Cambridge Diet
The Cambridge diet originated in the United Kingdom in the 1970s. It made its way to the United States in the 1980s, where it still has a strong following. Everyone should seek the advice of a doctor before choosing a diet plan, especially this one. The plan is very low in calories and the food is purchased from Cambridge distributors. They promise to deliver all the required nutrients for a healthy diet, including vitamins and minerals, through soups, shakes, nutrition bars, and sachets. For more details on their food products, visit the Cambridge web site, where you can join for $29.95. This includes access to a counselor for help.
The plan includes four stages. Like most diets, the first step is making the decision to lose weight, getting psyched, and setting the start date. The next stage begins the diet. Anyone with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of less than 25 or who does not have at least 14 pounds to lose should not consider this program. The calories in the second dietary phase are extremely restrictive at 415 to 500. Exercise is not recommended and you must eat three Cambridge meals a day. Black coffee, tea and lots of water are the only fluids allowed. You can stay on this stage for weeks, or until your coach recommends you move to the next stage.
Stage three is the stabilization step and the calories increase to 810 to 1500 per day. Exercise is now encouraged. You can now eat a few approved foods along with the Cambridge meals, as long as you stay within the calorie guideline. This process is supposed to sustain your weight loss from phase two. The exact amount of calories allowed depends on your gender and size.
The fourth stage of the diet is the maintenance step. You are now allowed 2000 calories for women and 2500 for men. You are encouraged to increase your activity level. At this point the counselor is supposed to guide you into making healthy dietary choices. If you do gain a little back, you can substitute a few Cambridge meals into your diet to get back on track.
Throughout the entire program, you are to avoid sugar, alcohol, fast food, fat, and too much salt.
There are some major flaws in the Cambridge Diet. The calorie range for phase one is near starvation level. Your body will immediately lose water weight, and then attack fat cells. After that, it will begin to break down muscle tissue, which keeps the nervous system working and the heart pumping. You may also suffer from constipation and dehydration. The low calorie limit may leave you weak, tired, and possibly dizzy. Even with the Cambridge supplements, this diet is simply not healthy.
In addition to the health costs, this diet hits your pocketbook. For one product, it costs $98.26 to cover 15 days.
The most basic problem is that it will not teach you how to eat normally. It does not lead you to discover why your eating habits made you fat in the first place. For example, some people are emotional eaters and those issues are not addressed with the Cambridge plan. The low calories and the absence of fat or sugar in the diet is a set up to binge because you are not satiated.
The Cambridge diet stands by its statement that it supplies all the necessary vitamins and minerals for a healthy diet, but what about electrolytes and blood pressure? If you are going to follow a plan at this low level of calories, you should be medically monitored with an electrocardiogram and regular blood levels.
The Cambridge is just one of the most popular fad diet, to go back to the main page click here, popular fad diets.
