Starting Cambridge Diet

[summerlovingvibes]

Same old story for probably most people reading this. Up and down weight for years, fairly consistent for the last few but am overweight / obese. Have had 2 children, one age 3 and one 9 months.

Decided a few months ago enough was enough and to try and help me curb bad habits of snacking and enjoying too much chocolate etc I'd try Ozempic. Unfortunately it hasn't worked for me at all, no weight loss. So am ending that, and have decided to try Cambridge diet. I've dabbled in the past, but my mum has had big successes in the past and so I'm going to give it another go. Have done WW / SW in the past etc. Meals aren't an issue, it's the snacking.

So am going with the theory that I need to just tell myself that this is what I'm having today, no snacking in between etc. And go for the meal replacements.

Have found a local consultant, filled in the booking forms and booked my first appointment for a week tomorrow.

So I now have one week to mentally prepare, think of some very low cal evening meals so I can still eat with the family (ratatouille is an old fav so I'll be batch cooking that this week!)

Starting this thread for anyone else who wants to join me, and also as a bit of a record for me.

In the grand scheme of things, I probably need to lose about 4-5 stone. Realistically I look & feel a lot better 2.5 stone lighter from where I am now. This will be my wedding weight.

So that's my first goal! Wedding weight!

Hi @summerlovingvibes please can I join your thread - I started CD yesterday and have chosen to start at step 2 so 800 calories. (As I also want to exercise from day 1). Day 2 and already have the dreaded dog breath 😞I am aiming for around 1.5 - 2 stones.

Good luck - I did this before around 15 years ago and kept the weight off. However, got chubby during the lockdowns and then ill afterwards and am only now in the space to try and get back to it.

I found drinking both hot and cold water got me past the snacking - eventually!

My first goal is to lose one stone and get back into being more active, as I have a lot of events coming up and that would mean I am more comfortable in my clothes.

Hi @Flashy9 thanks for commenting and great that you have just started also!

I could have started this week but only really decided to go for it on Friday so felt like I needed to eat up the food I'd already bought for next week!

When you did it before how much did you lose?

And by the 800 cals is that packs only / no meals at all? Good tip about hot and cold drinks mix! Are you sticking to just water or also having the odd Diet Coke / diet lemonade etc?

Hey, I lost a bit over 2.5 stone in 2009 / 2010 - I would say 1.5 stone was via CD and then the rest was via exercise and calorie counting / IF (I went low carb as I had started to miss food and needed a bit more energy for bootcamps).

Probably have the same amount again to lose - which is frustrating and also older so harder to shift and probably in peri 😫

I only have fizzy water if I need to - I find I am better if I just cut stuff out, I think if I had lemonade or coke - I would want a vodka as well and then crisps / snacks....😅😂

So true about the fizzy stuff leading to snacks. But fizzy water is a good call really!

Fingers crossed for you. Are you going for weekly weigh ins? Are you self weighing in between?

@Flashy9 how are you getting on? I'm mentally preparing and gearing up for my first appointment on mo day, feel really motivated but worried that will disappear when I get hungry! Have stocked up on flavoured water.

hi @summerlovingvibes - I'm good thanks, getting through the days ok - Thursday / friday were hard but feeling better now. I am not weighing myself everyday or every week as I tend to it every 10 days or so, as I am away for work a fair bit so tend to stock up on the products. I am going to try and go to the gym tomorrow for a hill incline walk in the morning, and tonight a sauna which helps 🙂

good luck for tomorrow - just remember how you will feel when you get to your goal!! I'm busy the next couple of days as have an essay to get in as I'm studying alongside working 😰by Tuesday 2pm - so have a bit of a manic day tomorrow to write another 1200 words.

To be honest - haven't noticed any differences yet (I don't weigh or measure - as I get depressed if it's not shifting fast!) - however have bought a new suit for work which is a bit tight - so that's my motivation for the next 3 weeks otherwise I'll have to return and get a larger size 😟😂

let me know how you get on!

Just made the biggest ratatouille ever ready to turn on tomorrow morning in the slow cook for the days and then divvy up into freezer bags. This will be my standard evening meal if I'm feeling like I need to eat something.

Saw some family this weekend and just felt so big and awful.

I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow when I can just eat what I have to eat, not have crap in the house that will tempt me etc. And hopefully after a few days I'll start to feel the difference.

Work uniform also doesn't fit me after my maternity leave so that's immediate motivation!

Glad you're doing well, and that's great to keep busy and not weigh so much. I don't think I'll have the same discipline as you but maybe!

Had my first appointment and weigh in today. Hideous, horrible, yucky weight! Products ordered and the lady is going to drop them over tonight. Tomorrow will be first full day.

Good luck! You might find the first few days hard but I know you’ll get through it! 🌸🌺🌷🌻 flowers for when we both hit our goals!

Did you choose a few different types of products? I tend just to go for the shakes (I’m boring I like strawberry and chocolate) - the bars are ok when we can have them (I think after 4 weeks) but made me constipated in the past so sticking to the shakes for now!

Didnt make it to the gym so will have to add an extra session later this week! 😊

@Flashy9 hmmm yes I got a complete mix of stuff. My consultant didn't say anything about not having bars so I ordered some of those, some pre mixed berry yogurt drink things, shake packets, soups & porridge. Will work out what I like and don't like!

So day 1, and so far I've had one pack. Just about to have another. Then will have healthy dinner and another pack this evening if I feel like I need it.

I'm pretty hungry now though!!

Day 2 today.

Managed fine yesterday, a bit hungry to be expected and similar today.
Yesterday I had a pack around 12 & 3pm then dinner at 6. Had a bit too much chicken and rataloullie and a spoonful of cous cous, so skipped 3rd pack after dinner to compensate.

Told my consultant that and she said to not skip packs / make sure I just stick to plan.

So today am going with same timings for packs & meals but will try hard to not go over at all at dinner and then will have 3rd pack in the eve.

Can definitely tell I'm eating less calories, but I feel goooood mentally - I am SOOOO looking forward to losing weight! Being able to fit clothes that are too tight! And hopefully one day clothes that haven't fitted for a new year!

Keep going!

Mixed Berry yogurt drink, cookies bar and orange choc bar are all pretty yummy tbh so quite happy with those so far.

glad you are doing well! and remember its about the long-term trajectory not the daily blips!! I'm doing ok - my trousers are starting to feel looser which is a good sign - haven't weighed myself yet - my weigh in will be Monday - but I may ask not to know and continue with the photos and how I feel.

I think sometimes I get obsessed with the weight on the scale and not what I look like and how I feel which is more important! Or depressed as my weight loss always starts lower than I want!

I have just bought a weighted vest of 10kg - so will try and wear that for the housework - its tough though - had to ask my OH to take it off after about 20mins of vacuuming the upstairs 😥😝

Its keeping me motivated as that is probably around 70-80% of what I need to lose

Amazing that your clothes are starting to feel a little more roomy. That must be lovely!

Ah, I'm exactly the opposite of you. I love to see the numbers go down, but you're right - it's the overall goal and there will be weeks when I don't lose as much as I want so need to be careful!

Weighted vest sounds like a fabulous idea! I've got a little one that likes being carried lots at the moment so having her in the sling is quite good but it won't be much longer before she's walking and then I'll be just me! So maybe something I will have a think about for when that time comes.

Is your husband doing it with you? And if not how are you finding meal times / do you eat separately etc?

Argh, have broken it today. Was fine until lunch (hungry but fine), had a soup but then also had some cheese, a spoonful of 3 year olds pud and some ham 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️
Have skipped this afternoons pack to compensate and will wait until dinner now.

don't worry about the little blips - but if you get a 3/4 day streak its much easier to stop bits going in your mouth. When I feel peckish in the day - I have some plain chicken in the fridge or a boiled egg as options if I fancy something. Don't skip the packs as then you won't be getting the vitamins you need!

I saw my parents yesterday and my dad kept saying you sure you don't want these biscuits with your cup of tea - no dad, how about some chocolate - no dad! My family are such feeders! 😂My dinner was probably too big yesterday but today is a new day!

My partner is trim so doesn't need to lose any weight but probably put half a stone on! So for breakfast and lunch - he does is own thing and I stay out of the kitchen otherwise I get peckish!

For dinner - we have the same thing but obviously he has more and additional things with his. The other day I had thai cod and strip fry - my portion was a mini and his was larger with noodles!

not sure what a strip fry is 😁- stir fry with ginger, garlic and chilli - so no sachets of sauce - home made which was tasty - and more of a dry fry in a non-stick pan!

I try and simplify the dishes we have so it's easier for both of us to eat it!

@summerlovingvibes hey how are you doing? hope all is well and you've got over the initial difficulty of getting into it? I'm ok probably had a bit more food on a couple of days but felt I needed it as have been so busy! Getting a bit fed up of the shakes but hey ho! :)

Hey @Flashy9 , sorry for my lack of replies. First weigh in last Monday I was 4lbs down and I think I will have done another 2-3 this week. I'm probably not sticking to it as much as I should be (I know I'm not - there is no probably about it!) but I'm happy with slow and steady with a couple off each week or so. I'm definitely eating a lot healthier than I have done in the past when I am eating meals, and I'm having a variety of packs.

Shakes - I love and happy with! Bars not so much!