French Women Don't Get Fat
by Mireille Guiliano
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Book Reviews of French Women Don't Get Fat
Book Review: This book tells the truth
Summary: 5 Stars
This is in response to some of the negative reviews here. I think they are from people who don't understand the message in this book at all. I'm European and grew up in Germany visiting France and Italy frequently. Even though I lived most of my adult life in the US I can assure you that European women eat plenty, but it is true that they walk or bike everywhere and eat fresh most of the time. The selection of processed food that actually tastes good is slim. It is also not that easy to find fast food restaurants and if you do the food there just doesn't taste good, so they don't eat it. Additionally, the majority of food is consumed during the first part of the day with lunch traditionally (in Germany) being the meal with the most food and home-cooked. Afternoon coffee and tea breaks with snacks are typical and a light dinner is standard. When I go back to visit it becomes more apparent each time how few fat people there are and how bad it has become in the United States. I have never seen a morbidly obese person in Europe or know of anyone there who had gastric bypass surgery, yet five different people at my US work place with only 200 employees had it done. While eating disorders exist there too, the main problem in the US is fast food on every corner. I didn't know what a Big Mac was until I was a teenager and had never seen bacon until I met my American husband. While anti-smoking laws there are poor, not enforced, and way behind the times, I know plenty of Americans that smoke and are fat at the same time. Only a couple of members of my extended German family smoke and the non-smokers are just as thin. And yes - a size 8 is overweight especially for women under 5'7". It's all about standards. People are either fat or not. There it's normal to not be fat, here people stare when you're not. This book will definitely open your eyes and get you moving in the right direction.Book Review: Diet? Deprivation? Count calories? If this is your ideal way to lose weight, don't buy this book!
Summary: 5 Stars
Many millions of Americans diet . . . some join Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers, some diet through deprivation, some buy tiny little boxed meals high in sodium and low in nutrition. Then they watch with envy as their families enjoy a full meal with dessert, usually prepared by the starving dieter. Is it any wonder that we find ourselves losing, and then a year or two later gaining those pesky excess pounds right back?
Since I have never visited France, I'm not sure if some French women have the same dilemma. I do know there are far fewer obese people in Europe than here in the U.S.
The beauty of this book is that you don't have to be deprived of good food to diet. In fact, you will enjoy these recipes much more than your traditional American fare . . . cheeseburgers, fries, chocolate milk shake, etc., if you keep an open mind. Mireille shares her secrets and fabulous recipes, not asking us to give up our desserts, or our cream and butter.
On page 86 she tells us many French people still eat their main meal at lunch. My lunch buddy and I adopted this idea in 2005 (prior to reading this book), and have been quite successful with weight control. I am 57 and I wear the same size as my 25 year old daughter . . . a size 6! Think I am just lucky . . . nope, I work pretty hard at it. But I don't count calories or eat salty tasteless food out of cardboard cartons. I eat "real food" prepared with herbs and other natural seasonings, a diet filled with legumes, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
If you enjoy eating and cooking, this is a great book to have on your shelf. Buy it and enjoy food the way the French do!
Lynette Fleming, coauthor of Lunch Buddies: Buddy Up for a Better Diet
Book Review: "Kazakh women do not get fat or old "
Summary: 3 Stars
"Kazakh women do not get fat or old or anything" this should have been the title of the next book in the series of stories how French/Japanese ("Japanese women do not get old or fat")/Kazakh /Other foreign women come to the US, gain 20-30 pounds, return home and loose all that baggage, in no time, thanks to local cuisine. By the way, anyone who has ever been to Almaty, Kazakhstan notes how slim and gorgeous are women there. I could share my story of abandoning unhealthy American food and going back to my roots, literally. But I would not. The truth is that after spending 2 years (guess where) in Alabama I lost one size and now I am a tiny size 00. I have never been in a better shape. The reason: I looked around and tagged along Alabamians at what Americans are the best: sports and organic food. There are lots of organic food stores and you can get great personal training for a very affordable price. Now that I moved to Paris I can see the difference, and I prefer my "D1" work - outs to those of the "Vit'Halles" '.
I remember when my dear chubby American friend asked me what do I do to stay so thing and young and I replied "Watch your diet," munching on a piece of bread spread with 100% fat homemade butter. It was organic, of course.
My point is that in some places people insist more on having fresh food and the food industry has to comply. In some countries it is commonplace to buy directly from the farmer, which and almost impossible in the US. Food produced by big corporations and fast food chains is packed with chemicals that affect your weight and health. So watch your diet and you will not have to travel to France/Japan to lose weight.
Book Review: Wisdom on getting and staying slim
Summary: 4 Stars
French Women Don't Get Fat is not your typical diet book, thank goodness. It is however, more of a philosophy of how one should approach food and life from the French perspective of author, Franco-American, Mireille Guiliano. She recommends a more relaxed approach to food consumption and preparation with less emphasis on what you can't have and more emphasis on enjoying the food you do eat, choosing smaller portions with bigger flavor.
French Women Don't Get Fat also contains fifty-five recipes that range from the exotic, like Fingers and Caviar and Duck Breasts A La Gasconne, to more simple fare of Lentil Soup and Baked Apples. There are also recipes for making homemade yogurt. I found most, but not all of the recipes contain ingredients the average American kitchen would have on hand.
I found the book a bit of a slow read, but the principles are sound enough. As every dieter knows, losing weight requires increasing activity and limiting portions. The difference is the author also reminds the reader that diets don't work; therefore you have to make long-term changes that will work for your lifestyle and tastes. She suggests staying away from fast food and hunger cravings by eating good food in season, prepared well, which is the best way to eliminate the boredoms, and mindless eating resulting in the inevitable weight gain.
If you are looking for a non-typical diet book with interesting new recipes and French wisdom for getting slim and staying that way-then you will enjoy French Women Don't Get Fat.
Armchair Interviews says: Interesting perspective on food and dieting.
Book Review: New Twist on an Old Story
Summary: 3 Stars
It would be unfair to mislead a prospective reader into thinking that this book contains a secret they haven't heard before. Sorry, but this charming frenchwoman hits upon two weight loss strategies we already knew: self-discipline and exercise. The exercise part might be missed by some if they fail to consider what the author describes of her profession, which keeps her tremendously busy and on the move. Because she enjoys her life and what she does so enthusiastically (just like some sports trainers we all know) one can almost fail to notice how much racing around this woman is doing. As for the self-discipline, here she's very direct. The french culture is characterized by daily shopping for groceries (and, I might add, french markets sell many products in smaller quantities than our american stores) as well as a national obsession with fresher food, but the author makes no secret that she regularly has to dine out in restaurants for business reasons and often has little access to healthy snacks when her work goes into overtime. Her suggestions for being prepared for these diet-foiling situations can be truly helpful and healthful. Still, there is no getting around that she forces herself to make many low calorie eating choices while watching everyone else at the table order the torte chocolat. Quelle bore! I was nevertheless glad I purchased this book for it's friendly reinforcement and encouraging style. Learning a little more of the french culture wasn't too bad either.The author is a woman's woman and her book is an entertaining writer.