How To Survive The First Few Days on the Cambridge Weight Plan or VLCD Diet

Cambridge weight plan products

Tips for the First Few Days on the Cambridge Diet or VLCD Diet

The first few days on the Cambridge diet or Cambridge Weight Plan are notoriously hard.

Why? Because the diet works on the principle of putting your body into a state called ketosis. To explain it in its very simplest terms, ketosis is achieved when you are on a low carbohydrate diet and is the principle components of the Cambridge Weight Plan.

When your body no longer has a glycogen store, or ready access to carbs and sugar stores in your body, it then instead lives off of its fat stores and goes into fat burning mode.

One of the benefits of ketosis is that once in it you do not usually feel hungry. On the Cambridge diet it take 3-5 days to deplete your glycogen stores and go into ketosis. These first few days on the diet can be tough. You’re hungry, you might be experiencing carb and caffeine withdrawal too. Although on the flip side when you are in ketosis you feel pretty fantastic and the weight loss is awesome.

So, what can you do to get through these first few days?

  • Drink lots and lots of water. It helps fill you up it helps flush your system and it’s really good for you too. Sparkling water can help fill you up more too.
  • Keep yourself busy. I actually think it is easier to do these days when you’re at work and have plenty of things to keep you busy, so you don’t focus on food. I would never start the diet on a lazy Sunday or duvet day for instance.
  • Empy the cupboards. Take away the temptation get rid of the crisps, biscuits, fizzy drinks, chocolate. Whatever your weakness is make sure it’s not in the house.
  • Read a book, have a bath or if all else fails go to bed early. The evenings are without a doubt the hardest, so have a plan for when the going gets tough. I have actually gone to bed early so as not to give in to temptation and eat.
  • Take it easy and be kind to yourself. Excercise isn’t recommended in the first couple of weeks on the diet until your body gets used to the lower calories. So take it easy and focus on that very first weigh-in.
  • If you really, really can’t bear it and have to eat something, have protein. Protein will not replenish your glycogen store and delay you going into ketosis. Have some lean chicken, turkey or prawns. If you’re a vegetarian – a boiled egg, some cottage cheese or tofu.

Good luck and look forward to a fantastic weight loss.

8 thoughts on “How To Survive The First Few Days on the Cambridge Weight Plan or VLCD Diet”

  1. Interesting post and I agree Protein is really important. I think keeping yourself busy really helps with any healthy eating plan and certainly getting rid of the temptations. I always buy treats in for my family but i get things i don’t like so i wont be tempted!

    Angela x

    Reply
  2. I have been on the diet for two weeks now but unlike you I am loosing on week one 3.5 pounds
    Week two 2.5 I am sticking to it and doing sole source only why am I only loosing a little every one seems to loose way more ?!

    Reply
    • Hi Olivia – it depends on how much you have to lose. People who have less to lose often lose it slower. If you have any medical conditions – thyroid problems for example can slow things down. Also are you drinking enough water everyday?

      Reply
  3. I am about to start the CWP but I am terrified because I am an emotional eater and when I am stressed at work I tend to crave for snacks and cookies. How do I keep up? any suggestions?

    Reply
  4. Hiya,
    I am starting week three of the one to nine diet although my losses have been good, have only lost half a pound this week.
    I also gave an event this weekend as was going to eat a salad.
    I’d this ok?

    Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.