Dukan Diet Simple rules of the protein diet

The Dukan Diet was created by French physician Pierre Dukan more than 10 years ago as a treatment for obese people. 

Simple rules of the protein diet

One thing the French doctor found in his patients was that simple rules worked best. Avoiding obsessing about what you eat and when you eat it was the first step. Rather than count calories or points the Dukan diet is based on a very restrictive list of products for each of its phases. While the rules are simple they are strict at the same time.

The food allowed in Dukan Diet at the start includes the following produce:

• meat (beef, veal)

• poultry (no skin and excludes duck and goose)

• lean ham

• fish & seafood

• fat-free dairy products

The Four Phases of the Dukan Diet

The Dukan 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.

1. Attack Phase: Eat only very lean veal, beef, chicken and turkey (white meat, no skin), fish and shellfish, eggs, fat-free dairy products, and lots of water. This  phase of Dukan Diet should not exceed 10 days.

2. Weight Loss Phase: In 5 days cycles, alternate consecutive days of eating protein along with non-starchy vegetables and eating only protein (again) until you reach your goal weight. Drink at least 2 liters of water per day. Do not use butter or oil.

3. Stabilization Phase: Eat one serving of fruit, two slices of whole wheat bread and 1.5 ounces of cheese per day. Twice a week, eat two 5-ounce servings of starch and all of the usual proteins - as well as pork and lamb – without butter and oil. Twice a week, eat two unrestricted meals with wine and dessert, followed by a day of only protein. Do this for the number of days that equals 4 days for every half pound lost.

4. Cruise Phase: Eat whatever you want with one day a week of only protein (sigh). Dr. Dukan thinks Thursday is a good day for protein.

The Dukan Diet: What the Experts Say

You'll certainly lose weight on The Dukan Diet because it cuts calories drastically. The lack of carbs also helps keep hunger at bay. But the bottom line, experts say, is that this eating plan does not include all the nutrients you need for good health.

The Dukan Diet has swept across France, and was hailed by several celebrities who reported successfully losing weight following Pierre Dukan's diet. Some press reports have estimated that the Dukan diet community now numbers over 5 million people in France and is still growing.

The Dukan Diet is an extreme approach that emphasizes low-fat protein. While dieters can expect to lose weight following this plan, it is highly likely that weight will be regained upon a return to normal eating habits.