The French Way

I'm curious to see if anybody has read French Women Don't Get Fat. What do you think?

It seems like there are two paths to choose from: schedules meals three times a day (like FWDGF), or a system when you eat solely when you are hungry.

Which one is better?

Yes, I read the book a few years ago and having lived in France twice I totally agree with the author.  Both times I lived there I lost a lot of weight.  First of all, if you live in Paris or the surrounding suburbs you walk everywhere, all day.  No need to bother with a gym.  Even the walk to the train or Metro is usually fairly long.  And the walks are very pleasant as Paris is such a beautiful city, for the most part.  Also, you have a lot of access to fresh, delicious food.  Even though they have our "supermarkets", there are still a lot if individual stores such as bakeries, butchers, ets. on every corner.  And the open markets!  Yogurt you would only dream of over here.  And nothing, but nothing, beats a warm baguette fresh out of the oven with a delicious cheese or a little jam, or all by itself.  I miss it terribly.  Yes, I'm a francophile. 

Anyway, while fast food is becoming more and more of a bad influence, I think the culture is strong enough to withstand it.  While the teenagers may be eating the junk when they're out and about, Maman and Papa are usually finding the time (even if it's late at night) to prepare a very delicious and nutritious meal.  The family I lived with always made a great dinner, even though they both worked full time, featuring awesome salads and dessert was always cheese and/or fruit.  They don't bother with all of those fancy chocolates you see in the bakery windows unless it's a special occasion.

Vive la France!

Yes, I read the book a couple of years back and thought it was a good read and enjoyable.  I walked away with some good thoughts like walking more, eating more whole foods and taking the time to buy some fresh flowers for the table. 

 But after reading meyer67's post I feel like reading it again and visiting France - I've never been there but it sounds really nice.

This was interesting reading!! I am an english person who has recently moved to the USA. I have had some real problems with the food here. Things that look the same as things back home just aren't. They seem to be laden with calories and full of artifical colorings. For the first time ever I have had to check the calorie content of what I eat. I arrived here 8 months ago a slim 116 pound individual. within a short space of time that changed to almost 130 - yikes!! 

A vanilla shake from Chickfila - 700 calories...... no wonder I was in trouble... but it was soooo yummy. 

So after experiencing severe indigestion for several weeks I decided to detox myself using a previous successful detox diet from Carole Vorderman - an annoying woman on the TV in the UK, but in very good shape nonetheless. The diet involves eating only fruit, veg,rice,soya based products,nuts and cuts out sugar,meat,dairy,chocolate,eggs and wheat. I felt soooo much better after just 10 days - you can do it for a month. Gradually I have re introduced foods making sure they are suitable for me.... 

I am pleased to say that now I am back down to 121 pounds and my clothes now fit me a little better to say the least. 

I have travelled to Europe, have eaten their foods and observed their lifestyle. Anyone who thinks the french or Italians are less stressed than americans - well - you should try driving on their roads!!

I find things here in Georgia are very laid back in comparison to my former life in the UK. I love the food here too - just wish you had more products made from soy - particularly yogurts and desserts. I miss the products made by Alprosoy They have them in Canada - so maybe one day.... and I cannot wait for Innocent smoothies to get here. If ever you go to the UK or certain european countries look for them in the supermarkets - total yum...

I lived in France for a year in the early 80s and, so help me God, I did not see one single overweight woman.  Not one.  For an entire year.  There were some older women who were "solid" but not a single obese person in the country.  I had a very difficult time finding clothes as a size 14 American.  And they usually had to search for shoes to fit me (I'm an 8 1/2).   Women were tiny, compact and well-dressed. 

I never saw anyone snack.  Even an apple was something to enjoy and French people ALWAYS peeled and sliced fruit and ate it slowly.  You NEVER saw someone crudely, disgustingly just BITE into an apple. 

Breakfast was light and sometimes included a bit of chocolate and bread.  Always a large coffee with milk or tea.

Lunch was heaviest but tiny portions of many things.  Their yogurt even comes in itty bitty containers. 

Dinner was more like what many of us would consider a healthy appetize or snack.

I, on the other hand, stopped at the pastry store every day and remained a fat American. 

I bought a bag of potato chips from an import store in France to share with my host family.  I took a huge handful.  Each of them took 2 or 3 chips.  That's how the French were eating in 80-81. 

And half the French were raising hell about the Amercian influence and trying to stop Disney from opening a park.  The other half said, "Give us American!"

Original Post by newdays18:

I lived in France for a year in the early 80s and, so help me God, I did not see one single overweight woman.  Not one.  For an entire year.  There were some older women who were "solid" but not a single obese person in the country.  I had a very difficult time finding clothes as a size 14 American.  And they usually had to search for shoes to fit me (I'm an 8 1/2).   Women were tiny, compact and well-dressed. 

I never saw anyone snack.  Even an apple was something to enjoy and French people ALWAYS peeled and sliced fruit and ate it slowly.  You NEVER saw someone crudely, disgustingly just BITE into an apple. 

Breakfast was light and sometimes included a bit of chocolate and bread.  Always a large coffee with milk or tea.

Lunch was heaviest but tiny portions of many things.  Their yogurt even comes in itty bitty containers. 

Dinner was more like what many of us would consider a healthy appetize or snack.

I, on the other hand, stopped at the pastry store every day and remained a fat American. 

I bought a bag of potato chips from an import store in France to share with my host family.  I took a huge handful.  Each of them took 2 or 3 chips.  That's how the French were eating in 80-81. 

And half the French were raising hell about the Amercian influence and trying to stop Disney from opening a park.  The other half said, "Give us American!"

 

 

 Oh, and none of those thin women jogged, swam or went to the gym.  I, the fat American, jogged and swam laps.   I was the only one exercizing in Strasbourg, I'm not kidding.

I read an amazing book on the french diet..... see

http://www.montignac.com/

I have read the book and Mirielle Guiliano is a delight! The book mainly emphasizes portion control and exercise. When Mirielle spoke of making all those trips up the stairs to her sixth floor apartment when she was in college (after she had lost all the weight she gained in America) something about that really clicked so I decided to try it. The only place I could find with access to that many steps was our local hospital stairwell. I went once a week and climed the 4 flights(mostly coming back down on the elavator)untill I would do over 1000. It took me about 40 mins. I also walked about 3 miles a day except the day I would do steps. Wow, what a difference this made in my exercise routine! I was losing about 5 to 6 lbs. a week without rigorous dieting. Unfortunately I injured my knee playing basketball (I am 48 years old and my teenage son pointed out that old people shouldn't play basketball and he could be right!)I had to stop all exercise for a few weeks. I regained 10 lbs.! Even if you are not overweight this book is a great read!

I havnt read all three pages of these posts, but what I have skimmed over it seems like I got something different out of this book than most.  I really really enjoyed it as it affirmed something I already belived in and followed.  I also call it the ''Audrey Hepburn" diet, as she claims to eat absolutely everything, just not much of it!  A a calorie counter this makes complete sense to me, dont take anything out of your day to day diet, just reduce it.  And make it all balance.  If you have a croissant (sp?) for breakfast, have a salad for lunch!  If you crave something, eat it for goodness sakes, but eat a little of it and put it away once you have tasted it and savored it.  If you deny yourself what you are craving, instead of enjoying say a small peice or two of chocolate, you will end up a couple of days later eating a huge block! 

I never go on a diet I could not sustain for the rest of my life.  I used to and that just resulted in yo yo dieting.  I believe eat healthily for life.  Savor food, appreciate it without denial or bingeing.  Thats what I got from this book too.

Original Post by pixieninja:

I read this book, and I truly enjoyed it!   It certainly made me hyper-aware of every ingredient on my food labels.  It IS amazing how many man-made chemicals we consume everyday without questioning them.   For quite a while I was living the philosophy of the book to the best of my ability and continuing to lose weight.   It is nice to remind myself that you can enjoy anything, as long as it's in moderation.

I found it hard, though, to use the advice found in that book (eating by intuition), and calorie counting.  I think that's when I first fell off of counting my calories, and I went astray.  Unfortunately for me, intuitional eating is not my forte.   My emotions screw all of that up.  

I did take some good advice away from it.   Eat well!  Make the calories you eat worthwhile nutritionally AND make sure they satisfy you.  Savor your meal!  And I totally agree with  tciherr!  The square of dark chocolate thing is perfect!   I never thought I could be so satisified by one little square of chocolate.  The trick is to pick a really good brand of dark chocolate.   Then just savor every chocolatey moment of it.   Godiva's my favorite, but I loved those Ghiradelli squares too.   Not a big fan of Hershey's. 

I couldnt agree more about the book. My mum follows many of the broad guidelines here. Shes 60, enjoys wine and chocolates in small quantities, eats slowly and savours her food. Shes in great health mentally and spiritually, and so totally my role model.

Perhaps its a different book or he has changed his toughts over the years....

Exercise

    He actually had a section stating you can lose weight from exercise,  which a partly agree with,  it takes a hell of a lot of exercise to burn of that big mac!!  Sure exercise has a million benefits,  but also best not to eat the big mac.

Portion control

There was nothing what so ever about this, it was all about the type of food you eat and the combination of foods,  nothing what so ever about controlling portions.

 Basically the book is a low GI diet and explains the French diet is low GI……AIt’s a little similar to the Atchison diet but perhaps a little healthier.    There&rsquo ;s nothing to say don’t each as much cheese as the French!!  Quite the opposite.

And it works very well.  I lose a lot of weight following his advice…. But never stuck to it L

I've read the book and it really helped me analyze how I looked at food.  I have always been a fast eater and thus usually eating too much.  By focusing on what I was eating it really helped me pay more attention.  Even following the guidance to write down every thing you eat when you first start really helps you focus on what you are nourishing your body with (or not).  I also wrote down the calories and this really helped me ask myself, is the pleasure I will get from this item worth it.  I treat my calories like a budget, don't throw your money away!

Original Post by jenniferar:

I treat my calories like a budget, don't throw your money away!

That`s a very good way to look at it! Sometimes when I feel tempted to eat junk I talk myself out of it by reasoning that it`s not a very good "deal", calorie and nutrition-wise.

I agree with you kckatl re: the French eating less processed food.  My host mom would shop at the markets and little shops almost daily.  I think I had something different and delicious every night for dinner plus a couple glasses of wine.  I think the BIG difference between their way of eating and the American way is that meals can drag on for hours!  I remember several meals lasting 3-4 hours.  I'm not saying every dinner should last that long, but some Americans can scarf down a meal in 10 min. Eating slowly is really beneficial for your digestion and makes you savor your meal.  I try to take at least 20 min. to eat dinner.  It's hard at first, but you get used to it and realize it gives your mind time to react to your fullness. 

Please to those of you who noticed the suggestion to try fois gras, I beg of you, give it a pass.  Fois gras or fatty liver as it is called in English, is obtained by jamming a steel pipe down a restrained ducks throat.  Mashed grain is pumped in until their poor stomach is about to burst and this happens several times a day.  The result is gross obesity and a hugely diseased liver.  Each bird is confined in a cage so small that they CANNOT move and each meal forced on them is the equivelant of you eating several pounds of cooked pasta at one sitting.  How do you feel when you overeat?  So again, leave the fois gras alone, and if you truly wish to educate yourselves, do a search on fois gras abuse, video and see for yourselves what it is all about.  Please don't contribute to the suffering of these poor creatures!

Peace and joy of life to you all.

Debby

Original Post by thhq:

I read the book and enjoyed it.  It reminded me of the 16 months that I lived there.  I didn't weigh myself, but I probably dropped 25 lbs, which I gained back pretty quickly when I got back to the USA.

I remember spending a night looking for a ring which had fallen off my much thinner ring finger.....

 

I attribute the weight loss more to walking ALL THE TIME EVERYWHERE than to watching the calories that I ate.  Living in a city made that easier than it is now in the US suburbs.  [The French suburbs are even tougher - no safe place to be a walker there on roads with no shoulders or sidewalks and very fast drivers.] 

To answer the original question regarding 3 meals a day. I've been more successful losing weight and keeping it off in the USA.  It makes no difference whether you eat 3 or 6 meals as long as you count the calories and maintain an overall slight deficit.  The most important lesson from my stay in France wasn't to count my meals but to KEEP MOVING.

I agree 100% with this.. and I had to laugh because I had the EXACT same experience with a ring when I was living in Paris.  I lost so much weight unintentionally (from walking constantly), that my ring flew off my finger and into the path of an oncoming metro train.  Thanks, you brought back a funny memory!

I will agree that city life is very different than life in the suburbs or rural areas.  In general, people in cities walk more, and maybe we're taking our cues from Parisians who certainly walk a lot more than someone living in a rural area of the US.

I bought the book years ago and read part of it. I'm overweight, but blend in so well with my fellow countrymen, that people tell me I don't need to lose weight. Unfortunately I recently found out my cholesterol is too high. I have 3 months (half way there) to lose weight, increase exercise and reduce stress or I go on medication. I went to Jenny Craig (didn't even think about the French Women Don't Get Fat!) and haven't lost the 25 pounds needed to be in the "normal range". Shoot, I'd be happy to lose 10 pounds!! I read every post here and am feeling inspired! I'm going to pull out the book and re-read it. I'm going to insist on eating as a family, include a salad course, yogurt course and  fruit course along with the meat and vegetable plate we always prepare. 

Another thought ... One thing they have here in Los Angeles are weekly farmer's markets all over the city. My husband goes weekly, but if I go to one on a different day we could have fresh food all the time! And if I can find one after work or on the weekends in walking distance I can put a French spin on living in southern California! It will be a challenge in this car town, but worst case I can just park my car a distance and walk! Wish me luck!!!

casablanca good luck! I'm totally 100% behind you on getting into the more European lifestyle. Sometimes it may seem awkward when so many are driving cars around you and you feel like the only one walking, but remember that YOU are losing the weight and someday YOU will be the super healthy strong women and the people in their cars will eventually just get fat (haha besides the ones that workout and such)

Your ideas sound great! Literally keep the book by you a lot for the first couple of weeks because it can help keep you motivated. Remember be patient and live like a French woman!

CLAIRELAINE  re: breakfast in Italy vs. America. You did mention that your mornings started with coffee, a bit of bread and apricot jam... sounds like breakfast to me... again, I think the America vs. the rest of the world issue has more to do with PORTIONS and PACE.

I was at dinner with friends Friday night and split a main dish and two veggie sides with another gal. I did not have any bread, nor did I take a bite of the appetizers that were ordered for the table. Still, I felt incredibly overfull eating a half-portion of my meal.

The American portion is truly oversized.

Also, we are in far too much of a hurry. Everything in our world is about "getting it done." It's a simple fact that on-the-whole, Americans no longer eat at the table. We grab a cereal bar or toaster pasty or muffin for breakfast. We eat at our desks for lunch. We microwave our meals in less than 3 minutes. Conservative "family values" groups have railed agains this trend for decades and point to our fast food lifestyle as part of the erosion of our culture. I bring this up, not to promote those extremists (as I certainly disavow many of their opinions), rather to point out that the effect of our cultural pace in America is indisputable.

One thing I have really enjoyed about particpating in the CalorieCount.com program is that it has made me slow down and control my portions. I'm certain that has as much to do with my losing 24 lbs so far, especially since I didn't begin exercising in earnest until the last 5 weeks.

Yes, it is also indisputable that the rest of the world (France, Italy, elsewhere) are picking up our bad habits. Fast Food is an extremely fast growing market segment. And, they are also working longer hours, taking shorter lunch breaks. Their waistlines are expanding. However, there still remains a marked difference on the whole when visiting, not only major cities in Europe but the countryside village as well:  Portions are smaller; Pace is slower. People are thinner and healthier than Americans overall.

Thanks for the encouragement Claudb89! I'll keep you all posted. Kckat! you're right about portion control. I went to lunch with a girlfriend this weekend, ordered grilled trout .. real healthy! Unfortunately I had 2 side orders and ate every bit! 2 would have been ok if had split both.