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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Anyone else starting the Cambridge diet this week?

501 replies

hattiejacques · 02/09/2007 18:01

I'm starting CD on Tues. My main worry is how my body will adapt after being on a vlcd? Anyone due to start soon or have any experience of maintaining their weight loss on CD

OP posts:
Overtiredmum · 23/01/2008 17:40

My first weigh-in is not until after 10 days, so quite a long time, although hopefully I'll get a lovely surprise on the scales!!

MatildasMummy · 01/02/2008 16:24

overtired mum - how are you getting on?
i'm having a pretty rubbish time - just can't get back into the swing of things. just going to take it hour by hour and day at a time. starting tomorrow.... i will do it.

Overtiredmum · 02/02/2008 16:04

Hi MM, I'm doing fine thanks. Am on Day 13 now. Had my first weigh-in on Thursday which was Day 10 and have lost 11lbs and 4in from my waist! Am thrilled and determined to keep going. My plan is to SS for the four weeks and then go to 790 and work my way up, as I am starting to miss food a little, but it just depends on whether I sit around and think about food and whether I keep active. I must admit though I feel fantastic in myself. I have loads of energy and want to do more, and don't feel bloated and the one thing that I thought I would really miss is wine and I don't even fancy it at the moment!!

Muppett · 09/02/2008 20:46

I know this thread has been going for a while but want to know how you are all going with keeping the weight off. I was impressed by the support you have given each other no matter which programme you are following. Have decided afer much consideration to do something. Since meeting DH have put on 7 stone . Also have two darling DDs again another gain of 2 stone. Still unsure whether to follow LL or CD. Must admit CD initially seems better due to the counselling and one to one. the cost is another issue. Any support would be welcome. Have rung LL and waiting for them to get back to me. Will ring CD on Monday.

tillytally · 15/02/2008 10:03

I am starting CD today, is there anyone here still doing this. I need some support

Nursejo · 15/02/2008 14:44

Hi, I started CD last year in February,and in 4 weeks lost 2 stone,I lost 10lb in 7 days!!. I prefer CD to LL, as with LL you are "tied in" for 100 days,CD is a little more flexible,and does a maintenance plan.The cost is a big cosideration too.As for "cheating" I didnt.I find it easier to stick to it,as theres NO food involved,with normal dieting its always tempting to have bigger portions or snack,at least with CD
removes the whole issue of food. I need to restart it as I cannot "maintain" my weight loss without a little help from CD. Good Luck,stick with it,its hell but it works!

chocolatespiders · 15/02/2008 16:21

jo what was you starting weight if you dont mind me asking that is a great loss maybe it could be me.....???

chocolatespiders · 15/02/2008 16:22

tillytally how has your day been ?

tillytally · 15/02/2008 16:42

not too bad, I was doing great then without thinking I finished of the dcs lunch. I wasnt hungery, it was pure habit. I have not let it get me down though, I will just have to learn to break old habits, they are what made me get overweight.
Carried on with my lunchtime shake anyway, and so that was my only blip.

Squiffy · 18/02/2008 17:41

Ok, so I have business breakfast tomorrow am and business drinks tomorrow pm, and then I am on the diet. Have lovely bunch of sachets in kitchen at home and will be joining you lovely ladies from Wednesday onwards. Fingers crossed.

chocolatespiders · 18/02/2008 17:44

I am thinkin of staring weds...
how much do you wish to lose?

how is it going tilly?

Squiffy · 18/02/2008 17:50

Target loss is 4 stone cannot believe I have got so fat!

MatildasMummy · 22/02/2008 10:40

Hey All

Have been away from this thread for a while and it played such a big part in having my head in the right place for the first phase of my diet that I know it will help me again. The 'break' I had over Christmas has made it harder for me to get back into it. I put on 11 lbs over Christmas and since I restarted 5 weeks ago I have lost 17lbs and a total of 51lbs in all. This week I went mad in spectacular style - I had a twix and a packet of mini cheddars on a train journey home. My CDC is great. I went round for 2 hours on Wednesday night and I'm going back to see her again tomorrow. Yesterday I was good and today I am going to stick to it and once I've got a couple of days behind me hoping it will get easier.

I would say for all those who are going to start it is a great diet. The thing I am learning though is that you only get one easy go at sole sourcing so would say don't have a break, as i am finding it pretty hard to get into the routine that i had before.

Hope all going well for everyone and I shall be posting more frequently for updates on everyones progress and letting you know how i have been getting on. I have another 2 stone to go, but i really want to get there.

JoanCrawford · 23/02/2008 19:03

Hello! Can I join in this thread?

I started CD 5 days ago, will have my first weigh in on Monday. God, I'm finding it hard. I'm doing the SS thing. I don't feel good on it at all. I thought after day 3 I was going to get loads of energy and feel well. I just feel like I'm permantly on strong medication. Will this pass?

I so desperately miss food. I dreamed about cheese and crackers last night!

This thread has given me lots of support even though this is my first post on it. It also gave me the push I needed to start this diet. I just hope I find the strength to carry on with it.

Squiffy · 26/02/2008 12:46

Am a very happy MNer today as I reached my first milestone - 5kg - in just 6 days. Which is ridiculous really - have never lost weight so quickly. I know the speed of loss will drop right down, but I am very grateful that this has been swift enough to see me though the first few days of cravings in terms of keeping me focused and motivated. Onwards and downwards....

Squiffy · 26/02/2008 12:49

JoanCrawford - how did your weigh-in go? Hope things are working well for you too. I have also gone through what you describe and have found rather bizarrely that sniffing food helps. I am mad, obviously, but whatever gets you though the night, so they say. But day 4 felt like I had PMT mixed with a migraine. Now on day 7 and feeling a bit better...

JoanCrawford · 26/02/2008 18:52

Hi Squif, I lost 5lb in the first week - disappointment is an understatement. I suffered but thought I'd be rewarded with a huge weight loss. 5lb just doesn't cut it really, not for the constant starvation I felt. I can honestly say I didn't cheat once and I've got 6 stone to lose so I'm baffled by such a small loss. And extremely miffed.

This week I've slacked abit. I've been eating some chicken when I've been hungry. Not big amounts but just something to stop me feeling the hunger pains. Actually I feel really good, the symptoms I described above have gone. Only prob now is that I know I'm not 100% committed. Last week knocked my determination abit and I just hope I can keep motivated.

Oh and Squif what is 5kg in lbs?

Well done, whatever it is

Squiffy · 27/02/2008 09:02

5 kg = 11 lb (every kilo is appx 2.2 lb)

JC - have you brought yourself some 'ketostix' from the chemist (they cost about £1 for a box)? They are testing strips that you can pee on every day - it shows if you are in the state of ketosis, and how deeply in you are. I have found them invaluable for motivating me because once I hit the middle levels (on sunday) I knew that the hunger would stop. Using the testing strips will also show you if any cheating is affecting the efficiency of the diet......

also you should make sure you weigh yourself at the same time of the day - I am always a kilo lighter in the mornings than in the evenings simply because I am drinking so much water (1 litre of water = 1 kilo of weight), so if you have upped your water intake then this will affect your weight.

Good luck!

JoanCrawford · 27/02/2008 18:09

I think getting the ketostix things are a great idea, thank you.

I've fallen well and truly off the wagon today, sausage and chips and a bowl of cereal. Totally ashamed of myself and feel like a complete failure.

I guess I have two options, bollox to the diet and carry on gorging myself and put on a stone or five OR wipe the slate clean and start with the shakes again tomorrow.

I'm gonna try again

ash6605 · 29/02/2008 12:34

Hi Joan,and everyone else!!

You may remember I was on this thread early last month,I was getting a load of hassle at work for doing this diet and gave up on it after a terrible day at work and PMT symptoms but if you all don't mind I am back on the diet and would like to re join this thread!

After my period I restarted on CD and have now been doing it for four weeks but I am very disapointed with my loss.Like JoanCrawford I lost 6lb in my first week,then the three weeks since then only 3lb each week.Admittedly,in that first week I did have a couple of picky days where I had the odd crisp and nibble of chicken but since then I have been completely dedicated but can't understand where I'm going wrong.
I have my weigh in tonight(if I'm correct I shouldbe going on to AAM this week as its my fifth week??) and am really worried that I've only lost a couple of pounds again.Why is this diet not working for me? I am actually sat here crying as I type because it has disheartened me so much.

ash6605 · 29/02/2008 13:37

bump?

JoanCrawford · 29/02/2008 19:49

Hello ash, yes I remember all that shit you had to deal with at work. And to add insult to injury you lose a few pounds. It's crap isn't it?

Don't cry . How are you feeling, do you feel better in clothes etc? You see I feel better now and I feel er, lighter. trouble is, I'm not! I've been picking and I know I'm not gonna last much longer on this. I start well, have my two shakes during the day but as soon as I'm dishing up the kids tea I start to pick. My gorging
picking tonight reached an all time high when I consumed a plate of fish pie (cheesy mash) followed by a cheese sandwich (I've started so I'll finish type thing)

It seems like you've got the willpower ash, and the weight IS coming off. Look at how much you've lost in total. Let me know how you got on at your weigh in. Well done for sticking to it for so long - much admiration.

ash6605 · 01/03/2008 20:42

Thanks JC I'm feeling a little better today,had my weigh in last night and lost 4lb so again no great loss but my clothes are definately getting baggy on me in fact i've gone down a dress size.my total loss now,four weeks on is a stone exactly,which doesn't seem a lot for this diet but I know I would never have lost that much on any other diet.
I'm now on my add a meal week and have stuck to it today,but I'm booked in for lunch tommorrow so just hope I can resist the yorkshire puds and potatoes!!
Theres not a lot I can say about your picking,I certainly can't critisise because I did it myself those first two weeks but I honestly beleive that could be why I haven't lost as much as others on this diet.

Squiffy · 05/03/2008 09:53

ash - your weight loss soulds as if it is exactly right and certainly I was told by my CD not to expect more than a stone a month. I have been really lucky in my first two weeks but am geared up for the weight loss to start slowing - I am using the ketostix to keep myself motivated - it provides me with the boost I need sometimes when I feel I am working really hard on the diet but only see a loss of 0.2kg on the scales for that day. I know I shouldn't weigh myself every day but I really cannot stop myself, so the ketostix are definately needed to keep me going.

Jc, how are you doing?

chocolateaddict · 11/03/2008 14:29

I hope you don't mind me joining you.I am now on day 4 of the CD and I have been finding it really hard so far.I also joined my local curves gym today,that was a bit daunting!!I would be grateful for any help/advice you guys can give me.