Just about to start the CD, any advice or suggestions or things I should know?

Caz

Repeat Offender
I saw about the Cambridge Diet in a magazine and thought I'd look into it and liked what I saw. So I have booked to meet with a CDC tomorrow afternoon, a friend is going to do it too. Not really sure what to expect, but we'll see I suppose!

There are some amazing success and progress stories out there and it's really easy to get caught up in the hype and think what an amazing and wonderful thing it is and that we'll all reach our goals in no time with no trouble, and I'm trying not to do that! Im sure it'll be quite hard! So I was hoping you guys could fill me in a little on the reality of your experiences so far. What you found difficult, what helped etc.

I do have a couple of specific things I'm hoping to find out:
- How much weight on average do people lose a week?
- I'm aware of the possible side effects, but do you generally get them and how bad?
- Anyone find that they have little or no energy?
- Does losing weight that quickly leave excess skin or make the skin look bad or whatever? Anyone have any suggestions on how to combat that?

Any advice, suggestions or just general comments would be greatly appreciated! And hopefully I'll be sharing my success story along with you guys soon enough!

Caroline x
 
Hi,

I've only been on the diet for 5 days so probably cant give you as much info as a lot of the guys on here.What I can say is that if your in the right frame of mind like with anything then you will be able to stick to it. The diet is hard I found day 3 the worst with a headaches and a bit lethargic but now I am fine in fact i feel really good. I have found that keeping myself busy and getting early nights has helped me and I think it will get easier in some ways the longer you do it. I also think everyone has a blip every now and then but the key thing is to focus on your goal and pick yourself back up again.Your CDC will advise you when you meet her on everything and explain how it works but i cannot praise the diet enough. In my 5 days on it I know i feel better than i did before ,lighter and not so bloated and focused on food. I cant wait for my weigh in on sunday (how weird is that lol)
Good luck with your weight loss xx
 
I saw about the Cambridge Diet in a magazine and thought I'd look into it and liked what I saw. So I have booked to meet with a CDC tomorrow afternoon, a friend is going to do it too. Not really sure what to expect, but we'll see I suppose!

There are some amazing success and progress stories out there and it's really easy to get caught up in the hype and think what an amazing and wonderful thing it is and that we'll all reach our goals in no time with no trouble, and I'm trying not to do that! Im sure it'll be quite hard! So I was hoping you guys could fill me in a little on the reality of your experiences so far. What you found difficult, what helped etc.

I do have a couple of specific things I'm hoping to find out:
- How much weight on average do people lose a week? roughly looking at a stone a month, so average is 3.5lbs a week although this can vary
- I'm aware of the possible side effects, but do you generally get them and how bad? I'm alright, wee bit of a sore head and a bit tired first few days. Nothing major. I have a blog so have a read at it you fancy it. Links at the bottom.
- Anyone find that they have little or no energy? Only a few days, rest of time I'm fine. Worked 50 hours a week sometimes and was normal tired, not knackered
- Does losing weight that quickly leave excess skin or make the skin look bad or whatever? Anyone have any suggestions on how to combat that? Moisturise and pray! I don't think I look exceptionally saggy but I also still have 2.5 stone still to go.

Any advice, suggestions or just general comments would be greatly appreciated! And hopefully I'll be sharing my success story along with you guys soon enough!

Caroline x

HTH
 
Just wondering, I know it says about drink wise only having water, black tea or black coffee. Does this mean that Diet Coke for example is out, even though it's no sugar or calories?
 
Yup its out, has citric acid which can interfere with ketosis. Can also trigger sweet cravings and bloating.

Just search diet coke in the search this forum box on main page and loads of reading in here.
 
Thanks for the messages so far, been very helpful!!

What is ketosis?
 
Hi Caroline - welcome to the diet!!

I am just getting to the end of week 2 so can't answer some of your questions however...

- I'm aware of the possible side effects, but do you generally get them and how bad? I was tired, grumpy and seemed to have a headache for days 2-4 but nothing that painkillers couldn't deal with and kept drinking lots of water and tried to avoid starting arguments.

- Anyone find that they have little or no energy? Apart from the first 4 days or so when I was tired and bit pathetic I have been full of beans. I sometimes find it hard to sit still, the housework is up to date and the garden is getting a lot of attention!

I can honestly say that I am not hungry, I feel pangs for food when I am bored or if I smell something really good (think everyone in our road was having a BBQ yesterday eve!) but am learning to distinguish cravings from hunger. Now that food is totally out of the equation for me I don't give it too much thought which is a change I couldn't imagine before I started.

I started this diet to make a change to me for me and reminding myself of that made passing up Easter eggs so much easier.

Good luck with your first week, and beyond...
 
Hi Caroline

I am on day 6, i have my first weigh-in tomorrow, can't weight, when I started last Friday I weighed 18.13 stone and my target weight is 10 stone so I have 125lb to lose - a mammoth task I know! :)

My CDC said you can lose about a stone per month but obviously this varies from person to person, apparently you'll lose more in your first week, I'll let you know how I get on at my weigh-in tomorrow, not sure what the average uis per week.

All in all I had quite an easy time so far on this diet, I know reading some people's posts that they have had bad headaches and generally felt bad but I didn't get any hedaches or anything, on day 2 in the evening for about 3 hours I felt a bit spaced out but I think this was because I waited so long to have my final shake/ meal of that day, once I'd had it I felt back to normal a little while after and thats the only thing that's really happened to me. I've been writing blog for the first week, its a bit boring but have a look if you can, it might be useful.

My energy levels are great, i've even been waking up way before my alarm each morning.

I think there will always be a risk if you lose weight very quickly that your skin will sag but it depend of the elasticiy of your skin I think and if it shrinks back on its own, I think you should also be doing toning exercises alongside the diet though to try and minimise the sagging as much as possible.

All i can say is be prepared to go for a wee a lot!!! All the water you drink just keeps coming out, ha ha ;)
 
The drinking water is going to be interesting! I don't drink enough at all, really need to try and make myself drink enough water!!
 
i find the easiest way to do the water during the day is a pint before, shake/soup, then a pint after. Works well as you then know exactly what you have had....i do like just a wee bit of routine! :D



no pun intended xxx :D xxx
 
I felt a bit spaced out the first few days. Didn't get headaches, but drank lots of water.
Felt tired for first few days, but was motivted, so that saw me through.
Got more energy after day 6 or 7
Not felt hungry at all from starting, but did get cravings. Keeping busy was key and this forum helped with that.
Good luck with your journey x
 
Weight losses vary from person to person and from week to week.
I have been very lucky. I'm on SS+ (3 CD meals and a small protein and veg/salad meal) and today is exactly 2 months since I started the diet. ( I can't believe I've just written that!:D I have never dieted before, I talked about it, thought about it, moaned about it but always sabotaged myself - hopeless.)
I have lost 2st 10lbs, I hopped on my scales this morning.
It isn't always easy and I think it is expensive, but I feel so good and so well and shall continue to my goal - although that is flexible. I shall stop when I think I've lost enough, not when the scales say so. I don't want to look scrawny or wrinkly, I'd rather be a bit curvy.
I am not going to allow this weight to creep back on. I just won't. I shall keep an eye on the scales and if I get 1/2 a stone heavier then I shall do something about it.
Good luck Caroline. It'll be brilliant!
 
Thanks for the answers guys. It's been very helpful! I went to see my CDC for the first time yesterday, she was lovely and really helpful. I stocked up for the week and am ready to go! I decided to go for just the CD meals as I just felt that if I had gone for having a small meal, it would just get complicated. And I'd be more tempted to cheat. 3 tablespoons would easily become 4, or 5. Having a strict diet should hopefully help me!

I decided to start today rather than yesterday so I was starting on a full day rather than half. I managed to resist the whole last supper thing and ate just a normal dinner and that was it, which was good! I've just had the apple and cinnamon porridge for breakfast. I didn't like it totally at first, but did by the end! I'm thinking I'm going to get a hand blender thing though so that nothing is lumpy :) I'm hoping my excitement will continue to motivate me through the next few days!
 
Good luck Caroline :) I definitely advise you getting a blender... lumpy shakes are not good! Hope you have a great first day xx
 
It's going ok so far, I had a little bit of a craving so had half of my bar, and will save the rest for later. I think I should be ok today though. Still have a shake and half a bar to go! Not doing that great on the water front though. I've drunk about .75L but will keep on it!!
 
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