I've been dabbling with the Dukan diet. I think maybe you can take what you want and leave the rest. I haven't went on the diet fullblown but appreciate all the recipes and eating regular foods. I've done Jenny Craig, I've done Nutrisystem, I've done Lindora. The diets using mostly packaged foods I just can't do again. I can make things that actually taste good and make me satisfied on a plan such as Dukan. I like his oat bran, finally ground, has to be good for me. With Dukan you can have all the miracle noodles (shirataki) noodles you want. I already had been using them. They're great! So I've modified Dukan for the time being until my freezer has less "stuff" that I won't be eating if I do a full-on Dukan regimen. I even bought some quark and the fromage blanc cheese from Whole Foods to see what all that is about. Actually they are both pleasant and add to the recipes. When I eat I need to enjoy it or I won't stick with it. As for the full-on protein days, I haven't managed to have one of those yet totally. I'm getting there. I only started dieting again cause I already got a couple of coronary stents early last year so I must work on reversing the CAD, and my blood pressure was spastic. So I quit any alcohol for the time being, eat veggies , mushrooms, shrimp, fish, chicken, ground turkey, and only a few whole grains occasionally, oat bran, flat-out flatbread (only 7 carbs, 90 calories) In ten days the scale is down at least 5 lbs., maybe 6. It's a start. I'm preparing myself for a 3 to 5 day pure protein restart and give Dukan a whirl. LOL. It's going to work!!

I have been doing the diet now for 2 months - I have lost 7.2 KGS and I love it! It has become 2nd nature to me now, yes I miss the fruit and carbs but they also made me feel bloated and hell if it means I am doing the diet for the rest of my life then so be it! Nothing else has worked for me like this has so I believe it all depends on your determination, committement, put the excerise in and eat appropriately and healthy once you have reached ur goal weight! ITS NOT THAT HARD PEOPLE! just be sensible

had to lose weight for 2 hip replacements. Dukan worked wonders - 10 kilos from 97 to 88 - and never hungry. have maintained lower weight - thanks Dr Dukan.

I too am doing the diet. I started on the 6th January, so about 15 days into it. So far i have lost just under 4kg, and my daughter just over.

As far as i am concerned, the diet is pretty much what you are all suggesting anyway - for me though, telling me eat non processed crap and exercise isnt enough for me - the dukan diet tells me what to eat, much easier for me - im not a dietitian or a personal trainer, so i dont know what are good choices. The dukan diet makes those choices for me.

Lots of people call it a fad - but really, its exactly what everyone says is the way to lose weight, low fat, no processed food, and vegetables and meat - unlimited quantities, as WELL as exercise (one of the rules is 20 minutes walking a day on the attack stage and 30 minutes walking a day on stage 2)- its exactly what most people suggest when talking about losing weight - less in, more out....the only difference is it TELLS you what you can take in - and as low fat dairy is also on the menu, you are also getting minimum amounts of carbs, protein, vegies, low carb, dairy, exercise and minimal amounts of fat (which come with the meat and the low fat dairy)

So i dont see it as a fad, but an education in what low fat healthy eating really is.

Everyone's an expert huh.

@#18

Like most things in life the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Low carb for people who have poor blood sugar and hence insulin management is usually benfical to a point. Gentics do come into play. In working with many people for weight loss, the low carb rule does not all ways apply. If you take a "carb tolerant" person and make them go low carb, it will usually drive cortisol up, increaseing fat storage. Honestly the biggest reason most of these diets fail is because they are generic and apply to many "blanket" rules and poor methods of testing effectiveness are applied. When working with an individual for weight loss skin fold measurements(note not bodyfat measurements) can be used as in indicator as to when to reintroduce the "right" carbs. Timings important, as too early and the person will gain fat mass through poor insulin management and leave it to long and cortisol gets driven up. For those of you serious about weight loss, google "biosignature method" and search for a consultant in your area.

Stop eating rubbish and exercise.. that's the simple key.

Yep, it's a dud alright. High protein and low fat? It should be High Fat, Medium Protein and Low/No Carbs.

1. Fats give you energy, satisfy your hunger, without triggering insulin spikes. 2. Proteins provide the building blocks for the body. Too much protein without the fat is deadly. You will become ill within 2-3 days if you only eat lean meat. 3. Carbs are surplus to nutritional requirements. We have been in the habit of overdosing on carbs since the the mantra of "healthy eating" is High Carb and Low Fat. Overdosing on carbs result in continuous insulin spikes which lead to diabetes, heart diseases,shortened life span plagued with decay and ill-health.

The key to rapid weight loss is to find something you are allergic to and eat it regularly. It's about as healthy as most of these alternative diets.

Failing that, simply do more. Energy in - energy out = storage (fat). You want to lose fat, then do more.

Jess – no it’s not easy at all, believe me, but you just have to get on with it and get over it – whichever way you can (which includes being aware of what you’re putting in your mouth and why and getting professional help where necessary) otherwise you’re either going to end up putting all the weight back on, or not losing it at all. And I’m not just talking food either (though food is often used to stiffle emotions and once you don't have that, you have to deal with those issues/emotions in some other way) – but also the weight in general, as in are we “losing” or “releasing weight” (and remember no one wants to ‘lose’ anything)? And do we subconsciously feel that we “need” the weight (for perceived ‘protection’ to fend off the opposite sex etc. or because we want to feel invisible), therefore sabotaging our own attempts to eat healthily or get into shape/maintain existing weight loss? Just a thought . . .