Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Why French Women Don't Get Fat?



Recommended Posts

Has anyone read the book Why French Women Don't Get Fat?

481

I am thinking that once I get a few months of banding behind me that I will follow this way of eating.

I think the idea of smaller but quality portions is the way to go.

Has anyone ever tried this program or is anyone currently eating this way?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Not that program, but as part of my pre-surgery prep I'm working on my habit if eating very quickly and not chewing. It struck me after a day or two of doing so that I was enjoying my food more, and being satisfied with less. Because I was taking the time to be aware of it and really tasting it. So it would make sense that doing so with quality food would be good.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Lisah - you are right. Since we have to chew everything until a toothpaste consistancy, it would make sense to eat higher quality foods and appreciate the flavor.

Also, she talks about a leek Soup, I may add that to my liquids.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes. I read the book and I followed some of the ideas to loose 20 lbs pre banding. Acutally, I think it really made me more aware of head hunger during those months pre banding. Thought I did not count calories I just stopped eating when I was not hungry and savored my food more...just as I do now.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I enjoyed the book and it is very close to what my surgeon says, "Eat small quantities of high quality food three times daily, no Snacks. Walk daily."

It makes sense.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

They also do not shave their armpits.:heh:

Ewwww, so let them be thin. I'll take a girl with curves anyway... especially if she shaves her pits... ewwwwww

heh heh heh

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

They also do not shave their armpits.:heh:

Ewwww, so let them be thin. I'll take a girl with curves anyway... especially if she shaves her pits... ewwwwww

heh heh heh

YUCK. That not shaving is absolutely gross and I have no idea how European men find it attractive... can they ignore THAT? Hmmmmmm...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I guess I eat this way anyway. I love to enjoy food, to make the effort to cook good food, I dont waste my time shoving down food without appreciating it anymore, no matter what it is. I'm still interested in food and the difference is now, I get the big white plate in a restaurante, with the tiny dab of food in the middle and I can appreciate the artfulness of it, without getting cranky that I'm going to need five courses to fill up, lol.

I havent cut anything out of my diet - I even gave in to Australia's Krispy Kremes madness last weekend.

It works for me, but I'd have to say, it makes for very slow weightloss becuase I still eat calorie dense foods. But whilst I love fruit and vegetables, I dont want to live on them. I love yogurt but dont even show me that artificually sweetened low fat crap, ick. Good thick greek yogurt, yummy. That type of thing. So I get plenty of calories on a smaller amount of food, but so be it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well. i'm half french and half greek. All european, and I must say that I do shave my armpits, as does every other woman in my family. My mother is full blooded french and she finds it disgusting to not shave under the arms and my father was born in greece, and my grandmother and aunts all shaved, so I think it is untrue that all europeans do not shave their armpits.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Let me tell you what the difference is.

People in the States eat a lot of processed foods, already made meals and generally stuff in which food producers can put anything and you would not have any idea what you are eating.

Here in Europe, especially Mediterranian, we cook our own food out of fresh groceries, eat a lot of fresh fruit and light meat. However, this did not stop me in having 128 kgs. :biggrin1::biggrin1::biggrin1:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well. i'm half french and half greek. All european, and I must say that I do shave my armpits, as does every other woman in my family. My mother is full blooded french and she finds it disgusting to not shave under the arms and my father was born in greece, and my grandmother and aunts all shaved, so I think it is untrue that all europeans do not shave their armpits.

I was just kiddin':p

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

They also do not shave their armpits.:heh:

Ewwww, so let them be thin. I'll take a girl with curves anyway... especially if she shaves her pits... ewwwwww

heh heh heh

Just to set straight a few misconceptions: I've been living in France for the last 16 years and half my family now is French. French women shave their armpits just as much as women in the US, Britain or anywhere else.

Concerning the book, the French eat better quality food than anglo-saxon cultures in general (very little fast food, and mostly fresh produce cooked lightly in olive oil or grilled), not necessarily less, but small portions of a large variety of food groups (every meal is at least 3 courses, but of small servings). They generally do not eat in between meals.

Now, why French women aren't fat: when I was at university here, two thirds of the girls I knew were bulimic, and just about all of them smoked.... Also, in general, the French are into physical exercise - walking, biking, and don't drive everywhere in their cars.

Now if only I could learn a thing or two from my husband and the rest of the skinny French people I know....

Deana.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Now, why French women aren't fat: when I was at university here, two thirds of the girls I knew were bulimic, and just about all of them smoked....

Maybe I should start smoking!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I spent 5 years in Germany and can vouch that the German women were certainly not underweight and they sure didn't shave under their arms or their legs. France and Germany must be further apart then I thought. In Germany they love high calorie food....cakes, breads, etc. and sometimes that is their lunch.< /p>

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I spent 5 years in Germany and can vouch that the German women were certainly not underweight and they sure didn't shave under their arms or their legs. France and Germany must be further apart then I thought. In Germany they love high calorie food....cakes, breads, etc. and sometimes that is their lunch.

French and German people certainly do not have the same type of cuisine/diet and their cultures couldn't be further apart.... There's no comparing apples and oranges!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×