Wednesday, 17 December 2008
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How French Women Stay Skinny
I read a really fun book recently, French Women Don't Get Fat. The author, Mireille Guiliano, discusses how rich and fattening the French diet is, yet how rarely French people are overweight.
Studying abroad in America, Guiliano gained over twenty pounds. She suggests that there is something in the French philosophy and lifestyle that makes healthy eating more accessible.
I actually really like the key to Guiliano's diet philosophy because it's so simple -- eat when you're hungry, don't eat when you're not, and more importantly, eat whatever you want.
I know we've had a lot of posts about different diets on this site, but I think any diet where you're severely limiting your food choices is counterproductive.
Guiliano's only suggestion is quality over quantity -- if you do indulge in a slice of triple chocolate mousse cake, make sure you eat only as much as needed to satisfy you (ie not the whole cake). Also, pass over the bread bowl or pass over a food that you don't necessarily like that day.
Have you ever been on a successful diet? Have you ever considered Mireille Guiliano's method? Do you think French women don't get fat?
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Comments (58)
Another reason people in European countries are thinner is the weather. When it's very hot you don't usually feel like eating a large, rich dinner, and are just content with things like salads, fruit and lean meat. I'm British, and it's very cold here in the winter months, and not very hot in the summer, which means people want rich, hot food, which in turn makes them put on weight. I was in Italy for five days during the summer, and didn't feel like eating much at all, just eating cold foods like salads, olives and fruit (no dairy, and very little fat). I think I lost about 3 or 4 lbs in the five days I was there.
I won't go into detail, but this book = just like any other diet book. DIETS do not work. PERIOD.
@diamonds_and__dirt@xanga - I'm sorry, but that logic is ridiculous. I have put on weight and lost weight in both hot and cold weather. No. Sorry. I don't buy it.
@littlegirlinabox@xanga - Well perhaps that logic is only true to some people. I for one never have the appetite to eat a huge, fatty meal when the weather is very hot, and I know other people who have also lost weight while in hotter countries, simply as they aren't as hungry as they are in cooler weather.
@FadingFromSight@xanga - No, I didn't say anorexics don't have a "STOP" mechanism, but a skewed one. Most of us will say "the hell with this" when trying to starve themselves on a diet, but for anorexics, there may be a different stopping point for the brain....oh, there IS a different brain chemistry. There is something different about the brain when one WANTS to eat but for a majority of the time, doesn't. Most of us would give in, to our own detriment, in the other direction--we'd overeat and gain weight, while an anorexic may constantly think about food and be able to curb those thoughts and lose weight. What makes them different is obviously due in part what walkintothesea said and other factors.
the best method to weight loss, in my opinion, is adjusting to a lifestyle that keeps you satisfied but losing weight which basically means knowing your limits, knowing when to stop, start and how far to go. too much restricting leads to emotional and physiological problems. well i should just follow my own advise
my 2 rules & it's really simple -
1. Never rush through a meal. Our stomach needs bout 15-20mins to transmit 'I'm full' signals to the brain. This is to make sure I dun eat more than wat is needed by my body.
2. If u feel hungry in between meals, haf a glass of water first cos when dehydrated, our brain will send the 'wrong' msg of us bein hungry for more food & again, we will over-eat. If ur stomach is still growling after that, then get a snack.
Its quite simply really.
1. portions in the USA are huge. If we cut down our portions in half, we would be better off.
2. walk more. If our towns and cities could at least make it easy to walk around, so we didn't need cars to pick up a carton of milk, people could get exercise naturally(rather than going to a gym which not natural exercise)
3. But most of all the food in this country is so processed.
Rice, beans, peas, and frozen vegetables are CHEAPER than fast food. People are just too lazy to cook it.
All you need to do is boil water and season to taste to cook rice, beans, peas and frozen vegetables....