Cambridge Diet

Brandi Koskie - Senior Editor, DietsInReview.com:

Hello Jackie and fellow Cambridge fans.... the chat function was an early test and we haven't gotten the greatest feedback. It is currently live and functional if you want to use that. We are looking into other options. I can't promise when that will launch, but trust that it's an item we'll work to resolve. In the meantime, please find the chat here: http://www.dietsinreview.com/resources/ Thank you!

Jackie

TROOPERSUE that menu was FAB! It made me laugh so much! Glad to see you back. How are you getting on? EMMA - I have lose 22lbs so far, I think I have about 8stones to lose, so I aint nowhere NEAR mt target. However that doesnt matter! Because every stone I lose along the way is a new part of me. New clothes, feeling better, etc. I feel so AMAZING now, and im still 8 stone over weight! So imagine what I am going to feel like when im done! And I will get there! 3 weeks ago I was wearing a size 26 trousers, now im wearing a 20! Thats still big I know, but WOW do I feel great! I lost a lot of weight before as I have mentioned (7 stone in all I think) so I have lots of lovely, hardly worn clothes to wear, my size 18's being some of the best! So come on! Size 18 never looked so good! Hehe. Also EMMA - to become a member of the site you just register at the top of this page. Then you need to find a way to search for exsiting members - I think my log in name is avcaj - dont ask why! Its a long story. Anyway - hopefully the SITE MODERATORS will be able to mend the chat function for this site, and make it easier to contact on a real tme basis. I think the fact that you dont have to register to read/write on this wall is fantastic! I know how many people benefit from stumbling across it, that wouldnt register normally. Anyway im off again! I chat so much sometimes! Thanks All! x

Anisah

Hi Everyone! I am definately going to order the diet at the end of this month. You all have been a great inspiration and motivation for me. I did open a message board so that I can try to keep up with more Cambridge dieters.http://www.runboard.com/bletstalkcambridgediet

Fraggle79uk

Hey all - CHEEKY & JANE well done to both of you, that's a fantastic result!! I'm just finishing my first week on SS, get weighed tomorrow and it's been really hard. I've felt quite low around days 4&5, especially in the evening but the last couple of days I seem to have perked up which has been good. I was wondering if people had any tips for getting back into exercise as I want to get back into swimming and the gym but i'm still feeling a little weak during the day. I've got used to the shakes (especially the strawberry - tastes like strawberry shortcake!!) and find that I don't want to 'cheat' (well, just yet anyhow). I have my dad's birthday coming in August so I will have a meal out with them then but try and stick to chicken or fish and veg so not going and blowing it completely. I still have a long way to go and at the moment feel like it's an extremely steep climb but had to loose some weight on my own before I could start CD and by my own scales have lost 12lbs in just over a week so I am chuffed to bits. Thank you all again for being such a big help by sharing all your problems and tips, I have a fantastic counsellor but find this site a massive help. Good luck all xx

carrie

By the way Emma I forgot to say, 9llbs is more than i have lost on this diet yet, and this is my second attempt at it!! so well done!! you shouldn't feel bad at all! xxxx

Emma

Hi all of you, JACKIE, CARRIE in particular - you guys are amazing and motivate me soooooo much!!! I have been good again, and i am focused (hopefully!) and i am determined not to break it this weekend - i have now lost the 3 pound that i put on at the weekend, so am at my lowest - therefore not breaking it coz its a cycle that i won't get out of! My aim is to lose another stone by 19th July. We have surprise party for my mum's 65th birthday so am looking forward to that. Don't think a stone by then is unrealistic. I haven't had any joy yet in changing counsellors - i have emailed and left a mesage for a couple to ring me back but there are only 3 in my area (Lincolnshire) so it looks like i may have to stick to what i have got and make the best of it. I just want to see someone weekly and not fortnightly as that will motivate me more to success. I have 41/2 stone more to lose and if i do that i will be soooo very happy. A stone at a time though. Jackie and Carrie - how much have you lost now in total? How much do you have to lose before you get to goal? I might try a bar for a meal instead of one shake next time i see counsellor - so will have two shakes per day and i bar on ss - i think its the chewing motion that i am missing the most, not necessarily all of the food. You guys on here are just amazing, and without this site, i really don't think i would have done so well up to now. I have still lose (even with my binges and non focus) 1 stone 9 lb since May 6th, so its still good i think. Isn't it?!!! lol. JACKIE - how do you become a member of this site, coz i just thought you could email people? A chat would be gr8, anyone who wants to swap numbers or email addresses or anything as we are all in the same position, all wanting the same end to this long journey (!) xxxxxxxx

Jackie

(18/6/2008 - 15:20) - Hi ALL!!! Hope everyone is getting on well! CHEEKY - You are doing Fab! Well done on your 22lbs. Thats a great loss! Thats like 4.5lbs per week almost! Excellent! CARRIE i'm so glad you like your new counsellor! Thats great news! Well Done for not cheating! I have a question for you guys! I've decided not to do my add a meal week, well not in the traditional sense! I am going to have ONE meal in the week, instead of 1 per night. So, a week on saturday we have some friends coming over for dinner - thats going to be my night to eat. I want to know what people would recommend. Keeping in mind that there will be others eating too. So I want to make a meal that works for everyone and im happy to miss certain food out - i.e if they want potato thats fine. Anyway im rabbiting on, so any ideas I would appreciate! Have a great day! And TROOPERSUE where are you?! Hope you're doind well! Bye guys. x

Troopersue

Wed 18th June - 3pm ..... Hi everyone, just popped on to show you a few quotes I found whilst trawling the net. I think if we relate them to dieting and those days that are "oh god, why on earth have I just eaten that ?" days I think you'll find truth in these words:- A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn..............Don't be afraid of failing because of a mistake; be afraid of failing to learn from a mistake...............Don't take directions from someone who hasn't been there! .........Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, you will grow in strength while climbing it .........Failure is an event, not a person..............An error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to correct it................If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere...........It is never too late to be what you might have been. .........A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.........Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. .........Only those who do nothing make no mistakes. .........Some people grin and bear it. Other people smile and change it. .......Success is how high you bounce when you hit the bottom.......There are always two choices, two paths to take. One is easy...and its only reward is that it's easy. ......There are no mistakes, only lessons. .....There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from the odd failure.......While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior.........Mother said there'd be days like this... She just didn't say there'd be this many! .......Some mistakes are far too much fun to only make once........ Well-adjusted means you can make the same mistake over and over again without getting upset about it.........Blessed are they who count their calories for their efforts shall not go to waist. .........I keep trying to lose weight...but it keeps finding me! .........I'm in shape. Round is a shape... isn't it? .........Nothing tastes as good as being thin.........Thank you for calling the Weight Loss Hotline. If you'd like to lose half a pound right now, press 1 eighteen thousand times. ........Those who indulge...Bulge! ......To lengthen your life, shorten your meals. Im going to end this now, ive just found the best menu for our "add-a-meal" weeks.... watch this space !!!!!

Sonia

I'm on day 2 and you've given me great encouragement!! With the shakes if u mix a couple of tablespoons of water and put in the microwave they form a biscuit/cake! which i find much more managable and just makesure u drink more to compensate! goodluck everyone! I also mix coffee into the vanilla shake to make a "latte"

Troopersue

Toddler Miracle Diet The trouble with most diets is that you don't get enough to eat (the starvation diet), you don't get enough variation (the liquid diet) or you go broke (the all- meat diet). Consequently, people tend to cheat on their diets, or quit after 3 days. Well, now there's the new Toddler Miracle Diet! Over the years you may have noticed that most two-years-olds are trim. Now the formula to their success is available to all in this new diet. You may want to consult you doctor before embarking on this diet; otherwise, you may be seeing him afterwards. Good Luck!!! DAY ONE: Breakfast: One scrambled egg, one piece of toast with grape jelly. Eat 2 bites of egg, using your fingers; dump the rest on the floor. Take 1 bite of toast, and then smear the jelly over your face and clothes. Lunch: Four crayons (any color), a hand full of potato chips, and a glass of milk (3 sips only, then spill the rest) Dinner: A dry stick, two pennies and a nickel, 4 sips of flat Pepsi. Bedtime snack: Throw a piece of toast on the kitchen floor. DAY TWO: Breakfast: Pick up stale toast from kitchen floor and eat it. Drink half bottle of vanilla extract or one vial of vegetable dye. Lunch: Half a tube of "Pulsating Pink" lipstick and a hand full of Purina Dog Chow (any flavor). One ice cube, if desired. Afternoon Snack: Lick an all-day sucker until sticky, take outside, drop in dirt. Retrieve and continue slurping until it is clean again. Then bring inside and drop on the rug. Dinner: A rock or an uncooked bean, which should be thrust up your left nostril. Pour grape Kool- Aid over mashed potatoes; eat with a spoon. DAY THREE: Breakfast: Two pancakes with plenty of syrup, eat one with fingers, rub in hair. Glass of milk; drink half, stuff other pancake in glass. After breakfast, pick up yesterdays sucker from rug, lick off fuzz, put it on the cushion of your best chair. Lunch: Three matches, peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Spit several bites onto the floor. Pour glass of milk on table and slurp up. Dinner: Dish of ice cream, hand full of potato chips, some red punch. Try to laugh some punch through nose, if possible. FINAL DAY: Breakfast: A quarter tube of toothpaste (any flavor), bit of soap, an olive. Pour a glass of milk over bowl of corn flakes, add half a cup of sugar. Once cereal is soggy, drink milk and feed cereal to dog. Lunch: Eat bread crumbs off kitchen floor and dining room carpet. Find that sucker and finish eating it. Dinner: A glass of spaghetti and chocolate milk. Leave meatball on plate. Stick of mascara for dessert. TROOPER'S FOOTNOTE: This menu is not to be used as a substitute for your shakes/soups/bars. But could be good as your "add-a-meal" LOL. :>) Toodle-pip xx

carrie

Hi guys, I feel great, just spoken to a new councellor on the phone who is coming to see me on friday at home! Already feel more supported!! and almost caved in and had a sandwhich at lunch!! so pleased i didn't do that now. We had a lovely long chat and she sounds sooo smashing and lovely!! So i'm really happy!! It's given me a boost of determination just talking to her!! I didn't feel bad admitting i'd cheated previously on the diet either!! So it's all good!! So anyone whose councellor is no good PLEASE CHANGE!! MAKE THAT PHONE CALL! lol. Today is going ok, kept myself busy yesterday evening. It's getting easier everyday that goes past!! CHEEKY 22llbs!! that is amazing in 5 weeks!!! you are doing so well!! Keep us all updated about Saturday wiegh in!! xx

jane

Hi -cheeky - just read your comments about your weigh loss. I too have been on the cambridge for 5 weeks and have lost 28lbs, but many many more still to go!!. I have 2 shakes a day (the tetra pak ones), and then a meal at night - usually chicken and fish with salad/veg. I asked my counsellor what sort of weekly weight loss I could expect from now on, and she sadi approx 8lbs per month - which if I can keep it up, I will be perfectly happy with. I find that if you can have a meal during the evening, you can fit it into your social life - I have bben out at least once a week whilts doing this diet, and don' t think it has affected my weight loss too badly. Good luck to you all x

cheeky

hey guys ive lost 22llbs in 5 weeks is that good still got loads more to go. im now on my add a meal which im enjoying usually have chicken or cod with green veg/salad and at night im having a bar which the caramel is yummy and the peanut! Get weighed sat . hope you are all having a good week so far keep it up guys!

Jackie

Hey me again (If a similar message goes on twice, its because my computer it playing up!) CARRIE - im so pleased you are looking for a new counsellor, thats great news! I just wanted to mention what you said about diet coke, you would be better off having Coke Zero, as this is allowed, in moderation, on the SS plan. Also, good advice on the "keeping yourself busy" plan! EMMA - You are doing SO well! If you are unable to make it to your add a meal week, then dont kick yourself over it! Have a small piece of protein and a green salad or vegetables! I had written more on my other listing - that didnt work - so im going to leave it at that. x

joanne

day 20 feeling ok lost 12 lbs in 2 weeks didnt think it was very good excited about next weigh in im also very worried about hair loss any one else feel worried aswell

carrie

EMMA: Oh my godness you could be my saviour too!! We should support each other! Cos I am exactly the same at the weekend!! And my councellor is very unsupportive too!! She sounds like the same Woman!? You don't live in Dorset do you!? ha ha! Definitely change councellors. I am in the process of changing too! It is so demotivating after a week of doing really well to let yourself down! so then when you feel like you've let yourself down what do you do?... Eat some more because you think "What is the point!?" think this is actually the main reason this diet is so good, because it makes you realise your weak points with relation to food, which are the reasons you put on weight in the first place. By realising these weaknesses you can change your future eatting habits for the better. You should start to write a list of what you feel are your bad eatting habits, and what you think are your good ones. Mine are eatting to much to late in the evening, not eatting regually, and my good points are I love salad and fruit. You need to give yourself a focus at the weekend that doesn't involve food, for example go to the cinema, make plans, even if it's just watching your favourtie film on the sofa with a diet coke as a special treat!! From a young age, we revolve food into "treats". On a saturday it's sweety day! when your older it's a bottle of wine a chinese takeaway and a bar of fruit and nut!! We just need to focus on other things than food!! And if you really need too, I don't see any harm in saying, on a friday or saturday night you'll have a nice steak and lots of fresh vegetables, and on a sunday you might have a diet coke and bit of ham and cheese. Protein only and a sensible amount. But allow yourself this. This diet is tough and you have done so well to stick to it all week!! So pat on the back to you!! The best thing to do, is keep yourself occupied, do your nails, read a book, or if you have to get out of the house!! and go for a walk! Maybe you are eatting out of boredom? as your other half is not there? Just keep yourself busy. Focus on Friday night, then Saturday, and then Sunday. You can do it Emma!! Let me know what your plan is for making the weekend easier!! xxxxxxx

TABBYCAT

Hi there ~ to the person asking about how many shakes they should have etc, in my first week I was told 3 shakes and that was all on SS ~ then after that I had the bars too (but still only 2 shakes and 1 bar a day). I do know that it does depend on whether you are male/female and also how tall you are (then you are allowed 4 items I think!!). I pay £35.70 a week at the moment, that is 2 shakes and 1 bar a day. I couldn't ask for a better councellor ~ I go to her house on a Sunday and get weighed and we chat etc about how I am doing and any problems ~ I am usually there for an hour. To anyone not getting on with their councellor I would say to change to another one ~ I couldn't do it ~ if mine wasn't as supportive as she is!!

Jackie

(16/6/2008 - 20:00) Where to start! EMMA - YOU CAN DO BETTER!!! Dump your counsellor! You have a weeks worth of packs, so use your time wisely and find someone new! Where abouts are you based? Can you ring any of the counsellors instead of emailing them? Speed things up and make yourself feel more positive! Are you a member of this site? If you are I am happy to send you my number if you want a chat! I see my counsellor at LEAST once a week, he is FANTASTIC! And he is the cheapest anywhere at £31.50. He gives me the time I need! You should expect no less! Right who's next!? CARRIE! A kebab sounds so good right now! Mmmm! All I have is shakes - I dont eat the soups at all, so I know where you are at with that! And you should follow the same advice as I gave EMMA, find another councellor! You guys owe it to yourselves to have the right person! You wouldnt have your hair done by someone who didnt care would you! This is so much more than that! You need someone who will give you the support you need - so keep looking, and when you find the right one, it will all click into place. Keep positive! Finally HELP!!! (as in the listing name) Your councellor has put you on Sole Source - this means 3 packs per day, assuming you are below 5'8" (if you are taller than that you should really be on 4) There are other variants of the diet which allow you to incorporate a low calorie meal, however you wont lose your weight as quickly. I am on Sole Source, as I think many are on here - its all about your own personal choice. You should discuss this further with your councellor, however if you can manage on Sole Source, it will help you lose weight quicker - and its great for your skin!!! Anyway, sorry for the long listing! Hope this is helpful to everyone. x

Fraggle79uk

GRUMBLETUMBLE - my counsellor suggested sugar free polos - but definately not too many, i'm on day 5 and think i've lost about 9lbs so far and have had 2 a day so can't be too bad. I had a really bad day yesterday :( During the day i'm fine, it's the evenings I seem to really struggle with. I keep falling asleep in the evning and feel weak too. Also, i'm struggling with the drinks!! I don't mind water but it's the not being able to have anything else. I don't like coffee but enjoy tea but have tried it black and it'e eeuurgghh! Have not wavered though so am chuffed with myself for that. Keep thinking of my end goal and have bought some clothes in a size 12 which i'd love to get down to for motivation. I hope to start introducing exercise back into my lifestyle as the first few days like i've said, I just felt too weak to do much. I'm getting more used to it now and it's becoming more of a way of life which is nice. Sorry for rambling on but one of the things i've found so good about this site is reading everyone's posts and knowing that you're not the only one going through it!! You're all doing fantastically well and keep it up guys xx

Jackie

(16/6/2008 - 12:15pm) Hi All! KATE, I did some research into the whole gum thing, and this is what I found on the cambridge website - "Can I chew calorie-free gum on the ‘Sole Source’ programme? It is best not to because chewing gum stimulates the release of gastric juices which in turn will make you feel hungry. Only chew for 2 or 3 minutes if you feel you have to." - Hope that helps!GRUMBLETUMBLE - You're Welcome! Im so glad to hear you are enjoying your shakes now! Thats fab! I'm sure after 5 days you should be in Ketosis by now! I buy ketosticks and check myself every few days. Not only will these tell you if you are in ketosis, but if they come back dark, it a sign that you need LOTS more water, so they are helpful! They cost about £5 for 50, and can be purchased from behind the counter at most chemists. Well done on your 8lbs! Thats FANTASTIC! I get weighed tonight! I think ive lost about 6lbs. That would make it 24lbs in 26 days. Not bad! Anyway, will confirm later on! Well done everyone! x