Has anyone tried lighter life or the cambridge diet?

Intergalactic_Floozie

Bronnie wrote: »

But I think that's probably true of all weight loss diets. The majority of age 40+ women in a WW or SW class will admit to having been backwards and forwards to these classes most of their adult lives!!

Couldn't agree more. But OP was asking if anyone had done CD or LL. A lot of people expect them to be a miracle diet (which they are because when you are on them, you do lose weight), but it's keeping the weight off which is hard work whatever diet you are on.

I actually found this diet so much easier than SW or WW because you don't have to think.

Interestingly the lady who kept her weight off (out of the people I know). Had gained two stone when she was laid up after breaking her leg. Prior to that she was the Matron in a nursing home, and a mother of two children and owner of a large dog which needed walking twice a day so was permanantly busy and active. She never overate and would just eat small things little and often and on the run.

The activity stopped when she broke her leg so she started overeating through boredom. Once she'd recovered from her broken leg and got her mobilty back she went back to her old eating habits which caused her to lose a little bit of weight but she wanted rid of it ASAP so went to LL.

Due to the BMI index LL said she did have three stone to lose, but due to my friend's build she knew she only needed to lose two stone to get back into a size 10 (those 2 extra stone were pushing her towards a size 18 - it seems she can drop a dress size in increments of around half stones, whereas it takes me a stone to drop a dress size - I got all her old clothes as she lost the weight).

So she did LL and lost 2 stones pretty quickly. However by the end of it she was well back into the swing of her old lifestyle (dog walking, rushing round, eating on the run) so her weight has stayed off. Apart from those few weeks laid up, and then struggling to regain her mobility overeating has never been a part of her life, like it has been mine,

compared with me on the other hand, very inactive, works in an office sat at a desk for 9hrs with the only reason to move a visit to the loo, drives everywhere so has no excuse to do any walking.....and I've regained all the weight I lost.

I'd never knock the diet and thought it was great but unfortunately the counselling aspect never worked on me. It is true what they say, you need to change your eating habits.

Bronnie

Intergalactic_Floozie wrote: »

Couldn't agree more. But OP was asking if anyone had done CD or LL. A lot of people expect them to be a miracle diet (which they are because when you are on them, you do lose weight), but it's keeping the weight off which is hard work whatever diet you are on.

I actually found this diet so much easier than SW or WW because you don't have to think.

Interestingly the lady who kept her weight off (out of the people I know). Had gained two stone when she was laid up after breaking her leg. Prior to that she was the Matron in a nursing home, and a mother of two children and owner of a large dog which needed walking twice a day so was permanantly busy and active. She never overate and would just eat small things little and often and on the run.

The activity stopped when she broke her leg so she started overeating through boredom. Once she'd recovered from her broken leg and got her mobilty back she went back to her old eating habits which caused her to lose a little bit of weight but she wanted rid of it ASAP so went to LL.

Due to the BMI index LL said she did have three stone to lose, but due to my friend's build she knew she only needed to lose two stone to get back into a size 10 (those 2 extra stone were pushing her towards a size 18 - it seems she can drop a dress size in increments of around half stones, whereas it takes me a stone to drop a dress size - I got all her old clothes as she lost the weight).

So she did LL and lost 2 stones pretty quickly. However by the end of it she was well back into the swing of her old lifestyle (dog walking, rushing round, eating on the run) so her weight has stayed off. Apart from those few weeks laid up, and then struggling to regain her mobility overeating has never been a part of her life, like it has been mine,

compared with me on the other hand, very inactive, works in an office sat at a desk for 9hrs with the only reason to move a visit to the loo, drives everywhere so has no excuse to do any walking.....and I've regained all the weight I lost.

I'd never knock the diet and thought it was great but unfortunately the counselling aspect never worked on me. It is true what they say, you need to change your eating habits.

Sorry, my post was a bit obscure in relation to the thread title! It didn't really reflect my thoughts properly as I am wary of singing the praises of LL type diets (in fact not even sure if I've mentioned my experience before)since they always attract such a strong negative reaction!

10 years ago, I lost nearly 6 stones on Lipotrim (same type of diet, medically supervised by a GP at the time and therefore with a limited amount of counselling style advice). I am 5' 8" and I went from dress size 22 to dress size 12. Over the years I have maintained pretty much a healthy BMI . My weight can creep up at times, but only one dress size before I intervene. I generally maintain a size 14 which is fine for my age and height and a realistic weight to maintain. Last winter, I crept up to a 16, but have lost that again this Spring. I have used Lipotrim twice again for 2-3 week periods exclusively, and also using it to replace 1 or 2 meals a day and find it a weight loss method that suits me.

Even after 10 years that big fat woman will always be there inside me and the old habits are potentially still there. People who didn't know me before, cannot believe the old photographs are of the same person, but being a healthy weight is a source of great joy and pleasure for me!

The weight maintenance is another story, which I am happy to discuss if anyone is interested in my experiences.

Intergalactic_Floozie

Bronnie wrote: »

Even after 10 years that big fat woman will always be there inside me and the old habits are potentially still there. People who didn't know me before, cannot believe the old photographs are of the same person, but being a healthy weight is a source of great joy and pleasure for me!

The weight maintenance is another story, which I am happy to discuss if anyone is interested in my experiences.

I've heard of Lipotrim but admittedly that is one I haven't tried (yet)!. It's strange how a diet like this took me no willpower at all to do yet I did it so easily, yet I dont have much willpower when it comes to restricting my normal food intake.

Bronnie

I too find this the easiest of all diets to follow....but I tend to be an "all or nothing" person and having learnt this about myself, I now can now put this knowledge into practice in my weight maintenance.

I'd rather have no wine than restrict myself to one small glass....therefore I don't keep wine in the house or drink it as casually any more. The WW/SW idea of a fun size choc bar as a daily treat doesn't work for me either!

Intergalactic_Floozie

Yes, "all or nothing" describes me to a tee. Moderation is not a word in my dictionary!!!

cazzasmazza

I firmly believe that slimming and maintaining a healthy weight should be based on healthy diet, eating real food and exercising more. We are supposed to eat FOOD, not a substitute bar.

I agree with those who have posted saying this type of fad diet drops your calories to horrifically tiny levels - it's just not healthy. They are a quick fix, rarely a long term solution.

I have lots of weight to lose and if I don't get off my backside to exercise more and change my ways to eating more healthily, then I reckon I don't deserve to be slim, IMHO.

It's all about changing your relationship with food and adopting a healthier lifestyle. Ignoring real food and eating vitamin replacement thingies for months does nothing to combat that.

Caz

Bitsy_Beans

My friend is doing Cambridge Diet. I asked her how many calories she's has per day. Its 600. thats the same amount I saw on a TV prog some american kids being put on as they suffer with Prader Willi Syndrome (they never register when they are full). No wonder she's losing weight she's starving!

Pennylane

Someone I know has recently lost 6 stones on Cambridge Diet. She has done this before on other diets over the years. She is due to go in for an op next week and has been told that she must stop the CD at least a week before her op and must not go back on it for about 6 weeks afterwards. This seems odd to me if it's supposed to be a "healthy" way to lose weight. The op is nothing to do with her stomach/digestion by the way.

Pennylane

I meant to say that the lady I mentioned above reckons her calories are 400-500 a day! I dread to think how much weight she is going to gain while she is getting over her op and not following the CD.

Riablo

Hi,

I've read this thread with interest (and fear I must admit!).

I'm 26 and I feel like I have been watching my weight since I was 16. I've obviously not been watching it very well as it has steadily been increasing and I feel like I need to do something to stop this viscious circle.

I already cut out a lot of fat from my diet, and generally I don't think my diet is bad, although I have a weakness for sweet things. I don't drink much at all and I have a maderate level of exercise, horse riding, walking the dog, doing agility competitions with my dog etc.

I tried really hard for 6 months going to the gym religiously 3-4 times a week 45 mins a time, working very hard (got told to slow things down by gym owner until they realised I liked to push myself). I watched what I ate without being on a fad diet but in 6 months I only lost half a stone. I was gutted. I can only think that I didn't cut as much out of my diet as I thought I had.

I am starting Lighterlife tomorrow. I have never done another 'diet', but I have seen too many people yo yo on Weight Watchers and Slimming World and I'm really hoping that the counselling, cognitive behavioural techniques and not having to think about food, will help me to reassess things and get a better relationship with food for the long term. In the short term I am hoping that the quick weight loss will motivate me to stick to the regime.

I'm concerned that so many people seem to put the weight back on again, but this seems to be the norm with most diets.

I feel like I need to re-establish a healthy way of eating and I'm hoping that LL will help me do this, not with the diet, but with counselling and then the route to management.

I'm worried I might not even manage the first week and I'm also worried about the cost...but if I keep worrying I wont lose any weight!! I decided I needed to take a step and do something drastic to change this gradual weight gain. I hope it works.