| h women seem to enjoy breads, desserts, and wine, | | | | bed. French Women Don't Get Fat reminds us that |
| but then don't gain the weight. American women, on | | | | sleeping is a very dehydrating process. When both of |
| the other hand, just think about snacking and magically | | | | these are routine, make it a habit to drink water each |
| put on ten pounds. In her bestselling book, French | | | | time you pass a water fountain. French women drink |
| Women Don't Get Fat : The Secret of Eating For | | | | water all throughout the day. |
| Pleasure, Mirelle Guiliano reveals the secrets that | | | | Once you are drinking more water, you will probably |
| French women have at staying healthy and trim. | | | | feel healthier than ever. Since water has no calories, |
| French Women Don't Get Fat begins with the account | | | | no preservatives, and nothing extra added, you might |
| of the author, Mirelle Guiliano, growing up in France. By | | | | find that you are interested in the ingredients of the |
| a stroke of luck she was sent to America in her | | | | other foods you are consuming. Have you ever read |
| teenage years as an exchange student. In America, | | | | the list of ingredients in a frozen dinner? What is all of |
| she was introduced to brownies and cookies – | | | | that stuff? Why are we consuming things we can't |
| which quickly became favorites. In no time at all, Mirelle | | | | even pronounce? Another key to eating like the |
| put on twenty pounds. When it was time to return | | | | French is what the author of this book calls "Ritual |
| home she was a little nervous about what her family | | | | Preparation." While she lived at home, Mireille's mother |
| and friends would think of the "new" Mirelle. The story | | | | prepared almost all of the food that she consumed. |
| of seeing her family for the first time after being away | | | | None of it was filled with preservatives, and most |
| is funny and heart wrenching at the same time. I can't | | | | everything was fresh. French Women Don't Get Fat |
| do justice to this story, so I would recommend buying | | | | recommends going to the market several times a |
| the book and reading it on your own. Later, her mother | | | | week, and selecting the freshest ingredients. By |
| set up a secret meeting with their family physician, "Dr. | | | | market the book is referring to a farmers market, and |
| Miracle", who helped her to shed the extra pounds, and | | | | not the supermarket. Quality ingredients equal quality |
| more importantly, taught her how to live like a French | | | | food. When you are eating quality, you won’t |
| Woman. | | | | need the quantity to make up for the lack of taste. |
| This book is not a miracle diet. In fact, French Women | | | | Also, set the table like you would find at a restaurant |
| Don't Get Fat isn't a "diet" book at all. What it does is | | | | – real napkins even. The extra attention to |
| suggest ways to help you live a balanced, healthier | | | | details will help you remember to savor your food. |
| lifestyle. The first thing the book suggests is to take an | | | | Also, sit down as a family, and turn off the television. |
| inventory of what you eat for a couple of weeks. By | | | | Make meal time a ritual. |
| looking at your food journal, you should be able to see | | | | According to this book, you also need to move like a |
| what your "offenders" are – meaning what | | | | French woman. We aren't talking about hours of |
| foods you are overeating. For example, Mirelle's | | | | grueling exercise at the gym. What we are talking |
| offenders were sweets. Once you recognize what | | | | about is adding more movement to your daily routine. |
| foods you are eating out of balance, your next step is | | | | Walk to work, or if you work too far, then get off the |
| to identify why you overeat in this category. For | | | | train one stop early and walk the rest of the way to |
| example, if your "offender" is bread, you might notice | | | | work. Or, add in a daily walk before eating breakfast. |
| that you are eating a lot of bread when you go to | | | | Take the stairs instead of the elevator when possible. |
| restaurants. You could then decide to only have one | | | | French Women Don't Get Fat advised to not avoid |
| slice before your meal comes. The book also | | | | precious steps: think of ways to add in more |
| discusses changing the way you think. You aren't | | | | movement to your daily routine. |
| skimping on the bread because you are depriving | | | | This book also includes recipes for foods such as |
| yourself something you love, you are merely saving | | | | Grilled Spring Lamb Shops, Asparagus Flan, Cauliflower |
| room for other things. The pleasure of most foods is in | | | | Gratin, Grilled Chicken with Rosemary, Egg Omelet |
| the first few bites, as French Women Don't Get Fat | | | | with Mixed Herbs and Ricotta Cheese, among many |
| points out. After that we are just eating on autopilot. If | | | | others. Since the French enjoy bread so much, recipes |
| you can avoid eating without thinking, you can avoid | | | | for Baguettes and Croissants are included too. The |
| eating excess food. French women eat with their | | | | book has menu ideas as well. |
| heads and do not leave the table feeling stuffed or | | | | If you need a good book to inspire you to lose a little |
| guilty. | | | | weight so that you feel good about yourself, then |
| Another secret of the French this book points to is | | | | French Women Don't Get Fat is where you should |
| drinking more water. We all know that water is good | | | | turn. Because the focus of this book is not about |
| for us, but how many of us really drink as much as we | | | | depriving yourself of good things, but about making |
| should? The secret is to add water to your daily | | | | focused choices to help you accomplish something |
| routine. Drink a glass of water before you eat your | | | | even better, you will be motivated to change a few of |
| breakfast. Once you have established this as part of | | | | your bad habits into good habits – and therefore |
| your routine, then add another glass before going to | | | | live a more fulfilled and slimmer life. |