"French women don't get fat" following the book.

kommodevaran

I have read the book. I agree with the principles and aim to adhere to them now - small portions of delicious food instead of large amounts of so-so foods, and only eating meals, so snacking, at least no grazing (all of those habits were my downfall). None of the recipes in the book sounded appetizing to me. I google recipes by ingredients instead. I eat cheese and fruit and nuts, but rarely bread. My taste has become more refined, I am seeking both the exotic and the traditional, and I can eat foods I used to fear: Sardines, pickles, beets, dates, oysters, eggs. I still have potatoes, carrots and pork chops, pasta, rice, peas and salmon. I love food now.

lagourmande18

Hi hollybeam94,

I read the book about 5 years ago and still follow it. Yes, it does equate to eat less, move more. But it emphasizes a better relationship with food.

Key Points:
More vegetables & fruit
Seasonal Eating
Good quality cuts of meat
Occasional treats
Cooking at home
Eating slowly, eating well
Portion sizes (e.g. a whole chicken breast from the shop is often 6-10 oz when a single portion is 3-4 oz!)
Attitude towards food (most important I think)
Find your own way to exercise (if the gym is for you, great, if not - walk, swim, yoga, dance, row, whatever so that you move more!)

To talk about food attitudes - As a Canadian, I have definitely seen first hand the guilt people have about food. Girls I know would have two cocktails & a piece of cake & spend 3 hours at the gym the next day! It's crazy. Whereas my mother's attitude was always the opposite. She is European, she would eat what she liked and while has put on a little weight now that she is in her 60s has never been overweight. She has always practiced small modifications after the holidays to help her return to her equilibrium. She never feels guilty about the food she eats & she has always eaten very well. All of her friends from Europe (German, Swiss, Belgian, Dutch, etc.) also seem to have this philosophy engrained in them. Whereas her Canadian friends seem to struggle more. This book reminds me of the lessons I learned growing up.

I re-read the book about once a year, particularly after the holidays or periods of lots of travel to remind me of healthy eating. It reminds me that my "offenders" - bread, pasta & chocolate - are my fall-backs when I'm busy or stressed. So I try to always have a supply of healthy alternatives in the freezer. I have friends who are paleo & while I'm not that into it, I did adopt some things from them like replacing pasta with spiralized vegetables (letting me have cream & cheese in my "pasta" guilt-free!). And also using nut flours & natural sweeteners (honey, maple syrup) when I want a treat. I still eat wheat about once a week (only because it's too easy for all of my meals to revolve around it), but dessert now is mostly fruit & smoothies. Of course saying that I did eat my bodyweight in chocolate cake this weekend!

I'm on MFP because of "vanity pounds", I'm within my healthy BMI, but was on the upper end for a while (of the healthy BMI) & want to make sure I am eating better and moving more. I live in Europe now, without a car, so walking, running errands, going to class (I'm a student) keeps me in shape because I'm almost always on the verge of being late! And a little yoga & a barre class whenever I can fit it in (which is max 2-3x per week).

If you like Mireille's philosophy & recipes, also look at her cookbook (I'm a Magical Breakfast Cream fanatic) & French Women for All Seasons. Reminding myself of her philosophy (and mine & my upbringing) has kept me from ever gaining a huge amount of weight.

Sorry this post is so long! I am such a huge fan of this book and philosophy.

agbmom556

rabbitjb wrote: »

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2007/07/low-fat-chicken-recipes.html

here you go re chicken

plus google recipes and amend them

then make it work in your overall calories

Thanks!

Calliope610

LINIA wrote: »

Hi Holly,

yes I read and enjoyed the book very much. It seemed to me that the French women ( in the book) do not drive everywhere as we here in the U.S. are prone to do. It also seemed to suggest that eating with others and talking a lot takes the place of second and third helpings ---- also the desserts seem to be an important part of meals but often dessert is fresh fruit , here we know dessert is usually huge with many calories. Portion sizes, of course, are smaller in Paris.

after reading the book, further research divulged that French women who spent a lot of time in the United States usually picked up our bad habits including eating processed foods, fast foods, chips etc--- here on this forum, ppl will give advice that isn't helpful but you'll also eventually find very nice MFPers who are kind and reasonable

Thank you! Its nice to see someone understood my post!
It is a really interesting book and even though I'm only a little way in it is already apparent that the French eating styles are something similar to my own (only I'm less disciplined haha) but are easy, manageable changes I could make!
Did you try the leek soup thing?
I actually paid for a meal and excersise plan that had me eating the oddest concoctions that left me unsatisfied especially after completing 100 squat/ burpee challenges

So the French women basically "eat less, move more". Isn't that what smaller portions and being more pedestrian means??

Timorous_Beastie

I haven't read the book, but my plan is to make every last thing I eat delicious, and I have no problem fitting that into my calorie goal, even with generous portion sizes. I'm not going to want to stick with something if I'm not happy, and I'm not going to be happy with plain chicken breast and steamed vegetables.

Nuka_Gina

I didn't even know this book existed! Thanks for pointing it out!

onyxgirl17

This is an interesting topic, thanks for posting!

For those who say "eat less, move more" I believe we all get that, this is more of an approach to the psychology of eating right. I'd love to not have to count calories all the time.

JenniferIsLosingIt

hollybeam94 wrote: »

Alright guys, thanks for your great, motivational tips
I was referring to eating more enjoyable foods rather than plain chicken and steamed vegetables and protein shakes. And getting my exercise done in more enjoyable, stimulating ways rather than pounding a treadmill for an hour.
Besides, I wasn't asking for advice. I was asking for companions and experiences

fearlessleader104 wrote: »

Eat less and move more. There is no magic involved.

Dont let people like this discourage you. JERK! OP was simply asking if you had read a prticular book!

mistikal13

I read the book last summer and took away some great tips for pleasurable eating.

exstromn

I like the general idea here, and I like to think I eat what I like and tastes good just less of it. I've never been a fan of "diet" foods and I like to try new foods. Here in the US as someone mentioned before, we use our cars to go everywhere when we could be walking or biking shorter distances. Enjoy your new approach, I hope it works for you:)

EmmaFitzwilliam

Dragn77 wrote: »

I find that the richer and tastier a dish is, the less of it I need to be satisfied. I remember the first time i went to a fine dining restaurant, and I ordered ravioli... It came with 3..yes THREE ravioli on my plate. I looked at it like OMG are you SERIOUS?!

But by the time I made it to the last one, I was stuffed...it was SO good that I was slowly eating it and savouring every bite of it. Very different from when Id get a big plate of pasta and I just shovel it down... and for sure, a lot less calories too.

I think that is a big part of it though, smaller portions, but packed with fresh, full on flavour, that you actually taste and enjoy the process of eating. At home, that is what I strive for...which is I dont use low fat, no fat, low this, diet that... I just have the real deal in sensible portions. When we go out, what comes on my plate literally can be 2 or even 3 meals...

Add to it making a lifestyle of being active (trying my best to get my 10k steps in! But trying to walk more, drive less..) and yes..BASICALLY its eat less / move more. But the method of actually eating enjoyable foods, and being active as a lifestyle, doing things you enjoy rather than forcing yourself to eat bland food or forcing yourself to the gym if that is not somethign you enjoy, that I think is the difference that can really help.

^^^^
So much this.

The more calories a food has, the more important it is to really experience eating that food.

I don't multi-task while eating calorie dense foods. When I eat a half cup of gelato, I sit down, use a small spoon, and taste every bite. If I eat a pastry, I focus on the pastry. I never eat calorie dense foods while in motion (as I walk, or as I drive).

But don't limit really savoring the taste of food to high calorie foods. Appreciate how good those berries taste, or the crunch of celery, or whatever works for you.

Healthy weight is not self flagellation with food. If you don't like a food, it doesn't matter how healthy it is, it's not a good choice for you.

The rest of it is, yes, more activity. Just walking is *huge*; also weight lifting and higher intensity cardio for more calorie burn are great, but don't snub lots of walking. 12,000 steps a day gives me an extra 375 calories to play with!

jgnatca

I've mapped out the walking route to our local Wal-mart, and it's 2.5km. This summer that will be eminently do-able.

Unknown

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jgnatca

"The Family" (2013), a topical movie. You'll love the grocery store scene. French and Italian dishes are on display.

lemurcat12

hollybeam94 wrote: »

I've been reading this book for a short time now and I'm feeling really good about the idea of eating for pleasure. I've tried eating clean and restrictive but I haven't made any weight changes because I just lost so many foods! Has anyone else read the book or followed the tips? Or in fact want to try it with me?

I've never read it, but that sounds appealing to me. I found focusing on eating mindfully and making sure I really appreciated what I was eating and making everything as delicious as possible quite helpful. I would tend to agree with those who argue that the US has a screwed up food culture (not sure if you are American, but I am), in that there seems to be this weird focus on either eating as much as possible cheaply (all you can eat! giant servings) or being over the top with the deprivation (diet foods and the idea of pleasure in food as almost sinful).

What is your take away from the book so far?

duplicitous

Most Eurpoean cities are mobile by hoofing it rather than driving and this by far aids to their trim figures. I think that alone will bring results to anyone. If the book sounds like something that would work for you and is enjoyable, why not give it a try?

farfromthetree

I think this is why a lot of people on here get upset when someone says they are giving up sugar, dairy, carbs or whatever. It is no fun to eliminate the foods we enjoy and is a recipe for failure. We need to satisfy cravings. I find when I eat less of the food I enjoy, I am not as hungry than if I were to eat huge portions of tasteless foods.
That being said, some people are not able to control their "off switch" and it may be better for them to avoid their trigger foods until they are more in control. I feel lucky that I can have that one little piece of chocolate or 1 ounce of cheese and stop.

duplicitous

jessiruthica wrote: »

I've read (not in this particular book, but other places) about eating higher quality, tastier food but just eating less of it. It only takes a little bit, for instance, of roquefort cheese to get that hit of taste whereas it takes quite a lot of crappy cheap cheese, with which you may never actually enjoy the taste. Also, because roquefort (or really good wine or premium dark chocolate or whatever) is a stronger taste, you actually *can't* eat as much of it. I'd rather have one square of really good chocolate over a lot of average chocolate any day!

I would agree to this statement whole heartedly.

amysj303

Just reading this, I have to agree with those who find the idea of chicken and steamed veggies for life depressing. I was reading a People magazine with those who "lost half their size" and in the "what they eat" part it was always boring, horrible stuff.
I think I will try two days per week at 500 cals, or fasting before a meal out.
I think it's easier to eat intuitively, for me, when I am not working out because it makes me so hungry, and I want to reward myself for the hard work...

Terryb99

I work for a French company. When I go back to the home office, I am amazed at the food.
They tell me it is the smaller portions, eaten over a long period of time, that helps. When they take me out, 2 hours is the shortest dinner I have ever had, most are 3 even 4 hours.
Combined with a lot of walking that most urban people do, they don't get as fat as one would think, lol
But times are changing they warn. More fast food and eat on the run is happening.

DWBalboa

Hello Holly,
I have not read the book in fact I have not heard of it. But would agree that there is more to food than just deriving the energy from it.
I come from an Italian family (well half of my family is) and we sat at the table for every dinner, we would talk about our day and just enjoy each other’s company. Every Sunday we would go to my Nona’s and have a big Sunday dinner with all of our family my uncle and Aunt and all my cousins would be there we would spend hours at the table, talking, joking, laughing, reminiscing.
Food should be enjoyed and how we eat and what we eat should be enjoyed as well. So mangiare bene!

lemurcat12

duplicitous wrote: »

Most Eurpoean cities are mobile by hoofing it rather than driving and this by far aids to their trim figures.

I think this is really important, although I managed to get fat in a walkable US city (I was not walking as much as I could and should have been, though). When I first committed to losing weight one of the first things I did was make myself walk everywhere possible, and I think that was related to the fact that I managed to lose significantly more than predicted at the calories I was eating.

Dragn77

I will say this. .. because of this thread, I've decided to challenge myself this week to walk, instead of drive to places within 2 miles of me. Pretty much everything, including my job, is within 2 miles, yet I get in my car to go everywhere. Like a typical American! Lol

I've been struggling with hitting my 10k steps and this thread got me to thinking of everyday lifestyle changes... and so I walked to work today. Sort of dreading the walk back lol but whatever. So yeah, thank you for the inspiration

radmack

A common theme seems to be that they also smoke instead of eating . . .

spzjlb

I am a professor in the French-speaking part of Canada. Many of our students are direct from France and some of them are heavy, so it is a myth that they are all thin. One young woman was, in fact, quite chubby when she came to our team and rapidly lost 30 lbs by taking up salsa dancing! (Not pounding for hours on the treadmill ) She's still slim, a decade later.

I agree with most of the posts regarding eating SMALL portions of good food. I think that I gained a lot of weight by eating far too much cheese at one sitting. Here, we often end our meals with salad and cheese rather than a sweet dessert. But, boy - you can sure consume a mortifying amount of calories in a few triangles of cheese if you are not careful!!!! A "real" serving of cheese would be an ounce without bread, which is tiny (compared to what I'd rather eat).

Yes, lots of walking in France. Our French students are shocked when they come to Canada and see how spread out our cities are and realise that it is not practical to walk everywhere as in Paris, for example. On the other hand, many people in my neighbourhood (lots of trim Quebecers) take a nice walk after supper, regardless of the weather. We can all do that, and it feels wonderful to get fresh air, even if it is a just 10 min walk in the freezing cold.

Regarding the OP's original post, I am sure that you can eat what you like and expend your calories in the most interesting way possible. Just make sure that the calories IN are fewer than the calories OUT. MFP is a great help to me.

dubird

It all does seem to boil down to 'eat less, move more'. That's what I've been doing, and I'm not surviving on 'diet' foods either. Most of the changes I've made have been portion control. Checking how much I eat, how much I put on my plate, how much I order, etc. If you grow up in the US, you don't always realize just how MUCH food restaurants give you until you start logging. That's been the biggest change for me, and I can still have foods I like. As for exercise, just gotta find something you like doing and do it. It doesn't have to be 'structured' exercise too. Walk to nearby places and restaurants. Park at the end of the parking lot. Always take stairs vs. the elevator. Small things do add up, despite what some people say.

mumblemagic

I really enjoyed the book, and a lot of the advice it gives is based on conclusions I have come to myself - only eat tasty calories, find ways of making exercise fun and get some on your lunch break etc.

However, to burst the bubble of "French women don't get fat".... they do. 25% in fact. Which, while still being among the lowest obesity rates in Europe is still a sizeable portion.

So, while I wholeheartedly agree with most of the advice, don't fool yourself into thinking you no longer need to calorie count.

ninerbuff

hollybeam94 wrote: »

Alright guys, thanks for your great, motivational tips
I was referring to eating more enjoyable foods rather than plain chicken and steamed vegetables and protein shakes. And getting my exercise done in more enjoyable, stimulating ways rather than pounding a treadmill for an hour.
Besides, I wasn't asking for advice. I was asking for companions and experiences

fearlessleader104 wrote: »

Eat less and move more. There is no magic involved.

For over 30 years now, I've eaten what I've wanted and have stayed in reasonably good shape during that time. Life is about balance and part of that balance is ENJOYING foods that bring a smile to your face. I've met people who have the mantra of "eat to live" only and from my experience with them, they just don't seem that happy. Probably because they don't attend enough parties due to the fact that they end up bringing their own foods!! (Yes, it's happened to me a couple of times). Happiness counts and I know so many people disgruntled that they HAVE to stay on a restrictive diet (no medical or health reason involved) to lose weight.
Ask most lean fit people what they eat and they'll usually say "whatever I want, but in moderation".

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

47Jacqueline

fearlessleader104 wrote: »

Eat less and move more. There is no magic involved.

Yes, yes, but there's always something interesting to investigate. I've heard of this book.

I live in NYC and walk everywhere. The subways stop every 10 blocks. 10 blocks is not worth spending $2.75 to get somewhere, so unless it's freezing or pouring, I'm walking (or riding my bike). 10,000 steps is pretty easy to get as a baseline that way and my gym, interestingly enough, is about 11 blocks away.

DawnieB1977

47Jacqueline wrote: »

fearlessleader104 wrote: »

Eat less and move more. There is no magic involved.

Yes, yes, but there's always something interesting to investigate. I've heard of this book.

I live in NYC and walk everywhere. The subways stop every 10 blocks. 10 blocks is not worth spending $2.75 to get somewhere, so unless it's freezing or pouring, I'm walking (or riding my bike). 10,000 steps is pretty easy to get as a baseline that way and my gym, interestingly enough, is about 11 blocks away.

I live in England and walk everywhere, except work. If I don't take my kids out for walks/on their scooters they become like wild caged animals lol.

I read a Bill Bryson book years ago and he talks about the differences between England and the US, and about how people drive to the shop 2 minutes down the road.

England does have an obesity problem now, but I think that's more to do with food than exercise, although of course there will always be lazy people.

French people just have smaller portions, and snack less.