The Dukan Diet - Final Post

So needless to say, my blogging went down the shitter.  After a couple 'misses' about 2 months in, I kind of forgot to make it a part of my morning routine.  I didn't want to leave everyone hanging on how I have done, so this post is basically to finalize this blog & touch on my final thoughts of the Dukan Diet.

Today, over 3 months on Dukan, I am sitting at 30.2lbs lost.  Actually quite incredible when you think about it, and the majority of those pounds were lost the first two months.  I have nothing but great things to say about the Dukan Diet.  It has literally changed my life.   I have gone from a size 12 to a comfortable size 6, "muffin-top" is virtually impossible to achieve since I have very little extra skin anymore.

The last month has been a struggle though, and looking back, the first two months were really easy to coast through, but it is getting harder and harder.  The first two months you have significant weight loss, everyday.  You aren't longing for the variety anymore, and you just feel like you can conquer the world with this diet.

Realistically, there is only so long I could have eaten these same food groups without going mental.  So I have been trying to stay as focused as possible, whenever possible eating strictly protein & vegetables, but there are days, like last night, when I had 2 good slices of pizza & 2 breadsticks and still managed to be down .2lbs this morning.  I do believe this weight can stay off. 

My eating habits since the September long weekend have been nothing but 'off and on'.  I can honestly say I have not gone back to binge eating, which is really a testament for the life changing experience this has been.  I have however enjoyed things, like chips, pizza, pasta, even bread, all in moderation.  I have found no significant backlash from eating sensibly, which leads me to believe, with determination and self-discipline I can keep this weight off.  I even enjoyed "The Mandarin" last weekend, which is my favourite chinese buffet ever.  With my 'new eyes' for food, I was able to make surprisingly sensible decisions, stick mostly to protein & vegetables, with the except of one chicken ball & some small desserts.  The next day I did gain .6lbs, but within a day it was all off again.  Fantastic!

I am slowly filling my closet up with clothes that fit me (pricey endeavour hehe), and even in a change room a few weeks back, a lady said to me "you are so tiny", not a sales lady, like another customer.  Right out of her mouth.  I was on a high for days.  Comments like this & fitting into single digit pieces of clothing is what makes it worth while.

Here are some tips I can offer for those wanting to endeavour onto The Dukan Diet

-Get through the first 2 weeks.  These were the biggest struggle, but really be determined to stick to it for 2 weeks.  You would be surprised how fast that time goes, and once that is up, you have gotten a routine down, you have lost enough weight to keep you motivated, you have lost virtually all cravings & most importantly, your energy levels begin to be back to normal & only increase from there.

-Find the right foods you can cheat with.  This took me a while to get into, as I was quite strict with the Dukan, but eventually you are tempted & you need more than Dukan friendly foods.  Candy has been a big part of my diet.  I have noticed that a small package of candy, like swedish berries, have zero effect on your results the next day & really satisfy your mind & stomache.  Other foods I can recommend (in moderation of course!): Tostito Tortilla Chips, Frozen Yogurt, MINTS!! and Almonds.  Also fruit is a usual go-to when temptation arises at a party.  Beside those lovely displays of dessert, usually lies a fruit tray.  I stuck with Cantaloupe, Melon & Strawberries and was pretty safe with my next day results.

-Talk to people about it.  I found the more people that knew, the less I was likely to cheat in front of them. 

-Weigh yourself everyday & make sure it is a digital scale that displays the decimal value.  Some days you may lose .8lbs but if you don't have a digital decimal read, you may think you have lost nothing.  Daily weigh-ins were the thing that really kept me motivated.

-Don't be alarmed when you get 'dry mouth syndrome'.  I read something once about how this happens due to high amounts of protein, or maybe it was the lack of carbs, who knows, either way, you get serious dry mouth.  You wake up in the middle of the night and your mouth feels like you haven't drank water in days.  Just always have a bottle of water by the bed.

-..on that note: Make sure you drink the 1.5-2 litres of water everyday.  There was 2 days in a row when I was on Dukan that I didn't hit this target, and my body literally felt like it was shutting down.  I drank about 3L the day I felt this way and was back on track, so don't take this water thing for granted

-Coffee:  I am not a coffee drinker, at all.  So if you aren't, start introducing it as a dessert.  I took it with 2 sweetener, so it was sweet, but it really was so satisfying.  However, I did notice a slow-down in my weight loss when I introduced it, but it was worth it.



-Buy clothes that fit.  I found it important to have at least one pair of correct size pants when I was on this diet.  You don't want to fill your wardrobe because you know it won't last long, but having a pair that fits makes you feel good, since it is at least one size lower than the last pair.  Thrift stores could be a good option, so you aren't spending a lot of money.

-Lastly, stick to it.  This really works.  It may not be for everyone, as your food choices are somewhat limited, but if you want a guaranteed method to lose weight, try the Dukan.  I look unbelievable & I feel even better, you can't deny the positive effects this diet will have on your life.

I hope My Dukan Diet Journal has inspired someone out there to give this diet a shot.  I am sad to see this blog go, but happy to see the 30lbs that came along with go more.

Being fat is old news.