French Women Don't Get Fat
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Has anyone read this book? What did you think??? I just started reading it tonight.0
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NO I HAVENT READ IT YET, HOW IS IT SO FAR?0
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So far so good. I'm only in the first 2 chapters but basically it is about portion control and no eliminating your have-to-have comfort foods just portion control and have them when you really need them and a receipe for Leek Soup that is supposed to "reset" your balance and deal with water retention.0
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I've been wondering how this bok is. Please share your thoughts when you finish it! The opening chapters sound promising. :bigsmile:0
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I've been wondering how this bok is. Please share your thoughts when you finish it! The opening chapters sound promising. :bigsmile:
Will Do. :happy:0 -
i skimmed it a while ago.
from what i remember, it pretty much reiterates what we're doing here: portion control, nothing is off limits, walk as much as possible, etc.
has lots of recipes and explores concepts of food journals.
interesting concepts. i would recommend it as a good read, dieting or not.0 -
I am now 3/4th through it. It does have some of what we are doing: portion control, not eliminating favorite foods totally from your diet but limiting them, drink water, add more movement, eat more fruit etc.
BUT
It doesn't agree with MFP by not eating between meals, and not eating any of your exercise calories.
It does have lots of recipes which is great for those who want to bake their own bread and make their own yogurt... but I don't enjoy it in my tiny kitchen. :ohwell:0 -
Actually,my mother is in law french and she is not fat. She visited for a week and ate three meals a day. At the end of every meal was a salad,cheese,bread and wine. Dinner lasted 2hrs. It was portion control and enjoying the food and lots of talking.0
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I read the book too awhile back.
It is all about portion control while allowing yourself anything you want to eat. The French aren't into '100 calorie pack' anything. They have the real deal but only a bit of it.
Exercise is a huge difference. The French walk everywhere but gyms or working out are nowhere near as popular as Canada & the US. Most women don't work out.
There's also a huge emphasis for French women about feeling good. They are very in tune with themselves from a young age about feeling good: so not eating too much because you will feel yucky and feeling good about how they look and what they wear.
A French woman would have much, much less clothes in her closet tham someone in the US or Canada. They would spend a lot on a few really good pieces of clothes and wear them over and over again. You probably heard how French women are into lingere, they think that it is important to wear things that make you feel good about yourself and that starts with their underwear.0 -
I read the book too awhile back.
It is all about portion control while allowing yourself anything you want to eat. The French aren't into '100 calorie pack' anything. They have the real deal but only a bit of it.
Exercise is a huge difference. The French walk everywhere but gyms or working out are nowhere near as popular as Canada & the US. Most women don't work out.
There's also a huge emphasis for French women about feeling good. They are very in tune with themselves from a young age about feeling good: so not eating too much because you will feel yucky and feeling good about how they look and what they wear.
A French woman would have much, much less clothes in her closet tham someone in the US or Canada. They would spend a lot on a few really good pieces of clothes and wear them over and over again. You probably heard how French women are into lingere, they think that it is important to wear things that make you feel good about yourself and that starts with their underwear.
I want just a few pieces of nice clothing, including nicer underwear.
Sexy lingerie always makes me feel better about myself, boosts my self esteem.
A red bra under the most boring shirt makes me feel invincible most days.0 -
they don't shave their underarms either.
...so pick your poison. *shrugs*-1 -
they don't shave their underarms either.
...so pick your poison. *shrugs*
That's not true, by the way.
Oh and I'm French. And I'm here. And I've met quite a few fat women there.0 -
they don't shave their underarms either.
...so pick your poison. *shrugs*
That's not true, by the way.
Oh and I'm French. And I'm here. And I've met quite a few fat women there.
prove it. show us your underarms!
-1 -
they don't shave their underarms either.
...so pick your poison. *shrugs*
That's not true, by the way.
Oh and I'm French. And I'm here. And I've met quite a few fat women there.
prove it. show us your underarms!
my underarm hair feels like kitten fur
oh and it's totally the wine in France. Booze and smoking would solve the obesity epidemic in a heart beat. Duh, just ask the French. That's why the language is so damn sexy.0 -
they don't shave their underarms either.
...so pick your poison. *shrugs*
Did you really bump a 4 year old thread to simply, and inaccurately, slam their hygiene. Of which, having met the author of the book, she is immaculately put together, hygiene and all.
Aside from that, your over generalization of a hygiene practice of some women (french or otherwise) in regards to a 4 year old thread discussing a particular book, and the author's recommendations for good diet and lifestyle choices, is odd (polite word).
GRRRRRR fell for it again.0 -
Interesting tidbit:
A couple of years ago we had a French foreign exchange student with us for a year - here in New York USA. She got quite fat while here. Went home to France several sizes larger than she was when she left France the year past.
She is now attending a college in Boston and visited us last weekend. I would not have recognized her. Three years back home in France and living well have slimmed her down beautifully.
I think I'll buy this book the OP is talking about!0 -
Interesting tidbit:
A couple of years ago we had a French foreign exchange student with us for a year - here in New York USA. She got quite fat while here. Went home to France several sizes larger than she was when she left France the year past.
She is now attending a college in Boston and visited us last weekend. I would not have recognized her. Three years back home in France and living well have slimmed her down beautifully.
I think I'll buy this book the OP is talking about!
Lol. You will find it even more interesting then that the author begins her book by discussing her stint in the US as an exchange student and all the weight she put on.
The author, by the way, is the former ceo of the US division of veuve clquot champagne. She is essentially the person that made that label in the States. She is a brilliant buisness woman. She is also tiny, tiny, irrespective of the fact that she eats unabashedly whatever she wants and drinks wine or champagne daily. And last, whe writes well. I've read all three of her books, the last one on women in buisness, and enjoyed them all.0 -
they don't shave their underarms either.
...so pick your poison. *shrugs*
Did you really bump a 4 year old thread to simply, and inaccurately, slam their hygiene. Of which, having met the author of the book, she is immaculately put together, hygiene and all.
Aside from that, your over generalization of a hygiene practice of some women (french or otherwise) in regards to a 4 year old thread discussing a particular book, and the author's recommendations for good diet and lifestyle choices, is odd (polite word).
you're very angry.
you should get that checked out.
maybe you have a tumor or something...
Nope, not angry. I've simply read many of your posts and have formed an opinion of you. You may not like my opinion, but it doesn't stem from a place of anger.0 -
they don't shave their underarms either.
...so pick your poison. *shrugs*
Did you really bump a 4 year old thread to simply, and inaccurately, slam their hygiene. Of which, having met the author of the book, she is immaculately put together, hygiene and all.
Aside from that, your over generalization of a hygiene practice of some women (french or otherwise) in regards to a 4 year old thread discussing a particular book, and the author's recommendations for good diet and lifestyle choices, is odd (polite word).
you're very angry.
you should get that checked out.
maybe you have a tumor or something...
Nope, not angry. I've simply read many of your posts and have formed an opinion of you. You may not like my opinion, but it doesn't stem from a place of anger.
i still think you may have a tumor...
of course that's not a diagnosis, just an opinion.-1 -
Sounds like an interesting read. thanks for making us aware of it.
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I've never read the book but did hear the author talking about it. It's true, the majority of French women enjoy their food and are slim. However, just an observation I've made in 24 years holidaying in France..the number of overweight men and women is increasing. But I suppose that's the same almost everywhere. But I do remember being young in France (say 8 or 9) and always feeling bigger than the French kids...I wasn't overweight then, but as I notice now, their children are much slimmer than children here in Ireland..(a gross generalisation I know).0
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Sadly, though, they're catching the rest of us up....
http://www.parisdailyphoto.com/2006/09/french-women-do-get-fat.html0 -
Interesting tidbit:
A couple of years ago we had a French foreign exchange student with us for a year - here in New York USA. She got quite fat while here. Went home to France several sizes larger than she was when she left France the year past.
She is now attending a college in Boston and visited us last weekend. I would not have recognized her. Three years back home in France and living well have slimmed her down beautifully.
I think I'll buy this book the OP is talking about!
We have had a lot of employees hired out of Puerto Rico that had the same problem - they come to the States skinny and within a few years, succumb to our flawed Midwestern American food culture.0 -
So far so good. I'm only in the first 2 chapters but basically it is about portion control and no eliminating your have-to-have comfort foods just portion control and have them when you really need them and a receipe for Leek Soup that is supposed to "reset" your balance and deal with water retention.
Share that recipe lol... I have water retention like you would not believe! I'm talking 20+ lbs my weight will fluctuate in just days...... I make sure I take my fluid pills for the couple days before my weigh in so I wont be swollen and my weight be that far off the norm.0 -
I think the more McDs people eat at (in Paris or in NY) the more weight/health issues they will have. But the traditional French diet AND culture would certainly help most of us our struggle to get trim and healthy. Cut out the processed food and stick to natural - as close to nature as possible - foods. Portion control and a less sedentary life would also help a lot. As in most self-help books, I think the ideas in this one should not surprise anyone that has done a little research. But, we are always looking for a quick fix when the answer is (as always) one step at a time and don't quit.0
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This is probably a pointless and slightly snotty post, but the title of this book really bothers me, because it's innaccurate.
It's clear that they are speaking about French women in France, but not ALL French women. That's like saying "English Women Don't Get Fat" and only talking about women that live in England. Jeez! Lumping people into defined categories when they do not exist gets a bit under my skin - I know many French-Canadian women who are overweight, so then they don't count as French because they don't live in France? Silliness.
That being said, it is true, from my experiences - I went on an exchange to France years ago when I was 16, and while I easily lost 20 pounds in 3 months just by eating the food that was put infront of me, the poor girl who came to Canada to live with me easily gained 20 pounds from eating the food my family put infront of her. Some of her family members were slightly overweight though, but for all I know there were underlying health issues - most people I saw on a daily basis seemed to be in good physical shape.0 -
This is probably a pointless and slightly snotty post, but the title of this book really bothers me, because it's innaccurate.
Interesting take. I would say it was more of a clever ploy to sell books and use the title (and fascination with the term 'french paradox, etc.) to spur her book to the bestseller's list....something she more than accomplished when it was first released. And it doesn't surprise me given that she took one of the oldest champagne houses in France, virtually unknown in America, and turned it into a regular name with people buying champagne. She is, simply put, a brilliant business woman.
Irrespective of that, and the fact that traditional french eating habits are somewhat in decline, which she has noted regrettably in interviews, the book is a fun and interesting read.0 -
This is probably a pointless and slightly snotty post, but the title of this book really bothers me, because it's innaccurate.
Interesting take. I would say it was more of a clever ploy to sell books and use the title (and fascination with the term 'french paradox, etc.) to spur her book to the bestseller's list....something she more than accomplished when it was first released. And it doesn't surprise me given that she took one of the oldest champagne houses in France, virtually unknown in America, and turned it into a regular name with people buying champagne. She is, simply put, a brilliant business woman.
Irrespective of that, and the fact that traditional french eating habits are somewhat in decline, which she has noted regrettably in interviews, the book is a fun and interesting read.
Makes complete sense! It does sound like it would be an interesting read for sure.0 -
It's clear that they are speaking about French women in France, but not ALL French women. That's like saying "English Women Don't Get Fat" and only talking about women that live in England. Jeez! Lumping people into defined categories when they do not exist gets a bit under my skin - I know many French-Canadian women who are overweight, so then they don't count as French because they don't live in France? Silliness.
Well, they're not French. They're Canadian.
I actually put on like 40 lbs in 2 years when I came to the US. I was chubby to start with (160ish lbs I think), but I walked a whole lot. I lived in the suburbs of Paris, and in Paris for a year, and pretty much walked everywhere (even if it's just to walk to the subway station, you end up walking a lot, switching trains etc). I didn't eat particularly well either, I lived alone for a year and don't know how to cook so was mostly snacking all day, eating a lot of cheese and croissants etc (and McDonald's once a week), but the walking made a huge difference.
I think one of the big differences though is that eating out for lunch over there = maybe 800 calories, here it's pretty much twice that for an average entree. And yeah, people walk to the restaurant/bakery over there to have lunch... here they just drive. And more big companies have cafeterias where you can get semi healthy meals. Here, not so much.0 -
they don't shave their underarms either.
...so pick your poison. *shrugs*
Did you really bump a 4 year old thread to simply, and inaccurately, slam their hygiene. Of which, having met the author of the book, she is immaculately put together, hygiene and all.
Aside from that, your over generalization of a hygiene practice of some women (french or otherwise) in regards to a 4 year old thread discussing a particular book, and the author's recommendations for good diet and lifestyle choices, is odd (polite word).
you're very angry.
you should get that checked out.
maybe you have a tumor or something...
Nope, not angry. I've simply read many of your posts and have formed an opinion of you. You may not like my opinion, but it doesn't stem from a place of anger.
i still think you may have a tumor...
of course that's not a diagnosis, just an opinion.
Wow. What a totally sick thing to say. You resurrected a thread from February 2009- and then come out with something like this? Nothing further to be said, I think your post speaks for itself- and you.
Never saw Kindergarten Cop?
Didn't think so.0
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