French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure

Woooo ... this book really has rallied a love-it-or-hate-it sensibility here. Well, count me in the love-it group. And why? Because for me it struck a chord ... and it works. 10 weeks ago, I embarked on a new way of eating ... I was 212 pounds (at 6 foot tall with a medium frame that's a bit overweight for a guy) ... and today I was weighed at my Doctor's office - 191 pounds! That's 21 pounds! I.e. I've lost 2 pounds per week on average - what Doctors consider a "safe" amount to lose. My ideal weight is about 180 pounds ... so only 11 more to go! My Doctor was almost as excited as I was and wanted to know how I did it. When I told her about this book, she said she'd heard about it and needed to get a copy for her husband, a cardiologist!Yes, Madame Guiliano is not a medical professional. Yes, she is the CEO of Veuve Cliquot. Maybe you take offence at her generalizations - I don't. I feel that she talks about her observations with style and humor and yes, perhaps some of them maybe stretching things a bit, but they are her beliefs. Hello? This is not some scientific paper that is going to be vetted by professionals. It's a story, a way of looking at things, a lifestyle change ... an encouragement to using a little willpower in your life.Some people have criticized certain aspects of the book such as the shopping from markets or walk everywhere, but my take is ... get inspired by the book, make changes in your life and take from it what you can. I never tried the Miracle soup, I still shop at Safeway, I still drive everywhere ... but I'm mindful of what I eat without going overboard ... I cycle a little bit now and then (20 mins or so per week) ... and I eat delicious food. I also never weighed myself over the 10 weeks (I was afraid of getting discouraged) ... I just started noticing that I needed to take my belt in further and that I was looking better in the mirror. Despite the "you're looking better" comments from friends, proof-positive was today at the Doctor's office.Note that I eat some of the bad stuff too, but in moderation ... as a treat ... not as a way of life (like before). I still have takeout chinese food, I still eat burgers, but now I make the chinese food last for more than one sitting and I eat only half the burger. Salad has become a steady side dish in my life. (Big note here: salad can make you fat too ... don't pile it on at the cafeteria and then slather it with 300 calories of dressing! Hello?) This book has changed the way I look at portions here in America - they're (quite frankly) obscene. What to do? Doggy bag it! Saves time and money too!If I overindulge once in a while, I do as Madame Guiliano says ... I cut back on my next meal. Maybe just a small (and I mean small!) ham-and-brie toasted sandwich with some fresh basil and tomato instead of a big meal. And no more eating food that I don't like - I was in a restaurant once, had ordered a chicken sandwich, didn't care for it, so I left it! Why eat food that doesn't bring you pleasure? I love food. I love to cook. I still use butter, I still use cream ... but I use them sensibly. I also drink one glass (1/4 bottle) of red wine per night. At weekends I might indulge in a glass or two more or maybe a cocktail.For me, this book worked - it was just the encouragement I needed to do something about my weight. I don't care for the "you must eat this, you must eat that and in these portions". I like what I like to eat - I don't want to learn to love what someone else eats (though I did incorporate more fresh veg and fruit in my diet). I also don't care for the "it's not your fault" books. I'm an adult ... I know I goof up sometimes ... and I know that the only person who will look after my weight is me. My responsibility. The buck stops here. All-in-all it was a little tough at first, but after a few weeks, it became second nature. Now, I don't have to think about it - food and watching what/when/how you eat doesn't run my life like I expected a "diet" to. It's not a diet - it's a lifestyle ... and in the words of one fast food chain ... "I'm Lovin' It" (ha!)Sorry if I've rattled on a bit here. I hope I haven't come off as a snob or something. I just wanted to tell my story and encourage others. Eat well (but sensibly) and enjoy food, life and living!Madame Guiliano ... I'd like to say a very public "merci" for your style, wit, humor and, of course, the time you took to write this book.Hey, and your champagne is not too shabby either! À votre santé!*** Update on 4 Oct 2005:Well, I reached my target weight of 180 pounds a few months ago, and despite going on vacation, I have managed to maintain my "ideal" weight.I still have a glass of wine per night and indulge a little more at weekends, and I still adhere to the basic principles in the book, just not as rigorously as before. However, if I pig out one day, I make up for it the next ... everything in balance.Just read an article on MSN that "Vast majority of Americans likely to become fat" ... yikes. This is a shocking thought. I absolutely do not intend to become another sad statistic in our nation's health epidemic.I bought a good quality digital scale and I weigh myself every morning when I get up. I fluctuate between 177 and 183 pounds and don't freak out if I'm somewhere in that range. If I start heading upwards of 183, I put the brakes on again.Losing the weight has been a big inspiration in my life. I realize that if I can lose weight, I have the ability to change many other things in my life ... which is what I am currently doing. I am questioning my job, the time I spend, my reltionships and where I live. It's scary and exciting at the same time.On a last note, I sincerely would like to encourage anyone that, yes, this can be done. Have fun, be flexible and enjoy life. No one's gonna hand it on a plate to you (well except a waiter <grin>) so get off your b*** and go for it!Cheers!

Mireille Guliano President and CEO of the champagne company Cliquot Inc. is the author of "French Women Don't Get Fat". Guliano travels 180 days of the year, eating out frequently and indulging in rich dishes and other goodies including bread, champagne and chocolate. Yet she manages to stay very slim and trim the French way."French Women Don't Get Fat" is a wonderful opportunity to look inside this chic French woman's mind and understand how she eats such delicious food, rarely visit the gym yet wears a small size.The 263pg book speaks volumes. It clearly describes how to "think" so you will make the food choices that even if indulgent support a healthy weight. And it describes how to "move" to stay slim and you don't have to go to a gym.You do not have to be in the Zone or give up carbs or fat in order to lose weight. There is no need to micromanage your nutrients. Instead you must temper your indulgences with restraint. It seems so simple - yet millions of overweight Americans don't know how to accomplish this. And with her commonsense explanation M. Guliano explains exactly how to do this.Madame Guiliano is not a doctor or nutritionist. And she has not done scientific studies to test her methods. BUT all she has to do is point to France and the millions of slim Frenchwomen who use her "methode".Madame Guiliano states she learned the process of weight loss when she gained weight after a visit to the States from her Doctor - Dr. Miracle. The good doctor taught her simple steps to achieve a healthy weight. Guiliano took his lessons to heart slimmed down and is now frequently asked how she stays so slim!One of the first steps in the program is recasting. Here you look over the food you eat and you decide what you have to have and what you are willing to eat less of or give up entirely. You also work to get the blatant sugars that create havoc with your chemistry out of your system. There is also a simple recipe for leek soup for a weekend of cleansing for those who wish to jumpstart a weight loss program. You will journal and see what areas cause trouble in your life.Other steps include eating regular meals, increasing fruits and vegetables, drinking water, not stocking offenders at home and enjoying yogurt on a daily basis.The book is really designed for those who understand the calorie concept and have a basic understanding of healthy and non-healthy foods. Though Guiliano does not get into calorie counting since she asks that you track what is causing your weight problems, it's assumed that you know that "faux" foods like twinkies are an offender whereas an apple is not.Her book includes numerous recipes including Asparagus Flan, Grilled Spring Lamb Chops, Yogurt, Baguette, Salad of Duck A L'orange and more. The book is,however, light on sample daily menus. More of what to eat on a daily basis would have been good.The book is a superb read on how the Frenchwoman stays so slim and trim! Freshness, variety, balance, luxury and a trim waistline can be yours if you follow the principles!Bonne Chance!Lee Mellott