The Dukan Diet helped one famous FOF shed the pounds, but is it right for the rest of us? FOF investigates.
When Kate Middleton and her FOF mother, Carole, arrived at the Royal wedding this past April, BBC newscasters couldn’t stop talking about two things: their clothes and their weight loss.
Carole–who had lost 2 dress sizes–publicly credited her svelte new physique to 69-year-old French diet doctor, Pierre Dukan. Kate has never revealed her own diet plan, although rumors swirl that she used Dukan as well.
Since the wedding, Dukan’s book, The Dukan Diet, has sold millions of copies and been translated into 14 languages. “I am a hopeless romantic, so of course I watched the royal wedding,” says FOF Patricia Hancock, a lifelong yo-yo dieter who bought the book in April and has since lost over 30 pounds following Dukan’s advice.
The diet has been touted by celebs including Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez. But it’s also been controversial, with some medical experts alternately calling it everything from “unaffective” to “dangerous” in the press.
What’s the truth? Here, FOF presents the facts and talks to FOF Patricia about her experience.
For a chance to win your own copy of The Dukan Diet, read on, and then tell us in the comments below, would you try this diet? (3 FOFs will win!)
Dr. Pierre Dukan, MD, began his general medical practice over 35 years ago. According to his book, he became interested in nutrition after an overweight patient asked for a diet plan that didn’t restrict meat. Dukan advised the man to consume nothing but lean meat and water for five days. In that time, the patient lost 12 pounds. Encouraged, Dukan began studying nutrition in an attempt to create a diet that would help his overweight patients lose weight permanently–without feeling deprived. He spent the next 35 years perfecting his plan and gaining a reputation as a uniquely effective “diet doctor” in France. Today, his plan is consists of 4 phases:
Phase 1: Dukan calls this “The Attack” phase, during which you jump-start your weight loss by spending anywhere from 2 to 7 days (depending on your start weight) eating only from a group of 68 high-protein foods, including lean meats, fish, tofu, Greek yogurt and eggs. You’re also required to eat 1.5 tablespoons of oat bran a day to help you feel full. Unlike The Atkins Diet, with Dukan “you are not allowed fatty meats and cheese,” says Simone Gloger, a registered nutritionist who recommends the Dukan diet to her own patients. “Saturated fats found in these foods can cause cardiovascular disease. Atkins is high protein and high fat. Dukan is high protein, low fat and low carb.”
During this first phase, you also calculate your “true” weight–a number based on your age, height and dieting history. “This differs for everyone,” says Simone Gloger, “It’s a realistic number that is actually maintainable for life.” (You can calculate your “True Weight,” here.)
FOF Trisha, 57, was about 25 pounds overweight when she started the diet earlier this year. Heavy since she was a young girl, (“I grew up being called ‘Patty Fatty’”) she had tried everything from Weight Watchers to Atkins to aerobics, but was never able to keep the weight off for good. At just 4’11”, Trisha’s top weight was 181. When she started the Dukan diet, she was about 145. Today, 7 months later, she weighs 107.
Trisha’s “phase 1” lasted 5 days, during which she mostly ate eggs, chicken and fish. “I love protein, so that was not a problem,” she says. “And it wasn’t very long–just Monday to Friday.”
Phase 2: During “The Cruise Phase,” you add on 32 different vegetables, including some high-carb options such as carrots, pumpkin and beets. “You’re on this until you reach your true weight,” says Gloger. “Typically, that’s about 3 days for every pound you want to lose.” So if you wanted to lose 30 pounds, you’d be in this phase for about 3 months. According to Dukan, the diet makes up for lack of variety by allowing you to eat as much as you want in any combination you prefer.
This type of high-protein, low-carb eating is especially effective for FOFs, says Gloger. “As you age and enter menopause, your body loses muscle mass, your metabolism slows and you gain weight. Eating protein speeds your metabolism and helps you build muscle. It also helps reduce water retention and improves collagen production–which makes your skin look better.”
“The hardest part for me was not eating cheese,” says Trisha of her Cruise Phase. “But I liked that I could eat as much protein as I wanted. When I did Weight Watchers, I was only allowed 18 points. I was hungry and thinking about food constantly. On Dukan, my husband and I would cook out, and I would eat a humongous, juicy hamburger, and the next morning I would have lost weight.”
Phase 3, “Consolidation,” starts once you’ve reached your “true weight.” It is designed to reintroduce a variety of foods back into your diet without causing the rebound weight gain that typically occurs after losing a lot of weight. You can add 2 slices of bread and 1 portion of fruit and cheese into your daily diet as well as 2 servings of carbs and 2 “celebration” meals per week. You remain in this phase for 5 days for every one pounds you’ve lost. “This phase is about learning how to eat properly,” says Gloger. “You can go out to dinner, enjoy wine and bread and fruit—but all within reason.”
Both Gloger and Trisha point out that they exercised some personal discretion during this phase–not following the rules exactly, but staying within a “safe” zone. “If you’re wheat or gluten intolerant, you can substitute the wheat bread for other grains,” says Gloger.
“I didn’t always give up my wine,” says Trisha. “But I’d have half a glass in the evening instead of a full glass.” It was during this phase that Trisha developed her food routine, a daily menu that she says has worked great for her. “I’m not a very creative person–I don’t come up with fancy recipes. I get up every morning and have Greek yogurt with fruit, followed by an apple or some other snack around 10. For lunch I’ll have tofu mixed with tuna and some little pita pockets or maybe a hard-boiled egg sandwich. In the evening I might have salmon with lots of salad, some bread and wine.”
Phase 4, the permanent stabilization phase, is designed to last for, well . . . the rest of your life. And it’s surprisingly non-restrictive. You can eat whatever you want as long as you spend one day a week on a pure protein diet (as in phase 1), continue to eat your 3 tablespoons of oat bran every day, and take the stairs instead of escalators and elevators. So what’s to keep you from eating pizza and ice cream for every meal? Both Trisha and Gloger insist that just isn’t a problem.
“By the time someone has finished the first three phases, they’ve really changed,” says Gloger. “They’ve learned how to eat so that they feel better and look better and they don’t want to give that up. Also, after they eat indulgent foods, they don’t feel good.”
“I don’t want to go back to not feeling good,” confirms Trisha. “I love being able to go into the store and pick out a size 2–my whole life I was looking at sizes from 13-18. And I find that when I indulge, I really feel it. If I have a cupcake for example, I feel sick afterwards. I don’t want to overeat.”
While both Trisha and Gloger insist the diet could work “for anyone,” Trisha does admit that it was particularly tailored to her: “I love meat. I’d rather have a big juicy steak than a slice of pizza. I’m also patient, and I like to do things slowly and carefully, so I was willing to read the entire book and learn the science behind it. It made sense to me. I would say to anyone who is considering this diet, read the book first. Really read it. If it makes sense to you, it will work for you.”
For a chance to win your own copy of The Dukan Diet, tell us in the comments below, would you try this diet? (3 FOFs will win!)
0 Responses to “Dukan Diet Plan Review: The Queen of All Diets”
info sehat says:
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Sue says:
I would try it, for sure. I have been planning to go on the south beach plan after the holidays, but this sounds like it might work better for me.
emom says:
You know, at sixty now, I want to be svelte and sassy for me and for my daughter (13). She is a dancer, so I think this diet would appeal to her as well and it would be something we would enjoy the process of together.
HollyO says:
I don’t do diets, but I really am thinking about this one. I am not fat, but I would like to be about 8 lbs. thinner and this sounds like a good way to do it.
Phyllis says:
I have had a weight problem all my life but got away with it most of the time since I am tall. Menopause certainly did change things however and now it’s a struggle. Problem will be the bread because as much as I love a hamburger, the roll is an essential part!
Hopefully I can win this book and conquer my addiction!
Lisa says:
Absolutely!!! This fluctuating weight I’m experiencing now is not something I can live with! I think I can do the Dukan!
StChienne says:
I’ve gained 25 pounds this year and have to get it off: the Dukan diet sounds like a better idea than the other options I’ve been considering: low fat and high protein will give me the energy I need and keep me healthy!
Erica Waldmann says:
I would love to win the book. I have been overweight all my life I am 65 and no diet has been effective, yet . This plan seems like it might work for me. Thank you.
Jayne says:
I would like to give this a try…
Jane says:
Getting on in years also means putting on the pounds. Exercise without changing my diet doesn’t help. I’d love to try something new that sounds healthy but also interesting.
merrittinmartinez says:
This sounds a lot like the Lindora Diet of a few years back. That actually worked well for me. This sounds similar but a bit less restrictive. I’d go for this for sure. Pick me!
Kathy says:
I am definitly ready to try this diet!!
Kim says:
I’ve been doing the Atkins diet and I thought the same thing about it being high fat foods and even though I lost a few pounds, I don’t want to eat a lot of fat to get my protein. I’m definately going to get this book…..or win it???
thillsd says:
I would DEFINITELY try this diet!!!
ktpotat says:
I’d love to try
Susan says:
I have needed to lose 10 pounds for a long time and would love to go on this diet plan!
bclaxton says:
Absolutely. I’ve been obese for most of my life although I am relatively normal now.I can gain 10 ounds in a weekend!
Katie5 says:
“The Dunkin Diet” book sounds like just what I could use; I have put on 8 plus pounds in less than a month. The weight goes right to my stomach area, so now I have a large muffin top. Please pick me.
Cynthia says:
Oh, heck yes! I’ve actually been reading and researching and concluded that I need to seriously ramp up my protein and fiber. I love lean meat and veggies, so this sounds perfect for me! I’d love to learn how to eat properly for life.
Noreen says:
3 children, thyroid problems and now menopause. Seems I’ve been fighting the weight battle for ages. This diet appeals to me because it includes things I really do eat!
Linda says:
I’m 5’3″ and I’ve been a yo-yo dieter my entire life – highest weight was 180, lowest 105 – and everything in between. Now I’ve found that I’m hypothyroid and on meds but that’s not helping with weight loss. I recently gained 25 pounds in 3 months when our business closed and I got a desk job. Not fun as I can’t fit in my clothes and really don’t want to buy new ones – and can’t afford to. I’d love to try this diet – sounds easy to work with.
Pamela says:
Ive tried several things, but lean protein is one thing I can eat easily….also the way this diet is laid out is fantastic! Would love this book!
khiskey says:
I would try this diet as it seems to be a good fit for me.
Jackie says:
Absolutely! When can I start? I would so love to be able to both eat and lose weight!
Peggy says:
I love protein and eat a lot of it already, particularly at lunch, because I find it fills me up but doesn’t make me tired to teach my first graders in the afternoon. Diet sounds good, love that he took out the FAT that was in the Adkins diet. Would love to read the book.
Terrie says:
This sounds like a great plan for me to try.
katjamarie says:
I am game!!! I need help and I like what is proposed!
Shari says:
I want to start it right away!!! Where do I get the plan???
Angela says:
being vegetarian I don’t know if the first part would be doable. going to look into it though, there are so many meat substitutes now certainly worth a try!! Phase 2 sounds wonderful and easy to do. no cheese will be hard but I’m tired of being fat!!
Teri says:
I’ve been looking for a plan for the rest of my days, and this sounds perfect. Mais oui! I”ll definitely do the Dukan!
casusan1 says:
I don’t usually comment as I rarely win anything, but I’d like to try this. I’ve lost some weight but seem to have hit a plateau and would like to lose more. I’d like to give this a try.
Corky says:
This is basically the caveman’s diet aka hunter-gatherer. Our prehistoric ancestors were protein consumers and ate produce only when meat was scarce. Later on, when crop cultivation came into being, our bodies changed and so did the increase in disease, possibly because we ate more veggies, fruit, grains and legumes. Dr. Dukan is on to something important. His diet is similar to the basic Atkins diet but easier to follow. I would love to lose 40 pounds to get me to my best weight; Dr. Dukan’s diet might just do the trick.
Mary says:
Menopasue has not been my friend – I’d love to trythis.
Cindy says:
I absolutely would try it–my husband and I had planned on doing the Wheat Belly diet after Christmas, but I like this a bit better.
Jeanne says:
I plan on reading Dr. Dukan’s book. This diet sound right for me. I’m really be a meat and potatoe meal eater. I’m not into eating fancy meals. I’m looking for some thing basic that I don’t have to get into strange foods. At 53 I have a busy work schedule that sometimes leave me little time to cook at lot. The high protien will work well for me to keep me going.
LadyM says:
Sure I would try this diet- I do well with protein. I’ve tried all the others so maybe this one would be the charm!
Carla says:
….could this be the weight loss plan that FINALLY works for me?
pepper3 says:
Love the concept behind this. Sounds like a healthy take on the Atkins & South Beach diets. Would like to try it!
Jan says:
Hubby and I have been counting calories to lose weight. We have put this on hold for this month and will start again in the New Year. I would love to have a new plan to work with that would be successful for both of us.
Sweetie Girl says:
After doing Atkins for two years and losing 75 pounds, I find I need something different to lose the last 50. I will be looking at this diet to see if it is the one to finish my weight loss journey. Win or not, I need this book.
Patricia Marinace says:
Absolutely, I would try this diet, especially if it allows wine. I want to lose weight, feel better and look better and not feel as though I am suffering. It sounds like a diet that would work for me.
Carole Penner says:
Like so many women, I have tried many diets over the past 30 years and I’m ready to try something that may actually work!
Billie says:
I would love to try it b/c I just lost 35 lbs but I am terrified of gaining it back
Roxyd says:
Sounds like a plan I could actually stick with – I would definitely try it!
Jacqueline says:
I did this and love it, I started in June with 20 pounds to lose. By calculating target weight in the Dukan web site I learned I had to do 3 days of attack during which I lost 5 pounds. Started cruise for the prescribed amount of time and lost the 20 pounds just 3 days after they said I would. (A weeks vacation may have set me back). Since then, I have done consolidation and maintained my weight and am in fact down another 2 and am in stabilization. I am 51 years old and this diet has proved to be fanastic for me. Haven’t felt as good or looked as good in years!
Daniella says:
would try it, for sure. I have been planning to go on the atkins plan after the holidays, but this sounds like it might work better for me.
Lori says:
I have and am on this diet….51 pounds in 4 months…I’ve tried them all and this is the best!
Margarida says:
Yes I definately would try this diet- losing weight makes us all look and feel better.
Fab55 says:
Very interesting!I would follow this diet.
I checked out his website and my ideal weight is actually one pound more than my current Jenny Craig goal. I don’t like depending on expensive, frozen meals that leave me hungry. Yes, I would try this…according to their website I will reach my target weight on April 2, 2012!!
arteachga says:
YES I would try the Dukan Diet! I need to take off the 40 pounds that I have acquired since becoming single. I also love meat and simplicity – so hopefully this might work for me.
Diana says:
I am willing to give it a try. I have been a life-long yo-yo dieter, myself, and need something that I can live with!
Cathy says:
I packed on some pounds with menopause but my goal for 2012 is to get them off.
Deanna Gale says:
Absolutely I would try this diet but AFTER the holidays. This has been a stressful year and I am a “stress eater” and certainly need a diet that really works.
shirlbeth says:
Yes, I would try this diet. Of course I would like to read the book and understand the thoughts and science behind it. Menopause did a number on my weight. Actually an increase in a number.
Kim Cage says:
I would try the diet. At 55 it not as easy to lose weight as it use to be. This sounds like it works!!!!
Marie Doyle says:
I would very definitely use this diet. It makes good sense and gives great choices. I am addicted to warm French Bread…..this would help me break the habit and lose the expaning hips. How soon will you send me my copy?
PS I have a closet crammed with size 4’s that I am no longer to squeeze into……
Debbie Phillips says:
As a FOF who is almost 60, I weigh about 142 lbs. and am 5’4”. I weighed 100 pounds when I graduated from high school- whic matches, almost perfectly the 1 pound per year after high school rule. I exercise fairly regularly, practicing yoga and lifting light weights. The recent discovery of arthritis in my lower spine makes losing some weight a healthy goal. I’ve maintained this weight for the past 10 years and don’t look heavy. But I know that losing weight would make a real difference in how I felt and ease the stress on my back.
Marcy says:
Am soon turning “65”…need to lose 40# NOW…before it causes seriously bad health issues!
Laura Truglio says:
I am struggling with weight gain since reaching my fifties and entering menopause. i have tried Weight Watchers and South beach and Suzanne Somers. They work for a time but i always gain it back. This plane, with the consolidation phase, seems like the answer to my prayers. Thanks
Ellen says:
I really need to lose 35lbs so I can weigh less than my brother and feel happier with my body. I love a good ateak and a super sirloin burger. My biggest hang-ups are chocolate, Mary Janes, and Rosendorff challas; the lack of a stove, as well. I’d be game to try this diet as you never know, anything is within the realms of possibilities. It helps that I adore Greek yoghurt and vegetables.
mcmillmm says:
I believe I can actually do this! I’ll miss my veggies and fruit, but they’ll just taste even better when I get to that phase. Yes, I will try this.
Diane says:
I broke my foot in August, I was in a cast for 3 months, so I put on weight from not being able to exercise. I’d love to try this diet!
wetc87 says:
The bride and her mother looked fantastic at the royal wedding. I would love results like that. The older I get the more easier the weight goes on and the harder it is to lose the pounds. Exercising two hours a day on a regular basis isn’t always feasible. Eating less leaves me tired. I think a ‘scientific’ combination like Dukan should work. I’ll give it a try.
Lisa says:
I would be willing to read the book and give the diet a try. I could stand to lose about 15 pounds and learn how to eat healthier.
dbbie says:
Trisha you look incredible. Your before and after look absolutely amazing. I know this would be almost impossible for me since I adore junk food but I also know that if I don’t do something quick I might not be here much longer. My blood pressure has sky rocketed this year. I have tried every diet plan out there and nothing last long term. I could really use this help to start my new year off right.
morning star says:
I really want this book
It sounds like it would be a great diet to follow
I love meat!
camacduff says:
I sure would.I have a few holiday pounds to lose!!!
Lauren says:
Yes, I would be willing to read the book and try this diet…or rather, lifestyle change. I need something to jump start the loss – all it took was menopause to start the down hill slide!
Becky says:
I’ve looked at a LOT of diets….this is something I know I could follow. I’d like to give it a try and see ….hmmmm. Thank you for another option in my quest.
D says:
Yes, I would be willing to try the Dukan Diet. The phases seem very doable. Would love to lose 40 lbs thus lowering my blood pressure and cholesterol, but thus far I have not been very successful.
Robbi74 says:
Yes, I would definitely try this Dukan diet. I have recently lost 75 pounds over 8 months, went from size. Twenty to twenty-two to a size fourteen, but feel like I am slowly gaining. I need to stay slimmer as I had major back surgery and my vertebrae are fused from the tenth thoracic vertebrae to the sacrum. I have now developed a compression fracture in T-9 which is directly on top of the fusion, any weight gain will make me in increased danger of more compression fractures. These fractures are very painful and the vertebrae cannot be repaired. I already live with chronic pain that is constant.
thank you for considering me for the book.
Suzy says:
I think the subject looks better in the before picture. Nice curves, good complexion.
judychildress says:
I am a polio survivor & have been trying to loose weight with diet & exercise & not loosing the weight. With being limited to what I can do cause of the full length leg brace & cane I’m just not accomplishing it.
Thank you
Merry Christmas
Hilda says:
I would try this lifelong plan! The steps are calculated and based on what he learned. Dr. Dukan has a calm and methodical way noy to just diet but to change how you see food.
Susan says:
The diet seems like it would work for me. It did for a friend of mine. Would love to win the book!
memaw911 says:
I have gained some weight due to stress this year w/ losing my house. Would love to get it off.
Susan says:
It the short form it sounds fairly healthy but I would definitely want to read the entire book first.
Mammy G says:
Absolutely I would try this! I, too am a lifelong (at least since 35; I’m now 55) yo-y0 dieter. I’ve tried almost everything with minimal success (probably because after a small success I celebrate with food)! Menopause is NOT my fried.
Ruth says:
I am currently on a vegetable and fruit diet and am bored. This sounds really good and I would love to try to get back to my pre-menopause weight of 120….
Sam says:
I lost 105 pounds following the Dukan diet and I have kept it off for 5 months now,I bought the book the first day it went on sale in the US but I was already doing the plan from a persons blog I read.Love it and recommend it for all who are serious about losing weight….
Fay Swenson says:
I would like to read this book and try Dukan’s way of eating. I have more than my share of health issues these last 2 1/2 years and have been doing exercises while water walking since Oct 2010 and am ready to get some excess weight off.
Glinda says:
I tried a high protein diet once and I did lose some weight but I became unspeakably constipated. Ugh. Never again!
Jan Marshall says:
While I was jogging I thought I heard applause. It turned out to be my thighs hitting together. Not only would I use this diet, it is only fair to do it so my neighbors do not have to hold their ears as I run past their windows.
fran says:
I really like the idea that you can eat as much as wanted of an item in the approved list for eah phase. The idea of continually being huingry is very daunting for most people.
Janyth Sheldon says:
I would love to try this diet and I am, for the most part, a vegetarian. I can manage it with fish, chicken, and tofu. I’m 79 years old, and am at least 25 pounds overveight. I’ve been a size 8 most of my life, but now
size 12s seem tight. My life is fabulous, except for my weight.
mmimilinda says:
I would definitely try the Dukan Diet. It sounds so doable. I am having a dreadful time losing weight , and at the age of 67, I feel young, but my lumpy middle (and that would be everything between my shoulders and my hips!) makes me look older.
Barbara says:
Yes, I would try this diet. I was very fortunate not to have very many symptoms when I went through menopause 10 years ago EXCEPT for weight gain! Yikes — my metabolism slowed right down, even with exercise. Whatever I can do to get my svelte self back … !
yyoerger says:
Maybe. I like that it’s not high fat like Atkins. Cholesterol is a genetic issue in my family, even though luckily, we’re on the tall, lean side naturally — until post-50 for me. And again luckily with my height I don’t look bad, but would feel better if I could get rid of the FOF 20 lbs. gained.
Dianne says:
Menopause gets us all and no one likes to diet but this isn’t as bad a some of them so I’d try it.
nancdep5 says:
I’ve been able to maintain my weight, but my boyfriend and son would definitely benefit from this diet. I would love it to help them lose teh weight to improve their health.
Ctgal says:
I would absolutely try it. I have had to stop running and even walking hills because of a neurological issue. When I ran, I could eat almost anything I wanted, but not now. Every day is a struggle to eat in moderation. And I have watched my weight creep up. I love chicken, fish, tofu and some meat. So I think I could do it. I would really miss vegetables, but you get them back rather quickly, it seems. I’m game!! My daughter, who is 4’11.5″, gained about 40 lbs with a drug addiction and then recovery. She has been clean and sober for over 2 years now, and, I think, wants the weight to go too. And she loves meat, so it might work for her too.
Diane Barrett says:
I’m unhappy about my weight and the inability to get the pounds off (not to mention keeping them off) at this stage of life. I’m also at that stage of life where I feel I’m entitled to enjoy life and the food that goes with it, leaving me in the middle of a vicious circle. Fad diets have never appealed to me, but the standard plan doesn’t work either. I’m very intrigued and willing to try this as it sounds like something I’d be quite able to abide by.
Sharon says:
Sounds like it works! I need to try this “diet.” I love protein, and have trouble on other diets when I have to restrict how much I eat. This doesn’t sound like a “diet” as much as a lifestyle! And if I can lose the extra 65 pounds I am carrying around, my heart will be healthier too!
Margaret Pflug says:
Yes, I definitely would try this diet!
Goldie says:
I would absolutely try this diet. I have been looking into the no-wheat options after being on a two-week cleanse with no wheat, eggs, dairy, soy, sugar, caffeine or alcohol – two protein powder (vegan) with frozen berries and coconut milk and fiber, and one meal with lean protein and lots of veggies. Felt great, never hungry, think it jumpstarted my weight loss. Sometimes a drastic change is easier than a small one. Plus it has me thinking about eating beef (grass fed only) for the first time in 40 years….
Anna Marie Pavlov says:
Yes, I would be willing to give this diet a try. I have been participating in the MyFitness site and have lost 20 pounds in 8 months. This diet sounds like it could work for me. I need to lose 15 more pounds.
tee218@aol.com says:
I’m 57 & have been dieting for 30 years. Weight Watchers,
Atkins, South Beach, fasting, two weeks of fruit & veggies, diet doctors, B-12 shots, vitamins, is there anything left?
When I heard about the Dukan diet around the time of the Royal wedding, I ignored it. I was fed up. Then on Thanksgiving weekend a friend of mine mentioned it so I asked her for some feedback. Well she loved it. So on 11/28 (4days after Thanksgiving) I bought the book, read it & reluctantly started up another diet. It’s amazing how quickly the weight comes off, which really keeps you motivated. The difference between Atkins & Dukan is that you can have 0% yogurt, cottage cheese, skim milk, cream cheese, and sour cream which is what I need in order to survive any diet. The attack phase is 5-7 days. The next phase you add veggies every other day and continued until you reach your goal weight. This phase will last for some time. I entertained for the holidays and only gained back 3 lbs of the 18 lbs I LOST. The galette (pancake) on his plan is easy to make, healthy and delicious. I cheated on Christmas day and made my manicotti
with the galette instead of the homemade crepes I made for my guests. You aren’t allowed to drink, but on the weekends I have wine. With a little creativity & will power anyone who wants to lose weight can do it on this diet. The trick with any diet is the long term choices that keep the weight off. BTW I didn’t exercise at all. Not that I’m proud of it but I’m not on that treadmill every morning like a hamster. I’d rather take outdoor walks, go to a museum or the Botanical Gardens for exercise. Good luck.
Faye says:
I’m fed up with my muffin top:( and am ready to take it off.
Ora says:
Yes I would try this diet….. Sounds simple and I love Meat!
mspurplelady11 says:
I exercise faithfully but my nutritional diet needs a makeover.
Kate Line Snider says:
Sure. I’d try it. It looks nutritionally sound – or at least like it wouldn’t hurt me and I wouldn’t starve to death. I lost 4 sizes on my own diet, so why not try this guy’s? It might break my plateau.
Donna Anklam says:
I am noticing a gradual weight gain and am feeling pretty helpless because I’ve tried everything to lose weight and at age 56 it just isn’t coming off! Atkins was too hardcore for me to do long term and this diet sounds like a modified version of that, which I think would work great for me. I’ve love to learn more about it by reading the book and giving it one more try!
Stacy Stapels says:
Not only would I try this diet…but I would insist my husband try it along with me as well. After surviving breast cancer and being forced into menopause, I found that I’ve slowly been putting weight on, something I hate. Now several years later, I look in the mirror and get so upset with what I see. And it seems my husband gained right along with me. We both need to lose some weight so we can keep up with our grandchildren!! This looks like a diet my husband could actually follow, he loves his meat!
MaryK says:
I am intrigued and want to know more about this diet. It sounds like one I could do successfully for 2 reasons. One, you are told exactly what foods to eat and 2, It allows plenty of protein rich foods. I get “shaky” with hunger when my body needs protein.
Val Brooks says:
This 4 phase diet plan sounds really good enough to try but giving up cheese would be painful. However, at this point, it would be well worth it healthwise to go for the Dukan diet plan.
sattalia says:
I would love to read this book. The diet suits me very well, I love meat.
Barbara Wunderle says:
I’m not in a financial position to buy the book, however, I have not had a lot of success with diets before, and I figured what the heck, give it one more try. I would like to lose over 100 pounds.
SGAwalkvt says:
This diet sounds interesting and more like a meal plan for life than a diet. I would be very interested in reading the book and having my husband and I give it a try. Each year I’m a few pounds heavier, and it’s really time to get it off and stop the gain!
Yvonne says:
YES!…would so try this diet…menopause…depression…self esteem…bring it on!
Ellen Bair says:
I have a copy of the book staring me in the face, I think this has given me the inspiration to read it. After 50 getting your weight down is so not easy
thanks for this gentle push
Katherine says:
I would put my whole family on this. After reading Wheat Belly, we’re trying to cut wheat out. Noticing a big change already. SO, this seems a logical extension for actual weight loss.
Mary says:
It’s a realistic and doable diet – I’d love to eat healthily like this.
Jan says:
I think I’ll try this. I’m all about quantity, so I think this is duable for me. I’m not into vegtables and fruit, but I might have a hard time with snacks.
Barbara Day says:
It sounds like a very friendly approach to eating, as I love protein and hate portioning it out throughout the day as in Weight Watchers or counting calories. It is the first “diet” approach that has me intrigued, and I want to KNOW more about it! Thanks for introducing me to it.
Regina says:
I also love meat and I would try this
kardi109 says:
This diet sounds like it may help me with my menopause weight gain. I would love to read a copy!
PKW says:
I started the Dukan Diet on Jan 1 and now 26 days later I have dropped a total from that day of 14 pounds. I am never hungry – I should be on the second phase till April 6th. It is very easy to follow and pretty simple to eat on business meals with no one noticing you are on a diet. I joined the on line coaching and report in every day. I only have 19 more pounds to go and can already feel the effects of less weight (less aches, easier to move, etc) I am very excited about resetting my food habits for life.