dukandebut
Goat herder(ess)
Hello and welcome, whitecat. As a cat lover, I have to ask whether you do actually have a white cat? 
Welcome to Dukan
- Thread starter LVLLM
- Start date
Maintainer
** Chief WITCH **
Always welcoming, particularly to a cat lover, but for 4lbs, this diet is not your best choice!
dukandebut
Goat herder(ess)
My goodness, I didn't see that about the 4lbs!
Whitecat, I must admit that I do agree with Jo. Getting into this low carb thing and then having to very slowly re-introduce normal eating is really not a good idea for someone with so very little weight to lose.
If I were you, I'd be looking at other diets.
In the meantime, I'd love to see a pic of your cat if you have one handy.
Maintainer and dukandebut I understand your concerns. I eat a really healthy diet and go to the gym for good sweaty workouts but since starting oestrogen patches my body has changed shape and those few pounds just keep returning. I eat less or exercise more and it will go but come back just as quickly. Having read his book he understand the menopause and it makes sense to me to slowly re introduce foods again. I also understand the benefit of the 5 days per pounds rule. I know its not alot of poundage and it might seem insignificant to some but I think this way I might just crack it.
Maintainer
** Chief WITCH **
Fair enough - you seem to understand what you're looking for, so please join in. You might find others on the site reacting the same way we did though!
Because of the recent media hype, there are so many new people coming here without having read the book, just wanting to lose weight quickly with as long as attack period as possible - then they disappear for the most part when it goes wrong.
So we aren't being deliberately obstructive. Perhaps, for your own sanity, you could put something in your signature explaining!
Welcome! Let us know how you get on.
Because of the recent media hype, there are so many new people coming here without having read the book, just wanting to lose weight quickly with as long as attack period as possible - then they disappear for the most part when it goes wrong.
So we aren't being deliberately obstructive. Perhaps, for your own sanity, you could put something in your signature explaining!
Welcome! Let us know how you get on.
the_finalcountdown
Member
oh my God - I've started counting calories again! can someone please confirm/tell me if this unnecessary - does it even matter on the dukan doet how many calories you eat? Im on the cruise phase and does the idea of eat all you want still count?Its cos last night i had a 16oz steak! i was starrrrving and after counting my whole days calories i ate approx 1700 .... does that matter? If anyon can help to set the record straight i would be truly grateful!
xx
xx
Maintainer
** Chief WITCH **
Totally unnecessary. We do not count calories! Your 16oz steak is fine!
Come over to the main board and tell us more about yourself and what you're eating because, in cruise, it is unusual to be that hungry!!
Come over to the main board and tell us more about yourself and what you're eating because, in cruise, it is unusual to be that hungry!!
Maintainer
** Chief WITCH **
Excellent! Come and join in!
the_finalcountdown
Member
Phew!! Thanks Maintainer - what a relief! I thought I was doing ok. i will go to the main board too and introduce myself there along with my daily menu/food plans. thanks again
can we drink alcohol?
Atkins allows alcohol as there are no carbs and no fat. Pierre Dukan doesn't really address alcohol other than to say you can have a glass of wine with a celebration meal. What do you think? I think we should be able to have a drink from time to time in the cruise phase, don't you?
Atkins allows alcohol as there are no carbs and no fat. Pierre Dukan doesn't really address alcohol other than to say you can have a glass of wine with a celebration meal. What do you think? I think we should be able to have a drink from time to time in the cruise phase, don't you?
dukandebut
Goat herder(ess)
Unfortunately, alcohol doesn't work well with the first two stages of Dukan - unless you don't mind it preventing the diet from working well and potentially making you ill.
Here's a useful thread to read which contains more information: http://www.minimins.com/dukan-diet/205761-dukan-diet-one-cheat-day.html
Maintainer
** Chief WITCH **
How about this from the doctor's official website:
ALCOHOL
The Dukan Diet and alcoholic drinks
It is often said that France is the nation that drinks the most wine in the world and this is true. Yet, it has not stopped 10 million French people from following my diet and giving up alcohol to then drink again in "normal doses" during the Consolidation phase and even more so in the permanent Stabilization phase.
When I decided to take my method across the Channel, my publishers, my translators, journalists and in fact everyone told me to adapt my diet to fit with the Anglo-Saxon way of life and make some allowance for alcohol, beer, scotch and pubs. I listened to them and after weighing up the pros and cons I decided not to. Not because I uphold rigid moral standards and even less to simply contradict them but because losing weight is no easy matter; you have to take ownership and be really motivated.
Very often people put on weight with an "All or Nothing" attitude as they go from being strict to lax. To lose weight you have to re-adopt this approach: either go for it wholeheartedly or do nothing. Between both extremes, you slow down your metabolism, your results and motivation - and you lose the battle. Don't ever forget that a properly followed diet only lasts a few months and this is so little compared with all the benefits dieting brings you.
Pierre Dukan
Any drink containing ethyl alcohol or ethanol is termed an alcoholic drink.
Alcohol is considered to be both a nutrient (a nutritional element) since our bodies can metabolize it and a food since it provides us with calories.
Alcohol is obtained from the fermentation of carbohydrates in a certain number of products: fruits, cereals and even some vegetables/starchy foods and leaves.
The plants are soaked in water then fermented to produce alcohol.
Alcoholic drinks are divided into two categories:
• Non-distilled alcoholic drinks: wine, beer, cider.
• Distilled alcoholic drinks or spirits: aperitifs and whiskies, liqueurs, rum, vodka, etc.
The history of alcohol
Grapes were growing in the Near East in the Tertiary period.
In 5,000 or 6,000 B.C. the first men started crushing grapes to get the juice out of them and from this wine developed.
Distillation dates back to before 2,000 B.C.
For a long time alcohol was also considered to be medicine.
Aperitifs (from the Latin "aperire" meaning "to open") open up and enhance our appetite.
Alcohol and energy
Alcohol is always stated as a percentage of the volume (% vol) on the labels on bottles.
To arrive at the alcohol content in grams, you have to multiply the drink's alcohol content by 0.8.
E.g.: one litre of 10° vol wine contains 10 volumes per 100 of alcohol, i.e. 100ml (10° x 10), which is equivalent to 80g of pure alcohol for one litre (100ml x 0.8).
1 gram of alcohol produces 7 calories. 1 glass is the equivalent of 10g of alcohol or in energy 70kCal or 290kJ.
3 glasses of wine can therefore substitute the energy you get from 1 whole meal but unfortunately they provide no substitute for the vitamins, minerals and trace-elements found in food.
When alcohol supplies superfluous calories that then get added to the calories provided by our food this results in weight gain.
Equivalences between different types of alcohol
One 10cl glass of red or white bordeaux wine is equivalent to:
- One glass of champagne
- One 7cl glass of a wine based 18° vol aperitif
- One 25cl glass of 5° vol beer
- One 2.5cl shot of 45° vol whisky or pastis or brandy
Carbohydrate intake
The sugar content in a 10cl glass of wine is the same as in:
- 30g of aperitif liqueurs, sodas, tonics
- 10g of fruit drinks, orange or lemon juice
- 6g of sweet white wine, sweet cider or beer
- 4g of tomato juice
Alcohol and how it is used in the body
Alcohol gets into the bloodstream very quickly then spreads rapidly into the different organs and tissues. A small part of the alcohol absorbed (less than 10 %), is eliminated through our urine, sweat and breathe.
Alcohol provides a lot of energy but this is not used primarily for muscular activity.
The calories it provides help increase body fat (½ litre of 10° vol wine adds an extra 20g fat to our cells).
Alcohol acts straightaway on our nervous system causing us to be exhilarated, uninhibited and giving us a feeling of stimulation.
Lastly, we secrete less of our anti-diuretic hormone when we drink alcohol and this dehydration in turn makes us feel thirsty.
How alcohol can help keep you healthy
2 glasses of wine a day can play a role in preventing risks of dying from cardio-vascular diseases. Alcohol increases good cholesterol (HDL).
Due to its polyphenols it acts as an anti-oxidant.
Alcohol and your health
In several circumstances it is recommended that you cut alcohol out of your diet altogether and in particular if you suffer from dyslipidaemia (i.e. you have an abnormal amount of lipids in your blood), if you are taking medication, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you are a child or teenager or if you have a liver related pathology.
Over many years excessive alcohol consumption may result in chronic health problems.
Alcohol level in the blood
The alcohol level in the blood = Quantity of alcohol in grams / (Weight in kg x Diffusion coefficient)
This coefficient is 0.70 for men and 0.60 for women.
Regulations
The EU Council Regulation no 1576/89 of 29 May 1989 lays down general rules on the definition, description presentation of spirit drinks.
Categories of alcohol
Alcohol is split into 5 categories:
• Wine
• Spirits
• Cider
• Beers
• Other types of alcohol
Alcohol in the Dukan method
Drinking alcohol when you are dieting will prevent you from achieving motivating results and this is why it is not allowed.
However, it can be used when cooking because when it is heated the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process.
For sauces that have little fat, alcohol is a great way of adding flavour.
Cooking wine is tolerated during the cruise phase, up to 3 tablespoonfuls per day if you cook with the lid off.
ALCOHOL
The Dukan Diet and alcoholic drinks
It is often said that France is the nation that drinks the most wine in the world and this is true. Yet, it has not stopped 10 million French people from following my diet and giving up alcohol to then drink again in "normal doses" during the Consolidation phase and even more so in the permanent Stabilization phase.
When I decided to take my method across the Channel, my publishers, my translators, journalists and in fact everyone told me to adapt my diet to fit with the Anglo-Saxon way of life and make some allowance for alcohol, beer, scotch and pubs. I listened to them and after weighing up the pros and cons I decided not to. Not because I uphold rigid moral standards and even less to simply contradict them but because losing weight is no easy matter; you have to take ownership and be really motivated.
Very often people put on weight with an "All or Nothing" attitude as they go from being strict to lax. To lose weight you have to re-adopt this approach: either go for it wholeheartedly or do nothing. Between both extremes, you slow down your metabolism, your results and motivation - and you lose the battle. Don't ever forget that a properly followed diet only lasts a few months and this is so little compared with all the benefits dieting brings you.
Pierre Dukan
Any drink containing ethyl alcohol or ethanol is termed an alcoholic drink.
Alcohol is considered to be both a nutrient (a nutritional element) since our bodies can metabolize it and a food since it provides us with calories.
Alcohol is obtained from the fermentation of carbohydrates in a certain number of products: fruits, cereals and even some vegetables/starchy foods and leaves.
The plants are soaked in water then fermented to produce alcohol.
Alcoholic drinks are divided into two categories:
• Non-distilled alcoholic drinks: wine, beer, cider.
• Distilled alcoholic drinks or spirits: aperitifs and whiskies, liqueurs, rum, vodka, etc.
The history of alcohol
Grapes were growing in the Near East in the Tertiary period.
In 5,000 or 6,000 B.C. the first men started crushing grapes to get the juice out of them and from this wine developed.
Distillation dates back to before 2,000 B.C.
For a long time alcohol was also considered to be medicine.
Aperitifs (from the Latin "aperire" meaning "to open") open up and enhance our appetite.
Alcohol and energy
Alcohol is always stated as a percentage of the volume (% vol) on the labels on bottles.
To arrive at the alcohol content in grams, you have to multiply the drink's alcohol content by 0.8.
E.g.: one litre of 10° vol wine contains 10 volumes per 100 of alcohol, i.e. 100ml (10° x 10), which is equivalent to 80g of pure alcohol for one litre (100ml x 0.8).
1 gram of alcohol produces 7 calories. 1 glass is the equivalent of 10g of alcohol or in energy 70kCal or 290kJ.
3 glasses of wine can therefore substitute the energy you get from 1 whole meal but unfortunately they provide no substitute for the vitamins, minerals and trace-elements found in food.
When alcohol supplies superfluous calories that then get added to the calories provided by our food this results in weight gain.
Equivalences between different types of alcohol
One 10cl glass of red or white bordeaux wine is equivalent to:
- One glass of champagne
- One 7cl glass of a wine based 18° vol aperitif
- One 25cl glass of 5° vol beer
- One 2.5cl shot of 45° vol whisky or pastis or brandy
Carbohydrate intake
The sugar content in a 10cl glass of wine is the same as in:
- 30g of aperitif liqueurs, sodas, tonics
- 10g of fruit drinks, orange or lemon juice
- 6g of sweet white wine, sweet cider or beer
- 4g of tomato juice
Alcohol and how it is used in the body
Alcohol gets into the bloodstream very quickly then spreads rapidly into the different organs and tissues. A small part of the alcohol absorbed (less than 10 %), is eliminated through our urine, sweat and breathe.
Alcohol provides a lot of energy but this is not used primarily for muscular activity.
The calories it provides help increase body fat (½ litre of 10° vol wine adds an extra 20g fat to our cells).
Alcohol acts straightaway on our nervous system causing us to be exhilarated, uninhibited and giving us a feeling of stimulation.
Lastly, we secrete less of our anti-diuretic hormone when we drink alcohol and this dehydration in turn makes us feel thirsty.
How alcohol can help keep you healthy
2 glasses of wine a day can play a role in preventing risks of dying from cardio-vascular diseases. Alcohol increases good cholesterol (HDL).
Due to its polyphenols it acts as an anti-oxidant.
Alcohol and your health
In several circumstances it is recommended that you cut alcohol out of your diet altogether and in particular if you suffer from dyslipidaemia (i.e. you have an abnormal amount of lipids in your blood), if you are taking medication, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you are a child or teenager or if you have a liver related pathology.
Over many years excessive alcohol consumption may result in chronic health problems.
Alcohol level in the blood
The alcohol level in the blood = Quantity of alcohol in grams / (Weight in kg x Diffusion coefficient)
This coefficient is 0.70 for men and 0.60 for women.
Regulations
The EU Council Regulation no 1576/89 of 29 May 1989 lays down general rules on the definition, description presentation of spirit drinks.
Categories of alcohol
Alcohol is split into 5 categories:
• Wine
• Spirits
• Cider
• Beers
• Other types of alcohol
Alcohol in the Dukan method
Drinking alcohol when you are dieting will prevent you from achieving motivating results and this is why it is not allowed.
However, it can be used when cooking because when it is heated the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process.
For sauces that have little fat, alcohol is a great way of adding flavour.
Cooking wine is tolerated during the cruise phase, up to 3 tablespoonfuls per day if you cook with the lid off.
Emms24
Full Member
That's very interesting about the alcohol! I have been to the pub tonight for my assistant's leaving do at work. Everyone was asking why I wasn't drinking and kept saying 'surely a few drinks isn't going to stop your diet if you stick to it' I tried to explain but they just wouldn't listen. I'll maybe give them that to read and say 'that's why'. Thank you for posting that x
Topaz63
Gone a bit quiet
Really interesting about properties of alcohol, specially the one about fat formation. I too read what DD says in yr first para,plus the last about cooking with alcohol. It really improves meat stews and deglazing the pan after steak cooked; let it bubble for a minute or two, then add herby, garlicky quark an pepper, then pour over steak. Suppose I should put that in recipes section, will do. Can do the same with chicken or fish using White wine and tarragon instead of mixed herbs.
Hamish's Mum
Silver Member
Hi everyone
I am think of changing my present diet - SW - back to low carb. I did Atkins last year and enjoyed it and lost 2.5 stone. I am now in two minds whether to go back to Atkins or try the Dukan diet.
I was going to download the book tonight for my kindle but before I do that can any of you tell me if it is easy to follow?
I have been looking on the boards and online but not really sure about the information. Just looking for some info before I invest in the book.
Thanks, Bev
I am think of changing my present diet - SW - back to low carb. I did Atkins last year and enjoyed it and lost 2.5 stone. I am now in two minds whether to go back to Atkins or try the Dukan diet.
I was going to download the book tonight for my kindle but before I do that can any of you tell me if it is easy to follow?
I have been looking on the boards and online but not really sure about the information. Just looking for some info before I invest in the book.
Thanks, Bev
Topaz63
Gone a bit quiet
Difficult to say as it's rather subjective, but I've tried several before, had less success and was really poor at sticking to therm. I was on WW but found that it was too easy to go over what I should have and I lost very slowly with more fluctuation than this one. I also put it all back on the moment I stopped counting points. After the first week on Dukan I began to feel really well and energetic, too.
Dukan is easy to remember once you have the principles sorted, and being able to eat as much as you want of filling foods makes it easier to stick to. Nothing's perfect,though, as you can see from this blog, but it is one that you can live on, so you don't cop out so fast. We were agreeing on the blog the other day that it makes you a better cook too, as to really appreciate the food you get good with herbs, spices and flavouring quite quickly.
It'll be interesting to see what some of the long termers think. The explorations I've done on health seem to bear out the view that the Atkins diet is not safe over a longer term because of the mass of fat when your body is also releasing its cholesterol, a real overload. If one has a lot to lose, I'd say this is easier and safer.
Dukan is easy to remember once you have the principles sorted, and being able to eat as much as you want of filling foods makes it easier to stick to. Nothing's perfect,though, as you can see from this blog, but it is one that you can live on, so you don't cop out so fast. We were agreeing on the blog the other day that it makes you a better cook too, as to really appreciate the food you get good with herbs, spices and flavouring quite quickly.
It'll be interesting to see what some of the long termers think. The explorations I've done on health seem to bear out the view that the Atkins diet is not safe over a longer term because of the mass of fat when your body is also releasing its cholesterol, a real overload. If one has a lot to lose, I'd say this is easier and safer.
Hamish's Mum
Silver Member
Well I bought and read the book last night, and have started my first day on the Attack program today. Thanks to everyone for your help.
Bev
Bev
