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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. I think they are from people who don't understand the message in this book at all. While eating disorders exist there too, the main problem in the US is fast food on every corner. 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.
Only a couple of members of my extended German family smoke and the non-smokers are just as thin. 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. This is in response to some of the negative reviews here. People are either fat or not. 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.
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.
There it's normal to not be fat, here people stare when you're not. I'm European and grew up in Germany visiting France and Italy frequently.
And yes - a size 8 is overweight especially for women under 5'7". 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. It's all about standards.
This book will definitely open your eyes and get you moving in the right direction.
This is a wonderful book. I enjoy practicing common wisdom advise given in this book. I first discovered it as an audio version read by the author, Mireille Guiliano, borrowed from the library. Because that version was abbreviated, I wanted to read the actual book as it also included some recipies. It's a healthy outlook on life and, in particular, women's health and well being. A refreshing diversion from screaming "quick fix" diets that don't work in the long term.
This book gives me an idea of how to think about food, how to eat like a lady and how to really enjoy the art of eating and preparing each meal. French ladies really know how to live and celebrate each and every meal. Simple and fabulous. Quality is the key. Less is more in oh so many ways. Patti B.
I first bought a copy a few years ago, and still find myself thinking and referring to it often. Since first reading the book, I always make my own). Like last night, my boyfriend wanted to make yogurt, and I knew the author had easy, great recipes. (Mireille Guiliano writes of her devotion to house-made yogurt. I bought this extra copy for my 65-year-old Mom, and we've talked about how the book is about loving life - including the joys of walks, good champagne, family, and fresh foods and recipes. I'll always keep my own copy around.
We've been duped for years by a multi-billion dollar industry (do they REALLY want us to loose weight and take away their income. However, like IE, she doesn't promote abstaining forever from these foods, just in the beginning. It's not "pure" IE because she does suggest (in the beginning of the program) to abstain from certain things. It works without deprivation, without diet backlash, and without temptation.
Makes tons of sense. She uses a combo of Intuitive Eating principles and diet tips. I don't think so). But because most of us have been brainwashed by the diet industry to believe unless it hurts, we're not doing it right. Like Intuitive Eating, her basic moto seems to be eat a little less, and move a little more (progressively) until you reach your ideal body weight (the weight we're supposed to weigh, not what we want to weigh, just like IE).
I've been practicing Intuitive Eating for a couple of years, it works. If dieting was the answer, no one would be over weight. But over all, a pretty good read. French Women Don't Get Fat is very close in principle and practice to Intuitive Eating. It's a pretty good read.
I fully completely believe the reason that most Americans are over weight, can be directly blamed on the diet industry. It really does work. I highly recommend this read.
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