The Dukan diet was invented by French doctor Pierre Dukan in order to help people lose weight quickly and keep their ideal weight for the rest of their lives. The Dukan diet promotes the consumption of proteins over fats and carbohydrates and so tricks the human body into burning its own reserves of fat.

The Dukan diet can easily be made at home, but lots of people go to Tunisia to receive a specific and exclusive care, the Dukan Diet Spa Programme (6 days).

The Dukan diet consists of four distinct stages :

Stage I: The Attack Stage
Stage II: The Cruise Stage
Stage III: The Consolidation Stage
Stage IV: The Stabilization Stage

Lose weight

Stage I: The Attack Stage

Stage I, the Attack stage, is designed for the quick and effective loss of weight. The effects of this stage can be quite powerful as some individuals can expect weight between 7 and 10 pounds.

During Stage I, people are advised to only eat food containing low-fat protein and drink lots of water or zero-calorie and zero-fat beverages. The protein is most likely to come in the form of low-fat meat but can also come in the form of dairy like zero-fat yoghurt and cottage cheese, or eggs, or tofu and seitan (wheatmeal).

People in the Attack stage are also advised to consume up to 1.5 table spoonfuls of oat bran and to drink lots of water in order to avoid the usual constipation that an all protein diet can trigger.

Some exercise (e.g. 20 minutes of walking) is also advised.

Once an individual loses 10 pounds, Stage I is essentially over and Stage II can be started.

Stage II : The Cruise Stage

Stage II, also known as the Cruise stage, follows the Attack stage and is designed to continue the process of losing weight in a softer way than during the Attack stage until the individual reaches its ideal weight. It consists of alternating days eating only protein food with days eating only protein and vegetables. Salads are preferred over carrots, potatoes, peas and corn to supplement the protein intake. The menu can also include soups and stews that combine protein and vegetables.

The amount of oat bran allowed is usually upgraded to 2 table spoonfuls per day and walking is also increased to 30 minutes per day.

One can expect to lose a kilogram per week (i.e. 2,2 pounds) during that stage and the process must be sustained until the ideal weight is met.

Stage III : The Consolidation Stage

Stage III starts once the individual reaches his or her ideal weight. This stage is not meant for losing further weight but is rather meant for keeping the attained ideal weight and is a transition between a diet and a non-diet mode. It normally lasts 10 days for every kilogram lost and its purpose is to introduce new families of foods (like fruit and bread) that the individual can take to stop further loss of weight and at the same time prevent weight gain. A celebration meal per week is also added to the menu.

Stage IV : The Stabilization Stage

Stage IV, the Stabilization stage allows the individual to gradually go back to normal healthy eating habits, although one day of the week, usually Thursday (as recommended by Dr Dukan) is reserved for a protein-only Attack stage diet.

With over five million satisfied dieters in France alone, and due to the fact that it is becoming increasingly popular among film stars and high-profile models, the Dukan diet looks like it's here to stay.

And those who want to go further and add a relaxing touch of thalassotherapy to their holiday's programme in Tunisia have made the choice of experiencing the Dukan Diet Spa Programme at Hotel The Residence Tunis.