I came off the Cambridge sachets in the first week of November and agreed to reconvene with my CDC on the first Monday of January. My ‘sign-off’ weight was 14 stones dead.
For the following two months I ate pretty well as when I felt hungry with the following general exceptions: I ate a portion of porridge for breakfast from the leftover sachets of CD stuff and when that ran out Quaker Oat So Simple. I discovered that the flavoured ones are more palatable when eaten using water only, so I usually have sultana, raisin, cranberry and apple flavour. They are 134cals when used with water. I have also been eating A LOT of cauliflower. I havn’t been at all inventive with it but it acts very much like potato does- as a bulking agent. All meals made at home have been very low carb affairs and the ‘above ground’ veg rule still applies. Oh, and no fruit. IF I’m out and about I might get a bacon and egg butty and chuck the bread out, a scotch egg, some sliced ham and veg leaves or some other single serving unit of food. If it comes bound in bread or pastry I usually peel that away and eat the filling.
I have eaten pizza and pasties on occasion either because I fancied one or there really was nothing else available although these have been infrequent.
And I have also done some extensive trials into the effects of alcohol consumption on a low calorie diet:)
I’ve been to the gym as often as possible that probable averages 3 times a week and done the usual 45 minute spinner/leg exercises.
So I consider the last two months a continuation of best-practice low carb existence where possible with treats thrown in. Monday January the 10th’s weigh in saw me at 13 stones 13 pounds and I felt heavy so next weeks normalised dietary weight could see me around 13:10. I hope so, anyway.
I’m looking to shed another 7 to 14 pounds in the next couple of months. I don’t want to go at this in a big way like I did with the first 2 stones. As we move towards spring, as the daylight gets longer I want to do more exercise outside.
Wow, im on my fourth day of Cambridge and what an inspiration you are as others have put all weight on, so a big thank you how much in total have you lost?
As i stated i am only on day four ,im going good apart from the mother of all headaches i have 5 pints of water a day….help.
I have had more than a few hostile comments from the CD forum in response to my mindset while on the diet. I was berated for using the word ‘advice’ when I should have used the word ‘opinion’.
My attitude may have been interpreted as deliberately confrontational when it was simply a statement of fact.
I hope my following comments will be recieved in good faith in a constructive and/or helpfully critical way.
My research leads me to believe ‘long-term’ dieters fail to loose weigh and keep it off. Just read the CD forums; they are full of returned dietees and bemoaners of low weight loss. Most people don’t ‘get’ weight loss. There is a scientific as well as a philosophical aspect to it.
If you are on the diet my advice would be to be in it. It’s your money you are wasting.
Be a bit single minded. Focus on the diet. If you do the best you can on the early part of the diet the results WILL speak for themselves. That should galvanise you into renewed effort. Look at it like this: ‘I’ve spent years gorging on meat pies and pizza’s, what harm can a few weeks serious food reduction do?’ This is the pennance for years (possibly) of excess.
After ceasing wheat and grain intake I noticed a significant improvement in physical and psychological health. Wheat intolerance appears to be more widespread that I knew. Cutting wheat out may or may not help everyone, but it did me.
Don’t go crazy about needing to snack. And don’t go crazy if you have to snack. This is one of the things the ‘others’ didn’t get. Treat snacking as a reward and don’t feel bad afterwards. Now, get this straight. Do not use the opportunity of reward as an incentive to SNACK. It’s an incentive to focus more on the diet. And if you are going to snack DON’T eat a baked potato before you go to bed. It’s a low carb diet so snack accordingly. Remember to savour the snack food and eat it slow and the smallest amount you can. I found it helpful to think about really nice/favourite foods whill eating a strip of cold chicken meat. NEVER did I eat anything with sugar or sweeteners in it. If you are offered taboo food put your foot down inside and make the offerer very clear about your intention. Be firm, not hostile.
Don’t go mad on the water, just do the recommended amount.
On the headache thing… your CDC won’t recommend this but sub the occaional sachet for a small low carb meal. as you body adjusts to the calorie reduction things will get better. As they do, wean yourself off the food. Get back on the sachets.
Revel in ketosis. It is your internal barometer that you are burning fat. You should be able to taste when in ketosis in the back of your mouth.
Avoid anything but light exercise while on soul source. I disagree with most people’s comments on the forum. I was on 1200 cals step 4 and I found prolonged excersize difficult so leave that until later. Long walks or a steady shag maybe but rigorous effort is going to leave you feeling worse, not better. The diet is not punishment and you shouldn’t feel like you are being punished.
I’m down at 13st 10lb from 17st 13lb, the best of that in 4 months (I’ve been 2 months off, remember) and looking back it has not been the hardship I expected. In a way it’s been quite fun as a science experiment. It will help to understand the science a little.
As for distractions, well, you’ll have to deal with you own. Me, I had every opportunity to fail and as far as I’m concerned, I havn’t. I’m not there yet but I’m definitely on the way. Stay positive and listen to others who have arrived at their destination and note the reasons why those that havn’t, didn’t.
Stay positive, do it for you and you alone. If you are up to the challenge then you will do it.
I won’t offer good luck as luck has nothing to do with it. To use someone elses phrase: Just Do It.
All the best, Andy.