Consolidation Question for Conso people.

[xehorus]

Ladies with experience in the consolidation phase, I started conso yesterday and lost half a kilo today... I don't want to continue to lose weight so I have a few dilemas:

I don't like fruit. so it is something I am not planning on having daily.

I don't really eat much cheese but i guess I can have it if I need to. But is not something I used to have that much and when I go to stabilisation I will not have much again.

So... what should I do? what do I eat more of to no keep in losing the weight but not spoiling the diet??
I am nervous about conso... cruise was much easier for me!:cry:

:help2:

 

[louschu]

Haven't really got any suggestions, I don't like fruit either I much prefer vegetables but i have followed Dr D's instructions to the letter so if he says eat fruit then I will. I eat an apple every day and apples are my least favourite but they contain pectin which helps make you feel full and of course are good for you. Likewise with cheese, I never ate much, only at christmas but I now eat it religiously every night usually on toast, sometimes I use my daily ration on pizza or bolognese (parmesan). It's actually quite a small portion and the calories are all factored in to help you consolidate and stabilise your new weight.

 

[Poppy03]

I struggled with conso, so much harder than cruise which sounds crazy. If you are not keen on fruit how about a glass of juice instead? Apple juice, orange juice? The cheese part is to get your body to accept fat and calories again. So perhaps you need to look at different ways of adding cheese or fat to your diet. So perhaps add slightly higher fat yoghurt/cottage cheese etc. Perhaps margarine on your toast, that sort of thing.

I continued to loose weight but am now stablised. I could easily loose some more but don't want to so have adapted the conso phase to suit me.

 

[xehorus]

Thank you so much ladies, i guess i will have to think of the fruit as part of the diet and ditch it when I go to Stabilisation. The cheese will be easier so I will go and buy some cheese and the bread and re introduce them... I really feel nervous. How silly is that?

 

[louschu]

I think we all felt nervous when switching from cruise to conso, i was terrified of eating bread after 3 months without it, was convinced I'd put weight on and actually put it off for about 2 weeks. However I've been on conso for about 6 weeks now and I'm 2.5 lbs below my target so still losing a little bit each week but have never gained, I still find it amazing that I can eat bread and cheese every day without gaining, I love Dukan and I'm so glad I discovered it, I really believe that thanks to the Dukan diet I will never be overweight again

 

[Mark James]

I'm starting conso on Monday (thought it'd be best to start at beginning of week) and must admit to feeling nervous. I'm Not sure why. In fact I'm more apprehensive now than when I started the diet.

I've been re-reading the book so think I know what to do. Am I right in thinking we can have 60gms of wholemeal bread per day and just the one portion of carbs in first half of consolidation?

Also Louscho, how do you make your courgette pasta? I've tried it, but it comes out as a soggy mess.

Thanks - Mark

 

[louschu]

Also Louscho, how do you make your courgette pasta? I've tried it, but it comes out as a soggy mess.

I use a mandolin to cut it then cook it very quickly with frylight in a hot pan

 

[Mark James]

Thanks I'll try that - I'd seen a recipe to microwave it, but it doesn't work.

 

[xehorus]

Thank you so much for your post above louscho, it really eases my mind to hear that you don't gain it back even after eating cheese and bread every day!
In my case it is very important I do not lose any more weight as really this is thin for me, more and i am going to look ill, let alone the disappearance of my boobs and bum is already very noticeable . I think i made a mistake and should have started conso before reaching target... but oh well its too late now so I must make sure I try to stay on my weight as it is and if I start going down well then i will treat myself to a sweet snack or so ( in case the bread and fruit don't do the trick )

Thanks again Louschu

 

[xehorus]

Mark, I am not alone it seems... welcome to the conso worried club

 

[Atropos]

Try not to stress out about this - you should stick in the conso rules to make sure that your weight stablises in a sustainable way; the danger is that you stop dukaning to early, and end up putting the wight back on and yo-yoing, which will just damage your bodies ability to regulate weight.

Think of it like a very powerful car - you've learned how to accelerate and lose weight at a rate that suits you, now you are learning the more complicated gears and pedals that will allow you to slow down, stop, and reverse a little. But it takes time and practise and experience, and you may overshoot the target just a little in the process. When you are more confident you will probably find yourself stabilising where you wanted to be.

Your experience does I think illustrate why Dukan is not the best diet for people with a lower BMI - it is an immensely powerful process once it's underway, and you really do need the time and focus and leeway to stabilise in the second half.

Congratulations on reaching your goal and on sticking to the plan to finish this properly and get the result you want.

 

[Don'tWantToBeFatAnd50!]

Regarding the fruit.

Do you have a blender?

You could put chopped fruit with some yoghurt and oatbran in there and make a smoothie, adding a bit of splenda and vanilla extract for extra flavour.

 

[anjuschka]

Ah well I come to this too late - all the important things have been said, thanks Atropos! don't worry and don't be scared (ok ok I was too!). As long as you follow the rules and don't go overboard on the Gala meals you will be absolutely fine. Yes I did lose some more too, and gradually doubled my fruit and upped the bread from 60 to 80gr. But do it very slowly and never be tempted to just add snacks here and there 'because you can' as that will end you where you started....

The fruit is because it's a good healthy way of reintroducing sugar. Remember bananas, grapes and cherries are still off the menu. As already mentioned if you can't be bothered with fresh fruit, switch to premium fruit juice, half a glass is about what you get if you juice an apple or an orange.

The cheese is in the same way a good measurable way of reintroducing some fat. And yes, think of it not just as piece of cheese to slice on bread, but grated on food, cheese on toast, in omelettes, chicken stuffed with cheese, gratins, even cheese grated over leafy salads is quite nice (Romaine leaves are perfect for that).

Mark: conso first half: one carb meal and one gala a week, also reintroduce one of the previously banned meats (lamb, pork) a week, but lean cuts only.

 

[xehorus]

Try not to stress out about this - you should stick in the conso rules to make sure that your weight stablises in a sustainable way; the danger is that you stop dukaning to early, and end up putting the wight back on and yo-yoing, which will just damage your bodies ability to regulate weight.

Think of it like a very powerful car - you've learned how to accelerate and lose weight at a rate that suits you, now you are learning the more complicated gears and pedals that will allow you to slow down, stop, and reverse a little. But it takes time and practise and experience, and you may overshoot the target just a little in the process. When you are more confident you will probably find yourself stabilising where you wanted to be.

Your experience does I think illustrate why Dukan is not the best diet for people with a lower BMI - it is an immensely powerful process once it's underway, and you really do need the time and focus and leeway to stabilise in the second half.

Congratulations on reaching your goal and on sticking to the plan to finish this properly and get the result you want.

Thank you Atropos as usual your calm and matter of fact advice comes at a very good time. I do appreciate and take in everything you say here. You are god sent!

You are the 3rd person ( I think ) who has said to me that for a little weight loss like a stone in my case this is not the best diet. I don't recall reading in the book or in Dr Dukan's site anything in regards to not being ideal for a small weight loss ( I do recall reading in various occasions things like "for people that have not much weight to lose, etc" )and Of course I have read that it is wonderful when you have a lot of weight to lose, as it gives you the tools, it is fast, effective etc.
In my case, maybe because I had only a stone to lose it was not that fast. It felt very good and it did give me tools to help with more healthy eating.
I, like the example in the book, LOVE my protein. I also like my sugars and fats so I needed a diet that would at least allow me one of my treats in abundance!.

I have seen how my mother went from being a very slim person to an obese one in a few short years. And it started like me.. with only a little weight that she did not paid much attention to. It ended up in her health being compromised. So That is why i came here... that is why I am doing Dukan and I guess that is why I do think it also works and it's a good choice for people who like me want to prevent being very over weight and lose that little bit of weight.

 

[xehorus]

Ah well I come to this too late - all the important things have been said, thanks Atropos! don't worry and don't be scared (ok ok I was too!). As long as you follow the rules and don't go overboard on the Gala meals you will be absolutely fine. Yes I did lose some more too, and gradually doubled my fruit and upped the bread from 60 to 80gr. But do it very slowly and never be tempted to just add snacks here and there 'because you can' as that will end you where you started....

The fruit is because it's a good healthy way of reintroducing sugar. Remember bananas, grapes and cherries are still off the menu. As already mentioned if you can't be bothered with fresh fruit, switch to premium fruit juice, half a glass is about what you get if you juice an apple or an orange.

The cheese is in the same way a good measurable way of reintroducing some fat. And yes, think of it not just as piece of cheese to slice on bread, but grated on food, cheese on toast, in omelettes, chicken stuffed with cheese, gratins, even cheese grated over leafy salads is quite nice (Romaine leaves are perfect for that).

Mark: conso first half: one carb meal and one gala a week, also reintroduce one of the previously banned meats (lamb, pork) a week, but lean cuts only.

Anja, Thank you for your reply!! it doesn't come too late

I have been reading your Diaries and have found them so helpful.

I am now not as nervous as before... I am reintroducing my meals but eating very healthy which is so important for me.

Thank you so much for the help you provide in this forum

I will keep on reading you!