Week 1 Review of Dukan Diet

So It's not a proper blog today.  I have a heinous cold and am snotted up good and proper.  It is totally the b/f's fault.  I shouldn't have been so nice to him when he was ill and should have made him sleep in the garden shed.  I do take multivitamins but slightly wonder if my resistance would be higher if I'd had some fruit and fresh veggies in the last 6 days...

Me

Anyway, since I'm feeling a bit grim, I thought I'd do a little review of what has happened over week one of the Dukan.


So far I have completed attack (yey!) and have started Cruise (1 day PV, 1 day PP)

I don't know if it's being ill but I haven't got much of an appetite. Someone did tweet me that they felt the same with protein, i.e. you're not full but you don't feel hungry.  I suppose it's a good thing?  Lord knows my appetite could use some shrinking.

So the positives have been, shrinking appetite and also restricting what I can eat has meant that I've had to learn not to be a grazer and boy, am I ever a grazer!

My stupendous ability to graze rivals a cow...

Positives
Other positives out of week 1 - I've lost 6lbs! whoopee!  More generally I've found that the skin on my the back of my thighs & bum has had visible reduction in cellulite and appears smoother and firmer.  I've definitely got a flatter stomach and my face looks less puffy (not slim yet, just not totally dough shaped).  I also FEEL better about myself, as in I start the day feeling positive that I'm finally doing something about my weight.

Side Effects
Side effects that I've noticed include the obvious; constipation.  There is wealth of knowledge out there on the internet about how to ease this during the dukan diet.  Way back when, I used to work in a colorectal department (I know - gross! But don't worry, it was just paperwork) and I picked up a few tips on how to ease things that end.  Ask me in the comments if you want to know!  I've also had the dizzies a few times as well as a dry mouth, etc. Nothing major.  I do wonder slightly if I was a bit stupider during attack phase - not a big way - just more absent minded than usual.  I haven't really noticed a change in energy levels.

Tips
Some advice on getting through the first week.  Be nice to yourself.  Plan! Plan & Prepare so that you always have something on hand.  Embrace cooking; you're going to have to learn to cook in the guidelines so you might as well start early and enjoy cooking new and delicious things.  Dukan food can be just as tasty and normal as regular food, don't deprive yourself because you can't be arsed to cook.  Chewing gum is magical at moments when you're used to a snack (like tea time) when you can't get hold of Dukan food.

Following the Code
I have been Following the Dukan Prescription to the letter, this includes my 1.5, now 2, tablespoons of oatbran per day.  Also my 20/30 minutes of walking.  Apart from today, I feel too gross, but I may go out later.  I've been lucky that I've had someone to go walking with most days, although when I'm by myself I do like to walk faster (as in Dr D's "I've got to reach the post office before it closes" walking) I have also been drinking my 1.5 - 2L of fluid a day - and this is slightly what I mean by stupider, because I have been chugging a big bottle of water every day, thinking it is 1L, when in fact it is 2L!! So easily making that target.  Thing I might hold back on the fluid a bit now.

Personal Goals
I've also worked on my goals and have been looking at a projection of how much I am planning to lose (16.4kg or 36.2 lbs) and generally when I'm going to lose it by.  I've worked out my big mile stones, i.e. when I've lost 1/2 a stone, 1 stone, etc) as well as some psychological goals, i.e. no longer weighing 12 stone something, when I get to 11st 7lbs, etc.) and lastly some BMI goals, i.e. getting into the BMI 25 range, BMI below 25, etc.

My next goals are (dates are approximate) 23rd Feb - 1/2 a stone lighter! 4th March - BMI in 25 range (no longer overweight!) and 12th March 11st 7lbs! So lots of little goals to be getting on with.  I am thrilled that today I reached my first goal of falling under 12st. So relieved!

Anxieties

I still worry sometimes that I'm already looking for the 'next' thing, like once I'm finished with Dukan I'll go and do x90p or something.  This is a bad obsessional trait of mine and I have to get over it!  Also, I'm worried about

- going out socially and not drinking

- having dinner plans with my family this Friday

- working from an office for my next contract next month and not having all my resources

- a work lunch next week

In summary
I occasionally feel daunted by the road ahead, but mostly excited that I've started this journey.

Fatty. Xx