My name is Agathe and I'm 23. I've always been naturally rather on the plump side, easily putting on weight as soon as I eat something I shouldn't!

My Dukan story...

I came across the DUKAN method a few years ago when I was 18, through reading "The Dukan Diet" book.
At that time, I lost 22 pounds but I stopped before I reached the end and I didn't follow the stabilization phase (BIG MISTAKE).

The years went by and the pounds piled on, eating "junk food" and not taking exercise didn't help matters!

Last February, my scales had reached 11 stone 11 pounds and I'm only 5 foot 3 inches tall!

My favorite support Dukan food: Bresaola

My Dukan treat:
flavoured cheese cake

My favourite form of exercise:
walking

The nicest compliment I've been paid:
the way my friends and family look at me with such pride and admiration

What keeps me going:
the happiness of feeling good about my body...and that means feeling good inside my head too!"

The advice I'd give to others "Dukanians":
Persevere! Everyone can do it; with Pierre Dukan's diet programme everyone can feel happy with their bodies!

I refused to see myself as I really was and I made a point of trying to "cover myself up" but then one day, I saw myself on a photo and that was it, the moment that changed everything! I even cried about it, that just shows how upset I was!

After laying my hands again on Pierre Dukan's the nutritionist famous book, and having stocked up with all the right foods I decided to have another go. It was now or never if I was going to lose weight and at long last feel comfortable with my body (which in fact I had).

Motivation is absolutely crucial, mine has never wavered and that is what I'm most proud of and in just under five months I have lost 3 stone and 13 pounds and this summer, the weight I've dreamt of for so long at long last appeared on my scales: 7 stone and 12 pounds!

The pounds just dropped away and all the misery too, I have never felt as at one with myself as I did during these 5 months of dieting!
Being by nature a very greedy person, the "as much as you want" principle suited me down to the ground, and I didn't even give in once to any cravings (except, I admit, for the very occasional sushi).

Everyone kept saying to me "You have so much willpower!" but in all honesty it really wasn't that difficult! I think that I've learnt how to eat properly and from now on how to lead a much healthier lifestyle!

Nowadays, I can't imagine what my life would be like without the DUKAN method, at long last I've got self confidence, I feel stronger and I want to go on!

I fit into a size 8 (can you believe it?), I feel like shouting it from the rooftops!

I no longer dread going to look around clothes shops, I take pleasure in wearing very different clothes to the baggy, black ones I used to put on and now I can look at myself in the mirror and like the pretty reflection that I see there.
What's more, I've spent my first summer with my completely new body and in a swim suit (I had avoided wearing them for years), what a delight!
Today, my challenge is not to put any weight back on, I'm keeping my fingers crossed but for the time being the scales aren't moving!
The stabilization period is essential and it is a struggle at every moment but no pain, no gain and it's certainly worth all the effort!