! x
posted Aug 1st, 2008 8:51 amKelly
Hi Vikki... congratulations on starting CD... it is worth the struggle.. i have been on it since april with a month break (i had a holiday) and so far i have lost 3 and a half stone... i have bad days and good days but the results are worth it. i was 19 8lb i am now 16 2lb
posted Aug 1st, 2008 8:51 amTracey
Hi All not posted anything for awhile I've done 6 wks now and have lost 27 lbs so I'm really pleased, have about 1 1/2 stone to go. Have been eating some days doing the ss plus and having the 200 cal meal which has been nice. Going away next weekend with my husband and no kids so will be eating, then on holiday a week later so will have to do my best and try to be active as we are staying at a respite house so will not be in control of what is being cooked for breakfast lunch and tea but when I come back I will go back onto ss without any meals. Welcome to all the newbies and to everyone else well done for the fantastic weight loses keep up the good work it will be worth it. I feel 10 times better now and its great when people notice and comment it makes it all worth while. Take care x x
posted Aug 1st, 2008 8:51 amalbong
hi everyone- 1st of aug, will be startin diet next month- good to hear evryone's comments.vikki- please keep postin so i can see how u are gettin on. i have 6 st to lose and i'm totally sick of bein overweight, just need to get it off! i have a terrible relationship with food so doin this diet will be a relief- not to think about food or have to eat it for a while! my counsellor's on her hols so not startin for another 5 weeks but wil post again when i've started x
posted Aug 1st, 2008 8:51 amjackie68
1st aug, hi vikki just a quick note 2 say try and keep it up its hard 4 the first 3 days i am on day 5 now and feel so much better i 2 felt tired at the start but ok now,as for the soups i dont like them either so i just havin shakes, there is some great tips on ere so keep lookin in if u can, wot i do is have my shake 4 breakfast and dinner but at teatime i half it and save some for bedtime and make a hot drink the vanilla is lovely with a teaspoon of coffee in it its just like milky coffee!! i dont no if every1 else is like me but i keep weighing myself everyday lol cant help it today on day 5 i av lost 7lb so far, i go away in 6 weeks and i no i am goin 2 stick 2 it, like you vikki i av got alot 2 lose about 6 stone but try and keep at it best of luck 2 every1 x
posted Aug 1st, 2008 8:51 amsal
Hello, went to see a my consellor last night is really nice, I am looking forward to starting on Monday as we have 2 party invites this weekend, I have tried every other diet and never seem to stick to it, I really want this to work, my mum is giving me £100 per stone i lose as long as i keep it off, if i put it back on I have to pay it back, even more insentive than I already have wish me luck, I have 3 1/2 stone to lose
posted Aug 1st, 2008 8:51 amjackie68
31st july,hi everyone,well i am on my fourth day now done my stick and i am in ketosis which is good i weighed myself and so far lost 6lb WOW in 4 days cant wait till i get my first week weigh in, i must admit that the more i hear about ppl having hairloss it scares me! hope everyone else is doin ok and plz keep postin its a great help thanx everyone jackie68 x
posted Jul 31st, 2008 1:01 pmvikki
Hello and greetings fellow dieters, am on day 2, feeling okay so far but I have to admit that I dont like the self mix shakes and soups very much. Am soldiering on. Just hope that this works. Found myself in bed early last night as was really really tired. Congrats to all people who have lost...please keep me updated! Best of luck to you all. Im 19 stones looking to lose 8 stones.
posted Jul 31st, 2008 1:01 pmtabithaduke
Hi EVERYONE, I have been on ss for just over a week now and at my first weigh in last mon (28 july) I had lost a stone!! It was hard the first four days,
posted Jul 30th, 2008 9:47 amtabithaduke
Hi everyone, i`ve been on ss for just over a week now , when I weighed last monday(28 july) I had lost a stone!! I`m really chuffed, it was hard for the first four days, I felt hungry and tired but I stuck to my guns and now after losing so much in such a short time it has spurred me on. Going into ketosis is fine i`m no longer hungry and i`ve got a really supportive partner who eats out instead of making me smell the food bless. Well I still have about three more stone to go then i`ll shop for my wedding dress !!
posted Jul 30th, 2008 9:47 amdonna
hi all not been on here b4 its nice to read how everyones doing , ive been on ss for 2wks now an lost 6 lbs wk 1 and 6lbs this wk so im over the moon :) but found this wk been feeling hungry and wanting a kfc when the adverts on telly lol ,but havent gave in found drinking more water helps ! ive not had any hot drinks as i carnt stand them without milk but oh well what do we do to our selfs lol goodluck to all those weighing in this wk xxxxxxxx
posted Jul 29th, 2008 10:34 pmpinkandblue
day one! so far so good! really hope i can stick 2 this. desperate to get rid of my two stone baby weight. tried other diets but i always give up. so need lots of willpower!!
posted Jul 29th, 2008 10:34 pmHayley
29th July - Hi everyone! Well I had my first weigh in on Saturday and lost 8 pound which isn't too bad! Quite pleased with myself although on Saturday I did eat a chicken breast to reward myself whilst at a BBQ. I rang my councillor to "confess" and she laughed at me for being so worried and told me it will be fine! Wasn't expecting that one! I'm hoping to lose about 5 pound this week so keep your fingers crossed for me - so am now in Week 2. If I am honest I never thought I was strong enough to stick it this long - most people gave me 3 days so it feels nice to prove everyone including myself wrong!
posted Jul 29th, 2008 10:34 pmlubyloo
Had week 7 weigh in lost 2.5lbs im now just1.5lbs of losing 2 stone.Now on step 3 1000cal enjoying this 1 looking 4ward 2 a nice tea in the evening.My councellor told me my weight loss wud prod slow right down now and will only lose about 1lb per week.Only wanting to lose about another 3lb so can cope with that.Hope you are all doing well keep it up it realy does work!!!!!
posted Jul 29th, 2008 10:34 pmKelly
hi everyone i have been doing this diet since april but i did have a break for a month and have found that my hair seems to be falling out in handfuls i do have long hair and im wondering if it looks worse than it is... has anyone else experienced this and does anyone know of any extra vitamins that can be taken?
posted Jul 29th, 2008 10:34 pmJo
29/07/08) Hi sorry not been back on since i last wrote on here when i was on day 4. I got weighed on 25th July after first week and lost 9lbs in my 1st wk, chuffed. Hope to do even better this week. I have bin drinking Coke Zero this week hope its does not change my weight loss. Had 2 slices of cheese and i ate a burger on friday night (no bun or anythin) still in Ketosis though but no more cheating from me. everyone is great on here and i aim to come back on and let you know how i get on on Fri. Keep up the good work everyone we can all do it!!!!!!! J x
posted Jul 29th, 2008 11:41 amjackie68
(29th july 08) hi every1, i am on my second day of ss and so far everything goin ok i am just havin my banana shake its yummy,i had choc-mint last nite that was lovely my fav so far, but omg i had chicken+mushroom soup 4 my dinner yesterday i cud of thrown up its was horrible i just had 2 throw it i coudnt stomach it lol, i av got a slight headache but nothing i cant cope with I WANT TO LOSE THE WEIGHT!!! i weighed my self this morning and my scales sed i lost 3lb that cant be right can it in 1 DAY?, i no i am only on my second day but so far i am not missing food cus 2 full on these shakes hope that continues as i have 2 cook for 4 kids and my fella lol, thats it 4 now i will post again wen i have tested on thurs 2 see if i am in ketosis, goodluck everyone and keep at it xxxx
posted Jul 29th, 2008 8:34 amjane
hi every one - well this is it - the big test of time!!. I have lost 3 stones in 3 months and am now going on holiday for 2 weeks, and taking my product with me for breakfast and lunch, and then having a meal out on the night. Last year i put on about 1 and a half stones in two weeks, so im hoping this year it will be different. Have made an appointment with my councillor for the day i get back, and hopefully i will get back on to it straight away. Still have many more stones to loose, but cant tell you how great i feel - especially as i am now being able to shop for clothes in other stores, rather than just evans!!. Good luck to everyone, and keep up the good work x
posted Jul 28th, 2008 9:11 amcheeky
hi guys hope you have all had a gud week and weekend? i so could have had an icecream yesterday with this lovely hot weather we have been having but i didnt i was good! i was weighed on sat and i lost 6lbs and 4inches which i was very pleased with still got more to go!!
posted Jul 28th, 2008 9:11 am