Book Review - More on "French Women Don't Get Fat"

A quick note before I jump into the reviews.  If you have not yet emailed me your address for the giveaway, please do so at erinmarie83@gmail.com. I am sending stuff out today so try and get this to me soon :)

Ok now to the good stuff :)

I am mentioning this book again because I WANT YOU TO READ IT!  It's a very nice read, it's more like a story than anything.  I've been struggling a bit losing my last 10 lbs. I am feeling great and looking better but yet still depending on that scale for gratification.  Yet, I don't want to sacrifice actually eating in order to get there.  I do like food :-) If you have been struggling with weight issues or body issues in general (so basically if you are a woman) This book is for you!

There are a couple things that this book won't do. 

It won't guarantee results in 2 weeks.  It won't give you a thousand "rules" and a list of what you can and can't eat.  BUT, it will teach you how to enjoy REAL FOOD and enjoy it WELL.  

There are a few strange French tricks that they use.  Like a leek soup over 48 hours, which isn't my favorite but a similar process can be done with a detox of sorts with fruits and veggies.  These aren't "fad" tricks, they are time-tested by French women for generations as a way to get the body back on track. From there, it's an amazing journey to exploring and enjoying new foods :)

The American woman needs to learn a few things about enjoying food, cooking and the art of eating!  But you have to learn some of these French tricks first :) You will actually ENJOY reading about Mireille's travels and how she got where she is today.

Now imagine my joy when I discovered that Mireille Guiliano wrote an accompanying COOKBOOK!

I picked it up at the library because I thought that it was probably full of lots of complicated French recipes with snails. But not quite so.  This cookbook contains words like "heavy cream", "butter" (the real kind), and CHEESE! Not quite the diet cookbook you were thinking of?  Well start changing how you eat and you will understand how this works.

We have enjoyed a couple of the recipes so far.  Like the Cumin Tilapia with Mushrooms with I served with sauted carrots and zucchini and a small french roll.  Super simple, light but incredibly satisfying.  Then last night we had Chicken en Croute Fiona Style which is chicken cutlets dipped in egg wash and a coating of lemon and orange zest, herbs and parmesean cheese.  AMAZING!!!! Again, really easy to make and it was a hit!

It is my hope for myself and other women that we can jump off the dieting bandwagon and fix our bad relationship with food.  So who is on board?  Over the next couple of weeks I'll be sharing some recipes and my progress and hopefully some changed ideas about food.

If you live in Jacksonville, there are many copies of her books at the library, but I am going to be making the investment soon and just buying these. 

Also, I have been finding a wealth of wonderful recipes through the Self Challenge, it has been a great addition to the principles in this book.

So on a different note...if all goes well this afternoon with my kids napping...I will actually be posting a new project...that is assuming the idea in my head translates properly in real life...hoping it works out! Have a great day!

French Women Don't Get Fat - Good Food Read

I read this fantastic book several years ago, I can't even remember how I came across it.  It's an excellent read just as a book and presents some really interesting ideas about eating that are VERY un-American.

I so prefer the European way of life.  Street markets, walking everywhere, amazing, rich food.  So why aren't the majority of French women fat?  Let's face it, Americans have a bad relationship with food.  The fast food menus get bigger every year and the number of insane fad diets grows right along with it.  Makes you wonder if the fast food peeps are in cahoots with the diet people...hmm....

We could learn a lot from the French.  Eating like the French is about enjoying GOOD food.  The French go to the market, picking out fresh, local produce to cook their meals from, very little processed food (probably except whatever junk we Americans export). Then they actually enjoy preparing it, SIT DOWN, eat their food, and enjoy good conversation.

I think I am definitely going to give this book another read because I've really been thinking about the reasons why I eat, am I really enjoying what I am eating, am I trying to correct the bad things about my relationship with food.  That is what it really comes down to with losing weight, correcting and changing bad ideas about food.

I've been really happy doing the Self Drop 10 Challenge because of the variety of recipes and it is helping me add more whole foods, fruits, and vegetables to my diet in a way that is satisfying and now I am finding myself craving these good foods.  I do have my sweet treat daily.  Something small (or not so small we went and got fro-yo yesterday) but something that I really enjoy.

I enjoyed a wonderful salad the other night after the gym.  Normally I would crave something heavy but I opted for the totally yummo chef salad on the Self plan.  It has tons of lean protein and left me feeling very satisfied and full.

Mireille Guiliano talks about something French women do called "recasting".  I definitely recommend checking out her site and doing some reading on this.  I love this quote from her "French Woman's Manifesto"

"French women choose their own indulgences and compensations.  They understand that little things count, both additions and subtractions, and that as an adult everyone is the keeper of her own equilibrium."

I am adding more healthy foods bit by bit and this method seems to be really effective.  My new favorite breakfast is a hard boiled egg sliced on whole wheat toast lightly buttered.  I add an extra slice of toast and a piece of fruit.  This keeps me happy till lunch and I have energy for my morning workout.

Here's a bit of yumminess for lunch that is easy to throw together and is full of all sorts of goodness.  It's just black beans, romaine lettuce, shredded cheese and a couple tablespoons of salsa.  Heat up on a whole wheat tortilla :)  Normally I would need a pile of sour cream to go with this, but it really doesn't need it.  And it's actually yummy!  

I like to have these for snacks but I have been trying some of the suggestions on the Self plan (there are TONS) and turns out that baby carrots, hummus and string cheese is totally delish and absolutely filling.  Sounds a bit like rabbit food, but really, its totally yummy.  All the fruits and veggies I have been eating are helping me "recast" my body like Mireille talks about.

I think we are lazy as Americans, we want all the results, but none of the work.  We forget that food is meant to be enjoyed, not pared down to as "fat free" as possible so we can eat the whole bag of chips and not feel bad.  Or diet schemes that promise weight loss while you sit on your butt.  How is that changing your view of food?  How is it leading you to better lifestyle choices?  It seems we have completely lost the love of food preparation, eating, conversation...it is really quite sad. 

I want to spend less time in my car, more time at the Farmer's Market, more time experimenting with new food and flavors, more time outside.  Who knows if I can do all these things in the suburban sprawl that is Jacksonville, Florida, but I sure am going to try and so should you :)

So here is to ENJOYING life, ENJOYING food and adding a little French flair to the American housewife.