subject: Stop Counting Carbs, Start The Dukan Low Carb Diet [print this page] The Dukan Diet, created by French medical doctor Dr. Pierre Dukan, is a fairly new phenomenon on this side of the Atlantic. Although the diet was started in France in 2000 and was a runaway success, it was brought to the U.S. by the doctor only recently to help fight the obesity epidemic in the country, according to his website.
But what is the Dukan Diet exactly and how is it different from the other diet plans that are already in the market?
Like some other plans, the Dukan Diet is a high protein, low-fat and low carb diet plan. The Dukan diet is an eating plan centered on proteins and vegetables. Dieters following this plan are allowed to choose from a list of 100 foods.
So, what makes the Dukan Diet a healthy low carb diet? Instead of focusing only on extreme weight loss, the diet redesigns your eating habits with the objective of helping you reach your ideal weight and stabilize it permanently. There are many other benefits of the Dukan Diet, which well return to later in the article. For now, lets see how this low carb diet plan works.
Dukan Diet: Low Carb Diet in 4 Phases
The first phase of the Dukan Diet low carb diet is called the Attack phase. The phaseconsists of eating a diet of pure proteins and is marked by immediate and rapid weight loss. Dieters are given a list of 68 proteins from which they may eat as much as they like.
The second phase, the Cruise phase, sees the addition of 32unlimited vegetables to the pure protein diet that dieters were following in the first phase. The Cruise phase alternates between pure protein and protein + vegetables days and is marked by gradual, but steady weight loss.
Its during this phase that dieters reach what is called their True Weight, which the diet plan describes as a realistic weight that they reach and maintain for the rest of their life.
The third phase of the Dukan Diet low carb diet plan is called the Consolidation phase. This phase prevents a relapse to old eating habits by slowly returning to pleasurable foods and introducing two celebration meals per week where you can eat whatever you like for an appetizer, entre, dessert and large glass of wine.
The Consolidation phase allows consumption of unlimited protein and vegetables every day along with the addition of low carb diet snacks such as fruit, cheese and whole grain bread. Dieters are also permitted two servings of starchy foods per week in this phase.
The fourth and final phase is called Permanent Stabilization and will last for the rest of your life. By this time, if you have been faithfully following the diet, you would have developeda healthy eating pattern and made it a way of life.
In comparison to the earlier phases, this phase is a cakewalk and can be easily self-managed. The only rules to this phase are: consumption of oat bran every day; walking and taking the stairs instead of elevators and escalators; and following a pure protein Attack phase diet once per week.
Dukan Diet Low Carb Diet: What sets it Apart?
One of the most appealing things about the Dukan Diet is that it involves no counting whatsoever. No counting of carbs or calories, no portion control, and no waiting for a particular time of day to eat.
As long as you are eating from the list of 100 allowed foods, you can eat as much as you like, whenever you like.
Unlike many other diet plans, the Dukan Diet does not promote prepackaged foods and snacks. The foods it recommends are 100 percent natural and can be prepared from scratch in your kitchen. What this does is teach dieters healthy eating habits and makes them self-reliant.
Another advantage of this plan is that it provides personalized coaching and monitoring for maximum results. You will receive low carb diet tips, tons of recipes, exercise videos, and direct support from the Dukan Team as part of your interactive plan.
