Created by French doctor Pierre Dukan, the Dukan Diet is a four-phase diet designed to get you to your ‘true weight’, which is worked out based on your highest weight, lowest weight and height.
You get to eat from a list of over 72 ‘allowed’ protein-rich foods in the first phase of the diet, known as the ‘attack’ phase, when dieters can expect to lose up to 7lbs in their first week.
After this, you move on to the ‘cruise’ phase which is more laid back and gradually reintroduces a list of 28 vegetables, slowing weight loss down to a projected 2 lbs a week.
Once the majority of weight loss has been achieved you are allowed to move on to the ‘consolidation’ phase where ‘normal’ foods such as fruit, bread and cheese are reintroduced.
After reaching your weight loss goal you are then in the ‘stabilization’ phase, which Dr Dukan recommends you follow for the rest of your life – you can eat whatever you want but you can avoid weight gain by having a phase one-style ‘protein day’ once a week and eating oat bran every day. Dukan really, really loves oat bran.