The Dukan Light Diet: To Du, Or Not To Du?

Before we start – please, do not think for a moment that I am about to embark on this diet. Nor am I suggesting any of you should. Personally, I know what I should be/should not be eating for my own health, and of course I would expect anyone reading this to be sensible about embarking on any diet and consult Doctors or Nutritionists so you know what you’re doing. OK? Good.

The reason for writing is simple. I have always been curious about the Dukan Diet. I’m pretty sure I even did some half-arsed internet research once. But I never quite worked out what it was all about and as with most things, got distracted and moved on.

This week, I had an email arrive in my inbox that started:

According to the fashion industry elite, the hottest fashion trend, predicted for Spring/Summer 2013, is the peek-a-boo crop top.

I read that and shuddered. This is one of those trends that will suit so few people, but be adopted by SO MANY.

My personal opinion is that if you’re over the age of about 23 and anything other than tiny, crop tops should probably be avoided. Yes – they look fantastic on Supermodels on the catwalk…but so would a bin bag.

However. This did make me realise that as women reach for the teeny weeny pieces of fabric that will soon flood our high street, they’ll also be looking to shed the few extra pounds that crept on over winter. So I thought I’d give a brief rundown of the newest diet from Dr Pierre Dukan, the creator of the Dukan Diet, which is called Dukan Light: The Nutritional Stair.

This seven-day programme follows the principles of the Dukan nutritional stairs and is perfect for those with just a few excess pounds to lose. It starts with a base of pure protein and day by day, adds controlled portions of each food group to yourdiet; vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, fats and finally starchy foods. Dukan also recommends steadily increasing your amount of physical activity day by day, starting with a 10-minute walk, then a 20-minute one and so on.

So, here you go.

The seven day plan for losing those stubborn extra pounds

· DAY 1 – PURE PROTEIN ONLY

The Pure Protein day kick-starts your diet and is said to provide immediate results. There are 72 protein-rich foods, which you can eat as much as you want of during this stage.

Beef Steak	Veal Chop	Swordfish	Shrimp
Filet of beef	Cod	Tuna	Chicken
Sirloin Steak	Grey Mullet	Whiting	Guinea Fowl
Roast Beef	Hake	Turbot	Ostrich
Rump Steak	Halibut	Clams	Poussin
Tongue	Haddock	Cockles	Pigeon
Bresaola (air dried beef)	Monkfish	Calamari/Squid	Quail
Veal escalope	Mackerel	Crayfish	Turkey
Kidney	Plaice	Lobster	Chicken livers
Calf’s liver	Pollock/Coley	Dublin Bay prawns	Quail’s eggs
Cooked ham slices (no fat)	Salmon	Mussels	Smoked Salmon
Cooked chicken (no fat)	Sardines	Oysters	Hen’s eggs
Cooked turkey slices	Red Mullet	Scallops	Fat-free quark
Rabbit/Hare	Sea Bass	Whelks	Prawns
Reduced Fat bacon	Fat-free cottage cheese	Fat-free greek yogurt	Skim milk
Mediterranean prawns	Dover sole	Seafood sticks	Tofu
Sea bream	Dab/Lemon sole	Skate	No Fat natural yogurt
Game – Venison, pheasant, partridge or grouse	Fish roe – Cod, Salmon, Herring or Mullet	Rainbow Trout or Salmon Trout	Fat-free fromage frais

· DAY 2 – PURE PROTEIN AND VEGETABLES ONLY

Day 2 follows the Cruise Phase, allowing you to add any green or cooked vegetable such as cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin…to the 72 Pure Proteins allowed on Day 1.

· DAY 3 – PURE PROTEIN, VEGETABLES PLUS ONE PIECE OF FRUIT

Day 3 allows you to add one portion of fruit (except bananas, cherries, grape and dried fruits) to your diet every day, as you would on the Consolidation phase.

· DAY 4 – PROTEIN, VEGETABLE, ONE PORTION OF FRUIT PLUS 2 SLICES OF WHOLEMEAL BREAD

Building upon the first three days, now add 2 slices of wholemeal bread to your daily allowance.

· DAY 5 – NOW ADD 40GCHEESE (40% fat or less cheese)

Dukan believes that fats are essential, however we often eat far more than we need or can burn off. By adding controlled amounts you will end any cravings that you may have but you won’t undo any of the good work achieved in the first 4 days of this plan.

· DAY 6 – 220G STARCHY FOOD (cooked weight)

In this final phase you may add 220g of wholegrain starches such as wholemeal pasta or potatoes. You should now be eating a fully balanced diet.

· DAY 7 – ADD A CELEBRATION MEAL

Your celebration meal can be anything you wish and a chance to eat anything you have missed (but within reason!). It can include a normal portion size starter, main, dessert and a glass of wine.

DAILY SNACK SUGGESTIONS.
These are allowed in unlimited amounts unless specified:

• Low fat dairies
• Lean ham or chicken
• Crab sticks
• Sugar free fat free jelly
• Dukan Diet Cereal Bars
• Dukan Diet Oat Bran Biscuit Bars
• Vegetable sticks starting from Day 2only
• One portion of fruit a day from Day 3 only

And that’s it…(plus a whole lot of water, which they haven’t mentioned).
So. What do you think? Would you do this for 7 days? Do you think you’d be able to handle a day of just protein??
Do you think it’s healthy?
Do you think it would work?
Let me know your thoughts on this whole speedy dieting thing below. Really interested to hear your views.