Have you regained weight after a diet plan

jackomdj

I used to be a Cambridge weight plan Consultant.

I would always tell people that if they lost the weight and went back to their old ways they would regain the weight for the same reason that it went on In The first place. The losing weight with Cambridge is the easy bit, it is the maintenance. However, if you work back through the steps, ie gradually adding the right sort of food, then once you are at maintenance you THINK about what you are eating then you will keep it off.

Reading through here a lot of people are saying " just eat less" which is true, but if you have a lot of weight to lget rid of and are only dropping a couple of pounds a week that could be a couple of years! People who have reached that weight level have an issue with food (for many reasons) and taking that long probably just won't work. Additionally a lot of people who are seriously overweight won't do lots of exercise, either because their body can't due to weight related issues (I saw a lot of people with bad knees etc) or just because they are too embarrassed to go to a gym or do something strenuous in public.

paulineb_2

jackomdj wrote: »

I used to be a Cambridge weight plan Consultant.

I would always tell people that if they lost the weight and went back to their old ways they would regain the weight for the same reason that it went on In The first place. The losing weight with Cambridge is the easy bit, it is the maintenance. However, if you work back through the steps, ie gradually adding the right sort of food, then once you are at maintenance you THINK about what you are eating then you will keep it off.

Reading through here a lot of people are saying " just eat less" which is true, but if you have a lot of weight to lget rid of and are only dropping a couple of pounds a week that could be a couple of years! People who have reached that weight level have an issue with food (for many reasons) and taking that long probably just won't work. Additionally a lot of people who are seriously overweight won't do lots of exercise, either because their body can't due to weight related issues (I saw a lot of people with bad knees etc) or just because they are too embarrassed to go to a gym or do something strenuous in public.

How many cals a day does the Cambridge diet allow? Im sure its less than 1000. Thats not healthy as far as Im concerned.

Id actually be surprised if someone with a lot of weight to lose lost only a couple of pounds a week on even 1500 cals which as far as I am concerned is still too low.

If it did take people two years to lose weight, they would be more likely to keep it off.

I dont think Cambridge or Herbalife or Body by Vi teaches people about nutrition, its just an easy way to cut calories. I know its not easy getting weight off, Ive struggled with my weight on and off since my 20s, but Ive lost almost 3 stones in 10 months with no shakes, no pills, no meal replacements, no calorie counting either.

Im sure lots of things work for people, including the things Ive mentioned above, plus WW, plus slimming world. But the changes do have to be for life. And so many people yo yo diet, no wonder certain companies are making money from people who really do need help.

People who have issues with food (and I speak as someone who has), need to sort out what those issues are before or during what ever plan it is that they intend to lose weight on.

January20

spender wrote: »

I have regained weight after doing well on the Cambridge Weight plan. I have tried to find out the long term success rate before embarking again. I have previously tried slimming world but got confused with the combos

Any advice would be appreciated

I used to do Weight Watchers. I started when I was in my 20s when I thought I was massively overweight, didn't believe other people who told me I wasn't (that was a BIG mistake as I only had about 1 stone to lose the first time I joined), lost weight well but then put it on again and more, so I joined WW again and there began the vicious circle. I finally gave up WW when I joined a class at a time and place that suited me perfectly but WW cancelled it because there weren't enough people attending (there used to be 30-40 of us but clearly that wasn't enough for this money making organisation)

I gave up losing weight until about 18 months ago when I decided to start eating healthily on my own without outside help. I have a low salt, low fat and certainly low sugar diet. I mostly cook from scratch. I don't eat after 8 (this simple rule has made such a difference!) and I have a little bit of what I fancy when I fancy it. I've lost a lot of weight, I sleep really well and I feel really good. Also, I don't feel guilty about the food I eat like I used to on the WW plan.

My advice?
Don't get into the vicious circle of yo-yo dieting as you will end up putting more weight on.
Find what triggers your over-eating. For me it's emotions, lack of sleep and boredom (hence why the not eating after 8 rule works beautifully).
Be sensible about your diet and see the dietician or nurse at your GP practice.
patient! It's better to lose 1-2 lb a week than 5 as it's less likely you'll put it on again.
Don't get obsessed by the numbers on your scales. I used to weight myself every day. Ridiculous I realise now!
Learn good eating habits which I don't think WW or SW teach you as I think they are gimmicky and confusing (perhaps so you fail and go back? )
Finally, don't punish yourself with too strict a diet as you will get sick of it and fall of the wagon.

Beckyy

Diet plans just seem like an expensive way to get motivation and quick weight loss over a short period of time, not a lifestyle change what is what would probably make more difference.

Common sense and a healthy lifestyle - eating less unhealthy foods/more of the right things and lots of exercising is the best and only way to do it long term imho. Having to starve yourself, or eating a miniscule amount of food each day isn't a healthy or enjoyable way to live. Might be easier said that done for some people but everybody can do it if they try hard enough.

tori.k

I lost more money than weight with weight watchers soon as I left class the weight would slowly add back up as soon as started using eye than scales to measure my food, I've find slimming world better for us as it's just giving more thought to what you eat and how you cook it rather than measuring and I found that becomes habit forming easier. we always stay for the meeting have made some great friends the collective information we share is amazing haven't come across a meal yet that can't be slimafied maybe that's where I went wrong with weight watchers (I was a weigh in and run girl )

Exercise has been the key tho, DH is a diabetic (type2) his bloods have lower with diet but we found the days exercise especially circuit training ( burpees suck) his bloods are normal with the mix of cardio and strength training im not having much trouble with my joints in the morning that I had even when I was lighter than I am now, we both feel better for introducing exercise into our daily routine I've found im not having the urge to look for chocolate half as much as I did when it was diet alone im nowhere near a gum bunny don't have the time or inclination to be we swim twice a week and do 2 circuit classes.

as some thats always been the top end of her BMI suppose the biggest change and what keeps the weight off for me is not going it alone but having the support of others I don't cook a separate meal's for the family we all have it the slimming world way if I do a spag bol the kids would have garlic bread as an extra and DH and I wouldn't unless we really fancied it, it really has to be a longterm lifestyle change not a diet or it's unsustainable.

System

Carl31 wrote: »

Its harder as you get older as your body has stopped growing. Most people can eat what they like up to their late teens or early twenties as their body uses the calories to grow. They stop growing but carry on the eating

As we get older, we also get more sedantry, sitting in the office or at home changes our metobolisms and makes them less efficient, hence our bodies become even less efficient at burning calories, hence middle age spread

Most people really need to exercise as they get older to retain muscle mass that is gradually reduced due to lifestyle, and watch their calorie intake

Indeed

Bf is 23 and has found it pretty easy to lose weight (not jealous I promise!)

I've realised I need to eat better and move more. Diets don't work for me. I need something more permenent and even though I would live to see results quickly I have realised slow and steady is better for me I think I'm lucky in that my job isn't sedentary and I'm quite often on my feet running around like a headless chicken! I did lose about half a stone when I started working (after 3 1/2 years of being ill and not working thus being VERY sedentary)

Horace

I lost a lot of money with Slimming World, I have noticed that I have put on 2st in the past year since leaving them and this is partly due to me trying to follow the diet and me not having any appetite so I started off a vicious cycle.

One thing that I did notice was that there were people at the group I used to go to who had been going there for years and were still trying desperately hard to lose weight. I am sure that some had body dysmorphia because they were quite slim and there were others who were huge including the consultant. I noticed that the consultant was never keen to show photographs of her previous self which made me wonder if she had lost anything at all.

I have started to see a health trainer and I am noting down everything that I eat as well as becoming more active. The health trainer will pay for me to attend a slimming club for 12 weeks should I decide to venture down that route but I am not sure because from what I have seen, the consultants do not practice what they preach. I was always pushed to eat low fat/fat free yoghurts not realising they contained vast amounts of sugar to make them taste better - now I eat full fat yoghurt which contains less sugar.

TopQuark

Carl31 wrote: »

I know this is true as its the lifestyle I follow, I'm 33 now and still wear the same size jeans I did when I was 18

Its not easy, and the level of exercise I do some say is extreme, I don't agree I think its one that suits the sedantry lifestyle that people have got used to. People say my diet is plain and boring, but I know the calorie levels I need to consume

Calorie counting is really the best way to learn what the right foods to eat are, its a bit time consuming at first, but after a couple of weeks you get used to it. That is essentially what we etc disguise in their plans, but the secret is they don't tell customers why they lose weight on their plans, just that using their plan they will

People that struggle with weight usually have a poor relationship with food or exercise, or both. If that is not tackled properly then it will never changed. I too trained as a PT years ago, so admittedly I do have some knowledge that helps me, however I work as an accountant, so I sit at a desk all day. The knowledge is out there, you just need to find it

Yes there are skinny people that can eat what they like without worry, that is due to their ectomorphic body type. Depending on how you look at it, you could say they are lucky or unlucky. They are skinny, but generally tend to worry and get more stressed easily due to their hormone balance

No offence Carl, but you're talking rubbish here.

Since we all have access to a similar range of high-calorie foods and little time or inclination to do sufficient regular exercise, the main factor affecting our weight is genetics. Some peoples' genetic make-up means they are slim without any effort, for others, even with sustained effort, it is a battle to keep in a normal weight range. If you are one of these people and you wish to stay in a healthy weight range, then you need to ensure a positive ratio of calories used to calories consumed. This means burning more calories through exercise or eating fewer by watching what you eat. As everyone knows, it is not rocket science!

Not all slim people have 'healthy' lifestyles as we know, so 'acting like thin people' is meaningless. Also, slim people who eat what they want and don't exercise do not have a hormone imbalance (in general). It is down to their genetics.

Did you really train as a PT? It's quite difficult to believe judging by your apparent lack of appreciation of some basic concepts here.

tori.k

Horace wrote: »

I lost a lot of money with Slimming World, I have noticed that I have put on 2st in the past year since leaving them and this is partly due to me trying to follow the diet and me not having any appetite so I started off a vicious cycle.

One thing that I did notice was that there were people at the group I used to go to who had been going there for years and were still trying desperately hard to lose weight. I am sure that some had body dysmorphia because they were quite slim and there were others who were huge including the consultant. I noticed that the consultant was never keen to show photographs of her previous self which made me wonder if she had lost anything at all.

I have started to see a health trainer and I am noting down everything that I eat as well as becoming more active. The health trainer will pay for me to attend a slimming club for 12 weeks should I decide to venture down that route but I am not sure because from what I have seen, the consultants do not practice what they preach. I was always pushed to eat low fat/fat free yoghurts not realising they contained vast amounts of sugar to make them taste better - now I eat full fat yoghurt which contains less sugar.

Could be they were target members i've found losing weight is the easy part it's finding the balance to maintain the weight your happy with that's the real work. those usually that have been the most successful at this are those that keep ties to there group regardless of which slimming club they follow, I didn't have that much to loose when I joined slimming world but joined because I wanted to loose it before it did become an issue in my life i've found it so much harder to loose the weight in my 40 than it was in my 20/30. I set my target to a BMI of 24 im comfortable in myself at this weight, exercise keeps me toned, I saw no point setting my self a target that would make me miserable to maintain I love food and now have a healthy relationship with it. maybe your larger consultant just reached the weight she was happy to be, who are we to say what weight a person should be just a loss of 10% of your body fat will make the world of difference health wise.

neverdespairgirl

paulineb wrote: »

How many cals a day does the Cambridge diet allow? Im sure its less than 1000. Thats not healthy as far as Im concerned.

I think the Cambridge Diet is a Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) which is therefore 600 - 700 calories a day.

It's not particularly unhealthy, though, and sustained weightloss through proper VCLDs is not less achieved than Weight Watchers and so forth.