Dukan Diet

[Dazedandconfused2021]

Anyone tried the Dukan Diet before? I need to lose around 3 stones (bmi currently 30). I started the attack phase yesterday and have had diahorrea all day. I was expecting to be constipated! Has anyone else experienced this? Has anyone had success with this Diet? Thanks in advance

Anyone?

Yes, years ago, it’s far too restrictive for me, it’s low everything and I found unsustainable.

Yes!
I lost 25lbs a couple of years back which took me from about a size 12-14 (slightly overweight bmi) to a 10-12.
I did Attack and Cruise and reached target weight but then for various reasons could not continue onto the rest and weight has gradually crept back up now to within about half a stone of my original starting weight 🤦‍♀️ I keep debating doing it again but stuff always gets in the way. It's the only diet that's ever really worked for me. I do need to get back on it and bloody finish it this time

It took me about 7 months to drop the 25lbs but that was with two holidays in the middle where I chucked the rules out the window so if I'd have stuck to it properly or would have been quicker. I got to about half a stone of my target within about 3 months so the last half a stone was the kicker! I found when following the diet properly their suggested 1lb every 5 days was pretty spot on. But if you've got more to lose then you'll lose quicker than that at the beginning.
Yes right at the start I found more constipation than diarrhoea but everyone's different!
The absolute key for me was to drink lots of water.
Do you have the book? I'd really recommend if not, you can get it v cheap online these days.

Isn’t that the same @cavagirl you found it unsustainable and too restrictive? Mainentance is a key part of it.

No the most restrictive phases I completed.

It was the consolidation and stabilisation I didn't do (won't say too much but with unfortunate coincidence just as I reached my target weight I moved to a country without western food easily available which made things like reintroducing bread & cheese which you are supposed to do in those maintain phases v difficult.)
Actually the Consolidation section of the diet - which you do for a certain period of time to maintain your loss - is pretty close to what I'd eat normally anyway when not drinking all the cava and eating crisps

Did you complete the full diet through to Sustain bluntness or did you stop earlier?

I can absolutely see why some people find it too restrictive for the first 2 phases when you're losing (Attack & Cruise). For me that was outweighed by the speed of the loss and the lack of counting/weighing so you can eg go to a restaurant and generally find something without worrying about logging calories etc. But like all diets it's not going to be for everyone.

I did it a few years ago but found it rather joyless after a while. After I'd lost the first 7lb I moved onto keto with higher fat which was much easier. I've pretty much stuck to low carb ever since.

@cathyandclare how did you find the weight loss speed compare dukan vs keto?

I've always had my eye on the keto threads but I really like the fact Dukan has oats so you can make yourself something that feels a bit carby, and I'd worry I'd miss that on keto.

Did it years ago, lost all the weight I wanted to but it’s completely unsustainable. You can’t have a normal life and once you start eating normally all the weight goes back on. It’s so restrictive. I’d never do it again.

@Cavagirl - it's tricky to say because the Dukan took me into keto, so I had the initial rapid water loss from that. I lost a stone overall 7lb from each- but with the higher fat keto it felt like I could live like that rather than it being a diet.

Having said that, since I got older I've had to cut back on some of the high fat/ high calorie things to stay at target- so fewer nuts/ less double cream etc.

I did it and found it really easy - I did it Monday-Friday only though and relaxed it a bit at the weekends

I do make a kind of bread/ galette from ground flaxseed, egg and cheese though - that tastes carby ( and helps the bowels!!!)

Thanks, that sounds like it might be worth a look!

@Cavagirl..way earlier, I didn’t complete it as joyless. I do low carb now and th weight stays off, I’ve done it for about a decade, maintained for ninety percent of that time, put on weight a couple of times and then lost if promptly. Something that is sustainable is critical.

I am unsure why you’re pushing it when you’ve just put all the weight back on and can’t stomach going back on it?

I'm not pushing anything to anyone 🤷‍♀️ OP asked for experiences so I shared mine which is not of the full dukan plan. As I said, I didn't complete the diet because of circumstances and the programme is pretty clear that if you don't complete all the phases then the weight will probably go back on so I wasn't surprised when that happened. The weight loss part is indeed pretty restrictive so I can see why people get fed up. The 2 maintenance parts are a lot more like many people's "eating healthy" diet with a few treats and extremely doable, but a shame I wasn't able to complete those.

It's not so much Dukan that's making me reluctant to start but just the thought of the trudge down the scales with any weight loss, but that's another story!

But you could have went straight into maintenance which you saw as doable. And then not gained the Weight back

Look all I’m saying is it’s hugely unsustainable and unachievable for most people, you snd me included. When moving onto a weight loss journey doing something sustainable is critical. Else it’s all coming back on and you sit there just as fat as you were and having wasted your time.

No I couldn't do the post-weight loss part of the diet because the foods they reintroduce I didn't have available in the country I was in, plus I was moving around a lot/drinking/having a nice time etc. So I just didn't do it. Which they explicit warn against!

Had I been in the UK I would have continued the diet with the Consolidation phase (reintroducing foods like bread etc to get to maintenance) and then followed the maintenance part (which is for life - v little restrictions). Maybe I'd still be sat here having put the weight back on again after all that, who knows?!

I completely understand why people find the weight-loss parts too restrictive - they are. But my experience isn't proof the diet "doesn't work" long term because unfortunately I didn't do it properly. However I can say the weight loss part is very effective in how quickly and reliably it happens.

This debate has inspired me to get back on top of things either way

I’d agree the diet works, of course it does, it’s so so restrictive.

I am going to bow out but I think you’re making excuses. I’ve done Dukan, ive read the book, I know exactly what it involves before snd i pn consolidation or stabilisation and I’m struggling to believe you lived in a country you couldn’t buy lean protein, veg, whole grain Bread etc. Oat bran maybe but that’s about it.

I didn't have a lot of options to cook for myself unfortunately. Which I agree is restrictive as you do need to make your own meals most of the time in all 3 of the first phases til you get to Stabilisation.

Either way hopefully this discussion is useful for the OP. Wish you good luck on your weight loss @Dazedandconfused2021 I hope you have success.

Thank you everyone, just caught up on the responses. I actually stopped it this morning. So embarrassing I only lasted 4 days. I started to vomit yesterday and honestly I think it was due to all the meat! It's definitely not the diet for me. I'm not sure what I'll try now but I need to do something as my weight is getting me down.

That's not embarrassing at all! It's really not for everyone & the Attack part is pretty hardcore.
You'll find loads of people swearing by keto on here (this thread case in point!) and there's lots of support on MN for it. So maybe worth a look if you liked some of the low carb principles of Dukan.
Good luck!

Agree totally with cava girl on this, low carb is the more sustainable version of dukan. Have a look at the boot camps ans give it a try, I find it really easy and the weight melts off,

Yes . I did to lose 2 stone for my wedding. It worked so well its left me with kidney damage and diverticulitis disease from the constipation.

Its not worth it.

Thank you @Cavagirl @Bluntness100 I'll have a look at those threads. @FlamingGoat that's awful I'm so sorry to hear that

A friend lost 2 stone on Dukan but has put it all back on.

A few years back I lost 2 stone by low-carbing and have kept it off - if I go up a few pounds I get on the case straight away and restrict calories for a few days.

I find low-carbing along with counting calories easy to cope with, just a way of life now.

Forgot to add, I didn't do bootcamp or try to achieve Keto etc, just severely restricted bread, pasta, potatoes, rice etc. and ate eggs, fish, meat, veg, salad, cheese and so on.