If you’re looking for ways to lose some weight before the big day, there are so many methods to choose from it’s hard to know which one is right for you. Don’t worry, S&P Weddings is here to help.

The Dukan Diet promises a strategy that will help you lose weight in the first two phases, and keep it off in the second two phases. While it does not promise extreme results in record time, it does promise stabilisation of your weight, so no more yo-yoing on the scales.

It also boasts 100 foods that you can eat “as much as you like” on the diet which is high in protein and low in fat and carbs.

dukan diet

So what’s it all about?

Phase one is the Attach Phase, which is a pure protein diet, usually for 2-5 days to jumpstart your weight loss. It’s imperative to combine the protein with 6-8 cups of water per day and oat bran. You can eat as much as you want but you have to add in a 20-minute walk every day.

Phase two is the Cruise Phase, As well as the 68 pure protein foods you were allowed in phase one, you can now add in another 32 non-starchy vegetables on alternating days. On one day you would have only pure proteins, then the next day you would have proteins and vegetables and so on. You should also up your exercise to 30 minutes of brisk walking a day. This phase lasts three days per pound you want to lose.

Phase three is the Consolidation Phase and it looks back at the work you’ve done to lose the weight so that it can help you keep the weight off. It lasts five days per pound you lost and introduces ‘fun’ foods back into your diet slowly. Servings of fruit, servings of starchy food and 1-2 celebration meals a week will build gradually over this stage. However, don’t skimp on the rules. This stage still requires Protein Thursday and a 25-minute daily walk.

The final stage is the Stablisation Phase. This is the fundamental stage to maintain your weight loss permanently. In theory, you can eat whatever you like as long as you manage it well. You also have to maintain three cardinal rules of this diet:

- Eat three tablespoons of oat bran daily

- Stick to one day of pure protein every week

- 20-minute walk everyday

The Dukan Diet is not for brides-to-be who are a few weeks away from their big day and want instant results. This is a slow burner of a diet designed to alter your eating habits permanently.