The first step is to contact a Cambridge Diet Consultant

There are 6 separate weight loss plans

Lipotrim is classed as a VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) just like the Cambridge Diet, but that's where the similarities end. The main differences between the Cambridge Diet and Lipotrim are the much wider choice of flavours and your own dedicated Consultant to help motivate you along your weight loss journey.

It is very important to consume at least eight glasses of water or other liquid per day. Since our bodies consist of over 60 per cent water, it is very important that we constantly replace our body fluids. Sufficient liquid intake is also necessary to maintain proper kidney function.

There are several reasons. A good rule of thumb for good health is to drink 4pt (2.25 ltr) of fluid a day whether trying to lose weight or not. If the Cambridge Diet is used as the 'Sole Source' of nutrition, this is the minimum for good health - 6-8pt (3 to 4ltr) would be even better. The reasons for this include:

• A very low calorie diet (VLCD) like Cambridge produces a natural water loss and this must be replaced.
• Food is largely composed of water, just like our bodies. On the "Sole Source" programme it is necessary to compensate for the fluid that would otherwise have been taken in through food. It is important to keep the body's fluid levels topped up to prevent the unpleasant symptoms of dehydration - headache, dizziness, fatigue, irritability and constipation.
• The Cambridge Diet offers complete nutrition but in a very concentrated form. It is therefore ideal to have 250ml (half pint) of water before each diet to dilute the concentration of minerals and to help prevent any possible feeling of nausea.
• Extra fluid enables the body to get rid of the waste products associated with the breakdown of fats resulting from weight loss.

Not on the "Sole Source" programme. Research has shown that citric acid can prevent the body utilising its carbohydrate stores and cause fluid retention. As citric acid is present in 'one calorie' diet drinks, low-calorie fruit squashes, slices of lemon and lemon tea, any of these may for some people negate the effectiveness of the Diet. It is possible to whiten tea and coffee using small amounts of vanilla flavoured Diet from the daily quota. Leaf herb teas (mint, nettle, etc) can add variety, but avoid fruit and flower teas as they contain small amounts of carbohydrate which can cause fluid retention and induce a plateau in some dieters. Those who cannot live without the daily enjoyment of tea and coffee with milk can still lose weight with Cambridge by following one of the "with food" programmes (see Chapter 2) for which there is a daily milk allowance.

No. Alcohol contains seven calories per gram and is of no other significant nutritional value.

Consumption of large quantities of coffee or Colas is not recommended. If you feel you must drink them, the decaffeinated forms are preferred. Caffeine acts as a stimulant to the body systems and sometimes provides an irritant effect. Herbal teas offer a pleasant alternative.

Some hunger is experienced during the first one or two days but on the third day it usually disappears completely. This is because your body has adjusted to its new balance of just over 400 kcal per day. If you cheat, you will become very hungry indeed, because eating food only stimulates your hunger more, so it is best to stick to the Diet and do not supplement it, at least for four weeks when you can have a break.

It is best not to because chewing gum stimulates the release of gastric juices which in turn will make you feel hungry. Only chew for 2 or 3 minutes if you feel you have to.

The big plus about Cambridge is that, unlike other diets, you do not need to take extra supplements. Each item offers a third of the recommended daily allowance of all vitamins, minerals and trace elements, so three a day give complete nutrition. The main worry when people go on food-based slimming diets, is that reduction in food means reduced nutrient intake which in turn puts health at risk. It is impossible to achieve complete nutrition from conventional food on less than 1500 Kcal a day. Even then, extensive nutritional knowledge and a wide variety of foods need to be consumed to ensure adequate intake of all those vitamins and minerals. Cambridge has cracked that problem by formulating a diet that gives 100% nutrition and has programmes (up to 1500 kcal per day) using the Diet as a nutritional foundation with conventional food. Cambridge customers have confidence that they can lose weight safely and not put health at risk.

Yes. Three Cambridge meals provide all the necessary nutrients for one day to keep your body in a good nutritional state.

Some people may require additional energy for their activities, such as those involved in heavy physical work and strenuous athletics. An extra Cambridge Diet meal may be necessary to provide extra energy in balanced form.

A person who has medical problems should not be on any type of diet without a doctor's supervision. However, the Cambridge Diet Plan has helped extremely elderly people who have a problem with eating sufficient food to provide proper nutrition.

Yes, but not the "Sole Source" or 790 kcal programmes without their doctor's involvement. Children between the ages of 14 and 18 should be encouraged to follow healthy eating advice given in 'Balance of Good Health' (Health Education Authority) and to increase levels of activity. If this is unsuccessful, then a Cambridge programme with food (1000 to 1500 kcal) can be followed. The recommendations for this programme are very specific, carefully structured and easy to follow. The involvement of the child's parent or guardian should be encouraged wherever possible. If a lower calorie ("Sole Source" or 790 kcal) programme is specifically requested, then parental involvement is necessary, and the doctor should be consulted and kept informed of progress. Young people require lots of support to keep them motivated, to ensure they follow the programme correctly and to achieve a realistic stable weight long term.

Yes. Problems arising at the start of the 'Sole Source' programme can be prevented by preparing in the week prior to the agreed start date by:

• gradually reducing food intake, particularly carbohydrate. This will prevent carbohydrate withdrawal headaches and hasten the onset of ketosis with all its benefits - particularly reduced hunger.
• introducing a Cambridge Diet once or twice a day to help to reduce energy intake. This will result in reduced glycogen stores, ensuring the benefits of ketosis are enjoyed sooner rather than later.
• using a natural bulking agent (eg Fibre 89) at a level appropriate to your needs will prevent a problem later (for those who have a history of constipation).
• increasing water intake to 1.7 ltrs (3 pts) per day.
• checking with your doctor.

Preparation will prevent "The Last Supper Syndrome", ie a binge the day before 'Sole Source' which increases glycogen stores, delaying the onset of ketosis and increasing feelings of tiredness and hunger. We recommend that you prepare for a week on the next step up from that selected for weight loss. For example, if it was agreed to follow the 790 kcal programme for weight loss, prepare at the 1000 kcal level, then drop down for the weight loss phase.

At the beginning. The importance of maintenance needs to be made clear to anyone embarking on a Cambridge weight loss programme at whatever calorific level. Weight maintenance does not start when target weight is achieved but should be a significant component of the initial consideration when the obese person first seeks help. Successful long term weight management is only achieved by making long-term permanent changes to diet and lifestyle. The seeds for these long term changes need to be sown early. Cambridge is not a "quick fix". The role of the Diet and the Cambridge Consultant is ongoing.

If a person achieves a desired weight and then goes back to the bad food habits of a lifetime that put the weight on in the first place, it is inevitable that the weight lost will be regained. The Cambridge Diet gives rapid weight-loss, but it also provides a sound nutritional base for those who are at their desired weight and who want to keep it. The method I recommend is that you will take your Cambridge Diet three times per day even when your desired weight is achieved. Along with this nutritional base you should then add one or two meals totalling 400 to 800 kcal until the scales show how many calories you can absorb and still maintain your desired weight.

Do not start a strenuous exercise programme at the same time as you start the Cambridge Diet. (IF you are already taking exercise then you may continue it.) Moderate exercise is useful once you start to lose weight, providing that it is approached with caution and not done with excess. Walking or cycling is excellent exercise, but start slowly, and do not overdo it at the beginning.

Ramadan occurs in the ninth month of the Muslim year. During daylight hours, rigid fasting is observed which means that Cambridge Diet and water will need to be consumed before sunrise and after sundown. During the time available, intake should be spread out as evenly as possible and might necessitate rising a bit earlier. It is not advisable to take more than one diet at a time as the increased carbohydrate intake may take the customer out of ketosis, making it even more difficult for them to stay motivated and stick with the programme.

This advice complies with the recommendations in the 1987 DHSS report by the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) entitled 'The Use of Very Low Calorie Diets in Obesity': "As the Sole Source of nourishment, the use of VLCD should not exceed the period recommended by the manufacturers (up to 3 to 4 weeks at a time) without reverting to a normal mixture of foods". The above recommendation from COMA was not based on any research, but when the doctors who participated in Cambridge's clinical trials were asked what was the maximum time they would recommend the diet be used sole source, without medical supervision, the consensus of opinion was four weeks. If you want to forego the 'Add-a-meal' week, you can only do so with your doctor's written consent.

Continue to have three Cambridge Diet meals a day and add a daily "green and white" meal (just under 400kcal). "Green" means a portion of leafy greens and vegetables. "White" could be portion of skinless lean chicken breast, grilled fish or cottage cheese.