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Home 
Diets
Calorie Counting
How Does
Cambridge Diet Compare?
BACKGROUND
Start the Diet Now Advertisement
PRO
CON
DIET and NUTRITION
EXERCISE
CONCLUSION
Common Misspellings
Whats better than
Cambridge Diet?
Diets
Calorie Counting
Cambridge Diet Review (UPDATED 2025): Don't Buy Before You Read This!
A liquid diet that may be too calorie restrictive for long-term success.
Top Rated Diets of 2025What is it?
The Cambridge Diet is a weight loss program offering pre-packed meals, counseling, and low calorie meal suggestions. It’s considered a VLCD, which means it’s a very low calorie diet.
One can select between 415 to 1500 calories depending on one’s weight loss goals, gender, and tolerance. Consultants are offered not just to guide, but to recommend what calorie limit one should follow. There have been numerous diets observed by our experts, and the highest rated one has been the 18Shake Diet. It offers a diet pill and meal replacement shakes that aim to reduce appetite for hours, all while providing fat burning effects with its all natural ingredients. More information about the 18Shake Diet can be seen in the link here.
Do You Know the Best Diets of 2025?
Cambridge DietIngredients and Side Effects
Here are some noteworthy ingredients added to their prepackaged foods:
|
Skimmed Milk Powder |
Maltodextrin |
Guar Gum |
Refined Fractionated Palm Oil |
Acesulfame K |
|
Sucralose |
Carrageenan |
Flavourings |
Dried Glucose Syrup |
Silicon Dioxide |
|
Oligofructose |
|
|||
Guar Gum:Fiber extract taken from the guar plant. It’s used as a general thickener in processed foods, as well as a laxative. It can promote side effects that include:
• Diarrhea, gas, and loose stools.
• Indigestion, nausea, and stomach pains.
Acesulfame K: Artificial sweetener around 200 times sweeter than standard sugar. A study by PLOS One found that:
“Long-Term Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame Potassium Alters Neurometabolic Functions”
This study showed that in mice there was an effect on insulin and leptin levels. The same study added:
“chronic use… could affect cognitive functions, potentially via altering neuro-metabolic functions”
It also has shown the potential for other side effects according to a review by the Oxford Journals:
“long-dated function on the adult’s sweet preference”
This study was conducted on mice that were given their mother’s breast milk or amniotic fluid in birth, and their preference for sweets changed.
Sucralose: Artificialsweetener that can be around 1,000 times much sweeter than sugar. It has been used controversially since some studies have shown it to be potentially dangerous. One such study was performed by Duke University and it revealed:
“numerous adverse effects”
“reduction in beneficial fecal microflora, increased fecal pH, and enhancedexpression levels of P-gp”
This means the body considers it a toxin, and it reduces healthy bacteria which helps support the immune system according to this clinical study.
Carrageenan: Thickener and binder extractedfrom red seaweed.The University of Iowa ran a study which showed:
“carcinogenic properties of degraded carrageenan”
“ulcerations and neoplasms in association with exposure to carrageenan”
This has shown the possibility for causing serious issues in the body.
The link provided here has the top 10 ranked diets of the year.
The types of foods offered by the Cambridge Diet are meal replacement shakes, bars, pasta, rice, soups, desserts, and other snacks. According to the official website:
“products contain the vitamins and minerals you need for balanced nutrition and healthy weight loss”
Most of what one eats will be the prepackaged foods. This can make it easier to handle a caloric loss, as the foods are specially formulated to be lower in calories. There are also 6 steps outlined one must follow, though where one begins depends on what the counselor advises. Here are the steps:
• Sole Source: 3 to 4 prepackaged foods are eaten a day. The Sole Source Plus option allows for 3 prepacked goods alongside meal of 200 calories, or 4 of the companies meals with 200 ml of skimmed milk.
• 2nd Stage: Protein rich meals are added as well as some skimmed milk and vegetables alongside up o Cambridge meals. It’s typically limited to 810 calories a day for a week long period.
• 3rd Stage: 2 of the meals, some milk, and a 1,000 calorie a day limit. This is enforced for 2 weeks.
• 4th Stage: 2 prepackaged meals, some skimmed milk, and more regular meals.
• 5th Stage: One Cambridge meal and breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner for a total of 1500 calories.
• 6th Stage: Once your heathy weight is reached, this stage helps maintain results. One prepackaged meal a day is recommended alongside continued support from a consultant.
It’s unclear whether or not the consultants have any background in diet and nutrition. It’s unlikely however that they use real certified dieticians, which can be potentially dangerous or lead to wrong advice. Our experts have analyzed many diets and have ranked the top 10 in the list here.
EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this diet with a proven meal replacement such as 18 Shake for better results.
Cambridge Diet Quality of Ingredients
Since the beginning of the program asks for a majority of foods to be selected from the company’s prepackaged foods, it’s important for the ingredients to be wholesome.
Unfortunately, they use artificial sweeteners and cheap thickeners often used to replace fiber. These kinds of additives can actually make weight loss harder, as studies have shown they may cause metabolism disorders as well as other side effects.
It’s also difficult to understand what kind of help is provided by the counselors, which remains to be seen whether or not they are actually certified to give health and nutrition advice. The link provided here has a list of the highest rated diets.
A review on the Cambridge Diet was performed by the British Dietetic Association, and they have listed possible side effects which include:
“bad breathe, a dry mouth, tiredness, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, and constipation”
They also advise for medical support when a person is to receive less than 600 calories, which some plans offered by the company suggest only 450 calories a day. It’s unclear if the counselors offer any support for this type of reduction in calories.
The Price and Quality of Cambridge Diet
The price depends more on how often once decides to use the prepackaged meals. The official website states it will cost per week 48.30 pounds, which rounds to a weekly price of $63.46. Since this is a UK based plan, no consultations are available outside the US. In fact, on the official site there is a map where support and availability is offered, and there are no listings for the US.
The quality of meals is poor, as the additives included are often found in processed foods. It can also be expensive to have to keep using the company’s foods, as the final stage of maintenance requires one pre-packaged meal a day.
Business of Cambridge Diet
The contact information for the diet is as follows:
Phone Number: (44)(0) 1536 403344
Address:Stafford House, 10 Brakey Road
Corby, Northants, NN17 5LU
Email: [email protected]
The official website lists how to become a paid consultant for the company. Nowhere in the job skills is there any notice for people to have a background in health and nutrition. The company only asks for people with a background in sales who are organized and can plan ahead.
This means that it’s likely the people who are meant to give support have no skills in helping people with weight loss. The link cited here has the top 10 ranked diets.
EDITOR’S TIP: The top 10 list of the best diets is available here.
Customer Opinions of Cambridge Diet
Here are some direct quotes from user reviews:
“not the best diet health wise… nails went brittle thin, hair began to thin rapidly”
“never felt full, I always felt hungry”
“Having a bad time with motivation”
“the first few days are the hardest”
Though there were some weight loss results for people, there were also issues due to a lack of calories. Many felt weakened, less energetic, and much more fatigued than usual.
Some also had symptoms that are clear signs of nutrient deficiencies such as brittle and weak nails, thin hair, and increased stress. This was often the case for people who attempted this diet.
The top 10 ranked diet plans can be seeninthe link provided here.
Conclusion - Does Cambridge DietWork?
The Cambridge Diet is similar to other diet plans which offer pre-packaged foods. There’s also counseling offered, but it’s clear that the support is from people who are more business people rather than nutrition experts. Many of the foods offered have processed ingredients, though they are low in calories. Reviews have been mixed with some experiencing health issues and hunger. Though a low calorie plan like this can work, any reduction in calories can result in weight loss. There’s nothing special added to the prepackaged foods which isn’t found in a standard processed meal.
Our experts have performed many reviews and have discovered that the most effective diet is the 18Shake Diet. It provides a combination of a meal replacement and a diet pill. They both provide only natural ingredients, no stimulants, and no unwanted artificial or additives. Its effects include appetite suppression, increased fat burning, and more. When used together it enhances weight loss at a faster rate. Customers have also left positive testimonials on the official website.
The 18Shake Diet is also supported by a full 30 day money back guarantee. This allows for people to try this product risk free, and with no questions asked. More information about the specifics of the 18Shake Diet is available here.
- Product Name
- User Rating
- Easy to follow
- Cheap Price
- Fast Results
- High Protein Diet
- 91/100
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- Dukan Diet
- 89/100
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- Paleo Diet
- 87/100
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- Plexus Slim
- 77/100
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- Cambridge Diet
- 35 /100
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BACKGROUND
Start the Diet Now Advertisement
With new diets hitting the market faster than we can lose a pound, it is not too often that you stumble upon a diet that has been around for more than 20 years. The Cambridge Diet has proudly clocked some years under its svelte belt. Developed in the 80s, it still enjoys a very loyal and passionate audience of dieters who have been successful at losing weight and keeping it off.
It is a liquid diet program that involves drinking 3 servings of the signature Cambridge Diet formula each day with or without food. The three servings provide you with protein (either 30 or 50 grams), carbohydrates, fat, fiber and your daily-required vitamin and mineral allowances.
About ten years ago, the Cambridge Diet added an additional product to their 330 Original Product. The 420 Food for Life product contains 100% of the required daily protein needs in 3 servings whereas the 330 Product contains 75% of the required protein. The protein source comes from whey and soy. Both of them are nutritional supplements that do not contain drugs, medicine, stimulants or herbs.
There are four ways for you to follow the Cambridge Diet: - The Fast Track: Consume 3-4 servings of Cambridge a day and no additional food. - The Alternate Program: Use 3-4 servings of Cambridge for one day with no food and then the following day, consume 3 servings of Cambridge with the addition of 400-800 calories of low fat, low calorie health food. Continue to alternate in this manner. - The Regular Program: Eat 3 servings of Cambridge 15- 20 minutes prior to each low calorie meal. Calories should not exceed 400-800 for the entire day. - The Regular Program 2: Consume 3 servings of Cambridge and eat one meal of low calorie food each day. Calories should not exceed 400- 800 calories for the entire day.
Do You Know the Best Diet Pills of 2025?
PRO
- Cambridge Diet contains all the essential nutrients
- Has a proven success rate
- Safe for diabetics and those with high blood pressure
CON
- Its limited consumption of food may incite excessive eating
- May be too calorically-restrictive for some individuals
- Does not teach you to eat in a healthy and long-term way
- Long-term weight loss may not be sustained
- Calories might be too restrictive for exercise
DIET and NUTRITION
The foundation of the Cambridge Diet is its signature line of shakes. They come in an array of flavors like chocolate, vanilla, eggnog, strawberry, cappuccino, banana cream and many more. The shakes come in two styles: The Original and the Food for Life.
The Food for Life product contains 51 grams of protein, 54 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fat and 140 calories per shake. It also includes 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamins and minerals. The Original contains 31 grams of protein and contains about 110 calories per shake.
There is also a line of additional Cambridge products like soups, nutrition bars, and super oats.
When taken the prescribed three times a day, you'll only consume 420 calories. If you select to follow a plan that allows for food, you should not consume anymore than an additional 800 calories a day and these calories should come from low-calorie and low-fat foods like vegetables and lean proteins. If you are on the smaller side, it is recommended that you only consume an additional 400 calories on top of the 420 calories for the Cambridge products.
You are also strongly encouraged to drink at least 3-4 liters of water each day.
EXERCISE
Since the Cambridge Diet is so restrictive, exercise should be done cautiously. It is not recommended to start a new strenuous exercise program while on the Cambridge Diet. Moderate exercise like walking or biking is useful once you start to lose weight, providing that it is approached with caution and not done with excess.
CONCLUSION
There is no question that The Cambridge Diet has been around for a long time. And in the process, many have had luck losing weight by following its strict dietary regimen. Since the diet is so low in calories, check with your doctor before starting it, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
The Cambridge Diet devotees swear by the diet's ability to help them lose weight as long as the program is followed correctly. But like most diets that rely on shakes or supplements to shed pounds, its potential for long-term weight loss and for instilling sound and healthy eating habits in you is not that promising.
Common Misspellings
cambrdge Diet, cambradge diet, cambridge deit, camebridge diet, cambridge liquid diet, cambridgediet.com
Featured Diets and Supplements
Cambridge Diet?
User Feedback
(Page 37 of 59, 1175 total comments)lubyloo
My councellor said you can exersise but the weight will come of slower which is dishartening.She said when all the weights lost thats the time to start doing some.Yes weekends are definatly the hardest espesially if you have a good social life,just keep at it and think in a few weeks you will be wearing your shorts and vest top and feeling much better in yourself!!!
posted Jul 1st, 2008 1:18 pmcheeky
hiya there the prices have gone up my counsellor said it wasn't her putting the prices up it was the company. EMMA regarding you question to the exercise my counsellor has told me to take iteasy with the exercise and don't over do it.
posted Jul 1st, 2008 1:18 pmAmanda Boyton
hi, I am new here, I have been on Cambridge diet for 9 weeks and have lost 2 and half stone. still have same to lose but really pleased with the results. I too have had a price increase, 10p per item. I have been going to the gym twice a week since starting and am lossing well. I seem to lose 4 or 5 lbs one week then only 2 the following week. but still works out at 7lb a fortnight. Good luck to you all. Lets look forward to a slimmer us and no more new years resolutions to lose weight!!!!
posted Jul 1st, 2008 1:18 pmcheeky
1/7/08 09.15am hi guys hope your all having a good week! im having a much better week than last week, and just having some food makes a huge difference! for breakfast i can have 2 shreded wheat with skimmed milk, 1 piece of granary bread with a boiled egg or fresh fruit. for dinner its green salad or green veg and i have my cambridge shake, for tea it can be chicken,fish,turkey,cottage cheese with either sweet potato,new potato,baked potato,brown pasta,cous cous,rice and green salad or green veg! then later i have my second cambridge which is either the caramel bar or peanut bar which i love! fingers crossed now im having more calories it may help me too lose a bit more weight as its gone rather slow. does anyone else do much exercise my cousellor told me not to do too much all ido is my sit ups every night and i go on my stepper every night. my next weigh in is on sat so fingers crossed i will have lost some! keep up the good work everyone we can do it!!!!
posted Jul 1st, 2008 7:54 amANY ONE
HI THERE DOES ANY BODY KNOW OF A PRICE INCREASE OF 5P PER ITEM AT ALL OR IS IT JUST MY COUNCILLOR DOING IT FROM TODAY 01-07-08 WHICH MAKES PACKETS �1.70 EACH AND TETRA SHAKES �1.90 EACH WOULD LOVE TO KNOW CHEERS X
posted Jul 1st, 2008 7:54 amcarrie
Everyone is doing so well!! I am finding the weekends so so difficult!! How do you all do it? I just can't break the cycle of falling apart at the weekends!! :-( xx
posted Jul 1st, 2008 7:54 amEmma
Hi all, hope you're all ok??? How did everyone's weekend go? I slipped up AGAIN - but am putting it down to being hormonal etc ! have got back on it, and actually lost what i put on in just yesterday so feel ok......! (I THINK) Troopersue and Jackie: Exercise? What's the deal with it? I note your comments about taking it easy - but my counsellor is saying to me that i have to up it and the more exercise i do the more i will lose weekly. Do you not think she is right then? I am so confused....... Last week i did my aqua fit, deep fit, fitness video and walked the dog, and to be honest i didn't see any huge change than the very first week i did this with limited exercise (just walking the dog) What does anyone else think, and can i please please ask for your comments and ask what you have all been told. I can't find another counsellor in my area (rural!) so i am sticking to this one - but in one word she is useless. I weighed last Friday with her, she came to my house and was there 10 minutes, but i had had no contact from her whatseover in that fortnight, no email no calls no nothing. I had still managed to lose 6 1/2 pounds and 6 inches though. I have just decided to try the bars as well, and i had my two shakes yesterday and a bar at night and it was really really lovely. Hope to hear from you all soon with some (a) encouragement and (b) the score with exercise!!! Good luck everyone and you guys are brill! xxxxx
posted Jul 1st, 2008 7:54 amCharlotte
So i got my shakes today, will see how it goes, i need to lose about 2 and a half stone, hopefully by my wedding in sept, fingers crossed and keep up the good work everyone else
posted Jun 30th, 2008 4:44 pmlubyloo
Well went out at weekend went to tapas bar had chicken and seafood salad.I then went out to the pubs and took my powder and added it to soda water.Alittle worried about my weigh in but yes more weight loss 3lbs,im now half way through lost 1 stone just another to go.Hopefully another 6 weeks and i should be saying bye to the cambridge diet and hello to a new way of eating.Keep it up every1 we r getting slimmer everyday!!!!
posted Jun 30th, 2008 4:44 pmmarnie x
hi guys half way through my1st day - not too bad really, i find the shakes really filling the soups were yummy- i think i will have she in the morning and a soup for lunch and work it like that its in my head that soup is lunch ?? oh well- thanks sue tracey and jackie i will ask about the flavourings i havent been to bad to day been peeing like a trooper! lol anyway wanted to ask something i am 5 foot 9 and have to have 4 shakes a day but i think i am going to struggle with this i feel like i only want 1 more today after 2 - what do you think should do?? well chin up guys! speak soon xxxx
posted Jun 30th, 2008 4:44 pmBrandi - Senior Editor for DietsInReview.com
Good morning SUE and everyone- Thank you for sharing your idea for photos. We've invited DietsInReview.com readers to send their before/after photos for a new section we're creating on the site as part of the redesign. We presented the opportunity in Newsletter #3 and in the Diet Blog, and all submissions would be entered for a giveaway of a signed copy of Jorge Cruise's newest book. We didn't get any responses though, so it seemed as though no one was interested in sharing. If you haven't already, I encourage you to sign-up for the newsletter and read the diet blog everyday- in addition to really valuable news, tips and information, you'll find updates and giveaways from DIR. DietsinReview.com/newsletters DietsInReview.com/diet_column
posted Jun 30th, 2008 10:08 amTracey
Hi all really pleased as I've lost 8lbs in my 1st week so feel really good. Tried a couple of the soups and found them ok chicken & mushroom the nicest not as keen on the spicy tomato but can tolerate every now and then. Finding if I have the chocolate and some of the other drinks hot I feel more full. MARNIE X - you can get water flavourings from your counsellor to make drinking the water easier good luck with your 1st week Ive just done my 1st week and at times it was hard but just kept thinking of that weight coming off!! What I did which isn't good for everyone but its worked for me I halved my shakes so it ment having 6 drinks a day also I made them up to between 150mls - 200 mls and they still tasted ok the only ones I don't halve is the soups, but this is not for everyone I've had the time and opportunity to do that way as I've been off work but I'm due back to work friday and I work nights so will have to change how I do it all. Anyway best of luck!! x CARRIE - how did the weekend go? Hope you had a nice time and didn't find it too difficult. x Bye for now good luck everyone x x
posted Jun 30th, 2008 9:56 amJackie
(30/6/2008 - 12:45pm )Hi All! CHARLOTTE - You should be paying one week at a time, on the day you collect your packs. So dont expect to pay any more than �40 per week (probably less) If they ask for it advance, be wary! MARNIE you can buy water flavourings, Sunshine Orange, and Summer Berries. These can be added to your water, and give it a real kick! I like them with Sparking water! Yum! It really helps when you are needing to drink more! And they have fibre in them, so that will help with everything else too! Good luck! TROOPERSUE - relaxing sounds WONDERFUL! Take a bath, paint your nails! Chill out and have some "ME time" We deserve it! DONNA - I'm so pleased that you found this board, and that we can be such an inspiration for you. I dont know how much of it you have read, but if you get time, do look back, as it contains LOADS of tips and help for a fantastic loss! Good luck everyone, and Well Done for helping to make this the success it is!
posted Jun 30th, 2008 9:56 amcarrie
hi guys, everyone sounds like they are doing great!! i found the weekend really tough! why is it the weekends are so hard? i think its the drinking that I find difficult, not being able to have a glass of wine :-( the thing is if i eat i do then get the munchies !! i think its a habit i have to break at some point. how does everyone cope with the weekends?x
posted Jun 30th, 2008 9:56 amTroopersue
30/06/08 (2.25am)CHARLOTTE - I dont know about everyone else but I pay weekly as I see my counsellor and get weighed. At every 7lb loss she takes my photo (front, side and back) and measure me and writes these details on a card. Good luck Charlotte, now stop "thinking" about it - and DO IT ..lol. DONNA - Glad you like this board and welcome. Do keep us all updated with how you are doing wont you ? MARNIE - Im like you, im no water lover either and I must admit that "some" days I just cannot drink the proper amount. I do however drink black coffee like it is going out of fashion so I guess this helps me somewhat. I dont have it strong, just half a teaspoonful of coffee to a BIG mug. Ive never actually counted how many I drink but I do have 7 cups BEFORE lunchtime.Afternoons are worse (even more coffee..lol) and the evenings I guess is about 4-5 mugs. I think if I drank the full amount of water I would drown :(. If the weather is extra hot I CAN drink it, but on a normal day - nope. I think the average weight loss is approx 1stone a month. So given youve got 2 months until your holiday - you "could" be 2 stone lighter by then :>). I have no magical tip for staying on track, cuz we all have our slip ups. As long as you dont let it get to you and start feeling a failure youll be fine. Just remember its not how many times you fall from grace thats important, its how many times you pick yourself again and again and again :>) On more than one occassion youll find yourself thinking "can I really do this ? is it worth it?". The answer is simply yes you can and yes it is. I wish I had a quid for everytime ive thought "right I wont do THAT again" lol. *example*- yesterday when I bought some FRESH HOT CRUSTY ROLLS. mmmmmm (bread is my big downfall in life). I had no intention of having any BUT, once home and smelling them I couldnt resist just one. And yes it really was just the one. Buttered it lightly with mega low fat marg and cut a tomato up and put half in the roll. And do ya know what ? I didnt even really enjoy it :>( It was a bit too puffy for my liking. A bit like eating fresh air. So once again I WONT DO THAT AGAIN!!!. Im being weighed tomorrow and if I havent lost ill be mortified but only have myself to blame. BUT today is another day and ive been mega good today. 2 shakes, I bar and a piece of smoked haddock. And tomorrow ill be equally as good. Then hold my breath as I step on the scales at 6.30pm ..lol. But hey im having my hair cut in the morning - and hair weighs a lot doesnt it ??????.... ohh dream on. Ohh and BRANDI - dont ya think it would be a good idea, when youre re-vamping the site to have a space where we could maybe upload a photo ?. Have a little box at the side of our postings so others could look at us and think "corrr look isnt he/she doing well, they look great :>). Just an idea for you to kick around LOL.
posted Jun 30th, 2008 9:56 amkatylou
hi every 1, started on SS 6 days ago, found it realy hard at times but i havent cheated at all, i think i have lost around 8lb but official weigh in is tomorrow. i only have about 1 1/2 stone to lose for my wedding in 6 weeks. im realy worried that im going to put it all back on straightaway.
posted Jun 30th, 2008 9:56 ammarnie x
hi guys got my diet packs to day and cannot wait to get started - so i will give you an out look of me - 5.9 - 19 stone size 22- and i am determind to get down to my goal weight of 12 stone! i think the hardest thing will be the water as i dont really drink that much, how do you guys cope? so my first weigh in is on 6/07 - i am going on my hols on 2/09 so hoping to be a damn sight lighter by then! you are all so positive on here and i think this will help me alot any tips for keeping on track? i know its going to be hard but i will have to be strong !!! well good luck everyone and i will keep you posted xxxxx
posted Jun 29th, 2008 5:47 pmTroopersue
29/6/08. Just a quickie for EMMA - Have you spoken with your counsellor about all this exercise you are doing ? what did they say ?. Are you still losing weight ?. My understanding of CD + exercise is that your body will use up too many calories (and youre only having 400+ a day) and it will hold on to whatever it can. Hence it will ultimately slow down your weight loss. Your body may cope far better by you "taking it easy" im afraid :>) But please speak to your counsellor about it - theyre the ones in the know!!
posted Jun 29th, 2008 5:47 pmDonna
Hi everyone - this board is great. Im due to start CD for first time on Wednesday. I'll check in here daily for inspiration & support. Good luck to you all. Ive got 3st, 10lb to lose and really hoping that this will work for me. Great board - you are all an inspiration.
posted Jun 29th, 2008 5:47 pmlyn
hi, first weigh in last night and lost 9lbs so quite pleased all the pain was worth it, does anyone else have the mouse it is so nice and feels like you are eating something really quite filling!
posted Jun 29th, 2008 5:47 pm