Dukan diet? No thanks!

Ok guys, here I am. This time I’d like to write something about dieting.

(awww…. I really hate this word..)

I still have some extra pounds to lose. I’m having rough times in this period and I have a sweet tooth so I don’t have to tell you what and, most of all, how much food I ate until a few weeks ago… I did my workout every single day, 6 days a week, but I couldn’t understand why I didn’t see any results.

Well, let me tell you. When you are desperate and you are coming up to the summer season, you try every kind of diets, pills, starvation, cleanse and witchcraft.

Recently, I’ve tried the Dukan Diet which has become very popular in Canada and Us after Kate Middleton and her sister Pippa said that they followed that diet to be in shape for the royal wedding (…. have you noticed that Pippa is e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e???? Please, give me a break!!!). This diet was created by French physician Pierre Dukan and after that day the book “The Dukan diet” shot to the top of the bestseller lists all over the world. I bought it, I read it and I subscribed to their website.

I gave up after only one week.

Granted that I do love challenges… boy, was it tough!! Plus, I think that all the experts and dietitians who say this diet is very dangerous are right.

First of all, you have to be psychologically prepared in order to start a diet. Secondly, don’t do the Dukan diet if you have issues with your cholesterol. Mine is high because of my metabolism. This diet allows you to eat lots of proteins and diary food, and it urges against counting calories, instead allowing dieters to eat as much as they like from a limited list of foodstuffs. Quantities and calories are not important but you must avoid some kind of food. No carbs (!!!), no oil and… no fruits for lots of weeks. I found it very unhealthy and unbalanced. My energy level was always low and I craved for food I couldn’t eat. I felt light-headed and I started feeling some pain in my kidneys.

This is called frustration.

One of the most common Dukan diet side effects are severe headache, lethargy, nausea, irritability, lack of concentration and increased crankiness! In short, the dieter suffers with all the symptoms of flu except fever and chills! Plus, the Dukan diet contain low carb and no fibers. The body falls short of the daily required amount of fiber, which results in several health conditions like constipation.

While results are fast and remarkable, doctors say there are real risks, and moreover it’s not the right way to start a better lifestyle. In other words, this diet sucks!

Plus, a survey of nearly 5,000 “Dukanians” found that 80% regained all the weight they had lost within three years.

Here is a summary of how this diet works:

Phase I: The Attack phase will enable you to rapid lose 2 to 3 kilos in 2–7 days. The dieter is allowed to eat as much as he or she wants of 72 protein rich foods (meat, diary food…)

Phase II: The Cruise phase, allows you to achieve more gradually the true weight you aim for by eating protein-rich foods with the addition of 28 specific vegetables.

Phase III: The Consolidation phase helps in preventing any future massive weight gain. During this phase, fruit, bread, cheese and starchy foods are being reintroduced into your normal diet leaving two celebratory meals a week.

Phase IV: The last step, the Stabilization phase is when you can basically eat what you want without gaining weight by following a few rules, including a protein day once a week. According to Dukan, one shall follow this last phase for the rest of one’s life to prevent regaining weight.

Is it for real? How can you live like that? Come on! I’m Italian!!! I grew up eating pasta, fresh vegetables, pizza, meat and every kind of food! Now that I’ve tried this diet too, I can easily say that Mediterranean diet is the best diet in the world! The principal aspects of this diet include olive oil consumption, legumes, cereals, high consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, moderate consumption of dairy food, low consumption of meat except for poultry.

But let me tell you. I’m eating very healthy now. I’m following a diet that my Italian nutritionist gave me a few years ago – I had lost almost 18 lbs. I can have meat twice a week, fish 3/4 times a week, vegetables, fruits, bread (did you hear me bread lovers?), skimmed milk/fat free yogurt, pizza once a week, 1 tbsp oil, salt with moderation, pasta once a week and Sunday is free. I didn’t have any kind of frustration. I was losing weight and I was happy at the same time. I think this is the most important thing.

Remember, the only way to truly become healthy and get fit is to follow a good nutrition and being active.

Good luck everyone!