The Handbook meets…Pierre Dukan
January has to be the most popular month for diets as after weeks of abusing our bodies with delicious mince pies and mulled wine we realise we aren’t the trim and toned creatures we once were and it’s time to whip ourselves back into shape – after all, summer bodies are made in winter. Whether you are sticking to calorie counting or have chosen a classic like Atkins or Dukan diet, we know most of you are looking for ways to shed those extra pounds. Well let us introduce you to the Dukan Diet 2, sharing the emphasis on protein with its predecessor, created by French doctor Pierre Dukan, it promises easy, sustainable weight loss without sacrificing your carb fix.
The original diet boasts celebrity followers like Kate Middleton, Jennifer Lopez and Gisele Bundchen to name a few and we reckon round two will be just as popular. We met up with Dr Dukan to discuss his new diet as he prepares for the UK launch!
What made you want to be part of the dieting industry?
When I was a very young doctor I had an obese patient that came to me wanting to lose weight. In those days my teachers at medical school had always taught us to suggest low-calorie diets and miniature-sized meals. Whilst these meal sizes would look normal to most people an obese person would feel that the portion sizes recommended were too small. My patient said to me “Put me on whatever diet you want, deprive me of whatever food you want but not meat, I like meat too much.” It was through working with this patient, ensuring regular tests to make sure his health wasn’t being affected, that my alternative protein diet was born and my interest in obesity and all categories of excessive weight gain began.
What influenced your decision to make the 2nd diet?
I decided to create Dukan Diet 2 because some followers of the original diet quickly and easily abandoned the original Dukan Diet method due to the level of discipline and significant changes people needed to make to their eating habits. I created Dukan Diet 2 for dieters that are happy to lose weight more moderately, with need for more flexibility.
What are typical sorts of meals you can eat on the diet?
My diet is very effective because you can eat as much as you want and still lose weight. There are 100 foods which include 68 Pure Proteins and 32 Vegetables that can be eaten when you follow the Dukan Diet 2. Every Sunday followers get to enjoy a celebration meal. This can include a starter, main, dessert and a glass of wine.
What are you responses to claims that diets like these aren’t nutritionally safe?
My diet introduces a nutritional and balanced approach to food consumption. The Dukan Diet 2 is a lifetime plan that is geared towards helping dieters reach their target weight and then achieve long-term, stable weight control. The diet only focuses on pure proteins for the first day of each week. On the second day of the week vegetables are introduced and can also be consumed without limitation, supplying further vitamins. By the end of the week the dieter is able to consume all food groups making it nutritionally safe.
Have you done your own diet?
I do follow and maintain my own diet.
What is your best success story?
My favourite success story is that of my original patient. At the end of the first 20 days he had lost a total of 22 pounds. In addition to this we carried out an IFOP study on 1,550 patients, which showed that in addition to weight loss, 98% of cases saw an improvement of their biological and clinical assessments.
Do any of your friends and family follow the Dukan diet?
Some of my friends and family that have needed to lose more than 20kg have followed my diet.
What other diets have you tried?
I haven’t tried any other diets.
Dukan Diet 2, RRP £14.99, is available nationwide. For more information about Dukan Diet 2 visit www.dukandiet.co.uk
