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 37 of 57, 1131 total comments)Lyn
hi just on the end of day 3 feeling much better more energy and not hungry, have had a bit of appitite as i have too feed everyone else in the house, pasta bake with melted cheese and fresh cherrys afterward, and i had a soup! oh well at least ill be thin.
posted Jun 23rd, 2008 10:04 pmlubyloo
Just had weigh in for week 2 lost 3lb dont feel to dissopointed as thats 11lbs in 2 weeks feel much better now no more tierdness or furry toungh thank god.Now on bars and they are lovely nice to chew something lets all keep going!!!!
posted Jun 23rd, 2008 4:55 pmNorwaygirl
What an amazing site! Today is day 6 for me on the CD as sole nutition. How long can you have CD as sole nutrion? I need to loose about 20 kilo. I don't know how much I have lost this week. Wish me good luck!
posted Jun 23rd, 2008 4:55 pmlyn
Hi everyone this is my first day and its tough but im going to stick with it. I chew sugar free gum normally and never have trouble with it making me hungry quite the opposite in fact!
posted Jun 23rd, 2008 10:03 amcarrie
hi guys and gals, just thought i'd drop a little note in to say i met my new councellor today and she is soooo lovely!! I feel more motivated and in the right frame of mind already!! She has even got my email address and is going to email me at work every so often to see how i'm getting on!! great!! :-) EMMA are you still around? Have you changed councellor? MaryMAr go for it!! get on the cambridge!! when you've got something to head to like your wedding its sure to keep you motivated! plus the diet is so easy to stick too!! TROOPERSUE its funny you say that, the other day I had an enormous bite on my neck!!? and foot!? and arm!? I was thinking it was from work some how? but now you mention it??? how strange? FEE well done on your first day, glad its going well so far, after the first three days it get s soooooo much easier!! its just getting through them that is the real struggle so keep going!! hope you all have a good weekend and stick to it!! xxxxxx
posted Jun 23rd, 2008 10:03 amcambridge user
im on day 3 of the diet and day 3 is the hardest im doing fina and have awitvhed off mentaly over food, and i feel lighter bt will gt ma self weighed ina couple of days yayyyyy !
posted Jun 23rd, 2008 10:03 amsuzanne
i have just started cd today and feeling really excited im 12 stone and 10 pound and hope to get down to 10 stone 7 i have had really bad wind has any body else had this
posted Jun 23rd, 2008 10:03 amcarrie
hi guys, tried the dark chocolate bar over the weekend, it tasted like a bar of soap with a funny orangey twang!! ha ha!! was nice to chew something though and it is really filling!! Really recomend them, cos I find it really hard in the evening and at the weekend, and i know some of you guys do too, well these are good when your craving something naughty!! def reccomend them, they are a relief after the shakes all the time!! They take a while to chew too so they last a long time. Also got the little cartons for lunch time, as I don't have a blender at work I have this shaker thing my old councellor gave me which is rubbish! makes the shakes small and lumpy!!. Omg!! they are amazing!! they are so nice!! going to get some more off my councellor and a couple of bars!! feel like the diet is really starting to work for me!! Will update you within next few days on weight loss! xx
posted Jun 23rd, 2008 10:03 amcheeky
23/6/08 hi guys how r you all doing, eveyone had a good weekend? I was weighed on sat and only lost 3llbs so my counsellor has told me to have my 3 shakes a day and a bar at night to see how that will do and get weighed again on thursday. i was looking forward to having my add a meal again! Does any one else get disapointed when they don't lose much felt really down in the dumps on sat, at least i lost weight and didnt put any on, got to get it out of my head that you dont lose loads every week !
posted Jun 23rd, 2008 10:03 amTracey
Hi All just started ss today been reading this site for a few weeks find it really good. Was wondering my councellor said if I wanted to I could half my shakes and have 6 drinks a day, is this a good idea or not? Just had 2nd half of my 1st packet and we're on 1pm. Feel ok a little dizzy at times but drinking plenty of water, been to gym as well today but I do go 2-3 times a week normally just did gentle exercise today. Just looking forward to getting past the first week so I'm in ketosis. Speak again soon.
posted Jun 23rd, 2008 10:03 amTroopersue
20/06/08.... Ive just noticed something pretty weird and painful too. Being fair skinned ive always been prone to insect bites but now...WOW !!. Yesterday morning I was fine. But this morning im sitiing here with Gnat bites galore on my legs. 2 are bleeding on top of my foot. Another 4 itch like crazy on my shin. 5 are driving me nuts, burning and itching around my knee (these 5 have also caused swelling) and have 3 quite big ones on my thigh. Thats just my right leg. Which is far worse than the other one. Ive also got them under my jawline of all places. About 4 of them there. Will need to get some piriton or such like but has anyone else noticed anything similar happening ?. The vitamin K stopped the unexplained bruising ~ now im wondering about this !!!. Hellppppp!!!
posted Jun 21st, 2008 7:58 amMarymar
I have heard of several friends, this diet really works!! I'm planning to do this, as I'm going to get married in October 2008, and I want to be and look great !!
posted Jun 21st, 2008 7:55 amfee
well Ive just finished my first day and it was easy had 3 shakes need to lose weight for 3 weddings the first one is in 3 weeks and Im hoping to lose a stone need to lose 2 1/2 stone all together hoping to reach my target by the end of September,
posted Jun 19th, 2008 10:29 pmcarrie
LUBYLOO I felt like this really badly my first week on the diet. It will go I promise, you just have to drink some more water and take it easy and try and keep your mind off it!! I'm sure it will go after a few more days on the diet, I don't get it anymore so you just have to venture through it. The other thing you could do is start your shakes at lunch time, so drink loads of water all morning have your first shake at lunch, then one when you get in from work then another a few hours later. A few people I know prefer doing it this way cos of feeling ill!! well done on your weight loss!! fab! x
posted Jun 19th, 2008 4:34 pmAnj
Hi everyone, well done to eveyone who are doing this. its a week on friday 4 me, work 12hrs and working friday, so i went on the scales today. i have lost 10lb, its not easy but there is nothing stopping me now, not even food. If any tips, pls let me know. Anj.
posted Jun 19th, 2008 4:34 pmgrumbletumble
LUBYLOO- i feel extremly weak and tired most of the day too but it's worse in the evening.i spoke to my councellor and she said i should feel much better by week 2, crossed fingers for both of us that will happen! FRAGGLE79UK- fank you ^_^ nearly fallen off the wagon a few time but i keep on reminding myself how much i've gone through the past week...so keep going yay! How did you do at weigh in? Just did 10 minutes on my walker/strider thingy...phew im knackered! how pathetic! nemind take care everyone x
posted Jun 19th, 2008 4:34 pmlubyloo
Been on the cd for just over a week now lost 8lbs in first week and a few inches feel much better and clothes already fitting better.Just another stone and a half to loose.The only problem i have is by 4pm i feel realy tired and drained does any1 else feel this way?
posted Jun 19th, 2008 9:38 amFraggle79uk
Well done GRUMBLETUMBLE !! That's a fantastic result. I have my first weigh in in an hour so will let you know how I get on. Have found it difficult at times but have already felt a difference from drinking more water and have seen a difference on the scales....will let you know how I get on. Keep smiling all xx
posted Jun 19th, 2008 9:38 amTroopersue
Hi everyone - Ive just read the most funniest diet story ive read in a long time. Take a look and let me know what you think - on your browser key in :- www.divinecaroline.com/article/22323/27732-diary-diet
posted Jun 19th, 2008 9:38 amgrumbletumble
hi everyone :o) got weighed and measure today (day 6) i lost 11lbs and 2 inches off my waist yay! made all the grumbles worth it :o) FRAGGLE79UK- your story sounds exactly like mine, i have real trouble in the evenings, i think its mainly because thats when i used to binge also i tried to exercise this week but i feel so weak and feeble i had to go and sit down! (my favourite passtime!) i told my councellor today and she said it should go within 2 weeks then i will feel fantastic...roll on a weeks time! i have been pampering myself this week, i just dyed my hair and im going to have a foot spa and then paint my nails. i find that painting my nails is great cause it takes your mind off food etc and you can't pick up anything to eat even if you wanted to! JACKIE- i bought some ketostix and im in ketosis yay! thanks for telling me about them, i bought mine in boots for 5.15 if anyone else wants to get them. Anywho...got to wash out my dye in a mo so wish me luck hehe. well done everyone and it is so nice coming here and getting some support :o) thank you x
posted Jun 18th, 2008 4:53 pm