FFS - I'm going to have to do the Cambridge Diet are'nt I = ARGGHHHH

[DietDisasterTriesAgain]

Been trying to lose weight since Jan (4 or 5 stone to lose dependent on how I feel!!)with the goal being our holiday at the end of July with me being a size 12. I thought 7 months would be plenty enough time but have so far only managed to get rid of 1 and a half stone . I lost a stone of that in 3 weeks on the Cambridge diet and vowed never to do it again as I was just so bloody miserable. Since then despite me counting calories religiously (1500-1600 a day) and exercising for two hours a day every day (averaging 500 cals burnt) have only lost 8lbs since March.

I admit to a few blips but have stuck to it 80% of the time. My weight will not go below 14 stone, it just goes up and down!!

I have been overweight since DD was born 10 yrs ago (was a size 8/10 before), put on almost 4 stone with the pregnancy and another one and a bit in her first year (PND, comfort eating etc). Amazingly I have stayed the same size over the last 9 years even with 2 further pregnancies (one of them a twin preg) so have no problem maintaining just need to get shot of the excess.

I am thinking I am going to have to do another last ditch attempt at the Cambridge whch really depresses me (especially as I will have to stop exercising which I really enjoy and helps with my stress levels) but not half as much as having ANOTHER holiday where I'm a miserable cow covering up on the beach while wanting to spit in the eyes of the women in bikinis!! Can anyone suggest anything else before I ring my Cambridge counsellor (again) .

This might be an odd one - but you may not be eating enough... Eating 1500 cals a day and exercising burning up 500 would put you at 1000 cals a day - which may put you in starvation mode - your body hanging onto every last calorie it can. I do weightlossresourecs.co.uk - basically calorie counting - and when I have a balance of below 1000 - my weight loss slows completely. I find that I need to eat a minimum of 1100 calories a day and then I tend to eat about half (if not all) of my exercise calories. I'm consistently losing 2 pounds a week (17 off so far in 7 weeks) and I used it to lose 2 and a half stone for my wedding a couple of years ago.... Just a thought.

The amount you have lost since March is not bad- it's around a 1lb a week and a steady loss, especially if you have gone off the wagon at times.

Maybe you need to "graze"- eat smaller amounts over say 5 meals a day? Eating actually uses calories and speeds up your metabolism.

Agree with the previous poster that crash diets- which you are almost on- will increase your weight as your body will lose muscle not fat, then you will add fat when you eat normally, as your muscles will not be there to burn the calories.

can't help withthe Cambridge diet- never used anything like that- suggest you eat healthily, and exercise as you are- and be patient!

I really feel for you. I am in the same situation.

For me the cambridge diet doesnt work.

I did it in 2005 and lost 8 stone. Within 2 years the weight went on again.
I did it again at the end of last year and lost 3 stone. I came off it due to illness and have already put a stone back on.
I do know somebody that did the cambridge and managed to keep the weight off - but that is not me.
The diet has set me into a binge/starve cycle and has not tackled the problem of why I over eat and how to lookafter myyself.

Like I say though I do know somebody who did the diet sucessfully.
I am considering not obsessing about my eating as much - as it has become a big problem - and perhaps joing a gym and exercising.

Hope that you make the right decsion for you and it works out

For me, the Cambridge Diet is easier than other diets because it takes away the need to think about food

I have very slow weight loss on any other plan - average 1 lb per month, but this at least gives me 2 lb per week. I do lots of exercise - 9 classes per week. It is a myth that you can't, but you can't do it on Sole Source - you need to be on the 810 or 1000 plan - then it really really works.

Good luck

Thanks for your replies. Marla - my shape has changed - my butt is now quite presentable in jeans and I have dropped ONE dress size at least.

I do eat around 5 snack meals a day with a larger main meal(green tea only after 7pm) and have significantly increased my veg & protein intake while reducing carbs (bread is my demon and I have had one slice (brown) over the last week instead of my usual 4 slices (white) at a sitting).

Will increase my cals up to 2000 and see how it goes for the next two weeks after that my hol will be 8 weeks off so my backup will be doing the Cambridge for that time to drop at least 2 stone and settle for a size 14. Have some time to get used to the idea at least!!