Experts love to hate The Dukan Diet
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You Have a Bit of Wiggle Room After the Attack Phase
Dr. Dukan may disagree, but you’ll probably still lose pounds if you eat low-fat cheese (like Velveeta Shreds), low-fat cheese sticks and fat free half and half on a regular basis. You can nibble on some full-fat bacon or breakfast sausage on occasion, as long as you don’t indulge every day.
Don’t Skip the Oat Bran
Don’t skip the oat bran
Never Get Too Hungry
Always keep a good supply of light cheese sticks and fat free yogurt at home and work so you have something to munch on when you start feeling peckish. If you don’t ever feel hungry, you’ll feel less tempted when people leave goodies in the break room.
Don’t Deny Your Sweet Tooth
Have appropriate sweet treats such as low-carb cheesecake in the fridge, and keep a supply of sugar free chocolate syrup for making chocolate skim milk. Keep a tub of sugar free vanilla ice cream in the freezer for emergencies. Keep in mind, though, that after the first two or three weeks of carb detox, you actually won’t have much trouble passing up birthday cake, cookies and other goodies.
Know When You Must Say No
After your initial two or three weeks on the Dukan Diet, you probably won’t crave sweets and starchy foods much. However, once you give in to that one slice of pie or cake, you’ll go through about a day’s worth of constant cravings for sweets and carbs. It’s not worth it.
Weigh Yourself Twice A Week, First Thing in the Morning
This can vary by personal preference, but your weight can fluctuate widely on this or any diet plan – or no diet plan. Weighing yourself every day may make you feel like you’re making no progress when you’re actually doing well, making it hard to stay motivated.
Invest in a Good Bathroom Scale
Buy a highly rated bathroom scale for around $20 and trash that old clunker which shows a different weight every time you step on it.
Buy Clothes That Fit
Positive feedback from friends and coworkers on how great you look helps keep your motivation high, and you won’t start hearing these comments while wearing baggy outfits. Once you’ve lost a clothing size, consider visiting thrift shops if you can’t afford a new wardrobe from malls or department stores. You may be surprised at how many of your best-dressed acquaintances regularly shop at second hand stores.
Plan Meals Around Sales and Coupons
Following the Dukan Diet can cost a lot if you’re used to a carb heavy diet that’s low on meats. If you’re struggling each day to come up with appropriate food your your meals, you’ll likely grab something that derails your diet, especially if you’ve already exhausted your weekly grocery budget.
Go Ahead and Make a Second Meal for Your Family
At the very least, on your all-protein days, you’ll probably want to make veggie and possibly starchy side dishes for the children and non-dieting folks in the family.
Plan to Eat Eggs Every Morning
You can add variety to your eggs by mixing in a packet of salmon and some ricotta cheese, some cut-up ham and Velveeta Shreds or some cooked vegetables. If you don’t care much for eggs, you’ll need to find a variety of yogurts or cheeses that you really like so you can eat enough of it to hold you until lunch.
Pinterest is Your Buddy
The Dukan Diet has thousands of loyal followers, both in the U.S. and overseas, many of whom generously contribute their recipes online. Pinterest provides a particularly rich assortment of Dukan-friendly recipes.
Set a Realistic Weight Loss Goal
Visit Dukan Diet.com for a free quiz to help decide a doable target that’s not based on weight charts. Setting an appropriate goal weight can reduce your frustration, make it easier to stay on the diet and, more importantly, make it more likely that you’ll maintain your weight loss.
Don’t Neglect Phases 3 and 4
Don’t stop after the Cruise Stage of the Dukan Diet. To maintain your weight loss, you’ll be on some stage of the Dukan Diet forever, which isn’t a bad thing. You may feel better physically if you don’t ever go back to eating “normally” again.
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Eat as much as you like and lose weight with the Dukan Diet. Learn at DukanDiet.com.