Sara's Dukan Diary: Stage 2 Cruise

[trudyc]

Sara you are right to start cooking up recipes rather than relying on chunks of meat etc. It is a great diet and once you are in the swing of it it is much easier. Have you made muffins yet???? If not I strongly recommend them Really may help with the nausea on a PP day as I feel it almost lines my tummy. I get a bit sicky after an omelette on a pp day and usually a muffin takes it away. Good luck and keep going. Your doing grand!

 

[sarafvrm]

Thanks for the encouragement, Chris and Trudy. Which muffin recipe do you use, Trudy? There seem to be several floating around, some of them more successful than others. It would certainly be nice to have an alternative to quark or sf jelly to snack on, in between all the meat, fish and eggs! Thanks again.

 

[CHRISR]

the more protein you eat the more weight you will lose and the proportion should be 2/3 protein to 1/3 vegetables.

this is the muffin recipe I do now with my eyes shut - LOL

4 large eggs
4 Tbl sweetner
4 Tbl 0% plain yoghurt
squirt of dukan flavouring - I have a collection now from the Dukan website coconut, mocha, nougat, hazelnut & caramel (all my favs)
add all together and beat with a whisk
stir in 4 tbl of oatbran & 2 Tbl of wheat bran (2 days Total allowance in cruise)
I use deep silicone muffin trays and out of the above batch I get approx 6 muffins so thats 3 each day. I have a fan oven and cook on 180degs for 18 - 20 mins. prefer them a bit well done otherwise they can be a bit soggy.

 

[sarafvrm]

Been on the diet for 4 weeks now, and lost 9lbs. Pretty pleased. It's not the dramatic weight loss some others seem to experience, but I'm in my mid-50's now and "middle-age-spread" is proving much harder to shift. I'm feeling slightly slimmer, and I haven't really started exercising yet as I'm still waiting for the advice/all-clear of my heart specialist (I go back in April), so I know I've got that up my sleeve to speed things up in due course. The main thing is, I've got used to the food now, though some concoctions do end up pretty horrid! At least I'm not hungry, and if I am, Total 0 yoghurt with Truvia and cinnamon is absolutely divine!

Had a fab night out on Wednesday (a rarity!), went to the ballet at Covent Garden and had dinner there too. We had had to pre-order our food some weeks ago (pre-Dukan), so ate some "baddies" - my lemon sole was butter-poached, I had a fruit plate for dessert and drank a glass of champagne - but I refused the bread, the crushed potatoes and the chocolate with coffee, and only ate protein the following day, and I don't think any harm was done. I'm still "in the zone" at the moment so not about to binge on baddies or let one meal derail me.

Good luck to my friends out there! I read your posts most days and it definitely helps me to feel like I'm part of a club. xx

 

[CHRISR]

9lbs is fab Sara similar weight loss to mine in the first few weeks - the most I have ever lost on this diet and any other for that matter is 3. Ive just looked back and Ive only lost 3 twice the remainder has been 1 or 2. This diet does definately work for us oldies!!! so keep at it love and before you know where you are you will be almost to your true weight - it has become a part of everyday routine for me, not sure how ive done it but I have - and im so so chuffed with myself x

 

[sarafvrm]

You should be very proud, Chris. And thank you so much for reading my diary and chipping in, it means a great deal. I definitely feel I'm in this for the long haul, and posters seem to be either old-timers who know each other very well (in a cyberspace sort of way!) or newbies who are around for a few days then disappear off the planet again. I guess that, over the months, I'll find my own 'peers', but in the meantime I already have favourite old hands whose diaries I find inspiring. Thanks again. x

 

[CHRISR]

No probs Sara post away any questions you have and Im sure someone will come along with the answers, we are all here to help one another x

 

[CaledoniaDreaming]

Hi Sara, thanks for the post on my diary - I would have found my way here sooner but my kids have given me a rather hard few weeks so haven't been keeping up to date on everybody! I think you're doing really well, especially if you are still enjoying your wine (I seriously miss mine!). This might be why you don't feel that great on PP days though - Dukan makes killer hangovers so maybe even just one glass would make you feel sicky the next day? Also, you will lose slower if drinking - but you'll get there in the end and you'll be less likely to yo-yo if you lose slower . How old are your kids? I'd definitely recommend you look through the recipe threads here for inspiration and the book is a good read if you manage to get it from the library.

 

[sarafvrm]

Hi CD (can I call you that?)! The kids are 15, 13, 10 and 5. So 2 teenagers and one who is practising! I've just been through the secondary school transfer process with the 10-year-old, which is a nightmare in inner London because we aren't in the market for private schools and the comprehensives vary wildly in their quality. We've had a successful outcome because he got a music place at a fabulous school, albeit some distance away. The music... that's another story: somehow I found myself with 4 children all learning violin by the Suzuki method, which involves the parent in every individual and group lesson and every practice - I think that's what's driven me to drink! I'm not an alcoholic but I am a habitual drinker and right now I haven't the strength to kick the habit although I know I will (another card I have up my sleeve in terms of improving weight loss in due course). I have to tell you a funny story: last Saturday we went to a joint birthday party for 3 friends of ours and I drank copious amounts of wine at the end of a pp day. Well, towards the end of the evening I just keeled over! I didn't trip, stumble, stagger, just slumped! I was more surprised than anything when it happened, the embarrassment came later! Luckily my dear partner got us into a taxi and home. It still took me some time to feel steady enough to manage the stairs to bed, though. I shan't drink like that on this diet again, in a hurry! Anyway, thanks so much for giving me your companionship and support. You have done staggeringly well and I wish you all the luck in the world.

 

[sididd]

Hi sara I'm 48 and a similar weight and weight loss goal to you hope this post shows I'm having a nightmare with my pad and phone it use his site. Well done And if this works I'll write again soon x

 

[sarafvrm]

Hi Sididd. I can read you loud and clear! Let's do this together (you seem to be losing faster than I am, though...) Actually got off my bum and went for a walk this morning. Pleased I did, but I would find that walk pretty boring if I did the same one every day. I also resent the time when I could be doing something else. I really need to build more walking into my day generally but my younger children's school is too far away for them to walk, and my job I do from home. Heyho, I think I'll stroll (power-walk?) along the canal tomorrow. Best of luck!

 

[sididd]

feeling there something else you could be doing instead of going for a walk is the old you !!!!! I feel I've had to be a little selfish and put my diet needs and the little exercise I do do not first but to realise I need to succeed in this diet for my health and well being, its natural to put the familys needs and chores first but give yourself a little time too. Kids can't wait but the chores can, come on we can do this x

 

[sarafvrm]

You're right, of course. To be honest I sometimes just feel too tired to change.

 

[sarafvrm]

Week 5 completed and 10lbs lost. Could be worse. I hoped I'd done better this week as I'm not finding the diet easy but I have been sticking to it - 1lb doesn't feel like enough reward when I still have 36lbs to go. I eyed up the children's strawberries this morning and thought, how can it be right that I can't eat something as healthy as that? Some days I feel like I could stay on this diet for as long as it takes, other times I think, what's the point?

I have a really tricky weekend ahead of me because I'm going to be out most of the time as my children are playing in various big concerts and we have to be at the Royal Festival Hall and Royal Albert Hall for most of the next 3 days, rehearsing then performing. And Dukan is not very packed-lunch-friendly. Need to start planning now!

 

[sididd]

Week 5 completed and 10lbs lost. Could be worse. I hoped I'd done better this week as I'm not finding the diet easy but I have been sticking to it - 1lb doesn't feel like enough reward when I still have 36lbs to go. I eyed up the children's strawberries this morning and thought, how can it be right that I can't eat something as healthy as that? Some days I feel like I could stay on this diet for as long as it takes, other times I think, what's the point?

I have a really tricky weekend ahead of me because I'm going to be out most of the time as my children are playing in various big concerts and we have to be at the Royal Festival Hall and Royal Albert Hall for most of the next 3 days, rehearsing then performing. And Dukan is not very packed-lunch-friendly. Need to start planning now!

Dont waver sara your doing well 10lb is a good weight loss, Trudy had a look at my diary she said she's not an expert but in my opinion the weight loss these inspirational Dukeners are achieving qualifys them to help advise us when we are new and maybe missing mistakes were doing x have you started a diary yet? If not start and record what you eat and feel I find it therapeutic . Sounds a fantastic weekend ahead of you with the children, and there's loads you foods you can take and nibble....like you said sit and prepare ahead good luck

 

[sarafvrm]

I really appreciate your taking the trouble to read my diary and your encouragement is spot on. I know, 10lbs is a lot more than nothing, which is where I was at before I started this plan. You really seem to have got the bit between your teeth yourself and deserve the success you're experiencing. You're right, I am immensely proud of my children's achievements in the field of music and, hopefully, will be so carried along by celebrating their success with them that my mind won't wander to food!

 

[sididd]

Keep possitive sara enjoy the music and keep posting if you feel the temptation post!!! This will keep your hands busy and by the time you've wrote about your temptation it hopfully will have passed

 

[sarafvrm]

Well, last night I made chicken soup with defatted, reduced chicken stock, diced chicken and skirataki noodles, seasoned with black pepper and a touch of soy sauce and it was delicious. So, spurred on by my culinary success, today I finally got round to making the muffins and meat flan I keep reading about on here. Well, the meat flan was absolutely delicious! I used a whole pound of extra lean mince and ended up eating half of it - that's the trouble, when something tastes that good! The muffins (chocolate and orange) look fab too - I've already had today's oatbran allowance so can't taste those yet, not that I could eat another thing anyway! How am I going to stop the children tucking into them when they get home from school?

One lingering worry, though... The recipe for the meat flan included onion and tomato paste - I only used a quarter of an onion and a dessertspoon of tomato paste for 450g mince, but is this allowed, on a pp day? I'd be grateful if someone could let me know. x

 

[sarafvrm]

Went for a walk this morning! The weather is so glorious here in London that I broke into a sweat! Only my 3rd walk, in almost 6 weeks, but better than nothing and I know that the slimmer I feel, the more I'll enjoy it. Tried my chocolate and orange muffins this morning and they were pretty good, with a large mug of coffee. The texture was great and there were no dodgy flavours in there, the only thing was they were too sweet for my taste - I'm not really a puddings/cakes person. I'll make them again, with less sweetener and a bit less orange flavouring - I had already halved the amount of cocoa in the recipe so the orange was a bit overpowering.

 

[trudyc]

The muffin recipes really do vary and you do have to alter according to your taste. The mince flan was down as a PP recipe and I did wonder about the tomato puree - however I have been having it for a few weeks now on PP days mostly and have continued to lose so probably okay!!!! The only thing I can say about having eaten half the flan is WELL DONE - by eating that level of protein you are doing the diet the way Dr Dukan wanted you to - on Sunday I ate a whole chicken - obviously no skin or fat but a whole chicken and a mahooossive steak and lost 3 lbs. I always try and eat loads of protein in a week - I limit my veg a little on a PV day and always make sure the biggest portion of food on my plate is protein. I understand your swings and roundabouts with the diet - I am the same, some days seem so easy and then out of the blue just soooo difficult and you almost can't see the point of it!!! When this happens my head goes down and I plough on - a hypnotherapist told me last year, your mind is your strongest tool and it is so right. I think 10lbs loss is a great start and you should be proud of it. Just a thought for another recipe, if you like steak or chicken a nice sauce on a pv day is onion, mushroom, garlic, black pepper, all dry fried in a pan then add 1/2 beef stock cube in 1/4 pint of water and reduce down to almost a sticky consistency and then add a dollop of Philly Extra lite - a delicious pepper sauce. Also do the same for fish but poach the fish in a veg stock cube and reduce liquid down, remove the fish and add a dollop of philly extra lite - I add samphire at the last minute and pour over salmon and prawns with other veg. The Philly Extra Lite is a tolerated item but I have used it a fair amount and been fine - just thinking of ways of jazzing up meal times for you as for the most part I LOVE my dukan food!!! Also go through the recipe section Lady Mayhayla my hero and all her recipes are amazing!!! LOL. Hope that helps.