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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

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(Page 36 of 57, 1131 total comments)

cheeky

hi guys was weighed last night lost 2llbs so my councellor has moved me up to the 1000 kals for a week and see how i go. so i'll have 2 camebridge shake or bar and 3 small meals a day so fingers crossed my weight should start to move ,its gone a bit slow at the moment. hpoe eveyone is getting on okay and are having a good week!

posted Jun 27th, 2008 8:10 am

carrie

FEE do not eat vegetables and meat!! this will make it worse!! i promise you! its cos your body has no carbs it makes you constipated!! best thing to do is contact you councellor, they have fibre which they can give you, or go and get an over night laxative or something? use that and suppositries!! don't eat more protien though!! please please do this, this is a common side affect, but you have got through the most difficult stages so please just sort out this last side affect it can be sorted easily as well!! let us know x

posted Jun 26th, 2008 5:23 pm

Tracey

Hi - CARRIE I've had quite a few shakes hot the chocolate, chocolate mint and the cappuchino they are good. I too put about 250 of water when having a full shake and about 150 if having half which I had both the choc mint and choc half shake and warmed them up. I also been told the vanilla is nice warm with coffee in. The warm drinks are nice in an evening. How long have you been doing the diet? You sound like you've done really well.

posted Jun 26th, 2008 5:23 pm

lubyloo

Thanks 4 all the advise i am gonna enjoy myself and gonna drink vodka,soda water and put in some of my water flavouring.Just hope people dont think im taking drugs lol.Will let u all know how my weigh in goes on monday the scales now say 10 12 which im well chuffed with as 3 weeks ago i was 12stone.Keep i up every1 we can do it!!!!

posted Jun 26th, 2008 5:23 pm

nahid

I have been doing the diet for 19 days and lost 10ilb. Its been very hard but I am pleased with the results so far. Still got a way togo.

posted Jun 26th, 2008 5:23 pm

jane

hi - thanks for all your comments - they are really keeping me going, and I AM learning not to pick etc. I promise myself after my weigh in that I am not going to pick, and once i have made that promise, I won't go back on it. Lubyloo - I had two evenings out last weekend - one being a five course meal, and the other a buffet carvery at the Belfry in Wishaw. I was quite happy on both occasions to stick to chicken and fish with salad and veg, and managed not to stick my head under the huge chocolate fountain a la dawn French!!. I also found that just having a glass of water in my hand makes no difference to a glass of wine, and on Saturday evening it was quite an eye-opener to see other people getting more and more plastered and being embarrasing/funny/sick/nasty!! But at the endof the day - just enjoy yourself!

posted Jun 26th, 2008 8:29 am

fee

well im on day eight but im so constapated ive decided im going to start on an evening meal of salad and meat as this cannot be healthy ive even taken supositries and i still cant go got a really bad pain in my stomach im really gutted but maybe come off it a bit untill i go to the toilet!!!! i have been drinking loads of water as recomended aswell, thanks for all the support though and ill be back with an update soon,

posted Jun 26th, 2008 8:29 am

Tracey

Hi All (26/6/08) Thanks JACKIE and CARRIE for your advice re splitting the packs. On day 4 now found yesterday the hardest but kept going lost 5 lbs in 3 days so really pleased. At the moment off work on hols so managing to fit in the 6 drinks but will probably go back to full ones next week. Anyone on here work nights? I do and I'm back a week on friday gonna have to try and work out best way to have the shakes which I suppose when you think about it just fit them in the same way as I do during the day!!! TROOPERSUE you must have dodgy scales but I would have done the same and jumped back on! lol Its true what you're saying about learning new eating habits when you go back to eating my counsellor even now still has shakes and bar during the day then has an evening meal cos she said she feels hungrier if she eats a breakfast and lunch, but thats what works for her, everyones different we all have to discover the right way but all the advice and encouragement everyone gives is fantastic!! Anyway bye for now good luck to all.

posted Jun 26th, 2008 8:29 am

carrie

Hi everyone!! EMMA you are doing so well doing excercise too!! You are an inspiration how you keep going!! I find just reading your messages so motivating!! I know you have struggled with the diet too, and to anyone out there who feels like giving up you can get through the bad days/weeks!! the diet does work! Feel so much better today, the dreaded 2llbs are off!! yipeeee!! So if your wieght loss slows down, keep at it and it will come off!! :-D I was starting to get a bit low cos I thought I was stuck and not going to lose anymore! But no, its coming off again! I do wiegh everyday so i suppose i should expect it to be a bit random! JACKIE thanks for your message sweet!! how much have you lsot now? and how long have you been on the diet? I like the way you do the diet, I may try it this way myself for next few days, will let you know how i get on. I read somewhere that you can have the shakes hot? Is this right? Has anyone tried this? and what did you think? Also my old rubbish councellor told me to use 300 of water instead of 227, do you all do this? I just started doing 250 of water and it tastes so much better?! lol good luck everyone and stick at it!! xxxxx

posted Jun 26th, 2008 8:29 am

FAN

LUBYLOO, y dont you drink vodka and zero coke i have when i have had a drink and i still loose every week .

posted Jun 26th, 2008 8:29 am

lubyloo

Going away 4 weekend and is gonna be the hardest thing ive ever done while been on the diet.I have spoke to my councellor and told her we are going to a tapas bar,she said i would be ok eating small amounts of fish,chicken and green salad.I think i can cope with that but what about the ALCOHOL WHAT AM I GONNA DO!!!!!!! i cant sit in a pub/nightclub drinking water.Please has any1 else been in this situation b4 i need help!!!!

posted Jun 25th, 2008 9:31 am

Troopersue

JANE :- I see your doc has a great "bedside manner" ...not!!. Admitedly some GP's are all for the CD and others are less keen. As for scaring you about putting all the weight back on again - well it's the same with any diet Jane, if you decide to carry on eating in the same manner as you did before CD of-course the weight will go back on again. It stands to reason. Best to take the time that you are on the CD to learn a bit about your eating habits. Like we all have to do. Like evenings, I would sit and pick, crisps, chocs and even a sarnie if I felt like it. But im not having these "picking" moments now and im still alive so it must be ok NOT to pick must'nt it ? lol. Chips and bread have always been my downfall. Bread mostly. Love the stuff. But now I can see I CAN eat a salad without 4 slices of bread with it and im fine. So hopefully im learning too !!!. I weighed myself this morning and saw 10st 13lb, thought ohh wow, got off, got on again and i was 11st. Tried a 3rd time still 11st. I firmly believe that because you get faster results with this diet it gives you far more motivation than on other diets. PS - put a few Toffee flavour bars in the fridge and try those ...mmmmmmm lovely. Close ya eyes and pretend its a Mars Bar :>)

posted Jun 25th, 2008 9:31 am

Emma

Hi all, CARRIE: thanks for your message - and the advice about the bars. I am definitely going to get some when i see counsellor on Friday night - also, i know what you mean about being a bit disheartened on your weight loss this week; i haven't lost anything since Sunday and i have been REALLY REALLY good and i mean that - it may be because we are both "plateuing"!!! I know it says that you do, and not to give up hope and keep positive, but in a morning when you weigh and you have lost it gives you so much more incentive to keep going. I am going to keep with it and see on Friday what i have lost. I need to lose the next 1/2 stone to give me more incentive, and i think once i have gone past that, i am well on my way. I have started aqua fit on a Monday night which is great fun, and tonight i am starting a class of Deep Fit, suspended in the diving pool doing aerobics! Sounds flipping too much like hard work but hey, will give it a go and see if i can do it !! Also bought Charlie Brooks (Janine off Eastenders!) fitness DVD and tried it for the first time last night - it nearly killed me, only managed to do 25 minutes!! xxxxxx

posted Jun 25th, 2008 9:31 am

Jackie

(25/6/2008 - 13:00) Hi All! EMMA I am great! Thanks for asking! Hope you are doing well too! I just re-read my last listing, and realised I'd wrote something wrong! I have Tetra for Breakfast, Half a bar for lunch / half as an afternoon snack, and a powdered shake for DINNER. Flavours wise I am really liking the Cranberry bars at the mo, Choc bars are horrid, just yuck! However, the Caramel and Toffee ones are LOVELY, taste like curlywurleys and mars bars! But all of the bars taste better if you let them melt a little! The orange bars are okay. Peanut ones tend to be a bit dry and a bit salty. Always have the choc tetras, not keen on the banana ones anymore - used to love them! And for powdered shakes I like, Choc Mint, Strawberry and Banana. As you will tell, I dont eat the soups! Cannot stand them! JANE - I am VERY suprised at your doctors response! Yes they might not be willing to provide funding, however to talk to down with regards to you wanting to lose weight is unnacceptable! I did Lighterlife, lost over 7 stone, then put it back on, BUT that was MY fault! I went back to my old ways and screwed up! I wont do it a second time! My doctor is happy im trying again, He told me any problem you have in your body, can only be helped with weightloss (assuming you're not underweight!) I dont know how much your counsellor charges, but I am actually better off financially by doing this diet, because it only works out at �1.50 per pack. I would struggle to eat healthily for �30 per week! At least with the packs you are getting the healthy amounts of vitamins and minerals. Dont let your doctor bring you down. Lots of people lose the weight and KEEP it off! You will be one of them! FEE you are doing so well! Keep at it and remember why you started in the first place. CARRIE same goes for you! You are doing so well, and motivating so many people. Don't give up, don't crack, just stay strong! Are you near an "Add a Meal" week? Will this help? Anyway, im going to go now, good luck everyone. x

posted Jun 25th, 2008 9:31 am

carrie

hey everyone!! EMMA: The bars really helped me at the weekend, when i wanted a bakery of bread you can eat one of those instead!! I tried the milk chocolate bar too, was a bit funny, :-S not the sort of chocolate i'm used too!! lol but they are quite nice!! I like the cranberry the best, I have only tried cranberry, dark chocolate (its yuk!!) and milk chocolate (its ok!) so far, but I will let you know when i have tried some others!! defo get them Emma they are great! OH your coming down to Dorset!! the weather is great down here at the mo!! so i'm sure you'll have a great time!! JACKIE: Thanks for the tip!! lol i'll try that! Which is your favourite flavour? have you tried many? TRACEY: You can do that if you want, it will def help over your first three days cos its more regular and will keep you going. At the mo i'm drinking lots of water in the morning, having my carton mid day, then having a shake or bar when i get in at 5pm, then one a bit later on, it helps me to be good in the evenings cos i usual almost crumble then!! I think you can make the diet work for you, so if that way does suit you do it!! try it out!! lost 4llbs in last three days, but feel a bit down about it!! cos when i got on scales this morning i hadn't lost anything! and it has been coming off about 2llbs a day on SS?! I am at the point now, where I have been previously on the diet, where i usually break and go and pig out!! so i really want to get the next few pounds off to break the cycle!! FEE: Keep going, once you get through one of these hard situations of social eatting it will be so much easier from there on! I found it hard as i used to invite friends over for dinner a lot, and i love cooking!! but i keep reminding myself it is only a short term thing, but is helping me long term to get healthier and change bad eating habits!!xx

posted Jun 24th, 2008 12:47 pm

Jackie

(Tuesday 24/6/2008 - 09:45) Hi All! Sorry I havent been on in a while! TRACEY - Splitting your packs in half is fine! If that works better for you! I personally wouldnt have the time to have 6 shakes! But if that is good for you, then go for it! Make sure you keep up on your water though! Also, you might find it doesnt take a week to get into Ketosis, it took me about 36 hours! Get yourself some Ketosticks! I bet you're already in it now! LUBYLOO! Well Done! 11lbs in 2 weeks! FANTASTIC, just think, this time next week you will be over a stone lighter! LYN - you are doing SO well! I know what you mean about Pasta Bake! I make a fantastic one, and miss it loads! Still cooking for my partner though! CARRIE You are doing so well too! Glad you like the bars! The cranberry bars have the lowest calorific value! I didnt like them much at first, but if you wrap your hand right round the wrapper when you eat it, it helps the chocolate to melt, and it tasts SOOOO good! Yummy! I have a ready made tetra brick in the morning, a bar in the afternoon, then a powder shake in the morning! Anyone who thinks they cannot fit CD into their lives are WRONG! You CAN do it, go for it! Have a great day everyone!