An example to follow...

My name is Audrey, I've just turned 27 and I've shed my unsightly, heavy caterpillar body to turn into a butterfly ...

My Dukan story...

I have never been slim. I never learnt to eat healthily. I enjoyed my food too much; I used to put on between 4 to 6 pounds a year ...

after 15 years of this what I looked like I'll leave it to your imagination.
From being a little bit stout I became overweight verging on the obese, until at 5 foot 8 I weighed in at 13 stone 5 pounds and was wearing a size 20.

I had never liked my body, it was time to do something but I had never been on a diet.

Mid January, I saw on the Internet that there was a method which would give the best possible support and supervision throughout the whole slimming and consolidation process, but also during stabilization. Bingo! That is what decided me and that very same day I got stuck into Pierre Dukan the nutritionist's book and I worked out my true weight on his online coaching site.

By May I had to get down to 10 stone 10 pounds.

I found it hard to believe I could get to it because as an adult I'd never managed this weight as I was by then already quite chubby ...

The first few weeks, I couldn't stop thinking about my old ways but I had a will of iron. Very quietly, almost without you noticing it, good habits find their way.
I've learnt things that will stand me in good stead for the rest of my life, and now it's me offering sound advice to my friends and family who can't get over seeing my pounds melt away before their very eyes whilst I am still tucking into a delicious looking plateful of food. Also I'm constantly in a good mood, who would have believed it!

It's not a diet for me but rather a way of re-inventing the food I eat and (at long last) having a normal relationship with it.
Moreover, it's also an opportunity of coming to terms with those things that make you seek comfort in food and so opening up new horizons for yourself.
Me, who can eat anything and everything, I see the months pass by and I haven't given in NOT ONCE, in spite of invitations out, weddings, dinners...
I resist to temptation, I'm proud of it and this is without having to deprive myself! I wasn't particularly good at cooking and now I'm putting together tasty little dishes to take with me everywhere, for example, my cinnamon meringues, my chicken and tarragon terrines, my curries and even my hazelnut crêpes ...
The people that know me are all flabbergasted saying "That's not a diet you are on!", "Let me taste what you are eating, it looks so good! ...

So it's mid May and here I am having lost 2 stone and 9 pounds, weighing 10 stone and 10 pounds. My family that I don't see that often can't stop paying me compliments, I feel beautiful, I feel well.

The only thing is that now, I feel I've still got the drive to carry on for a few weeks more, being so close to my dream of having a lovely body (I was still a bit curvy as I wasn't taking any exercise). I worked out an exercise programme to build up my muscles and trim down my curves whilst I was still in the cruise phase... A little swimming, cycling, some cardiovascular exercises ... I don't get out of breath and I have loads of energy, and come September I took stock: I weigh 9 stone 11 pounds, wear a size 10 and on top of that I'm in good spirits. Also I have at last got my eating and my well-being under my control.

Consolidation is almost too good to be true; at times my celebrations meals include foods that I'm allowed to eat for other meals! Because that's what I like, because it's doing me good! I've lost another couple of pounds, I still have a long road ahead of me, but I've never had so much confidence in myself and my will power.
I have been in touch again with friends who hadn't seen me for ages and watching their jaws drop when they see the change in me makes me so happy! I've really shown that to everyone!
The most flattering thing is to see some people also starting the Dukan method, saying that I am their role model ...
So then if I can manage it, me who loves my food so much and ate so chaotically, anyone can do it.

• My favorite support Dukan food: Soft boiled eggs.

• My Dukan treat: Chicken curry.

• My favourite form of exercise: The Hula-Hoop (it really is!).

• The nicest compliment I've been paid: "Please help me start the Dukan method, you are my role model".

• What keeps me going: At last I am ME!


• The advice I'd give to others "Dukanians": Get cooking my friends, and you won't get weary or bored! Remember that this is the best way of dealing with those cravings for the food you can't have.