"Will my crash diet kill me?"
- Thread starter xKimmiex
- Start date
ncassidy80
Full Member
Just wanted to say a big thankyou for all the positive comments. Elsewhere I have been slated and people have been messaging me through my blog saying horrible things (one was 'you are so fat you don't deserve oxygen and people who ate ill through no fault of their own should get your share' nice eh!!!) I didn't think it would provoke so much negativity towards me so thanks for the support & positiveness - nic x
Summerskye
Gold Member
Nicola, I am so sorry you've had such awful comments directed at you as a result of appearing on the programme.
Like a number of other people who have been involved with Cambridge I was also approached to see if I either wanted to appear myself or knew anyone else who might be interested, but declined the invitation. I know enough about the media/TV business to know how the very best and uplifting of stories can be distorted once the story/programme is printed or broadcast, especially if there is no editorial involvement or control made available to the parent company.
I personally thought you came across as honest and with integrity and sincerely hope that once the dust settles the whole thing will be nothing more than yesterday's news and you can put it behind you and forget all about it.
Take care,
Like a number of other people who have been involved with Cambridge I was also approached to see if I either wanted to appear myself or knew anyone else who might be interested, but declined the invitation. I know enough about the media/TV business to know how the very best and uplifting of stories can be distorted once the story/programme is printed or broadcast, especially if there is no editorial involvement or control made available to the parent company.
I personally thought you came across as honest and with integrity and sincerely hope that once the dust settles the whole thing will be nothing more than yesterday's news and you can put it behind you and forget all about it.
Take care,
cornishkez
Gold Member
Mate, that is awful! Just try to remember that these people go looking for a reaction, they will attack anyone and will say the one thing that they know will hurt the most! It isnt a reflection on you, it's a reflection on them!
MagdaX
is Magdalicious
Just popping in from the LL forum to say that I'm outraged at what I've just seen (just watched the program on 4oD)
This 'diet doctor' kept contradicting herself all the time and making false claims that are not supported by evidence (like eating late at night will make you fat- ridiculous! It's not when you eat but WHAT you eat that makes you fat).
It left me with a bitter aftertaste and if I didn't know better already I'd be put off losing weight altogether!
Everything has pro's and con's and everything has side effects but like Nicola rightly pointed out, the benefits of losing weight and getting fitter far outweigh any cons!
VLCD's have been used by professionals for years with a very high success rate and I just don't see how a nutritionally balanced controlled weight loss program can be compared to a bloody cabbage soup diet or the maple syrup thing (which is horrible by the way)
It seems like the producers were after a cheap sensationalism rather than an informative documentary.
You could clearly see that it was heavily edited and I really find it hard to believe that a CD counsellor would only talk about poo and farts to the camera!
All the girls (and boys) on the LL forum are of the same opinion and to be honest even if they slagged LL off next week, it wouldn't have mattered as every single one of us on here know about this subject more than the people who created that show.
And Nicola! May I just say that you should be proud of yourself by taking matters into your own hands and making a change! Yes it is emotional and it is not easy but I am pretty sure you have inspired thousads to get off their backsides and do something about their weight! More so than the other two nice ladies on the show may I add!
Good luck and keep strong!
We're all rooting for you!
This 'diet doctor' kept contradicting herself all the time and making false claims that are not supported by evidence (like eating late at night will make you fat- ridiculous! It's not when you eat but WHAT you eat that makes you fat).
It left me with a bitter aftertaste and if I didn't know better already I'd be put off losing weight altogether!
Everything has pro's and con's and everything has side effects but like Nicola rightly pointed out, the benefits of losing weight and getting fitter far outweigh any cons!
VLCD's have been used by professionals for years with a very high success rate and I just don't see how a nutritionally balanced controlled weight loss program can be compared to a bloody cabbage soup diet or the maple syrup thing (which is horrible by the way)
It seems like the producers were after a cheap sensationalism rather than an informative documentary.
You could clearly see that it was heavily edited and I really find it hard to believe that a CD counsellor would only talk about poo and farts to the camera!
All the girls (and boys) on the LL forum are of the same opinion and to be honest even if they slagged LL off next week, it wouldn't have mattered as every single one of us on here know about this subject more than the people who created that show.
And Nicola! May I just say that you should be proud of yourself by taking matters into your own hands and making a change! Yes it is emotional and it is not easy but I am pretty sure you have inspired thousads to get off their backsides and do something about their weight! More so than the other two nice ladies on the show may I add!
Good luck and keep strong!
We're all rooting for you!
hear hear!Just popping in from the LL forum to say that I'm outraged at what I've just seen (just watched the program on 4oD)
This 'diet doctor' kept contradicting herself all the time and making false claims that are not supported by evidence (like eating late at night will make you fat- ridiculous! It's not when you eat but WHAT you eat that makes you fat).
It left me with a bitter aftertaste and if I didn't know better already I'd be put off losing weight altogether!
Everything has pro's and con's and everything has side effects but like Nicola rightly pointed out, the benefits of losing weight and getting fitter far outweigh any cons!
VLCD's have been used by professionals for years with a very high success rate and I just don't see how a nutritionally balanced controlled weight loss program can be compared to a bloody cabbage soup diet or the maple syrup thing (which is horrible by the way)
It seems like the producers were after a cheap sensationalism rather than an informative documentary.
You could clearly see that it was heavily edited and I really find it hard to believe that a CD counsellor would only talk about poo and farts to the camera!
All the girls (and boys) on the LL forum are of the same opinion and to be honest even if they slagged LL off next week, it wouldn't have mattered as every single one of us on here know about this subject more than the people who created that show.
And Nicola! May I just say that you should be proud of yourself by taking matters into your own hands and making a change! Yes it is emotional and it is not easy but I am pretty sure you have inspired thousads to get off their backsides and do something about their weight! More so than the other two nice ladies on the show may I add!
Good luck and keep strong!
We're all rooting for you!
ncassidy80
Full Member
After a lot of thought I have decided to update my blog on my side of things. I was fed up of getting looked at as if I was in the wrong and think it is important that I put my perspective on things across. I don't know if I can put links on as i've not had that many posts but will try www.cambridgedietblog.co.uk - as always I will answer any questions people have
thanks nic x
thanks nic x
Surfhunny
Laugh in the face of food
Wow Nicola I've just read your blog, it seems that Cambridge have been unnecessarily harsh with you, I'm sure it's because they've panicked about how the diet will come across in the programme.
I personally will not use the official Cambridge forum as I have had very negative responses to my requests for help, their moderators have even gone so far ad to twist things I've said on minimins to make me look bad (and accused me of wasting peoples time) on their forum.
However despite the complete lack of "official" support from Cambridge I still think the diet is fabulous and I think anyone who loses weight with it is amazing!! Well done for having the guts to go on the programme and also for putting your side of the story forward in your blog!!
I personally will not use the official Cambridge forum as I have had very negative responses to my requests for help, their moderators have even gone so far ad to twist things I've said on minimins to make me look bad (and accused me of wasting peoples time) on their forum.
However despite the complete lack of "official" support from Cambridge I still think the diet is fabulous and I think anyone who loses weight with it is amazing!! Well done for having the guts to go on the programme and also for putting your side of the story forward in your blog!!
Don't let the likes of this oxygen thief upset you. They obviously have nothing in their lives and the cowards are very brave putting people down from behind a keyboard!!
xxx
caroline4013
Silver Member
Ditto x
boardwitless
Silver Member
Just read your blog Nicki and I think maybe Cambridge were concerned about you and the amount of exercise you were doing because they were worried that your body might not be able to cope (despite you being used to it previously), or that someone watching might think that they had to take on the same amount of exercise to make the diet work. I guess they are sensitive after certain tragic cases have been highlighted recently:
Bride-to-be crash diet death - eating just 530 calories a day for 11 weeks | Mail Online
Slimmer Killed By Crash Diet?
They would also know the details of their products and that the nutritional makeup of them may not be suitable to replace what's lost during heavy exercise for some people so they were just being careful. Anyway, I think you came across as a sensible, genuine person and it's a shame that the contact from CD wasn't handled differently.
Just on a different note, the 'diet doctor' was shocked that the small size 6 lady had been 'dieting' all of her life. I would say that it was more likely that she had been 'watching what she ate' for all her life, and therefore 'maintaining' which (sad as it may seem) is what maintaining is.
Think about it, I know that I maintain on around 1800 calories a day. If I have 2 takeaways or similar a week at around 500 calories extra each - WITHOUT taking that into account and cutting down the day after, I will have gained a pound in a month. A year later, I'm a stone or so heavier. Unfortunately, life's not fair like that and there is a need for constant awareness so whether people choose to think of it as 'dieting' or just being careful is up to them. Personally, I would not want to think of myself as having to be on a diet for the rest of my life so I am going to 'monitor' (I can't think of a better word right now)
Will be watching next week with interest to see how LL is portrayed....To be fair, they should put that up against the laxative diet or the cigarette diet which are only slightly less cranky than the cabbage soup and maple syrup plans
Bride-to-be crash diet death - eating just 530 calories a day for 11 weeks | Mail Online
Slimmer Killed By Crash Diet?
They would also know the details of their products and that the nutritional makeup of them may not be suitable to replace what's lost during heavy exercise for some people so they were just being careful. Anyway, I think you came across as a sensible, genuine person and it's a shame that the contact from CD wasn't handled differently.
Just on a different note, the 'diet doctor' was shocked that the small size 6 lady had been 'dieting' all of her life. I would say that it was more likely that she had been 'watching what she ate' for all her life, and therefore 'maintaining' which (sad as it may seem) is what maintaining is.
Think about it, I know that I maintain on around 1800 calories a day. If I have 2 takeaways or similar a week at around 500 calories extra each - WITHOUT taking that into account and cutting down the day after, I will have gained a pound in a month. A year later, I'm a stone or so heavier. Unfortunately, life's not fair like that and there is a need for constant awareness so whether people choose to think of it as 'dieting' or just being careful is up to them. Personally, I would not want to think of myself as having to be on a diet for the rest of my life so I am going to 'monitor' (I can't think of a better word right now)
Will be watching next week with interest to see how LL is portrayed....To be fair, they should put that up against the laxative diet or the cigarette diet which are only slightly less cranky than the cabbage soup and maple syrup plans
MinnieMel
Why Be Normal?
Copied From My Diary
Last night I finally watched all of the "Will My Crash Diet Kill Me" channel 4 programme -- and I have tremendous respect for the three dieters who participated with the programme, and deep disappointment in the producers who sensationalised the diets and did not discuss them with nutritionists, psychologists, etc.
The "presenter" was a physician -- but I do not think they what said she specialised in, if anything, so she could have been a opthmologist for all I know. Also, on this thread regarding the programme posters mentioned that the doctor looked overweight and I think so, too. They never showed her whole length and her arms were quite heavy. I think she was not a good choice for this programme, as I would find it difficult to take advice from someone who was not following it themselves. (I changed CD counsellors -- and one of the reasons was that the first one was so overweight.) Would you want a teacher who was illiterate? A dentist with rotten teeth?
I would have liked to have seen some scientific data and physchological discussion about how these diets affect participants, and also about how being overweight affects people (physically and mentally). Note: I really felt that the Cambridge WLP should not have been "shown" side by side with the true crash diets of the maple syrup and cabbage soup.
If you have not seen the film Supersize Me -- I highly recommend it. The individual who made this film had a complete physical before starting his "experiemental diet", explained what his "rules" about the diet would be, had input from people who cared about him (his girlfriend was a vegan chef), and it seemed to be a very fair assessment of what was happening to him. Also, he had another physical later to show the effects of the diet on his body.
His film made a major corporation rethink their product line.
Kudos -- Nic, keep on working towards your goal. And, please, keep us posted on your progress. You are an inspiration... and you came across as being very mature and determined.
MinnieMel
Last night I finally watched all of the "Will My Crash Diet Kill Me" channel 4 programme -- and I have tremendous respect for the three dieters who participated with the programme, and deep disappointment in the producers who sensationalised the diets and did not discuss them with nutritionists, psychologists, etc.
The "presenter" was a physician -- but I do not think they what said she specialised in, if anything, so she could have been a opthmologist for all I know. Also, on this thread regarding the programme posters mentioned that the doctor looked overweight and I think so, too. They never showed her whole length and her arms were quite heavy. I think she was not a good choice for this programme, as I would find it difficult to take advice from someone who was not following it themselves. (I changed CD counsellors -- and one of the reasons was that the first one was so overweight.) Would you want a teacher who was illiterate? A dentist with rotten teeth?
I would have liked to have seen some scientific data and physchological discussion about how these diets affect participants, and also about how being overweight affects people (physically and mentally). Note: I really felt that the Cambridge WLP should not have been "shown" side by side with the true crash diets of the maple syrup and cabbage soup.
If you have not seen the film Supersize Me -- I highly recommend it. The individual who made this film had a complete physical before starting his "experiemental diet", explained what his "rules" about the diet would be, had input from people who cared about him (his girlfriend was a vegan chef), and it seemed to be a very fair assessment of what was happening to him. Also, he had another physical later to show the effects of the diet on his body.
His film made a major corporation rethink their product line.
Kudos -- Nic, keep on working towards your goal. And, please, keep us posted on your progress. You are an inspiration... and you came across as being very mature and determined.
MinnieMel
ncassidy80
Full Member
Hi again - in answer to a couple of questions:
Boardwitless: in terms of Cambridge - I completely understand them wanting to protect themselves as they will have been under the microscope on the tv program and I do believe that's purely why they got in touch (the amount of people saying they exercise on the forums is immense and noone gets contacted directly). As an example in one of the womens magazine in jan there was an article about a lady who lost alot on the diet and from the calorie intake it looked like she was on ss+ (think was 600 per day) and she said it gave her energy and so she went to gym a few times a week. I was doing 1 hour of exercise out of 168 hours in a week. But to be honest it's their plan and they can tell you tomdomwhat they like and it is then up to the individual to make their decision on if it suits them. My issue was the way I was treated - if you read my blog you will see the last person on their mind was me as if they were so worried about my health they would have made sure the undue stress they caused me was at a minimum and it really wasn't. But like I've said I can understand why they had that reaction as they didn't know how the program would be edited - I made sure that I didn't slag anyone off though as that isn't my style. I wanted to be able to hold my head up high and I do think I still can - thanks for your comments though
Aogg - no I wasn't paid to do the program - as far as I am aware you can't be paid a participation fee for a documentary as you are immediately biased to one side. Good luck with your personal training session - I wouldn't be without exercise in my life
x
Boardwitless: in terms of Cambridge - I completely understand them wanting to protect themselves as they will have been under the microscope on the tv program and I do believe that's purely why they got in touch (the amount of people saying they exercise on the forums is immense and noone gets contacted directly). As an example in one of the womens magazine in jan there was an article about a lady who lost alot on the diet and from the calorie intake it looked like she was on ss+ (think was 600 per day) and she said it gave her energy and so she went to gym a few times a week. I was doing 1 hour of exercise out of 168 hours in a week. But to be honest it's their plan and they can tell you tomdomwhat they like and it is then up to the individual to make their decision on if it suits them. My issue was the way I was treated - if you read my blog you will see the last person on their mind was me as if they were so worried about my health they would have made sure the undue stress they caused me was at a minimum and it really wasn't. But like I've said I can understand why they had that reaction as they didn't know how the program would be edited - I made sure that I didn't slag anyone off though as that isn't my style. I wanted to be able to hold my head up high and I do think I still can - thanks for your comments though
Aogg - no I wasn't paid to do the program - as far as I am aware you can't be paid a participation fee for a documentary as you are immediately biased to one side. Good luck with your personal training session - I wouldn't be without exercise in my life
x
so a lot of heartache and worry and you didnt get paid, that sucks a thousand! after reading your comments, i think i will risk the one training session on SS, my trainer won't train me mega hard anyway! thanks for reply you was totally brave and I cant understand why when you are motivated to get fit and healthy you get critized and when you just carry on eating yourself to death you get critized, its complete bollox
