Reviews, 1-A
What You Should Know
The Cambridge Diet is a liquid-based diet popularized in the 1980’s in the United Kingdom, originally intended for morbidly obese patients. Based on the VLCD diet, otherwise known as the “Very Low Calorie Diet”, the Cambridge Diet combines low calorie shakes, soups, and meal replacement bars in their complete diet program. Most of the dieter’s calories are obtained through liquid supplements, and the diet is continued until the person meets his or her weight loss goal. During the weight loss period patients eat between 400 to 800 calories per day. In the United Kingdom, you need to meet with a Cambridge Diet counselor before starting the program.
The Cambridge Diet is begun with a counselor, who will determine if this is an appropriate diet for you. From there, you will need to purchase meal replacement shakes and bars, which usually range between $13.99 to around $40.00 per package. There are no free samples or money-back guarantees, but you can discontinue the program at any time. They do not say how much weight loss is expected, but patients typically report losing over 30 lbs. per month.
Ingredients
There is no ingredient information available about any products associated with The Cambridge Diet.
Product Features
The Cambridge Diet is based off the VLCD diet, which was popularized in the early 1980’s. The VLCD diet uses extreme calorie restriction combined with nutritionally-dense liquid supplements to enhance weight loss, and this method has been proven to work. Most physicians do not back the VLCD or the Cambridge Diet however, since it allows for a very small, unrealistic amount of calories per day. Patients typically consume less than 800 calories per day, and most doctors recommend consuming 1200 calories minimum for any diet.
The Cambridge Diet also claims to use the power of ketosis to speed up weight loss. It claims that by putting the body into ketosis through liquid replacements and calorie restriction, it will allow the body to burn more fat and lose weight. Ketosis occurs when the body does not receive enough calories or nutrition to function optimally. The body uses its fat stores to burn additional fat as a survival mechanism. Although ketosis does burn off additional fat, it also burns additional muscle during this process and it is generally considered unhealthy by the medical community.
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Advantages
- You do not have to exercise while on this diet.
- All meals and drinks are supplied pre-prepared to you.
- They offer allergy-free drinks and bars.
Disadvantages
- The Cambridge Diet is one of the most expensive diet programs available.
- Its caloric intake is lower than the recommended standard — doctors consider this a very dangerous diet that brings users close to starvation.
- You must follow a strict diet plan without any substitutions.
- This diet is not ideal for those with heart problems or a history of eating disorders.
Conclusion
The Cambridge Diet is very risky according to doctors and medical professionals. Extreme calorie restriction is a constant source of controversy, and diets based on calories restriction have been proven to work while also easily resulting in dangerous side effects. People who embark on this diet must be in good health mentally and physically, but still need to lose excess weight. Although the cost of this diet is extremely expensive, it might be an ideal diet to discuss with your doctor, especially if you feel that your clinical obesity could lead to other health complications – Cambridge Diet counselors strongly recommend discussing this with a doctor before trying it.
I am on day three of sole source and I feel a little sick, nausea, running stomach and tiredness. I did not experience such sympthoms the first time i tried the diet.
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hiya lily these are all side effects of the diet they will dissappear in a few days its carb withdrawel. your body is haveing one last chance to get you to eat cabs before it goes into keytosis. stick with it itll all be worth it in the end, i promise…
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i feel the same lily which is making it harder for me to do but its my wedding in two weeks and i want to look good which is making it a little easier for me to do just remember your going to look even better than what you do now afterwards just think of that dress etc what you want to fit in and summer is on its way good luck.
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i am on day two of the diet and i am really struggling. I am super hungry today and everyone at work is eating smelly food around me but i am just thinking of the end result…
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I am on day two of the diet and i am really struggling as i am so hungry…. but i am thinking of the end result. I find the soup and shakes fill me up the most but would also like to try the porridge.
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i am seventy eight yrars of age do you rcommend it
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Hi could someone please please help i am starting the ss diet on monday i know i will be able to stick to it but my concern is im going away with my family in august all-inclusive and i want to eat and drink because thats what part of your hols are! so is it possible to have a break for a fortnight and not put 3months of weight loss back on, i wont suddenly bloat up in those two weeks or wouuld i?
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Hi Joanne, i’m 10 weeks into the cambridge diet i have done ss for 8 weeks and am now introducing food, ive had a weekend off the diet around week 6 and ate fairly normally, i still lost 2lb that week but found that i was full very quickly and got indegestion. I also found it quite hard to stick to ss afterwards. Iv’e lost 30lb now and 24 inches in total and still have 12lb to go, its slowed down alot now which is a bit frustrating but im still determined.
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Thanks Kim, I am on third day now of ss im not finding it to difficult just when im making kids packed lunchs haha, You have done so well with your weight loss and 12lb wont be too long! well i hope im as successful as you. x
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i started the Cambridge diet but on the week ends i might eat something more and then start it again on monday is that ok or it doesnt help with the weight loss?
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Hi Marina. I started the diet 4 weeks ago and on the second week I went away for a weekend and although I did not over indulge i put all of the weight back on that i had lost 5 days prior to going away. I have since stuck rigidly to the diet even though at times I feel very weak. I have tried to allow my self a treat on a weekend such as a small wine but just that one treat seems to put 2lb back on. I don’t quite understand why and it may not be the same for everone but that’s what happens to me, frustratingly!
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Hi ,I am on week two of this diet and it is going very well.I have lost 11 lbs in the first week .There is no point going on this diet if you do not stick to the rules 100%.When the weight has come off then you will need a maintenance plan to guide you back into normal food again .
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im on day 10 n i was in ketsis last wk n lost weight this week i have eaten a few chips n put on a lb, does anyone no can u still loose weight if ur not in ketosis n could i get bk into ketosis if i dnt snack no more?.
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hi ema the weight you put on after eating is water due to you eating carbs get straight back to the diet and if you do choose to eat try eating protein rich food ie eggs meat etc
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