lighterlife v's cambridge v's slimfast ?

sofababe

Cambridge diet is not dangerous if you do it properly, have the full health check with your GP first and don't tell lies to the consultant. My local CD is actually based at the GP surgery, and the Drs will refer obese patients there if they feel its appropriate for their health needs.

Having said that, the healthiest, and in my vast dieting experience, the most successful way to maintain weight loss is really paying attention to your diet. The body burns carbohydrate energy first, so if you have a high carb diet (even if its low fat) you aren't going to burn off fat. Any carbs that aren't used up are stored in the body as fat. Bad news. So, a limited carbohydrate intake, to ensure that your body burns some fat each day, and eating properly, I mean actually chewing your food till its almost liquid, eating slowly, savouring each mouthful before you swallow. Gulping down your whole meal in 5 minutes flat is not going to help. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to register that your belly is full, so if you carry on eating, by the time that message has got through you're going to be full to bursting point. Are you really hungry each time you eat? Or are you actually thirsty? Or just bored? Or have you just seen that Galaxy ad on TV? So many people eat without thinking. Stop. Think.

ascot64

I have about 5 friends who have lost masses on Lighterlife to all put it back on. Please take the suggestion above and look at Dukan.

I think one of the best things about it is that you have a structured consolidation phase for after you have lost the weight to make sure it doesn't go back on.

elastigirl

i was on the Cambridge diet last year and lost 2 stone which was great sadly we couldn't afford to continue as i wasn't losing anymore and my consultant couldn't understand why and help me in any way.

I agree with the comment that if we have the will power to only drink these products then how come we don't have the will power to eat healthy. Well i don't really have an answer other than the fact that i wasn't going food shopping and the mintue i did slowly and surely i started putting the weight back on.
We honestly don't eat that unhealthy i almost stick to a gluten free diet because hubby is a coeliac so i hardly ever buy cakes and biscuits etc as it's un fair on him.
However I guess i have put back on a stone since last summer. I am now determined to to exercise more and get fit the good old fashioned way. Some how!!!

margaretclare

I agree with sofababe and ascot64 above.

These different 'plans' are attractive because it is in the nature of us human beings to want a 'quick fix'. It's possible to be tempted by them because they say 'nutritionally complete' i.e. all essential nutrients that the body needs for health are contained within those sachets of powder. It is no doubt possible to lose weight very very quickly, but what then? You can't keep on with them for ever - cost precludes that. What have you learned from the experience, about real food, choosing it and preparing it, sitting down and eating it? Go back to what you ate before and, bingo, the weight goes back.

There are some ideas that can help. Use a smaller plate. Eat sitting at a table, never never never eat sitting on the sofa while watching TV. Preferably, eat in company, with your nearest and dearest, your OH, and have some conversation during a meal. That's civilised and slows down your eating, allows time for your stomach to register 'I'm full, don't want any more, stop now'. And when you feel full, stop then. Don't feel you have to pack in more, whether it comes as a 'meal deal' that you've paid for, or whether your mum has cooked Sunday dinner and you feel obliged to eat it because she wants you to. Learn to say 'no thanks, had enough, it was good but I don't want any more'.

And drink! All body functions need hydration. Drink water with meals and between meals, don't let yourself get thirsty.

MrsE_2

I'm doing slimming world - extra easy.

But I limit white carbs myself. I have healthy ones like baked beans, lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, but have virtually eliminated rice, pasta & potatoes.

dexnero

Hi there, its not just about getting the weight off its about what goes on in your head. If you dont fix that then of course any weight gained on ANY diet or weight loss plan will return.
Psychologically its impossible to keep the weight off if we are the type of people who turn to food for comfort, to relieve stress etc etc....
Thats where lighter life differs. It is the counselling that works. If you stop going to meetings to work on yourself as a whole, then old habits will return. If people could have counselling along with a healthy eating programme that would be perfect, in my humble opinion. From someone who has been dieting FOREVER!

margaretclare

dexnero wrote: »

Hi there, its not just about getting the weight off its about what goes on in your head. If you dont fix that then of course any weight gained on ANY diet or weight loss plan will return.
Psychologically its impossible to keep the weight off if we are the type of people who turn to food for comfort, to relieve stress etc etc....
Thats where lighter life differs. It is the counselling that works. If you stop going to meetings to work on yourself as a whole, then old habits will return. If people could have counselling along with a healthy eating programme that would be perfect, in my humble opinion. From someone who has been dieting FOREVER!

I completely agree that 'it's what goes on in your head'. I would love to know, in detail, from all those who lost a lot of weight then put it all back - what changed? What did you do differently? Why?

I disagree with Ted Hutchinson at the start of this thread, who says that exercise isn't necessary. I am only speaking from experience, and in my experience, it IS necessary. Why did people stay so slim decades ago when people ate much more carby foods than now? Could it be because everyone was more active on a regular basis - not going to the gym, just walking or cycling everywhere.

I started to put some weight back on since Christmas, and it wasn't because I'd been eating all the stuff that people say they eat and drink over Christmas - I hadn't had any! The only difference is: the pool was closed so I missed my 3 x week aqua-fit, and the weather was so atrocious I didn't go out for a walk.

Darlyd

I did CD just under 6 years ago, I lost an amazing 6 stone, and kept it off... I followed the instructions to a t, I then went onto ww to maintain (took a while to get to this stage), I gained a little bit under a stone, but lost it again and maintained until I fell pregnant arghhhhhhh, I ate everything in site.. Gained what I lost plus more... I been yo yoing ever since..

I have now settled for weight watchers, I am doing it till just before Easter then going back onto CD to lose the last, I know it works, works wonders......