The Dukan diet, devised by French doctor Dr Pierre Dukan, has been popular in France for the last decade. Released in Britain in May 2010, this diet claims that dutiful followers will experience rapid weight loss and keep it off for good, while still being able to eat the foods they love. But there is a catch. Dieters can eat nothing but protein foods on Thursdays.
The Four Phases of the Dukan Diet
The diet is divided into four phases: attack, cruise, consolidation and stabilisation. The attack and cruise phases focus on losing weight quickly, while the consolidation and stabilisation phases are concerned with maintaining weight and avoiding putting any weight lost back on.
Calorie counting is not a feature of the Dukan diet; it is the type of food eaten that is important. The rules concerning which foods can be eaten are very strict in the early phases of the diet, with high protein consumption being the main focus. However, the rules become more relaxed as the diet progresses.
Losing Weight Quickly with the Dukan Diet
In the first two phases of the Dukan diet, substantial weight loss is expected.
- Phase 1: Attack Phase – Protein-only foods are allowed. That is, meat, fish, eggs and non-fat dairy products. There is no butter or oil, all fat must be trimmed from meat, and all skin removed from poultry. Several pounds may be lost quickly during the attack phase. Dieters can choose to stay in this phase for between one and ten days, depending on how much weight they want to lose.
- Phase 2: Cruise Phase – Protein-only days are alternated with protein and vegetable days. A wide variety of vegetables are allowed in unlimited amounts, such as asparagus, aubergine, broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, leeks, mushrooms, peppers, salad leaves, spinach and tomatoes, but not starchy vegetables such as potatoes and lentils. Dieters should continue to lose around two pounds each week while in this phase, and must stay in it until their desired weight is achieved.
Keeping the Weight Off by Eating Only Protein on Thursdays
In the third and fourth phases of the Dukan diet, more foods are allowed but weight is expected to stay the same.
- Phase 3: Consolidation Phase – Foods such as bread, pasta, cheese and fruit are reintroduced, and both vegetables and protein can be eaten every day. No more weight is lost in the consolidation phase; the aim is to prevent dieters regaining the weight they lost in the previous phases and to maintain their current weight. For every one pound of weight lost, five days should be spent in this phase to permanently keep those pounds off.
- Phase 4: Stabilisation Phase – No foods are off limits. However, for one day each week, every week from now on, only protein can be eaten. Dr. Dukan recommends this day be a Thursday. The idea is that protein-only Thursdays balance out the lack of food restriction on the other days of the week, while allowing the weight loss achieved in the previous phases of the diet to be maintained.
Throughout the entire diet, a tablespoon of oat bran is allowed each day. (This is a form of soluble fibre which is good for easing constipation associated with high-protein diets.) Dieters are also encouraged to drink plenty of water and go for a brisk walk every day.
So will the Dukan diet be the next big diet craze to hit British soil? Only time will tell.
For more information, readers may enjoy 'What are the Pros and Cons of the Dukan Diet?'
Sources:
Mail Online. "The ultimate diet: The French have kept it a secret for years. Now the protein rich Dukan Diet is coming to Britain" (Accessed 19th May 2010).
Mail OnLine. "The Dukan Diet: Put your fat cells on a revolutionary weight-loss plan" (Accessed 19th May 2010).
Mail Online. "The Dukan Diet: Want to stay slim forever? Eat whatever you want - except on Thursdays" (Accessed 19th May 2010).
Sharon Kirby - Sharon is a freelance health writer and contributes to various print and online publications. Writing credits include Nursing Times, Good ...
