After having my second child I struggled to lose the baby weight. I always see those skinny moms pushing their strollers at the park or the playground and I stare with jealousy at their slim bodies (with their only months old babies). I just don’t have the kind of body that simply bounces back after the weight gain from my pregnancies. So, I was very excited when I heard about the Dukan Diet.
For those of you who may not be familiar, the Dukan Diet is a physician-formulated lifestyle weight-loss program. It consists of 4 phases to reach and keep your True Weight for life. It sounds simple to me because the diet discards counting calories, and instead emphasizes lean protein, plentiful amounts of water, daily walking and allows unrestricted amounts of 100 healthy foods. I’m always sabotaging my own dieting by falling off the wagon and right into late-night take-out!
Another aspect of the diet that I was excited to learn, is that each person’s True Weight is unique and based on answers to a few short questions. Before beginning The Dukan Diet members calculate their True Weight – which is a realistic, healthy weight that can be reached and maintained for life- by answering 80 questions that precisely define a personalized program in detail. I found my True Weight and registered for online Coaching at DukanDiet.com.
Dukan Diet Coaching is personalized and interactive. It consists of a daily online weight-loss program. Coaches tailor their approach to each individual’s Dukan Diet profile and lifestyle, which is essential to long term success. The diet is adjusted daily based on a short report from the previous day. And its affordable! For less than $1 a day the Dukan Diet Coaching costs less than any other online diet program.
Below are some questions and answers from the writer of the book, Dukan Diet – Simone Gloger:
1. I know that Oat Bran is a large part of the Dukan Diet in keeping someone full. Is there any sort of substitute a person can use if he or she is intolerant to Gluten?
· You can use gluten-free oat bran. If that still bothers you, you can use Shirataki noodles or glucomannan powder.
2. Which celebrities have used the Dukan Diet?
· Carole Middletown and make-up artist Bobbi Brown. Other celebrities (which I can’t confirm) that are ‘associated’ with the diet include: Kate Middleton, Jennifer Lopez and Penelope Cruz and Gisele Bundchen
3. Do you typically find that those who use the coaching services on a daily basis have better results than those who use it less frequently?
· Yes, member who do their daily reports each day are more accountable, and stay on track as they know they will have to report a lapse. Also, our members who use coaching on a daily basis ask us about products they are allowed to use, or if they are at a restaurant and need us to choose the best option for them or even if they are on vacation and need tips or diet modifications to stay on track. We also help them get through stagnation and keep them motivated.
4. How is the Dukan Diet different from Atkins diet?
· The Dukan Diet focuses on low-fat protein including non-fat dairy – which is great for your heart. Atkins allows unlimited full fat dairy and fatty meats and cheeses that are high in saturated fat. On The Dukan Diet – you eat from a list of 100 natural foods that keep you slim. Atkins recommends you eat their packaged convenience foods such as bars and shakes. There is no counting of carbs, calories or any other nutritional values in any phase of The Dukan Diet. Atkins requires you to count net carbs starting from day one, and later in the plan, you have to figure out for yourself how many carbs to eat per day to maintain your weight. In The Dukan Diet, you eat from the list of 100 foods, while including other foods in the Consolidation phase. You never have to experiment with how many carbs you should eat. The Dukan Diet has personalized online weight loss coaching that is unique to you and includes daily monitoring of your progress, chats with Dr. Dukan and his team, hundreds of recipes, exercise videos, and most importantly, monitored stabilization so you don’t gain the weight back. Atkins doesn’t have a coaching program and you are on your own to experiment and figure out how many carbs you need to keep the weight off.
5. Which phase of the diet do you think participants find the most challenging? Which phase do you think they find the easiest?
· I believe the Cruise phase is the easiest phase for most people as they can have veggies again and continue to see weight loss, even though not as rapid as in the Attack phase. Consolidation can be the hardest phase as members have reached their True Weight and there is no more weight loss, which can be demotivating. Members can also be a little apprehensive about adding back all the foods right away as they fear weight gain. They have to learn to trust the diet and we support them and keep them on track with the coaching program.
6. Do you have a favorite recipe from the Dukan Diet plan? Please share it.
· I love just grilling Wild Alaskan Salmon or Rainbow Trout with some veggies such as asparagus (great diuretic), fennel and radicchio lettuce—grilled octopus is also another favorite.