[VodsNittats]

Hi, I am currently on the Cambridge Diet, which is a 3 shakes per day for a total of 415 calories, plus a 200 calorie meal of white meat and 2 tablespoons of veggies. I have only been on it for 3 weeks (3rd weigh in later today), but lost 16 pounds in the 1st 2 weeks.

Despite my success, I am really struggling with a few things...gaining it back once I stop (although you learn to eat more gradually) and only being able to eat once per day. This isn't a problem on work days, but the weekends have been hell!

I am wondering if I can continue the weight loss of 4 to 6 pounds per week on a lo carb diet, as it is ketosis based too. If I decided to switch, would I still do the induction phase, as I am already in ketosis?

Thanks,
Jo

[kasandrasikl]

One of the great things about atkins is that it doesn't limit your intake so much, you can eat until you're full (i.e., not STUFFED, but no longer hungry). That Cambridge diet (based only on what I just read) sounds like something that isn't easily sustainable as a life long plan, and no matter what diet you do, if you go off it and back to your old ways, you will gain it all back. I personally LOVE the fact that I see Atkins as a life long diet that I am happy with. I'm never really hungry, and there really is a lot to be said about breaking a carbohydrate addiction and then not craving high carb foods anymore. Personally, I now crave high fat foods (which is OK on Atkins). I recently did a refeed (didn't work and I gained about 5lbs, so i don't recommend it) which is where you spend a day eating tons of carbs and low fat to try to break a plateau... The whole day I was craving a cheese burger without the bun! LOL

4 lbs per week is not uncommon, but it may be a bit of a high expectation to do it consistently. you need a life long plan, and even 2 lbs a week will net you 100lbs lost in a year (which if you do this as a lifestyle change, a year won't be an issue). You also must remember that the first few weeks will resemble a higher weight loss speed due to water weight. You have seen that on the other diet, so when you switch to Atkins, you should not be surprised to see that you don't lose quite as quickly. Its not that the diet is worse, its just that you already lost that water weight. If you started with Atkins, you would have seen similar rapid loss in the beginning as well.

As far as starting with induction.. I would say it is recommended, but not absolutely necessary for you. You could probably go right to OWL and not have any issues in continuing losing weight. If you don't mind doing it, go for it. If you are considering not doing the diet just because Induction will suck, then skip it. That's my theory anyway.

[VodsNittats]

Hi gtzpower,

Thanks so much for your reply. What I'm looking for is a balance, rather than the easy option. I know that the early weight I lost has a lot to do with water weight and it's too early too tell what my weekly average might be. What I don't want to do, however, if I switch is to choose a diet plan that is considerably slower...at least at first. For example, from what I can tell, Weight Watchers and similar programs would be waaaay slower. I feel like the first few months I need to see major changes to keep me motivated. After that, I don't mind it slowing a bit because I know it's much more important to doing something that is sustainable long term.

Atkins seems like it might be the best of both worlds (if there is such a thing). Right now, I feel like I think about food all the time (the way I never did before. About 1000 calories per day of Pepsi was my weakness) If I can achieve some quick weight loss to keep me motivate, but don't feel like I'm living in a self imposed prison and can do this with a healthier long term option, then that is great. I suppose I'm just looking for confirmation if that is what Atkins could be. If not, then I think I'm just better off staying on Cambridge for a while and switching when I am closer to my goal. Did I make any sense? LOL

Thanks again,
Jo

[LeaderBiz]

As far as skipping induction and going straight to OWL. A lot of that really depends on how much weight you have to lose. I still have quite a bit to lose and won't even *think* about moving on to OWL for a while now. I think in your case it would be important to start there because it seems like you are going from pre-portioned shakes to a diet that is definatly going to up your food intake. I would use those two weeks as a transition break in period. Then if you want to move on to OWL go for it. If you feel you need to wait on induction longer do it. I have been on induction for 91 days and have never felt deprived at all!

Hope that helps.

Nik

[kasandrasikl]

I feel like the first few months I need to see major changes to keep me motivated.

I agree with Nik@Night. You should really do induction since that will get you started off seeing the results you need to keep you motivated. And coming from your current diet, I imagine it will seem luxurious! I did weight watchers, and Atkins is WAY better in my opinion. I am not even doing the diet right myself (currently reading the book so I can change that), but there is a thread near the top of this forum discussing a "2 month plateau" started by me. You can see my weight log in there to see how quickly I lost weight. I am currently stuck in my weight loss progress, but I suspect once I finish the book, I will see where I am messing up and have the opportunity to correct it.

So far, I have only seen few things i am doing wrong (like eating a lot of processed meats and too much cheese) but I have only read through the induction part currently (which I intend to skip unless I still am unable to break my plateau, then I will step back into Induction for the first time).

Even still, I am half way to goal, and just now cracking open the book for a FULL read. I think that is the best inspiration to really do the diet right, seeing that it works (like you said). My LDL (bad) cholesterol is also elevated which shouldn't happen, so I know I need to make some changes because the opposite should be what I see on Atkins. Once I start doing it right, it should work even better!

[VodsNittats]

Great advice, guys. I didn't realise you could be on induction more than the 2 weeks. I don't have the book yet, so I really don't understand the details of the diet. I've just basically read about the phases online.

I am just back from my Cambridge counselor and lost 3 pounds this week (10 pounds 1st week, 6 last week). I haven't been drinking enough water this week, so I suspect it could have been another pound or two if I had. I have had the 200 calorie meal some nights, so it's going OK. I'm going to stick it for at least another couple of weeks, see what my average weight loss is and then maybe consider changing to Atkins induction and stick with that. You guys are right. It does sound like Heaven after 2 weeks of no eating and 1 week of a couple of bites of food!

Jo

[GlarlraTpople]

jojo... even if your weight loss did slow down as a result of switching to Atkins, wouldn't that be worth it (in the long run) to be eating real foods and learning how to do that from the beginning? I understand wanting the weight off NOW, we all feel that desperate some times. But... this isn't a sprint, it's a journey.

I hope you decide to switch, if not now then soon. And, I hope you stick with us here. It's a GREAT forum with wonderfully supportive people. While you're deciding, why don't you pick up the book and read it? Your library should have it. That way you'll know exactly what you're doing and why... and not just taking our word for it. Knowledge is power.

Tril

[JJascaxal]

The Cambridge diet restricts your calories quite a bit and your body may have switched to a more efficient metabolism popularly called "starvation mode." It's when your body starts to adapt to a very low calorie intake by lowering the heart rate, slowing respiration, and burning calories very efficiently (meaning you use up fewer calories doing the same level of activity). It takes at least a few days of am extremely low calorie diet (less than 800 or so) to move into starvation mode, but it is not a good place to be when you're trying to lose weight.

Atkins is very different, because you're training your body to burn your body fat quickly rather than becoming an efficient calorie-burner or burning primarily carbohydrates or your own muscle for fuel. That's why we don't restrict our calories much and we eat plenty of protein and fat, along with our veggies. You want to burn off your body fat.

For these reasons and the reasons others have mentioned, I recommend doing Induction for at least two weeks.

Stick to the Acceptable Foods list religiously and exercise almost every day of the week, drink plenty of water, and take the recommended vitamin and mineral supplements.

Then, you can gradually go through the phases of Atkins until you lose all your excess weight and are able to maintain your healthy weight for the rest of your life. (I've lost 91 lbs this year on Atkins, following the rules carefully.)

You really need the book, too. You can get a used copy for under $5 on Amazon.

[GlarlraTpople]

Or a buck at Goodwill!

[aNoBVsUW]

Thinking of doing Atkins--I say try it and feel the difference. I lost weight on Atkins in the 1970's but gave into social pressure to get back to a regular diet. In the years between I've tried every low-cal, low-fat diet out there--none worked. Now, 70bls heavier, I've returned to Atkins with gratitude to Dr. Atkins. I re-read the book and stocked up on nutrients to help. Since May 16th, I've lost 38lbs and have been relieved of the "starving sensation" that I felt on the other programs. Now, this needs to be my eating program for the rest of my life! It's a relief not to crave sugar or crave eating just to eat. Now I feel full and happy. My weight loss has slowed down but it's alright because I'm more interested in living healthy and peacefully.