Mandy loses 24 stones in 24 months - Cambridge Diet record holder featured in 'best' magazine.

Replacing ‘conventional food’ with Cambridge can be daunting. Some people think it must be unsafe to have so few calories every day, that your body must suffer. These doubts were very much in the mind of Nina Ives at the beginning of 2004. The previous Christmas, she had reached 17st and was decked out in size 18 clothes. Nina had become reclusive, was feeling ugly and worthless which led to her unfortunately eating even more.

In January she embarked on a healthy eating and exercise plan. By March she had managed to lose 1st 7lb but then it just refused to go any further. A friend started on Cambridge and introduced Nina to her Counsellor, Ruth Barber. Ruth explained how the Sole Source programme worked and how safe it was but Nina was unconvinced, in fact she thought it was impossible. She did however take up Ruth’s offer a free 3-day trial. In just 5 days she lost 9lbs. For the first time in 3 years she was under 15st in weight.

With this renewed vigour and confidence she tackled the Sole Source programme head on, with a few variations of her own; the odd treat here, the odd takeaway there. Nothing excessive, but just enough to help keep her going forwards.

And the weight continued to drop away. She carried on with the exercise plan, toning it down slightly to offset her limited calorific intake and at the end of October 2004 she was down to 12st 6lb. A huge 6st reduction from the start of the year.

Now she is adorned in size 12-14 clothes and is bursting with energy and enthusiasm.

Rebbeca from Gloucester had been putting on weight ever since she could remember, until at the age of 24 she weighed an ‘outstanding’ 19st 9lb. That meant she had a BMI of 38.5 – close to ‘morbidly’ obese. What could she do about it? How could she avoid becoming BMI 40+.

It was then that her sister introduced her to Cambridge. She began her diet on the 14th January 2004. Using sole source meant that she was able to see results very quickly. And like a butterfly escaping from a chrysalis, the Rebbeca of today slowly started to emerge.

Her weight tumbled off, her clothes soon became too big for her and her energy levels began to rise. Her asthma improved, walking and climbing stairs became less of a struggle and she soon discovered a way of life she had previously never thought existed. Even food became less important in her life.

With the on-going support and strength from her Counsellor, Rebbeca is now down to 13 stone and into size 14 clothes and not far off a healthy BMI of 25. Changing her attitude to food has meant her family have benefited and they are all making healthier and wiser choices about what they eat.

Her outlook for the future is a positive one. In fact it is so positive that she has become a Counsellor herself.

They say it’s not the destination but the journey that is important. For Anne Cornell it has been one hell of a journey. In 2002, Anne was tired, overweight and overwrought mother of 5-year-old twins. They wanted to play but Anne had no energy. She was miserable and felt an utter failure. In March 2002, weighing 15st 4lb she set herself a target of reaching 10stone 7lb using the Cambridge Diet. But it wasn’t that simple!

There were false starts as Anne struggled with the Diet. But her Counsellor Jane was never judgemental and there when Anne really needed her. By January 2004 she was down to 13st 10lb but, at only 5ft 3”, Anne still had some way to go. She knew she was going to have to apply herself.

So Anne began the Cambridge Diet again – only with a couple of her own modifications - a small piece of plain chocolate every evening or Sunday lunch with the family. This is how Anne adapted the Diet to work for her and work it certainly did. The chocolate meant she felt she was never denying a favourite treat, the lunch meant she had no reason to binge.

And the weight came off. In June Anne hit her target of 10st 7llbs but she didn’t stop there. 9st 7lb was where she was comfortable and where she decided to stay when she reached it at the end of 2004.

So, using the Cambridge Programme, she has got her life back and feels that she can tackle anything. Her journey had its moments, but by using a diet that is tasty and practical and with her Counsellor's support, the destination has made it all worthwhile.

Della Forde • Counsellor Renee Stroh

Who wants to be 50 and fat? Della Forde from London didn’t, but after visiting Jamaica she looked at the photos from the trip and there was only one place for them - in the bin. Four months to go before the big five O, and ‘no matter how old you are there is always something to look forward to’.

With this in mind Della joined a slimming club because she was looking forward to losing a couple of stone before she reached her half century. In four weeks she lost 8lbs, then put 5lbs back on again. This wasn’t part of the plan.

Then she watched Desperate Dieters on TV , which featured Cambridge customer Robert Jefferies. Della pressed the red button on her remote and learnt all about Cambridge and its programmes. She met her Counsellor on the following Saturday and started the very next day. For a while Della remained literally buttoned up about the fact she was on a diet, wearing a big coat to hide the weight loss. But eventually she took that coat off both physically and metaphorically and her whole family saw what she had achieved. September 2004 was Della’s birthday and she was fifty and slim and having the time of her life after losing more than 3st.

The family were so impressed three of them have started on the Diet and Della herself has become a Counsellor. Who says watching too much TV can turn you into a couch potato?

Judy Dix Cambridge Slimmer of the Year 2004/05 • Counsellor John Bradley

Gastric banding isn’t pretty, can be dangerous, and the results mean a lifetime of eating very small amounts of food. Weighing more than 22 stones, Judy Dix was sure that without it her weight was going to kill her! She was about to turn 50, was lonely and unhappy. Her weight problem filled her with panic and despair and, as a nurse at a hospital, she felt she was also a terrible role model.

The first hurdle for gastric banding was convincing her GP that it was the solution. Her doctor wasn’t totally enthused but did refer her to a consultant. Before the operation patients have to show that they can lose some weight and Judy decided that if she could lose a couple of stone it would help her chances of convincing the Consultant that she was serious. But food was Judy’s big problem. She had a very sweet tooth.

Luckily she got in touch with John Bradley, the UK’s first Cambridge Counsellor. John’s 20 years experience was exactly what Judy needed. So in July 2003 she started on the Sole Source programme knowing that her appointment with the Consultant was only 2 months away. When the appointment arrived Judy had already lost 4 stone. The Consultant spent a long time talking to her before explaining that he advised she shouldn’t have the operation. Judy, with renewed confidence, decided to stick to the Cambridge Diet.

By November 2004 a very different Judy Dix had emerged. Gone was the fear, gone was the despair and gone too was 12st. She has more energy, has joined a gym and even went to Australia to climb the Harbour Bridge. For some radical surgery can be the only option, thankfully for Judy there was another way.

Terry Benson

When Terry Benson from Birmingham turned 50 in 2003, the celebrations were tinged with trepidation. Terry weighed 14st 10lbs and he knew he would now be susceptible to health problems. And he was right to be concerned. With advancing years comes an ever-expanding waistline, the rule being an average increase of 1 pound of weight per year.

With a recent Mori poll finding that 64% of 50-59 year olds never participate in sport and that 73% of people over 50 stated they would not eat food they did not like just because it was said to be good for them, Terry knew something had to be done.

So he went on the Cambridge Diet. It was the simplicity of the programme and the products that he enjoyed. He just had to mix up a shake in seconds rather than waiting for a whole meal to cook and then once he’d enjoyed it there was no washing up to do afterwards!

He was surprised how fast the weight came off without him feeling hungry in the process. In the past, like a lot of people, Terry was always hungry and snacked on chocolate biscuits and cakes. With these temptations removed because of Cambridge, Terry continued to lose weight and now down to 11st 9lb.

He’s healthier, fitter and slimmer all thanks to the dedicated work of himself, his Counsellor and the Cambridge Diet.

Hayley Waters • Counsellor Julia McHugh

Every day Hayley went to the Doctors surgery in Walsall where she works and advise people on how to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. And every day Hayley felt like a hypocrite. After having her two children she slowly started to gain a lot of weight. She took to baggy clothes to hide her weight.

During a chat with a patient about weight loss things came to a head. After listening to her, the person said “Well that’s all well and good but I’ve never been your size!’

Ouch, that hurt. But it forced her to take a long hard look at the person she had become. She knew there must be a diet that would work for her, but because she is a vegetarian she wasn’t sure which one it was.

Then, a couple of Counsellors visited the practice to talk to Hayley and a colleague about the Cambridge Diet and everything fell into place. Here was a programme that was suitable for vegetarians, took food decisions away from her and had drinks that were nice and sweet.

After working out that going on Cambridge would mean actually spending less on food per week, Hayley started the diet immediately. Hayley didn’t go on sole source but went on the 1200 and then 1000 calorie programmes. The weight fell away and she began to feel so much more alert and energetic.

In just a few short months Hayley got down to 8st 11lbs and is on a regular maintenance schedule. Now when she tells patients about healthy lifestyles she can be confident that she has never felt better or healthier herself. Hayley’s days of feeling like a hypocrite are long gone.

Katie Perks, Cambridge Slimmer of the Year 2006 • Counsellor Julia McHugh

Katie Perks from Shifnal in Shropshire is Cambridge Diet's Slimmer of the Year for 2006. 

Having overcome a plethora of issues and problems, Katie stuck determinedly to the Diet and lost nine stone with Cambridge. The contrast between her before and after pictures is quite remarkable. 

As part of her prize she and her Counsellor Julia McHugh jetted off to St Petersburg in May 2006 for an all expenses paid luxury long-weekend break, which included a full makeover and new wardrobe. Katie also had studio photos taken of her with her new look as well as the opportunity to visit some of the stunning landmarks of Russia's second city.