Restarting the Cambridge Diet; Weeks 1 - 5

During the New Year lots of people make resolutions and in the top 10 is to loose weight.
I also made a resolution to loose weight. I felt it was the right time to get back into shape.
I went back to a diet I knew would work for me and shed the weight quickly and also help me in the long term with my health.
I searched on The Cambridge Diets webpage and found a consultant who was local to me.

Making that first point of contact is always hard as you don't know what to say also, suffering from anxiety I was nervous the consultant would judge me. Silly I know as she has been on the weight loss journey too.
I arrived and she was so welcoming and friendly. She explained how she was on the diet plan too and shared some tips.
I got onto the scales and got my start weight. I knew I was overweight but I didn't realise just how much!

I started my journey on 19th January 2015 and weighed 15 stone 8lbs with a BMI of 38.

I was 100% committed to do this diet and really wanted to be at my goal weight by the summer. I worked out on average I needed to loose roughly a stone a month to be on track.

At my last visit to my consultant, which was 22nd February 2015, I weighed 14 stone 5lbs.

Thats 1 stone 3lbs loss in just over 1 month.

I knew this was a diet I could do as before I had Jack I got to goal weight and maintained for over a year.

It's not an easy diet and you truly have to be focused and WANT to loose weight. It's not a quick fix; it's a diet which helps change the way you eat.

I will update with a post in about a month with an update on my total weight loss.

Any questions please feel free to contact me.

Cambridge Diet; 9 week progress report!

Hi!
Thought I would check back in and update you all on my weight loss journey. I am still on the Cambridge diet!! Woooooohoooooo!!
So, since I last updated you I have continued to loose weight, it has slowed down and I have noticed I have a bigger loss then a smaller loss.
I am still on Step 1; Sole Source; and will continue on this until I have been on the diet for 12 weeks.

In my previous update; I told you I wasn't very well and the doctors had put me on anti-biotics and steroids. I was concerned they would slow down my weight loss that week and lo and behold they did. That week I lost a miserable 1lb but my waist did shrink 1 inch!

Following the disappointment, and completing the course of medication I knew this week would be better. I went to my councillor knowing I had done well and I had; another 4lbs lost, but my waist had stayed the same.

The next week I went to get weighed and I thought I had done well, but I had not. Only a 1lb loss. I was a little disheartened because I had not eaten anything I shouldn't have. The only thing I thought it could be was the water flavouring. I love that stuff, I love it strong! Turns out, I was using to much because I loved the taste and I was knocking myself out of ketosis.

I made the decision that for the following week I would not use ANY water flavouring. This was tough as I couldn't stand the taste of water; but I persisted and found a new addiction - fizzy water!! I attended my appointment with the councillor and I had lost 3lbs!

Either there is a patten going on with my weight loss now; or the water flavouring really was knocking me out of ketosis. I have decided to have another week without it just to see.

My total weight loss for 9 weeks is 34lbs or 2 stone 4lbs! My waist has shrunk a total of 4 inches.

My current weight is 201lbs (14 stone 5lbs), my waist is 35.5 inches and my BMI is 34.5.

I have achieved my 2 stone loss on week 7.

I will keep you updated, so check back in a few weeks! I am so close to my 3 stone achievement!

Cambridge Diet; 5 week progress report!

I am pleased to say I am still on the diet and doing well! I never imagined I would be able to get past the first few weeks without giving in.
Since my last post I have continued to shed the pounds and even inches; the losses are no where near as much as the first 2 weeks but still, it's a loss!
I am still on Step 1, Sole Source and will continue on this step until I am at 12 weeks.

I forgot to mention my start weight in my first progress report; it was 235lbs (16'11) and my waist was 39.5 inches and a BMI 39.5.

On my third weigh in my councillor informed me she would be going on holiday for just over a week. Inside I felt I wouldn't be able to manage without seeing her; and this was true. My loss for 12 days was a disappointing 3lbs. I knew the reason why I lost so little; I actually attended two birthday meals at Nandos and the sauce on the chicken must have knocked me out of Ketosis, also, not having all of my packs would have contributed to the weight loss slowing down.

The following week I knew I wouldn't be defeated and I was determined to loose more than last week! I had all of my packs and drank the water I needed to each day. I got on the scales and I had in-fact lost 4lbs. I was so happy!!

Last week, I felt had been a good week until I got a cold and really didn't feel well. I just wanted to eat lots of comfort food and feel sorry for myself. But I knew I would be totally out of ketosis again, and it would be a hard to get back into. I continued on, even though I had to force the packs down me. The day came where I went to see my councillor and I got on the scales and lost 3lbs. I am pleased with that, considering I was still ill.

I've since been to the doctors and they have put me on a steroid and anti-biotic. I hope these don't slow down the weight loss. Only time will tell!

So, for my total weight loss for 5 weeks is 25lbs or 1 stone 8 lbs! My waist has shrunk 2.5 inches.

My current weight is 210 lbs (15 stone) and my waist is 37 inches and a BMI of 35.5.

I am still having 3 packs a day; 1 chocolate mint shake in the morning, 1 chicken and mushroom soup late afternoon and another chicken and mushroom soup in the evening.

I will post back in a few weeks updating you on my progress!

Cambridge Diet; 2 week progress report!

It's been about 2 weeks since I started The Cambridge Diet and I thought I would update you with my progress so far.

After a difficult first week; I had lost a huge 9lbs! I couldn't believe it; such a large loss for my first week! The first 3-4 days is always the hardest as your body needs to get it's self into ketosis (fat burning mode). My mind was constantly on food and it was so hard cooking a meal for Jack as I just wanted to eat it! It helped having my large water bottle by the side of me; drinking my way through the 2.25 litres/4 pints of water which you need to drink each day to keep hydrated and lets your body eliminate its waste products.

At my next weigh in I was sure I wouldn't have lost much as mother nature had decided to visit me after 4 years! I was a little worried that having a period after 4 years of not having one wasn't normal but the Doctor told me it was due to a hormonal change in my body and was most likely linked to loosing weight. Anyways, I went to see my councillor not expecting to have lost more than 2lbs, then once I had got on the scales I had lost another 6lbs! I was so happy that the diet was working and weight was finally going!

In just 2 weeks I have a lost 1 stone 1lbs or 15lbs. I am so proud of myself for having the motivation to sick to the diet and follow it through as it is a hard diet.

For my meal replacement shakes for the first week I could only drink Chocolate. I wonder if thats because I have such a sweet tooth! The following week when collecting my packs I decided to try a different flavour along side chocolate and that was Mango. I was really looking forward to the shake once I had made it; I tried it and it was discussing! I knew I wouldn't be getting that one again.
This week I have got some Chicken and Mushroom soup as I am missing the savoury taste. This is lovely in a large mug with black pepper on top. I also got Apple and Cinnamon porridge, I'm hoping this tastes nice as it would be a different texture and I could have it in the morning.

I have chosen the Sole Source programme which is Step 1 on the cambridge diet. On Sole Source there's no calorie counting, no food groups to combine, no weighing and measuring food, no books to read or recipes to follow - just eat three Cambridge Weight Plan products per day and drink 2.25 litres/4 pints of fluids over the course of the day. Daily fluids can be made up from black tea or coffee, herbal teas or Cambridge water flavourings.

Sole source is a VLCD of 400-555kcal per day and is only suitable for you if you are at least one stone above BMI of 25. You need to be drinking a minimum of 2.25 litres/4 pints of fluids daily, spread throughout the day as this will help your body to eliminate its waste products. You will be on Sole Source for one week minimum and 12 weeks maximum.

Battling with weight

I have always been a large & curvy girl. I would classify myself as an emotional eater. I eat when I am sad, happy, excited or even worried.

Back in 2006/2007 while at university, I started The Cambridge Diet and within 6 months I had reached my goal weight of 10 stone with a BMI of 24; I was full of self confidence and even took up a bit of modelling! It was great not being classified as OBESE.

During the last few weeks of my first year at university my hair became thin and I thought I had alopecia. I went along to my doctors and she said she would need to rule out pregnancy. I laughed and said "Ok, but there is no chance as I am on the pill". Within minutes of doing a test it turned positive. The doctor seems shocked and carried out another just to be certain. Again, this turned positive! I couldn't believe it. She felt my stomach and said I couldn't have been any more than a few weeks as I was not showing. She booked me in for a scan the following week.

I could not get my head around being pregnant. I didn't know what to tell my family. What would they think? I had just completed my first year at university; I didn't want to let them down. So, I said nothing until I had the scan. In my mind I would have an abortion if I was under 6 weeks.

Scan day came around quickly; as soon as the ultrasound wand touched my tummy, I looked at the screen and saw a perfect little baby with arms, legs and a strong heart beat. The technician confirmed I was around 18 weeks pregnant. I couldn't believe it. There was no way after seeing the little baby on the screen I could go through with an abortion. I had NO bump, I was STILL taking the pill and I had been out drinking over the easter bank holiday weekend.

I knew I would have to tell my Mum soon as I wasn't sure how long it would be before I started showing. I remember telling my Mum while standing at the top of the stairs; her reaction was totally unexpected. She was pleased to be a Nanny!

After I had Jack in December 2008 I was determined to loose the "baby weight" which I had gained. I wanted to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. But thats when I was diagnosed with postnatal depression. I was lucky to have the support of my Mum and my Health Visitor. But thats when the weight started creeping on. The more weight I put on, the less motivated I was to do anything about it. My relationship with food had become a tasty habit which needed to stop. 

I started to become more and more depressed. I'd stay in the house all the time and I turned down many social invitations. I didn't want to be seen. I felt like everyone was staring and judging me over my weight.

I have tried many different popular diets; but the weight still was creeping on. I felt embarrassed being weighed in front of a group of strangers, and I was always the girl with the most to lose. A lot has been going on with my life and it wasn't until today that I realised I NEED to do something about my weight. I am no longer happy & confident with myself.

Today, I feel I have taken the right steps and I am going to loose this weight.
I am back on The Cambridge diet. I am not doing this for anyone but myself; it's my choice and I truly want to be successful.