Cambridge Diet

FoodFanatic_2

Hi

Thanks everyone. It looks like I'm going to try CD. I got in touch with 4 local counsellers and only got to speak to 2 of them (one didn't get back to me, the other has moved). Out of the 2 I spoke to, one of them recommended the other one! She reckoned the other counsellor was better at discussing eating issues as apparently, that's her sideline work anyway.

2 things: I sometimes stay in Uxbridge & sometimes in Greenford, so both the areas and their surrounding areas are good for me (I can drive wherever necessary). I wanted a recommendation. Even though the counsellor who had the more relevant experience sounded helpful, I'm not sure if I would gel with her. And she charges £50 for the first week, £37 for each week there after. So I would like a highly recommended CDC please!

Also, I want to start the programme asap, but I have to big hurdles in the way. I am going for a weeks break either the w/c 10.03.08 or 17.03.08. And today I learnt I will be required to go away for 2 weeks from 15.02.08 for a family thing. Both mean lots of food, and the first trip will include booze. The CDC I spoke to said there were 6 plans and that one of them would be bound to suit me. What are the 6 plans & how do they work? Also, people manage to go away and come back having stayed the same or having had a loss of weight. I don't want to sabatage the diet, and I don't want to lose all the weight abefore I go but then put everything back on again. I wondered how to do damage control. I am looking to start by the the end of next week, after my doctor has signed me as ok (CDC advised I needed a docs signature as I'm asthmatic).

What do I do? I wondered if it was best to wait until all the trips were over then start properly. But then, I would love to turn up looking a bit slinkier when I see the family! And I'm guessing March will be a hot holiday, so I don't fancy scaring the fellow travellers with my bingo wings.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

All replies will be gratefully accepted!

Cute_'n'_Quirky

You can do -

1. Sole Source which is 3 meal replacements per day
2. 790 which is 3 MR plus milk plus a meal
3. 1000 which is MR plus meals plus fruit

No alcohol allowed on ANY of the plans - full details are on the website https://www.cambridgedieters.com

Considering how far away March is you could lose a considerable amount of weight by then - I lost 3 stones in 7 weeks when I started.

I have been away for days/weekends/weeks whilst on CD and I have stuck to 790 throughout.

You don't need to have a binge-fest just because you are going away for a week whether it is family or work. Certainly the alcohol is a no-no anyway.

A lot of folks on CD have gone on holiday abroad and have stuck with 790 - having 3 meal replacements and a proper meal in the evening - with no problems at all - only water, though, no alcohol. It can be done with a bit of self-control.

CD will teach you some control over your bingeing, regardless of counselling. We learn that food is not the be all and end all.

Of course you still get folks on CD who, over Christmas, saw it as an excuse to eat anything and everything in sight. Since that is what got them overweight in the first place it was a stupid thing to do.

If you commit to Cambridge, or any other diet for that matter, you commit to a proper way of eating for the rest of your life - otherwise the weight will just pile back on.

I lost weight over Christmas and New Year - my CDC said that I was the only one of her clients who had. I stuck to 790. I had my turkey dinner but ditched the Christmas cake and mince pies and choclate.

It depends how badly you want to lose the weight, doesn't it? If socialising/drinking and eating a vast amount of food means more to you than being a healthy weight and regaining your figure then you will never lose weight on any diet.

Louisepp

Cute_n_Quirky wrote: »

Since that is what got them overweight in the first place it was a stupid thing to do.

Ouch. So harsh C'n'Q:eek: Okay, not the wisest thing to do, but people have walked different paths, have different historys and eating disorders, different family pressures. Not easy for everyone to be so perfect;)

So whilst I agree that 790, 1000 etc could work really well for your holidays FoodFanatic and you'll lose loads by then and feel great, if you think that you might find it hard to do whilst away, it's probably best to leave it until you can have a clear run.

If you want to give the 790, 1000 a go, keep positive. If you go with thoughts of how deprived you are going to feel, how life is so not fair, you are doomed;)

Go knowing that you are strong and determined, that you may well come back from a break having lost weight (possibly for the first time ever), and how good that is going to make you feel, how controlled you can be whilst you watch others eat themselves into a stupour. Visualize how fantastic you are and will be at the diet before you go and whilst your there. Polish halo frequently

It's all in the mindset.

Cute_'n'_Quirky

The thing is that we can always find a reason to put a diet off!

The best thing to do is to just get on with it and work your life around the diet not work the diet around your life

Louisepp

Cute_n_Quirky wrote: »

The thing is that we can always find a reason to put a diet off!

Well yes, but it doesn't matter what you're told, or what you know you should do, you can only do it when you are really ready.
If it just depended on your level of intelligence (as in, not being stupid), then one must wonder why seemingly intelligent people ever get overweight in the beginning.

There is no doubt that 'falling off the wagon' can make the diet so much more difficult, but unless your head is in the right place, it can even more difficult to stay on it. Nothing to do with being stupid.

Once you are really ready to do the job, then yes...eyes down, fast forward and let nothing stand in your way of getting to your goal and staying there.

Cute_'n'_Quirky

The mind-set has to be correct - yes!

I work in psychotherapy!!

FoodFanatic_2

Well, I think I might leave it for a while. I'll decide after I've seen the CDC.

You see, when I go on the first break, I will be seeing family, and it is very disrespectful to refuse food you are given in their homes and especially at the temples in India (good tip for anyone ever planning on visiting India).

You do NOT have choice while you're out there. It's not like the UK & USA where you have easy access to things, it's not easy to binge either - I can't just wander into a shop & buy packs of food, it's not advised for me to go anywhere alone when I visit (and I can't speak hindi, so it's not worth trying to purchase food secretly. I'll just get conned lol!).

But Indian social functions are based around everyone sitting at a table and eating together. Salad is never advised to be eaten there because of it being washed with water, and once you have a bit of water from there, you spend the rest of the break ill (yes, this has happened many a time). There will definately be no alcohol on this trip, so that's not a concern.

I don't know where the second break is yet, but my new years resoluton is to try and travel a little bit more. I've hardly seen anything this world has to offer. Part of my travel plans are to be amongst the people, and see everything. Not just go to a tourist resort and see the typical sites. I intend trying out the local delicacies too (well, when you do food reviewing as a sideline job, it makes sense to try food from it's origins). If I was to go to Italy or France, I would definately visit the local vineyards as I do enjoy wine every now & again & it's been a mini hobby to learn about it, so that's why there would be alcohol.

I am a believer that when you make a commitment to stick to a diet, you stick to it properly. But I also believe that when you go somewhere new, you should experience everything. Including the food, just be sensible about what you eat. Life is for living, so if it means a slow & steady progress, then so be it.

If it's a case of waiting until I'm back from both trips, then that's what I'll have to do. There are no plans to go anywhere for a long time after that. For me, this story will probably start in March, because I'm a 'when in Rome...' kinda person.

I'll still be here though, persuading myself that this is the diet I have been waiting for, while watching all of you report your melting of pounds!

:grouphug:

Cute_'n'_Quirky

Hope all goes well for you

Louisepp

FoodFanatic wrote: »

Well, I think I might leave it for a while. I'll decide after I've seen the CDC.

Considering the circumstances, I think that's very wise. Many people find it difficult to get back on 100% after a break, so it's best to wait until you have that clear run:j

aellon

All going well for me at the moment on day 10 & no slips so far - but I'm having lots of strange dreams - ones where I break my diet. For example, in the one last night I ended up eating spaghetti bolognese. :eek:

I woke up not a very happy bunny until I realised it was just a dream.

Has anyone experienced any thing similar? & does it stop as you adjust to the diet?