These sexy mums have shifted their baby weight - and a few pounds beside - on a new French diet which, it is claimed, allows you to eat whatever you want. Yes, whatever you want. Unless it's not pure protein. And unless it's Thursday.

It's time for Atkins, cabbage soup and grapefruit to move over. The Dukan diet is so hot that it is already Amazon's No1 diet book - even though it doesn't go on sale until May 13. More than 1.5 million French women already swear by the slimming regime devised by nutritionist Dr Pierre Dukan 10 years ago. And over the last decade it has spread by word of mouth, web forum and blog to 20 countries. Now translated into English, it is set to be the bikini diet for the summer.

Marvel

Jennifer Lopez, an adherent of the Dukan diet, has recently showed off a foxy new figure, two years after becoming mum to twins Emme and Max. Jennifer, 40, said recently: "I just remember being pregnant and marvelling at the hugeness of every area of my body. I'd stand there naked and look in the mirror from all angles. I did marvel at how my already ample rear end was now humongous!"

Explaining her weight loss she said: "I worked out a lot. I struggled to get rid of the last 20 pounds. I had to change my eating habits after having the twins. I eat a lot less now than I used to. But I love bread and you're not allowed bread with most diets."

La Lopez is not the only celeb to show off a fabulous new figure. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen, who gave birth to son Benjamin four months ago, has also sprung back into super-slender shape and was even confident enough to wear this clingy, purple dress in Paris earlier this month. And Jessica Szohr, the star of TV teen drama Gossip Girl, says the diet suits her perfectly because it lets her keep up her daily rhythm of sport, filming and shopping without feeling like she's on a diet. She says: "I eat lots of animal and vegetable proteins in the form of meat and soya and I never feel hungry. If I overindulge, I make up for it the following day by exercising or by eating smaller portions." The Dukan diet is structured in four stages. First is the attack phase, a protein-only diet - think meat, fish, eggs and non-fat dairy products - designed to promote rapid weight loss. Slimmers are also encouraged to drink three litres of water a day.

Not only are proteins harder for the body to digest - therefore burning more calories - but they also help suppress the appetite. By sticking to protein and avoiding carbs, dieters can lose as much as 7lb in five days. If the goal is to lose more they are allowed to continue with the attack phase for up to 10 days.

Dr Dukan also allows dieters to include a tablespoon of oat bran every day which swells in the stomach to cause "fullness" and also helps ease constipation. After the attack phase, Dukan dieters move to the cruising phase where pure protein days alternate with protein and vegetable days. This is designed to bring an average weight loss of 2lbs per week.

On vegetable days you can enjoy unlimited veggies as well as meat, fish and non-fat dairy products. This phase is kept up until you reach your target weight. Next comes the consolidation phase, designed to prevent the "rebound" effect that can occur after any rapid weight loss. In it five days of every week are more relaxed. The diet is gradually relaxed with treats such as fruit, bread, cheese and pasta being gradually reintroduced.

To keep temptation at bay Dr Dukan even encourages you to pig out for two meals a week eating whatever you want - including alcohol or chocolate. The idea is that no food should be seen as out of bounds as long as everything is in moderation and the basic principles of the diet are followed. During consolidation dieters are not meant to lose weight but they should not gain any either.

The final stage, stabilisation, allows you to eat whatever you like - apart from one day a week, preferably a Thursday, when you go back to your protein-only rule. Stick to this simple rule for ever, says Dr Dukan, and you will remain slim. Explaining the thinking behind the diet he says: "Calorie-counting does not work - dieters' brains don't work like that.

To the surprise of both men the friend had lost 10lb and then went on to lose a further 6lb in the next five days. Over three decades Dr Dukan put together the achievable diet. In France women everywhere can be seen abstaining from carbs on a Thursday to set themselves up for unrestricted eating for the rest of the week. "By sticking to protein one day a week, you can lose 1.5lb to 2lb instantly," says Dr Dukan.

The 4 phases

Attack: Lasting 2-7 days. You eat 72 'as much as you like' protein foods to give your body a jump start

Cruising: Alternate protein days with protein and veg days for an average weight loss of 2lbs a week

Consolidation: Prevents rebound effect. This phase lasts five days for every pound previously lost.

Stabilisation: Follow the Dukan Diet for one day a week for the rest of your life

Can you du it? ...Yes Dukan

Breakfast: Coffee or tea, two small non-fat yogurts or 225g non-fat cottage cheese, and one slice of turkey, chicken or low fat ham, or one boiled egg.

Snack: One small non-fat yogurt or 115g of non-fat cottage cheese.

Lunch: Crab sticks, chicken leg, poached salmon fillets or pepper steak with egg custard for pudding.

Snack: One non-fat yogurt and a turkey slice. DINNER: Prawns sauteed in herbs and tandoori chicken escalopes or moules mariniere and boiled beef and no-sugar vanilla creme, plus an oatbran pancake.

Might be too fast

Nutritionist Carina Norris Says: Getting enough protein is important when you're losing weight as it helps you to feel full. But this diet is extreme and I think it would be difficult to fit it into a busy lifestyle. The weight loss is also much quicker than I'd recommend, especially as most people find when they rush weight loss it can quickly go back on again.

Although this diet claims to beat the body's way of putting back weight you've lost, it's really fighting against everything your body wants. I'd be happier for someone to lose weight more slowly, combining a healthy, slightly reduced calorie diet with exercise - aiming to lose no more than 2lbs a week.

Source: Daily Mirror

Pic:blogs.babble.com