A cloudy day eh? What to do mmmmmmmm work on my French skills.
This morning I had a date with one of my gal friends however she was so exhausted
poor thing she could make it [I understand doll, keep working on that beauty
sleep lol!] I had a conversation prepared, which is now up in the air. I know
she likes reading my blog so ill post some of the details here.....
The last section is so true! We always want to be something
different, but I truly don’t take it the Wrong way. When we have a good motive
behind our changes its all good. When you expose yourself to a different perspective
you learn new things, which might inspire you.
I will now share something me and Andy live by, we call it
the French Diet [Boy would the French gals laugh at the word “Diet”] anyhow it’s
not really a diet more like a way to enjoy food without feeling awful and trust
me this mind set is gold, please enjoy….
6
Secret Ways French Women Stay Slim
Ever wonder how chic
French chicks indulge their high-cal cravings (hello cheese and chocolate!) and
still look so damn good? Adopt their so-easy strategies and kiss your fat-gram
calculator au revoir.
Cosmopolitan, February 2003
by Leslie Pepper
Cosmopolitan, February 2003
by Leslie Pepper
It's easy to envy
French women. They always look spectacular yet never seem to deny themselves
the ecstasy of eating great food. Call it a certain Je ne sais quoi, or in
loose Cosmo translation: "Jeez, how do they stay so slim without even
trying?" "The French consume lots of fats, and you'll never see a
French girl on a treadmill," says Will Clower, Ph.D., a neurophysiologist
at the University of Pittsburgh and the author The Fat Fallacy: Applying the
French Diet to the American Lifestyle. Frustrating, we know. But there are
reasons their indulgent lifestyle pays off. Find out why. . . and learn how you
can cop the French food attitude.
FRENCH STAY-SLIM
SECRET #1
They Savor Meals
When the typical French family gathers around the table, the focus is on the pleasure of dining, not on the number of calories consumed, says Paul Rozin, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, who has published extensive research on French and American women's eating habits. Christine, 25, an American who lived in France for more than a year, says this relax-and-relish-your-food mantra helped her shed weight. "The French begin with an aperitif hour, where they'll have olives or crackers, so by the time they sit down to dinner, they're not ravenous," she says. "There's not this sense of 'Eat quickly and then go watch television.' You're enjoying the moment, and since you're giving your body time to digest, you're better able to gauge how full you are."
When the typical French family gathers around the table, the focus is on the pleasure of dining, not on the number of calories consumed, says Paul Rozin, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, who has published extensive research on French and American women's eating habits. Christine, 25, an American who lived in France for more than a year, says this relax-and-relish-your-food mantra helped her shed weight. "The French begin with an aperitif hour, where they'll have olives or crackers, so by the time they sit down to dinner, they're not ravenous," she says. "There's not this sense of 'Eat quickly and then go watch television.' You're enjoying the moment, and since you're giving your body time to digest, you're better able to gauge how full you are."
Frenchies also take
generous pauses between bites, says Clower.
FRENCH LESSONS:
- Always sit down when you're eating.
- Eat Continental style. Hold your fork upside down in
your non-dominant hand the way Europeans do, which paces you.
- Swallow what's in your mouth before putting anything
else in, and set your fork down between bites.
- Listen to mellow music as you dine. The calming beats
encourage slower eating.
FRENCH STAY-SLIM
SECRET #2
They Eat Small
Portions
French women must have kick-ass willpower, right? Well, in some cases, it's easier for them to use restraint because their serving sizes are smaller: A typical croissant in France weighs slightly more than 1 ounce and measures 15 inches around, whereas an American one weighs almost 2 ounces and measures 18.5 inches around. Said simply, French girls' tummies are trained to expect less food.
French women must have kick-ass willpower, right? Well, in some cases, it's easier for them to use restraint because their serving sizes are smaller: A typical croissant in France weighs slightly more than 1 ounce and measures 15 inches around, whereas an American one weighs almost 2 ounces and measures 18.5 inches around. Said simply, French girls' tummies are trained to expect less food.
They also don't
consume as much because their fare is so filling. "In France, I eat
high-fat foods like eggs, cheeses, and meats, which fill me up so fast that I
eat less than when I'm in the States and chow down on what my American friends
do," says Melanie, 31, who grew up in France. Here's why: Fat sets off
cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone that tells your brain when your stomach is
full, Clower says. "In the U.S., we eat fat-free foods, thinking we're
being healthful. But they aren't as satisfying, so you wind up eating
more."
FRENCH LESSONS:
- Whether you're home or at a buffet, dish up less food
than you think you want. You won't be as tempted to eat past the point of
fullness.
- Incorporate healthy fats into meals.
- Add flavor to your food-olive oil, garlic, and fresh
black pepper. You'll enjoy what you're and feel more satisfied with less.
FRENCH STAY-SLIM
SECRET #3
They Indulge Cravings
"I was at a dinner party in France and watched this tiny woman in a tight silver sheath eat a baguette with butter, fish dripping in cream sauce, cheese, red wine--everything I gave up when I tried to lose weight," says Anne Barone, author of Chic and Slim: How Those Chic French Women Eat All That Rich Food and Still Stay Slim. "I was sure she'd say "Non, merci" to dessert, but she ate a whole crème brulee!"
"I was at a dinner party in France and watched this tiny woman in a tight silver sheath eat a baguette with butter, fish dripping in cream sauce, cheese, red wine--everything I gave up when I tried to lose weight," says Anne Barone, author of Chic and Slim: How Those Chic French Women Eat All That Rich Food and Still Stay Slim. "I was sure she'd say "Non, merci" to dessert, but she ate a whole crème brulee!"
French chicks worry
far less than we do about what they eat, proves a study by Rozin. "In
word-association tests, when given the words chocolate cake, French women chose
the word celebration, whereas American women chose the word guilt," he
says. The lean logic: Because no food is forbidden, Frenchies feel entitled to
enjoy a small treat in public. . .and are less apt to scarf down a pint of ice
cream in the dark.
FRENCH LESSONS :
- Treat yourself to one fun food a day, suggests Joy
Bauer, registered dietician and author of The 90/10 Weight-Loss Plan.
"You won't polish off a whole cake today if you know you can have
some tomorrow."
- "Cut the guilt and don't beat yourself up
afterward," says Lauren Slayton, director of Foodtrainers, a
nutrition center in New York City. You won't gain weight from one
cookie--it's feeling deprived and downing a whole box that packs on
pounds.
FRENCH STAY-SLIM
SECRET #4
They Make Lunch their
Biggest Meal
In a study that tracked the eating habits of workers in Paris and Boston, the Parisian participants ate 60 percent of their day's calories before 2 P.M., followed later by a small dinner, so they were less likely to overeat at night. "In the U.S., we tend to starve ourselves all day, so by the time dinner rolls around, we eat anything we can get our hands on," says Adam Drewnowski, Ph.D., director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington, who has been conducting studies on the quality of the French diet for the National Institutes of Health. "In my office cafeteria in Paris, it's normal practice to eat a five-course meal every afternoon, followed by a cup of espresso," Drewnowski explains. It's leisurely and the feeling of being satisfied lasts longer. "The notion of having just a sandwich at your desk does not apply in France." Because of this, nighttime binges lose their appeal.
In a study that tracked the eating habits of workers in Paris and Boston, the Parisian participants ate 60 percent of their day's calories before 2 P.M., followed later by a small dinner, so they were less likely to overeat at night. "In the U.S., we tend to starve ourselves all day, so by the time dinner rolls around, we eat anything we can get our hands on," says Adam Drewnowski, Ph.D., director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington, who has been conducting studies on the quality of the French diet for the National Institutes of Health. "In my office cafeteria in Paris, it's normal practice to eat a five-course meal every afternoon, followed by a cup of espresso," Drewnowski explains. It's leisurely and the feeling of being satisfied lasts longer. "The notion of having just a sandwich at your desk does not apply in France." Because of this, nighttime binges lose their appeal.
FRENCH LESSONS :
- Aim to eat at least half of your day's food at
lunchtime, says Slayton.
- Max out your lunch hour. Instead of eating a
grilled-chicken salad, have a starter salad and a second course of chicken
with vegetables, then an apple and perhaps some Brie for dessert.
- If you eat lunch at your desk, clear it off and use
real plates and silverware.
- Finish off your meal with a strong espresso,
cappuccino, or coffee. Caffeine is a mild appetite suppressant and can
boost your metabolism.
FRENCH STAY-SLIM
SECRET #5
They Don't Snack
'The French eat heartily at meals so they'll be content and won't snack, but Americans restrain themselves so they have to eat more often," explains Barone. According to R. Curtis Ellison, M.D., professor of preventive medicine and epidemiology at Boston University School of Medicine, the French eat less than one snack a day, whereas we tend to chow down on about one to three--which isn't smart. "Research shows that after snacking, people are inclined to eat just as much at meals as they do when they don't snack," says David Levitsky, Ph.D., professor of nutrition and psychology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. "If you want to stay slim, snacking is not the way to do it. You wind up consuming more calories overall." Claire, 31, who grew up in France, gained 9 pounds during the three months she visited the States. "In France, you eat three times a day, but in America, every minute is for eating." When she went home, she lost the pounds pronto.
'The French eat heartily at meals so they'll be content and won't snack, but Americans restrain themselves so they have to eat more often," explains Barone. According to R. Curtis Ellison, M.D., professor of preventive medicine and epidemiology at Boston University School of Medicine, the French eat less than one snack a day, whereas we tend to chow down on about one to three--which isn't smart. "Research shows that after snacking, people are inclined to eat just as much at meals as they do when they don't snack," says David Levitsky, Ph.D., professor of nutrition and psychology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. "If you want to stay slim, snacking is not the way to do it. You wind up consuming more calories overall." Claire, 31, who grew up in France, gained 9 pounds during the three months she visited the States. "In France, you eat three times a day, but in America, every minute is for eating." When she went home, she lost the pounds pronto.
FRENCH LESSONS :
- Train your body to eat only at mealtimes. It will
probably take you about 5 to 10 days to get out of the snacking habit, so
until you do, distract yourself when you get a case of the munchies--go
get a manicure and a pedicure or give your best friend a call.
FRENCH STAY-SLIM
SECRET #6
They Enjoy Exercise
Mathilde Cathiard-Thomas, 30, founder of the celeb-frequented Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa in France, says that she bought the spa's gym equipment for the Americans. "The French would much rather walk or bike," she says. Bottom line: They make exercise a pleasurable part of daily life rather than slaving away at the gym (and eventually burning out). For example, Christine says that every night between the aperitif hour and dinner, many French people take a long stroll to see the sunset. "You're getting a workout, but it's an enjoyable one," she says. In fact, more than half of the French subjects in a large-scale study analyzed by Drewnowski said their principal activity is walking.
Mathilde Cathiard-Thomas, 30, founder of the celeb-frequented Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa in France, says that she bought the spa's gym equipment for the Americans. "The French would much rather walk or bike," she says. Bottom line: They make exercise a pleasurable part of daily life rather than slaving away at the gym (and eventually burning out). For example, Christine says that every night between the aperitif hour and dinner, many French people take a long stroll to see the sunset. "You're getting a workout, but it's an enjoyable one," she says. In fact, more than half of the French subjects in a large-scale study analyzed by Drewnowski said their principal activity is walking.
FRENCH LESSONS :
- Talk to coworkers face-to-face, not via E- mail. Get up
to change channels on TV.
- Try taking the stairs instead of using elevators or
escalators- -both ways.
- Plan active social activities with friends. Go dancing,
skating, or walking as opposed to sitting in a bar or movie theater.
I know I know it’s a lot of reading but the article is
packed with sweet info ♥♥
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