this is a HUGE thing for me too. I think that losing weight is the (relatively!!) easy part but keeping it off is the thing I struggle with longer term, along with sticking to a plan long enough to get as much weight off as I should. Usually, I last about 4-5 months and I've taken off a good amount but then I fall off plan and never get back and put all/most of the weight back on. Dukan has been so easy to stay with that at going on 3 months, I don't see any problem continuing to stay with it long enough to get down to a truly healthier weight.

And then I am very excited to have some concrete guidance about the process of switching from actively losing to maintenance, esp. when Conso is basically a brand new phase that I've never tried before, or even really seen as part of a diet plan. That transition between losing and maintaining is where I've always failed, so having new tools for success is great!!

I'm also really looking forward to hearing about the experiences of those of you who are closer to Conso and how it goes for you.

A big thanks for the reply!

Yesterday I switched from Attack to Cruise ie. PV day. I tried not to go to crazy with them since I've read that you can overdue it. (I just love this forum! It really helps out alot!)

For over a year, I was on the Ideal Protein Plan. I was able to loose 30lbs which was great. The only thing is that I was yo-yoing continuously. Just like Dukan, it has 4 phases. When I would transition to Phase 4 (ie. Rest of your life way of eating), I'd baloon!!! That happened twice, which was very frustrating! It was understood that you would add a few lbs (adding to your glycogen storage), but my gain was always about 10lbs! I followed the Phase 4 eating to a tee! I don't know if anyone knows about I.P. but you're allowed a day off here and there. All you do is eat Phase 1 foods (packages) the following day only. What I found is that I'd have to stay on additional days to get back down to my weight before the "blowout". IMO, going back to Phase 1 so often is not a healthy way to maintain weight. I also found out (reading the I.P. forum on this website actually) that some people in Phase 4 aren't eating the carbs that the diet says we are allowed to have. What the heck is the point if you aren't 'following the diet' the way the diet developer states?? Isn't that the whole reason??

I saw Dr. Dukan on the Dr. Oz show and this intrigued me, so I bought his book. I started the Attack phase and lost 2.8lbs after 5 days. I see this as a victory b/c I'm actually eating dairy (which was only allowed in Phase 4 of I.P.).

The only thing is: Is anyone in the Stabilization Phase? I'm interested to see if anyone gains weight while eating the 2 pieces of whole grain bread and cheese . . . This is when it all went to pots for me on Ideal Protein. Anyone started the Stab Phase??

Also, I'm a nut-oholic. I've been ok thus far but am intermittently missing peanut butter and nuts. Would this only be consumed as our 'celebration meal'?

Thanks and happy Duking!!

I don't think anyone posting here is in Stabilization yet, but there are a few people getting close to Consolidation, which is when you start to add in the bread, fruit, etc.

I personally plan to go very slowly with the add ins and even though the book says 2 slices of whole grain bread every day, I am more likely to try 1 slice every few days and then kind of build up from there to figure out the right amount both for maintaining my weight but also for my hunger levels. At this point, I'm not hungry on what I am eating so adding a whole lot of additional food on top of that doesn't make much sense. So I expect to have some trial and error of figuring out where to add (to get a greater variety and the macronutrients that come from these additional food sources) and where to subtract (I would guess I'll naturally want to eat smaller portions of the foods I currently eat).

And of course, the Dukan Diet is designed so that you do have the one day of PP (I guess the equivalent of the IP Phase 1?) each week.

Hello everyone,
Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm currently on day 5 of the Attack Phase and have lost 9 lbs.
At the start of the diet I was totally consumed with food but right now I'm doing much better. The headache has gone (wish the constant trips to the bathroom would!) and I'm looking forward to shedding this weight!

Look forward to getting to know you and to get/offer support!

Jackie

The constant bathroom breaks/waking at 5am every morning bursting for the toilet never go away... lol I don't know when I last had a lie-in hah

Welcome, and congrats on your awesome loss! Looking forward to welcoming you into cruise

Today I was bad. I seem to have incorporated a celebration meal into my diet every friday, and it's a terrible habit to have gotten into. Anyway, to "celebrate" being down to 11st10 (164lbs) I asked my Dad to make tiramisu. Yes. That's right. Some sort of proxy-sabotage organised by myself! Against myself! Annnyway... I ate it and it was so OMGDELICIOUS. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. So, long story cut short, I feel rather guilty. And TOM is due to rear it's head in a week or two, but I'm just getting into my weight-loss roll! I spent that month on cruise losing nothing, and now I'm losing 2lbs a week and I don't want TOM to come and mess up the scale for a fortnight. Also, I'm scared it's going to take days for me to get back to normal after my huge tiramisu serving--I guess I'm feeling under pressure for some reason. Argh.

Thanks April Snow! That is really great advice that I'll follow as well. I don't want to sabotage myself!

Yossarian, I caught myself falling into that hole. I have not had such fabulous weight loss this month - still have lost weight but MUCH slower. I think it is because on weekends I end up "relaxing" the rules a little, and then spend a few days getting back to where I was before the weekend...... However I am a third of the way to where I want to be after 2 months (have lost 8.5kg), and I figured it would take about 6 months to get to my "true" weight.

I may not make it all the way to my true weight, as we are wanting to try for a baby soon. When I get to 2/3 of the way (67kg) that is where I was when I had my first baby - so if I can make it that far first I will be pleased

Am just nearing the end of T.O.M though, so am hoping for one of those wooshes that April Snow talks about : )

10 lbs down in 5 days! Two more days of Attack so I'm going to ramp up my workouts in the hopes of maximizing my chances of more pounds gone!!!!
Was very grumpy last night. My kids wanted McDonald's for dinner and just the smell of the fries did me in! I didn't cheat but, boy, did I ever want to. Just have to keep reminding myself that just because it's not NOW doesn't mean not ever!
Anyone got any good chicken recipes they'd like to share?

J

Hi, how is everyone tonight? (at least it is where I am )

The weekend went very well considering I had a bridal shower and a visit to my Uncle who always trys to give me snacks.

I did have a light bulb moment this weekend. I never went for restrictive diets because I was so sure I would never follow it. HOWEVER, I found I DO like Dukan because of it's simplicty. It's just like Dr. Dukan says - eat this and only this has made it easier for me.

this has been the case for me too - I love the not having to think and figure out yes or no about a food. If it's on the list, I eat it and if it's not, I don't. I have found going out to restaurants is not too hard because I can pretty much always get a grilled piece of meat or fish and some veggies. I don't go out a lot but it's nice that when I do have a chance to meet up with friends, I'm not worried about what to eat.

And I do feel lucky that I've made such good progress, I have the motivation and self-encouragement to WANT to stick with it, which he also talks about in the book. I went out last night to a restaurant that has really delicious fresh baked bread (I've been there before) and I could smell it and think that yes, it would taste good, but not as good as seeing a nice drop for the week on the scale. And I got that drop - down 2.4 lbs which took me 32 lbs lbs lost (in 11 weeks) and into the 220s and it's always such a big boost to move into a new "decade."

April Snow:

I know the person I am traveling with Wed and Thurs will want to eat at Red Lobster or Olive Garden...so, I looked up their menus and am going to vote for Red Lobster since they have a salmon. I even found something on the hotel menu I can get - it's not a difficult as I thought it might be on Dukan.

Again, congrats and I am right behind you!!!!!

thanks Samadhi!!

I saw in one of your posts that you haven't read that much of the book yet. I think it's fine to just read up through the Cruise section, but I will also say that I find the book very inspiring to read, and I've been through it several times now. Not cover to cover each time, but I focus on re-reading the Cruise section and then pick out some other bits and pieces and always find something new that helps keep me going.

and hello to all the Dukaners! Hope everyone is having a good Monday and getting the week off to a great start!