French Women Don't Get Fat
#179957 - 05/18/05 06:40 PM
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Just curious if anyone else has read this book. I'm a good bit into it now and some of it really makes sense. Anyone else doing this?
Panda
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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The problem with that book is they fail to mention the massive amount of cigarettes the average French woman smokes... those will certainly supress your appetite. 
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I thought the same thing, but the book actually says the opposite. She talks about a woman who always ate a ton of cream sauces, and she figured out that this craving was actually related to the cigarettes. Because smoking kills your senses of smell and taste, smokers don't feel satisfied by the subtle seasonings that nonsmokers can enjoy. Because seasonings are more soluable in fats, it makes sense that smokers would crave heavy, fatty sauces, since that's when they can taste flavors better. Obviously you are right that cigarettes supress the appetite, but the author is a nonsmoker, and her whole approach is about satisfying your palate with diversity of textures and flavors, instead of shoveling in the same old boring pasta and bagles and wondering why we don't feel satisfied. Of course, she makes generalizations about French and American eaters, and there are always exceptions to generalizations. But the point is to take eating seriously, vary your diet, and sit down to a nice place setting with the TV off and concentrate on the flavors and textures. The idea is that you will feel more satisfied with less food. Who knows, we'll see if she's right. I'm going to give it a few weeks and see what happens. She also advocates going to the market every couple of days for the food you'll eat that day and the next, rather than loading up at the supermarket every 2 weeks. Walking walking walking, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, drinking a ton of water, etc. The idea is to eat for pleasure and take pleasure in eating, and then you won't be mindlessly snacking, etc. Sorry my post is kind of incoherent; I'm still making sense of all of her suggestions. I'm not sure I'm going to take all of her advice, but it is compatible with the IBS diet (as long as you properly sub in her recipes)and it makes sense that feeling satisfied by your meals is a better way to avoid snacking than just sheer willpower and deprivation. We'll see how it goes. I'm going to give it 3 months and see what happens.
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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Amanda, I'm Belgian, have been living in the US for almost 6 years now, and I have to say that reading this book has helped me to pick up my old lifestyle and habits.. (French, Belgian, German, we all have similar lifestyles in Europe, and believe me, it is (or maybe was.. things do change there too) much slower and much more focused on quality than here - IMHO - with that I mean more focused on non-materialistic quality, if that makes any sense). I have always had body image issues, but they got sooo much worse when I moved here, as well as the IBS-symptoms (I have not been diagnosed but I've suffered from many of the symptoms). I am now eating more like I used to, and allowing myself good food, even if they're "bad" for you and I am feeling much better, don't obsess with food as much anymore, so if you can, give it a try. I find that it improves quality of life if nothing else. Good luck!
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nicky
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I really think that enjoying food is important to be healthy. I eat loads more crap when I'm not getting the (healthy) foods I like.
But French women do get fat...once they're married with kids! 
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I like the idea that "it's gonna be there tomorrow," i.e. that
certain "whatever" (fill in the blank, treat). That's always been my philosophy.
Also, I like the idea that the French eat "fresh" food, real food. The serving sizes are much more realistic. Their "yogurt" fetish is based on a good idea, probiotics and calcium, although note that yogurt is generally an IBS trigger. The saturated fat and dairy would kill me, but that's just me and my system. The philosophies are quite sound. And the French walk!!! Now that's a breath of fresh air. It's not a big "drive thru" please culture. Food is also social.
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You are right about yogurt being a trigger, as is just about all dairy. As I've been stable for a really long time now (two years I think?) I am trying to see what I can get away with. But, there is no reason the diet can't work with soy yogurt, right? Wildwood Soy Yogurt in Plain is very authentic tasting (and I grew up on homemade yogurt). For now I'm eating organic real yogurt (made with whole milk!  ) but just teeny portions at a time. We'll see how I do.
BTW -- by "stable" for 2 years, I don't mean that I haven't had any attacks. But, I've had only a handful over the last two years, and only when I'm both stressed and eating badly. So, I think it might be safe to venture away from the diet just a teensy weensy bit!
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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Also I think French women ( and european women in general ) walk more than American women. Old roads, architecture, etc, make things less accessable than our WalMarts with the jumbo parking lots.
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Knowledge is power.
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Yeah you're totally right about the walking. I'm trying my best to do more of it. I'm lucky in that the book was written by a women who mainly lives in NYC, so a lot of the tips are really relevant / doable for me. I imagine it's harder for our midwesterners / other suburbanites who really cannot walk to work or anything.
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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It is true. Europeans walk and bike everywhere. The thing is that the cities here are so old that driving is a pain. It is easier to take the Metro or walk to your destination. Yes, the French are thinner than Americans, Brits, or Germans. But, by far the thinnest, I think, are the Italians.
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*Karyn* IBS D
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