The Dukan Diet: Attack Phase

Recently, a new diet has hit the bookshelves in the UK and is sure to be a hit everywhere. France has hidden the Dukan Diet as a secret for over 30 years and is now sharing its success. Dr. Pierre Dukan created this diet as a four phase tool so overweight people could be free of their weight problems forever. I have just completed the first phase of this diet and I think I'm going to be in it for the long haul since I like the four phase approach!

The Dukan Diet consists of four phases. From the website at www.dukandiet.co.uk, the phases are explained:

1 . A brief and headlong Attack phase with immediate results. During this phase, the diet is made up of 72 high-protein foods.

2 . A Cruise phase leading to the True Weight (go to the website to find out your true weight for free, much better than unrealistic BMI weights!). During this phase, the diet alternates Pure Protein days (PP phases) and Proteins accompanied with 28 recommended Vegetables (PV phases).

3. A Consolidation phase of 10 days per kg lost (5 days per pound lost) which prepares for the return to a balanced diet. Monitored freedom with a target of establishing this freshly conquered and still vulnerable ideal weight. This phase sees the gradual return of pleasurable foods with two festive meals.

4 . A definitive stabilization phase based on 3 simple, concrete, easy but non-negotiable measures. This phase is both the easiest and most essential in our slimming method because 95% of people who follow a diet put back on the weight they have lost.

This week, I have just completed the Attack Phase for five days. I have lost about five pounds, but most notably, I'm very tired. This might be explained because I'm an extremely active person. I ride my horse almost every day in a difficult sport, dressage, and I do stable yard duties as well as walking my dog for an hour a day at least. The diet requires 20 minutes of walking a day so I fulfill this and more. Due to the lack of carbohydrates, I did notice a few headaches and a great deal of fatigue. Fortunately, due to the unlimited foods on this diet, I wasn't hungry at all. In fact, I was the opposite. I was full constantly and had to make myself eat a few times. One day I discovered it was not a good idea to do heavy riding on a stomach full of meat and experienced nausea. Other than that, I think the diet is ideal for me so far and is ideal for anyone who likes lean meats and vegetables and wants to lose weight quick! My doctor also thought it was a good idea.

I will say that I don't think this diet is for beginners. I have already lost 60 pounds over the last 3 years on Rosemary Conley and Weight Watchers. If I didn't have the discipline I've learned from these diets and the healthy cooking secrets, this would be a really tough diet. I only have 45 pounds to lose as well so I can keep myself motivated for the short haul to get it off quickly and start the Consolidation phase (or I hope I do) but someone with a couple hundred pounds would probably find this diet too restrictive and would be better with Weight Watchers. My body tends to adapt to diets so I have to change every couple of years to kick it into gear again. However, I am not quitting Weight Watchers since I love the support and love learning a healthy lifestyle.

Tonight begins my first few hours into the Cruise Phase. I am pleased to say that the salad I had with dinner with a little lemon juice drizzled on top was the best thing I'd tasted for ages!

For more information on the Dukan Diet, please see their website at http://www.dukandiet.co.uk or you can get the book The Dukan Diet (and there is now a Dukan Diet Recipe Book) from http://www.amazon.co.uk. There are also several blogs online from people on the diet so read up before deciding if this is the diet for you and please consult your physician as this is not a diet for everyone.