Facts About Dukan Diet!

The Dukan Diet, also known as the princess diet. When Kate Middleton wanted to look fit and fabulous in her wedding gown, she chose the Dukan diet for weight loss success.The Dukan also reported to be followed by actress Jennifer Lopez and supermodel Gisele Bundchen. This diet claims dramatic results without requiring dieters to count calories or go hungry. It is a protein-based diet designed by French doctor Pierre Dukan.

The diet is based on a list of over 100 allowed foods, as well as four specific ground pillars also known as phases: attack, cruise, consolidation, and stabilization.

The Dukan method:

• The attack phase is designed to enable dieters to rapidly lose 2 to 3 kilograms (4.4 to 6.6 lb) in 2–7 days by kick-starting their metabolism. Dieters are allowed to eat as much as they want of 72 protein-rich foods.
• The cruise phase is designed to allow dieters to more gradually achieve the weight they aim for by eating protein-rich foods with the addition of 28 specific vegetables. The length of this phase is usually calculated as 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of weight loss per week, but this is based on specific personal conditions. Tolerated foods are also allowed as per the programme, but any weight gain will ban some of these.
• The consolidation phase is designed to help in preventing any future massive weight gain. During this phase, fruit, bread, cheese and starchy foods are reintroduced into a normal diet, leaving two celebratory meals a week as directed by the plan.
• Finally, in the stabilization phase, dieters can essentially eat whatever they want without gaining weight by following a few rules:

1. protein day once a week
2. eating oat bran every day and making a commitment to "take the stairs". According to Dukan, dieters shall follow this last phase for the rest of their life to avoid regaining weight.

 The official 100 Eat As Much As You Want Foods list:

• MEAT AND OFFAL: Beefsteak, breasola/air-dried/wind dried beef, calf's liver, Fat reduced bacon, fillet of beef, game, kidney, pre-cooked ham slices (without any fat or rind), rabbit, roast beef, rumpsteak, sirloin steak, tongue, veal chop, veal escalope
• POULTRY: Chicken, chicken liver, guinea fowl, ostrich, pigeon, poussin, pre cooked chicken and turkey slices, quail, turkey
• FISH: Bass, cod, seafood sticks, dab/lemon sole, dover sole, grey mullet, haddock/smoked haddok, hake, halibut/smoked halibut, herring, mackerel, monkfish, plaice, pollock/coley, red mullet, salmon/smoked salmon, sardines, sea bream, skate, swordfish, trout (rainbow and salmon), tuna, turbot, whiting
• SEAFOOD: Calamari/squid, clams, cockles, crab, crayfish/crawfish, dublin bay prawns, lobster, mussels, prawns/shrimps, oysters, scallops, whelks.
• EGGS: Hen's eggs, quail's eggs
• DAIRY PRODUCTS: Cottage cheese (low fat), fat free fromage frais, fat free Greek yogurt, fat free yoghurt, Quark (low fat), skimmed milk
• VEGETABLE "PROTEINS": Konjac, oat bran, tofu
• VEGETABLES: Artichoke (globe), asparagus, aubergine, beetroot, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery/celeriac, chicory, courgette, cucumber, fennel, French beans, kohlrabi, lamb's lettuce, leek, lettuce, mushrooms, onion, palm hearts, peppers, pumpkin, radish, rhubarb, soya bean sprouts, spinach, tomato

Oat Bran:

Oat bran plays a very important role in the plan.Oat bran is nothing but the fibrous husk that surrounds the oat grain and is one of the staple foods of the Dukan Diet because of its many properties including making us feel fuller for longer and cholesterol reduction. You allowed to eat 

1 and ½ tablespoons during the Attack Phase, 2 tablespoons during the Cruise and Consolidation Phases and 3 tablespoons per day during the Stabilisation Phase.

   Special Benefits of Oat Bran:

1. Oat Bran is Delicious! Ideal for breakfast as hot cereal or mixed with yogurt or cottage cheese. Oat bran can also be used to make savory pancakes, pizza crust, muffins, cookies and much more! As the only source of carbohydrates during the Attack phase and Pure Protein days, oat bran brings an extra element of variety to the diet.
2. Oat Bran Helps Lower Cholesterol: Oat bran contains soluble fiber, which reduces the low-density lipoprotein (LDL), otherwise known as the "bad" cholesterol. The soluble fiber reduces the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. When compared to oatmeal, on average oat bran has 50% more fiber and soluble fiber, making it much more efficient.
3. Oat Bran Creates a Feeling of Fullness: Once consumed, oat bran enters the digestive tract where its soluble fiber absorbs water and forms a gel-like substance, creating a feeling of fullness. Oat bran absorbs on average 25 times its volume in liquid. A tablespoon of oat bran, about half an ounce, forms a 13 ounce ball in the stomach. The feeling of fullness and being less hungry leads to much less frustration while dieting.
4. Oat Bran Slows Down Sugar and Fat Absorption: Once ingested, the bolus (the gel-like substance created by the oat bran and water) passes through the gastric acid, bile, and finally the pancreatic juices. This turns the bolus into pulp and reduces it to a mix of elementary chains, fatty acids, amino acids and glucose.This process both slows down the sugar assimilation and removes calories from the body by reducing the absorption of dietary fat, while keeping your blood sugar levels low and stable

What is the difference between oat bran and oatmeal?

Oat bran contains about 50% more fiber and soluble fiber than oatmeal, making it more effective at lowering cholesterol and helping digestion. It also has more protein, calcium, iron, thiamin, phosphorus, riboflavin, magnesium, and zinc.

The main structural difference is that oatmeal (typically rolled oats) is whole grain, while oat bran is just the bran of the oat.

Finally, because oat bran is creamier (due to the finer texture of the product), it satiates hunger more than oatmeal.

 
 For more information

Creative Ways To Exercise At Home without Equipments!

Do we really need an expensive membership in the gym to stay in shape? How many people prefer to lose weight at home because lack of time; or because of low self esteem?
Since exercise is so important, you need to find effective exercises that don’t require any equipment at all, you will be able to workout anytime during the day...even before going to your work!
 
Here are 10 great exercises:

1. Step Exercises: Use the steps in your home, you can do repetitions which will tone your leg muscles. (Just remember to be careful!)
2. Dancing : Dancing is a wonderful exercise, which is great for your heart. Not only that, but it can lift your spirits as well, and give your overall feeling a boost.
   
3. Squats: These are wonderful exercises for your legs and butt. You can even just try these by sitting and standing up again from a regular chair, if you’re finding them to be too difficult. As long as you’re able to do a few repetitions, you will be providing some benefit to your body. Try to take a 30-day squat challenge, trust me it's fun and easier than you think!
   
4. Pushups: These are probably not the most favorite exercise of many people, but while they can be hard to do, you can find easier ways to do them. You don’t need to pretend you’re “Rocky”, and do them with one hand; just do what works for you. Do them on your knees, instead of keeping your legs straight. Or, do them standing up against a wall. You will be building up arm strength and working out muscles in your chest area.
5. Superman Back Extension: Lay on your stomach and reach your arms forward (like you're flying). Gently raise your legs and upper body off the floor while keeping your head straight. Pause for three seconds and repeat.
   
   
6. Bird Dog: Begin on all fours (downward dog), ensuring your hands are directly under your shoulders and your knees are directly under your hips. Slowly extend your right leg behind you and reach your right arm forward into a straight line. Hold your balance without arching your back. Return to the starting position and repeat on the opposite side.
   
7. Modified Chair Dips: Tone those triceps, Firmly grip a chair, table or any firm object that will support your weight. Fingers should be facing your back and your knees should be bent with feet shoulder width apart and flat on the ground. Lower yourself until your arms are bent at 90-degree angle and then push yourself back till arms are straight again. Repeat for one minute. Tip: To make this more difficult you can straighten your legs and even raise one leg at a time while you continue to dip.
   
8. Overhead Lunges Wlak: This is a classic exercise with a little twist. Holding something overhead really stretches out your fascia and gives you an extra hip flexor stretch. Doesn’t matter what it is. Start with your feet together and step out into the lunge. Ensure that you step far enough so that your knee does not go in front of your toe, and to make sure you get good hip flexor stretches. You can hold a book or something light overhead.
   
   
   
   
9. Step Ups: These are really good for your legs and your bum. Find a stable chair and you can get started. If the exercise is too easy find something heavy to hold to your chest or put a back pack on your back. Start doing these slowly and controlled on the way down.
   
   
10. Dead Bugs: A great abdominal and core stability workout. Lay on the floor with your arms and legs up as shown in the picture. From here you need to drop your arm and leg on the same side. Make sure your leg doesn’t touch the floor. Bring them slowly back up and repeat.
    
                           

   And to make these exercises even more fun, you can blast music while you’re doing them. Some you can even do while watching TV. Now you have no more excuses!

 

Good Luck & Have a Beautiful Weekend!