The Dukan Diet: the Popular French Diet Hits America

Posted on Mar 21st 2011 1:00PM by Deborah Dunham

Getty

The Dukan Diet may sound like just another high-protein, low-fat diet that is all too familiar to Atkin's followers, but with 5 million French people having claimed they lost weight with it, 3.5 million books sold and 10 years of success, something must be different.

So why then are the always-looking-for-the-next-great-weight-loss-solution Americans just getting wind of this diet?

Perhaps it's celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and model Giselle Bundchen who have reportedly tried it and lost their post-pregnancy pounds. Or maybe it's Kate Middleton's mom, Carol Middleton, who has lost weight because of it (with rumors that the princess bride-to-be is also trying it).

Whatever the reason, Americans have not only heard of it now, but they are hungry to try it.

The diet's creator, Dr. Pierre Dukan, said there is no counting calories and no weighing food with his plan. Instead, the diet is organized into four distinct phases, each one with certain foods that must be consumed and avoided.

The attack phase encourages dieters to eat as much lean protein-rich foods as they want, along with oat bran and lots of water.

The cruise phase allows unlimited amounts of vegetables and lean protein but no fruit.

The consolidation phase includes unlimited protein and vegetables again but also adds in two slices of bread, one serving of cheese, one serving of fruit and two servings of carbohydrates a day. Interestingly enough, it also allows for two weekly "celebration" meals with wine and dessert (leave it to the French to come up with this!).

The stabilization phase is the final period and consists of six days a week of "anything goes" and one day of a strict protein-only diet (Dukan suggests Thursdays) for the rest of your life.

Follow this plan and walk for 20 minutes a day, and Dukan promises you will never regain the weight. Sounds too good to be true? It could be, at least according to one expert.

"Because the diet is based on deprivation and the elimination of certain food groups, it is not the healthiest way to lose weight long term," said Keri Glassman, nutritional expert and author of "The O2 Diet". "An effective weight loss diet should include a variety of foods. I don't think this one is healthy, and I think it may set people up for intense cravings and overeating."

While this diet may result in weight loss, especially at the beginning stages, dieters should know there are possible side effects like fatigue, constipation, bad breath and dry mouth. It's also not intended for anyone following a vegetarian diet. "If you have not been successful with maintaining (or felt good on) a very high-protein diet, I would not recommend it," added Glassman.

But despite skeptics, Dukan stands ready to take America by storm.

"My dear friends, today I am reaching out to you with the certainty that I can help you put an end to the inevitability of weight problems in North America," he wrote in the preface of his new edition. "Now let this mutual journey begin!"

Around the Web

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Mike 3-21-2011 @ 6:55PM

Tripe. You want to lose fat, fast? Google the US Ski Team Diet, aka Grapefruit and Egg Diet. I pushed it to a little longer than advised and with exercise, namely four to five mile daily walks pushing a double stroller, I went from 223 to 186 in about two months without killing myself. My baseline cholestral was low, 130, and remained so despite the eggs. My blood pressure was normal for a 45-year-old male. I'd routinely fall off the wagon-weekends only-and stayed exceedingly well hydrated. I could never say no to a burrito and Bohemia Beer. I kept all but ten pounds off ten years later and am ready to try it again since my size 36 waist pants might have tighented a little since then. Try it. You're carb cravings end after about five days and the immediate results provide the incentive necessary to soldier on with this diet. It's a great diet if your healthy to start.

Cherie 3-21-2011 @ 6:57PM

Another scam........... I,ts calorie intake and exercise DUH!

jaw 3-21-2011 @ 9:36PM

Why does AOL allow these kind of posts. Obviously, they are posted by the website promoting guys-younger or gals younger. This is not Fantasy Land. Get Real!!

Vic 3-21-2011 @ 10:20PM

I have been losing a pound a week steadily, it has taken me 10 years to be 45 pounds over weight. Discipline and the "Velcro Diet"! You keep your mouth shut and big butt out of the fridge or pantry till your eyes cross over while you get bombarded with Taco Bell, Wendy and KFC TV commercials, then you reach for a single rice cake (Quaker Brand) and a nice cold glass of iced water and chow down! Perseverance and discipline! At 67 YO I will soon have the body and look of a 65 YO-hey its better than dead? :)

Chrisrm 3-22-2011 @ 8:53AM

If you want to lose weight AND be healthier, read Dr. Gundry's Diet Evolution. Dr. Gundry is a top cardiac surgeon. Also read Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson. The eating plan is very easy - give up all grains, sugar (including artificial, but you can use Agave nectar and xylitol), and fruit juice (eat the fruit). You get all the carbs you need (100 - 150 gms per day) from fruit and vegetables. Eat animal protein, fish, vegetables and fruit. You WILL lose weight and your cholesterol numbers, glucose, insulin, etc. levels will improve dramatically. The eating plan and moderate exercise will change your life.

Mary 3-22-2011 @ 12:12AM

Just don't eat processed foods. For breakfast: oatmeal, 100% juice or a piece of fruit and milk. Or an egg, a slice of wholegrain bread with 1 tsp of butter, juice and milk. For lunch: lunchmeat rollups, or tuna, or chicken, or other meat with a salad, oil and vinegar, milk, fruit. For dinner: meat, fish, poultry, vegetables with olive oil, milk. For snacks: pick 2 or 3: yogurt, vegetables with hummus or other lowfat dressing for dipping, popcorn, fruit, hot cocoa, apple slices or banana slices or celery sticks with 1 tbs of peanut butter.
Drink 2 cups of coffee or tea in the morning or early afternoon. Drink 6 8oz glasses of water. Walk at least one mile a day.

aroll 3-22-2011 @ 12:26AM

I agree. Furthermore if you live near a Ruby Tuesdays I would recommend getting a salad to go from the salad bar and load up the container with a huge salad. It is enough for lunch and dinner and it costs $8.00 at lunchtime. You would spend much more than that getting all the separate items at the grocery store. I have started doing that especially when I travel which is when I usually get into trouble. If I see one I go right in to stay on track.

Meredith 3-22-2011 @ 3:17AM

I have worked at Ruby Tuesday for a little over 2 years while in school and I agree 100% that the salad bar is great...however I see a lot of people who will come in for the salad bar because they are trying to lose weight and eat healhy and wind up eatting the same amount or more calories that they would have if they had ordered a burger and not even realizing. They think that they are doing well by having the salad bar but you have to careful. It is very easy to turn a potentially healthy, diet-friendly salad into a pile of hidden calories...and if you must use dressing use the balsamic vinagrette sparingly but try just using a little olive oil and squeeze some lemon slices over the salad..its much healthier and extremely diet-friendly. But thanks for being a fan of Rubys! If you arent already a member of our So Connected page on Facebook you should check it out. They will send you at least 1 coupon every week or 10 days ranging from $10 or $20 off your meal, a free salad bar or appetizer, 25% off of your total bill, a free burger..and many others!

Winterowl 3-22-2011 @ 10:55AM

I dont think you realize that you have contradicted yourself with your suggested advice. You say to not eat processed foods, yet you have listed several processed foods to consume. Anything that is not in its true whole form, or that has preservatives and/or chemicals added to it, for whatever reason, is processed. ie., oatmeal, bread, lunchmeat, yogurt, hummus, dressings, peanut butter. These last 4 are fine if made fresh, in your own kitchen, from scratch, not using a insta-mix.

Steven R. Russell 3-22-2011 @ 12:55AM

Jesus said something along the lines of;

"Are you yet without understanding? It isn't what enters a man that defiles a man, but what comes out of a man that defiles a man... For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh."

Also see Psalm 1.

jim 3-22-2011 @ 4:09AM

It is YOU that is without any understanding whatsoever and are spreading false information. Christ was NOT referring to dieting or food intake.

Marie 3-22-2011 @ 12:06PM

Jesus was talking about words, not food, dip****. Jesus did not give us a diet plan: a good diet plan is "everything in moderation", 'cause that's a plan that works.

salome 3-26-2011 @ 8:36AM

Christ MOST definitely was TEACHING on dietary LAW as the Mosaic Law has clean versus UNCLEAN food .....saying it isn't the FOOD defiling the soul,it's the cursing blaspheming.gossip etc. There are restrictions and LAWS in judaism as in KOSHER.
HE is saying you can have shrimp,.pork etc etc....put meat and dairy together etc

Tony D 3-22-2011 @ 6:42AM

Eat what you want in MODERATION!!!!

jinijosie 3-22-2011 @ 8:06AM

Okay, so I stumbled on this diet last summer through the UK Daily Mail's website. I laughed and figured I'd never be able to stick to it as I couldn't even last two days on Atkins. Well, long story short, I lost 45 lbs in six months. I didn't do the 20 minutes of walking, but it really worked. I haven't been following it strictly since Christmas but have had maybe two or three protein only days a week and having weekends off, and I've maintained ever since.

Yes, it is about calorie restriction, but proteins make you feel much, much fuller than a carb will. I can last all morning on two eggs, whereas if I'd had a bowl of cereal, I'd be wanting to munch two hours later.

Seriously, it worked for me.

Paralegal 3-22-2011 @ 6:45PM

Jim,
"jim 3-22-2011 @ 4:09AM
It is YOU that is without any understanding whatsoever and are spreading false information. Christ was NOT referring to dieting or food intake." You owe Steven R. Russell 3-22-2011 @ 12:55AM
an apology. He was referring to both food and non-food.

Mar 7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, [it] cannot defile him;

Mar 7:19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

Mar 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Mar 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Tuula 3-22-2011 @ 8:41AM

Vive le France. How is the USA going to loose weight, worlds fattest people, not even le diet Francais will do it, when people are obsessed with food.

chris 3-22-2011 @ 8:45AM

I thought the French diet was wine, cheese and cigarettes.

Rich 3-22-2011 @ 9:02AM

how many diets has there been that people scramble to. all it takes is one ...common sence in eating right and exercise.

Lee 3-22-2011 @ 10:27AM

I understand that weight is an epidemic in the US; but with so many people being Christian or religious, they fail to read the portion of the bible that tells of Daniel's fast. Daniel and his broothers refused to eat the king food because it had been sacrificed to idols and not to God. He asked if he and his brothers could be fed only water and vegetables and pulse (any food which derives from a seed) meaning oats, grains, unlevened breads, brown rice, potatoes (sweet and white, legumes, fruits, and nuts; but no iodinized salt (kosher is good), also any type of herbs for seasoning. First the overseer refused, but then agreed to this fast for Daniel and his brothers for 10 days. After that time, not only did Daniel and his brothers look healthier than the kings men who also ate meat and levened breads, but they were also wiser and were favored even more by the king.

I tried this fast for 3 days for spiritual reasons; however, I was never starving or hungry because I was able to eat any of the food items I wanted when I felt the need. I ended up losing 5 unnecessary pounds, but was amazed at how good I felt. My body did try to get a headache, but it never actually came; it was like an aura, that never materialized. Anyway, check out The Book of Daniel 1:8-20 or go to www.thedaniel-fast.com which will give you more informations and answer any questions you may have through a blog.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments

Share Your Success Story

Jupiter Images

Have you lost weight and kept it off? We want to know how you did it and what keeps you inspired!

Share Your Success Story

Workout Generator

Customize your fitness routine and get the result you want.

Dining Out Guide

Make healthy choices wherever you are eating.

How Many Calories?

Find nutritional info for your favorite recipes.

Hot on HuffPost Healthy Living:

The Dukan Diet: the Popular French Diet Hits America