Hyacinth Robinson, 62, has lost over nine stone and gone from a size 24 to a size 12-14 after adopting The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan. The change has not only transformed her physique but also reversed several significant health issues, including pre-diabetes, lower back pain, and arthritis in one knee.
Robinson, who is 5ft 7in, had struggled with her weight for decades. Her previous diet included sugary cereals, peanut butter, jam, and cheese toasties for breakfast, a meal deal with a sandwich, crisps, chocolate, and Coke for lunch, and large portions of chicken and rice or potatoes with minimal vegetables for dinner, often followed by tea and biscuits. Weekends often involved takeaways.
By her thirties, she weighed 21st 7lb and wore a size 24. Her lifestyle contributed to health problems, and by 2024, as her 60th birthday approached, she was facing the prospect of medication for high blood pressure and was pre-diabetic. She described this realization as an "it's now or never" moment.
Following a friend, Deborah Adams, who was a consultant for The 1:1 Diet, Robinson decided to join the plan. The diet, which has been available since the 1980s and was previously known as The Cambridge Diet, involves a consultant creating a personalized plan using food-replacement products. Adams advised Robinson to consume three 200-calorie products daily, alongside one healthy meal prepared from the plan's recipes.
Robinson's daily intake on the plan typically consisted of porridge or shakes for breakfast, chicken and noodle soup or chilli soup for lunch, and a protein bar or crisps as a snack. Dinners involved fish or chicken with vegetables, or a salad. This regimen totaled around 800 calories per day.
She reported losing eight pounds in her first week and continued to lose three to four pounds per week. Two years into the plan, she has lost 9st 6lb and reached her goal weight of just under 12 stone. She plans to transition to the maintenance phase, which involves consuming fewer meal-replacement products and more traditional meals.
The transformation has led to a significant increase in energy levels. Robinson, who previously avoided walking, now walks three times a day. Her general practitioner has noted the reversal of her pre-diabetes, and her back and knee pain have subsided. She also shared strategies that contributed to her success, such as swapping sugary juices for water and being mindful of portion sizes, particularly by increasing vegetable intake. She also successfully navigated an all-inclusive holiday by adhering to healthy choices from the buffet.
Robinson now feels comfortable wearing a wider range of clothing, a stark contrast to her previous preference for leggings and flowing dresses. She is happy to be a role model and shares her experience, emphasizing that her success was achieved through an