French Women Don't Get Fat?

This is the top selling diet book out there. I didn't buy it, but I skimmed it at Barnes and Noble. The basic point of the book seems to be that French women (in addition to not showering) eat smaller portions, and eat a lot more fruits and vegtables. Why this is news is beyond me, this seems like total common sense.

Mon. Jun 13, 11:49am

the Martini diet

There's also a similar book that's a little older, called something like "the Martini diet." It suggests that you can eat anything you want, as long as the portion can fit into a martini glass! And it also emphasizes being "snotty" about your food choices - why would you let something as cheap and classless as french fries or chips or Oreos into your body? You're too good for that! But, something like fancy chocolate mousse on a special occasion may be worth the splurge. But only a martini glass sized portion.

Basically, they all just try to find gimicky ways to stress moderation. But, it could work! I prefer low calorie, high protein myself, but, who knows...

Monday, June 13, 2005, 2:09 PM

there's a lot of fat women in France... same ratio of body types as NY as far as I could tell.

Monday, June 13, 2005, 11:18 PM

I read this and loved it. Yes, it was a lot of common sense, and something that many of us shouldn't need to be told (smaller portion sizes, more in season fruits and veggies, actually cook for yourself), but many people don't stop to think about a lot of this.

I also feel like she gave some excellent ideas for the in season stuff, things many Americans wouldn't normally seek out to eat.

Additionally, she pointed out that many of the desserts we eat are so full of sugar and fat, and we eat them so often, that we have a much harder time getting satisfaction from other foods. I mean, how often do we hear people here on peertrainer say, "I cut out fries, and now I eat a, b, and c instead. I'm so happy, and I don't even crave them anymore!"

Some of the book could be read as snotty, but I didn't take offense. The advice was good, and if we're a little snottier about our food, then we wouldn't be mowing down cheetos, cookies, ice cream, etc.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005, 11:15 AM

You know--a lot of what Americans eat IS crap, plain and simple! And we make ourselves sick and overweight. And we market it to our kids like none other.

And it does taste really good, and I do crave it, and am doing my best to be a giant snob and think twice when it comes to eating things like fast food and cheetos.

Let's be healthier!

Tuesday, June 14, 2005, 4:09 PM

I havent read the book, but when I was there I noticed a change. Its hard for Americans NOT to eat saturated fats and whatnot - we have special food chains dedicated to healthier living for goodness sakes - whereas the majority of what you might eat there is naturally better for the body.

'Course they also smoke :-)

Tuesday, June 14, 2005, 8:30 PM

I live in France, and since I have been here I noticed that I shop more often and cook better food because I feel I need to keep up with the culture that prizes long meals. I eat longer, but have lost weight.

Thursday, September 06, 2007, 9:42 PM

I don't think it is so much being snotty as being smart about it all. I'm doing weightwatchers and I have a set number of points per day. God knows I'd rather stretch my points over the whole day eating healthy stuff than blowing 5 points right off the bat with a stupid cookie. It just isn't worth it, for what to be hungry later and then opening a can of green beans to satisfy my hunger because it has 0 pts? Besides you have to ask yourself and be honest...what looks better me in a nice dress or that cookie!? Got to keep a positive image in your mind, one other than food!

Thursday, September 06, 2007, 9:53 PM

Great idea about the martini glass my thought was the trouble is i would have too many martinis!

Thursday, September 06, 2007, 11:28 PM

Yeah, well when the book came out in the UK the point was made that a much larger proportion of French women smoke than in the UK (and the US?), so they might be thin, but they are all going to die in their 50s of lung cancer (well, that's a potted and more pointed version of the articles I read). And I've just noticed that someone pointed that out in June 2005 further up the thread...

Incidentally what ARE Cheetos?

Friday, September 07, 2007, 9:09 AM

9:09 - what are cheetos? Where do you live?

Friday, September 07, 2007, 12:41 PM

I lived in France for a year and saw plenty of plump to fat women.

Friday, September 07, 2007, 2:26 PM

I think the poster is from the UK, and anyway...

Cheetos are a crunchy, cheese-flavored snack made from extruded cornmeal. Introduced by Frito-Lay in 1948, currently about one billion bags are sold worldwide each year. In some markets they are popular enough that the word "Cheetos" is often used as a genericized trademark for any similar cheese puffs snack food, but it is, in fact, trademarked by the Frito-Lay company.

Friday, September 07, 2007, 4:01 PM

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