What Sort of Diet is it?
The Cambridge Diet is now known as The Cambridge Weight Plan and is probably one of the lowest calorie diets around. It is a liquid only diet for the first couple of weeks and the calorie intake is only about 415-554 per day. However, it is nutritionally balanced. Those wanting to embark on this diet need to do so through an independent counselor who is a trained and accredited Independent Cambridge Consultant. These counselors will sell you the diet product and screen you for medical problems. They will also monitor you throughout the diet while providing advice to help motivate and encourage you to reach your target weight.
How Does it Work?
The diet works because it is so low in calories. You basically forget about dealing with ‘proper’ food and live solely on the diet’s specially formulated shakes for a minimum of one week and maximum of 12 weeks. You lose weight quickly during this period, both because of the low calorie intake but also because the body goes into a state of ketosis, where, due to the low carbohydrate intake, the body turns to using stored fat for energy.
There is a six step programme where step one is the very low calorie diet (VLCD) and can only be followed by those with a BMI of 25 plus one stone. Dieters can start at step one and work their way through the 6 steps which gradually increases the calorie intake and amount of regular food.
What Can You Eat?
Nothing! Well, you won’t be chewing on anything for the first few weeks on step 1. Instead, you can have three or four shakes each day and you have a choice of flavours. No snacks are allowed but you are encouraged to drink at least 2 litres of water each day. The alternative step 1 provides an option where instead of 3-4 shakes you can have 3 shakes and a 200 calorie meal or 4 shakes and 200ml of skimmed milk.
After this you can extend your range of food to include the diet’s specially formulated bars as well as soups. The strict 415 calorie intake is followed for a maximum of 8 weeks after which you can increase your calorie intake to various levels between 800-1500. You can also start including regular foods.
Are There Side Effects?
Because this is such a low calorie diet, it can create mineral imbalances which can be extremely dangerous for some people. As such, these type of diets should only be undertaken while under the supervision of a medical practitioner.
Many people find they cope with this diet because they can forget about dealing with regular food and counting calories or planning meals. When people have a lot of weight to lose, they often find it easier not having to deal with the temptations of proper food, and therefore find much success while following the Cambridge Weight Plan.
However, once people reach their target weight, they often return to old eating habits and many go on to regain their lost weight. But this is something countless dieters experience no matter what the diet.
The Cambridge Diet is now known as The Cambridge Weight Plan and is probably one of the lowest calorie diets around. It is a liquid only diet for the first couple of weeks and the calorie intake is only about 415-554 per day. However, it is nutritionally balanced. Those wanting to embark on this diet need to do so through an independent counselor who is a trained and accredited Independent Cambridge Consultant. These counselors will sell you the diet product and screen you for medical problems. They will also monitor you throughout the diet while providing advice to help motivate and encourage you to reach your target weight.
How Does it Work?
The diet works because it is so low in calories. You basically forget about dealing with ‘proper’ food and live solely on the diet’s specially formulated shakes for a minimum of one week and maximum of 12 weeks. You lose weight quickly during this period, both because of the low calorie intake but also because the body goes into a state of ketosis, where, due to the low carbohydrate intake, the body turns to using stored fat for energy.
There is a six step programme where step one is the very low calorie diet (VLCD) and can only be followed by those with a BMI of 25 plus one stone. Dieters can start at step one and work their way through the 6 steps which gradually increases the calorie intake and amount of regular food.
What Can You Eat?
Nothing! Well, you won’t be chewing on anything for the first few weeks on step 1. Instead, you can have three or four shakes each day and you have a choice of flavours. No snacks are allowed but you are encouraged to drink at least 2 litres of water each day. The alternative step 1 provides an option where instead of 3-4 shakes you can have 3 shakes and a 200 calorie meal or 4 shakes and 200ml of skimmed milk.
After this you can extend your range of food to include the diet’s specially formulated bars as well as soups. The strict 415 calorie intake is followed for a maximum of 8 weeks after which you can increase your calorie intake to various levels between 800-1500. You can also start including regular foods.
Are There Side Effects?
Because this is such a low calorie diet, it can create mineral imbalances which can be extremely dangerous for some people. As such, these type of diets should only be undertaken while under the supervision of a medical practitioner.
Many people find they cope with this diet because they can forget about dealing with regular food and counting calories or planning meals. When people have a lot of weight to lose, they often find it easier not having to deal with the temptations of proper food, and therefore find much success while following the Cambridge Weight Plan.
However, once people reach their target weight, they often return to old eating habits and many go on to regain their lost weight. But this is something countless dieters experience no matter what the diet.
© Diets and Calories 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment