Has anyone tried the Dukan diet?

[Deleted]

My friend did that before her wedding. Apparently the seamstress took in the bodice of her dress too much, and she had to diet to get into it.

We ordered room service for lunch while we were getting ready for their afternoon wedding. She ordered a turkey burger and ate the patty plain, without bread or any condiments. She couldn't even eat the fruit salad that came with it.

[adlove]

Guilty! But I only lasted a very little while, I realized the no carb thing is not for me. Also, i love veggies and doing without those was tough as well. It was very restrictive and boring. And I was dizzy a lot and in a bad mood because I felt like I was being deprived.

Since then though, I've found much success just focusing on limiting carbs, and (the most beneficial thing to me) eating smaller portions. Crash diets really don't work! I'm sure you know that though.

I will say this- it was a pretty good kickstart for me. Going from two weeks of that diet, I obviously gained some weight when I started back on normal healthy eating, but I definitely didn't feel deprived anymore with my smaller portions because I was eating things I actually enjoyed eating, not just scrambled eggs and chicken breast.

[GailGoldie]

i have a few friends on it who are losing a ton.

I am doing a low carb diet now myself- but not Dukan. I'm not a fan of how it works... I do a mix of Atkins/south beach type. I have read both books - and DH and I have it worked out in a way that works for us both. After the first couple days I have no problem resisting carby foods. I hardly have an appetite... and lose fast.

any diet will work if you can stay on it - so it's about finding a diet that YOU can stay on. I have done WW and couldn't deal with it past 2 weeks... too much counting crap. I did Jenny Craig for many months and loved it- lost about 30lbs, and was easy for me to stay on- I just don't like having to go pick up the food, etc - with kids it's a PITA for me to get there.

for me low carbing works great b/c it's very black and white about what is OK and what isn't. There is no "well, i can have ONE cookie"... it's NOPE - that is full of sugar - can't have it

[bluelikejazz]

My MIL did this diet, and she was a raging bitch on it. She also started crying because she burned the first waffle (even though she's made us waffles probably 50 times and ALWAYS burns the first waffle, and just laughs because it always happens.)

[nygalinpa]

why not do paleo? No weird on and off days plus I am not a big believer in non fat dairy and the like. Lots of that stuff is actually full of sweeteners to offset the lack of fat.

[ajobe]

My Husband lost 30 lbs in one month on the Dukan Diet. I lost about 7 BUT I went from 124 lbs. to about 117 lbs. I did not think I could even get that low, I literally had no fat on my body!! What I like about the Dukan, is that it is NOT a diet it is a life style change.
There are four different stages that bring in food that you had to go without during certain stages. Stage one, PURE protein. (but you are allowed small amounts of fat free dairy etc) Stage two, pure protein and you can bring in veggies. Stage three you are allowed to bring in some carbs, fats and allowed a victory meal once a week. Stage four, you are eating normal, allowing a variety but portion control--but on every thursday for the rest of your life you are expected to do a pure protien day, just to keep your body in check.

It does work...IT IS HARD THOUGH! My husband did lose thirty in one month, without having to starve himself, and just by walking. But one week (we went camping) off of it, he lost his focus and ultimately gave it up.

I heard that Kate Middleton & Pippa Middleton did this diet before her wedding! Its a french doctor, so this is how the french diet.
I can say it works though! I dont think we have ever looked so good.

[cahabalily]

My Mom tried it and her doctor flew all over her for it....it isn't healthy to have your body in a constant state of ketosis (which is the goal of the diet).

She too was constantly dizzy and tired, and couldn't make it through a day without a long nap. It doesn't matter how much weight you lose if your quality of life suffers.

Also, any diet that doesn't 'allow' whole fruits and vegetables gets the side-eye from me. It just isn't natural...

[GailGoldie]

ketosis is fine --- it's ketoacidosis that is not- and many people get those confused. I know a ton of doctors who do the Atkins diet themselves- and that involves getting into Ketosis.

If your mom was dizzy and tired- then it wasn't the diet for her... obviously something in her health didn't agree with it. But for the average person- cutting out refined sugars is just fine.

Most of these diets do not allow fruits in the first phase... green veggies are generally allowed (in South beach and atkins- dukan avoids them for a while).

unless you have read up on low carb diets- you really can't give a side eye- b/c you don't know the science behind them- which there is plenty to support them.

I have twice the energy when i'm on a low carb diet.

[Deleted]

May 14, 2012 10:54:50 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

ketosis is fine --- it's ketoacidosis that is not- and many people get those confused.

THIS.

The problem I have with the Dukan diet is that it's also calorie-restrictive, i.e., it excludes fats and oils, so you end up starving.

[cahabalily]

May 14, 2012 10:54:50 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

ketosis is fine --- it's ketoacidosis that is not- and many people get those confused. I know a ton of doctors who do the Atkins diet themselves- and that involves getting into Ketosis.

If your mom was dizzy and tired- then it wasn't the diet for her... obviously something in her health didn't agree with it. But for the average person- cutting out refined sugars is just fine.

Most of these diets do not allow fruits in the first phase... green veggies are generally allowed (in South beach and atkins- dukan avoids them for a while).

unless you have read up on low carb diets- you really can't give a side eye- b/c you don't know the science behind them- which there is plenty to support them.

I have twice the energy when i'm on a low carb diet.

So yes, ketosis may be different from ketoacidosis, but why not just eat clean? What good is accomplished by restricting everything BUT protein?

I see the idea of it being a 'lifestyle' change - low carb is definitely a lifestyle. But I am highly skeptical that anyone could follow Dukan for life. It is just entirely too restrictive.

The weight may come off more slowly with 100% clean eating vs. Dukan, but the nutrients that are completely eliminated with Dukan isn't worth it to me



the issue is that many people just can't stick to "eating clean". And again- the only diet that will work is one that you can stick with.

For many people- eating low carb is one they can easily stick with- b/c carb cravings go away after a few days... you are never hungry, you get to eat full fat foods (don't need fake low fat stuff, etc). I'm not talking Dukan - i'm not a fan of it b/c of the low fat dairy, etc - it goes against what most low-carb diets talk about... which would be having the FULL fat versions of things to avoid the extra sugar.

I have zero issues with willpower while eating low carb --- my kids have carby stuff in the house- and normally on any other type of diet- i'd be wanting to eat them so badly - and would cave and have "just one" that turns into 2, etc.

With low carb I don't crave it- i can walk right past it - and it's SO obvious that it's not allowed, too... no grey area of "maybe or some"... anything with refined sugars = bad, so you just stay away from it.

I eat more veggies on low carb than normally... and sure i eat a lot of protein- which I love, so it's great for me

there is no one diet for everyone - you can't say "why don't you just eat clean" to people who struggle with weight/dieting... it's never that easy.

We all have to do what works for each of us. Sometimes it takes some tiral and error to figure out what that is.

[Deleted]

Have you tried just doing a complete diet overhaul for the longterm and not trying any fad diets? (I say this in a totally non-snarky way.)

[nygalinpa]

May 14, 2012 11:29:49 GMT -5 cahabalily said:

May 14, 2012 10:54:50 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

ketosis is fine --- it's ketoacidosis that is not- and many people get those confused. I know a ton of doctors who do the Atkins diet themselves- and that involves getting into Ketosis.

If your mom was dizzy and tired- then it wasn't the diet for her... obviously something in her health didn't agree with it. But for the average person- cutting out refined sugars is just fine.

Most of these diets do not allow fruits in the first phase... green veggies are generally allowed (in South beach and atkins- dukan avoids them for a while).

unless you have read up on low carb diets- you really can't give a side eye- b/c you don't know the science behind them- which there is plenty to support them.

I have twice the energy when i'm on a low carb diet.

So yes, ketosis may be different from ketoacidosis, but why not just eat clean? What good is accomplished by restricting everything BUT protein?

I see the idea of it being a 'lifestyle' change - low carb is definitely a lifestyle. But I am highly skeptical that anyone could follow Dukan for life. It is just entirely too restrictive.

The weight may come off more slowly with 100% clean eating vs. Dukan, but the nutrients that are completely eliminated with Dukan isn't worth it to me



the issue is that many people just can't stick to "eating clean". And again- the only diet that will work is one that you can stick with.

For many people- eating low carb is one they can easily stick with- b/c carb cravings go away after a few days... you are never hungry, you get to eat full fat foods (don't need fake low fat stuff, etc). I'm not talking Dukan - i'm not a fan of it b/c of the low fat dairy, etc - it goes against what most low-carb diets talk about... which would be having the FULL fat versions of things to avoid the extra sugar.

I have zero issues with willpower while eating low carb --- my kids have carby stuff in the house- and normally on any other type of diet- i'd be wanting to eat them so badly - and would cave and have "just one" that turns into 2, etc.

With low carb I don't crave it- i can walk right past it - and it's SO obvious that it's not allowed, too... no grey area of "maybe or some"... anything with refined sugars = bad, so you just stay away from it.

I eat more veggies on low carb than normally... and sure i eat a lot of protein- which I love, so it's great for me

there is no one diet for everyone - you can't say "why don't you just eat clean" to people who struggle with weight/dieting... it's never that easy.

We all have to do what works for each of us. Sometimes it takes some tiral and error to figure out what that is.

This. Nothing is one size fits all but I do not view Dukan as something you can do for the rest of your life.