French women have a knack for staying slim. Their diet secrets have come under the spotlight because they do not suffer from food anxiety and relish “bad” foods like chocolate and pastries. They seem to know the secret to losing weight and staying thin for good.
However, French women are not stuffing themselves with chocolate and getting away with murder, they watch their weight like hawks. Their success lies in the art of eating in moderation. If you are looking to lose weight, and deprivation is not your style, try some of these French weight loss tips.
French Weight Loss Secret 1: Keep A Food Diary
Keeping a food diary for three to four weeks will help you to understand your eating habits. At what times of the day do you overeat? Which foods are you eating too much of? Are you craving chocolate and sugary foods? Are you taking too much alcohol? Is your diet balanced with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables? Once you recognize the patterns in your eating, your food diary will let you see what areas you can cut back in and achieve weight loss.
French Weight Loss Secret 2: Reduce Portion Sizes
The French eat small portions - their restaurants are famous for small but extremely tasty servings. It feels natural for French women to eat in moderation and exercise portion control. This skill can be learned and is the key to weight loss. The secret is to eat such delicious, tasty food that you will feel satisfied with a small amount. Eat what you really want, but eat it slowly, savor the taste and stop when you are full. Have a chocolate dessert but eat just the amount to satisfy yourself, which may be a lot less than you think.
French Weight Loss Secret 3: Eat Fresh Food
The traditional French diet is full of high quality fresh fruit and vegetables. French women do not buy an enormous weekly shop, preferring to pick up fresh produce every second day. Plan delicious fresh meals, spend time shopping for food, preparing it and savoring it at the dinner table.
French Weight Loss Secret 4: Love Your Food
Take time to sit down and enjoy your meals. Rather than eating automatically, savor what you are eating. Never eat while you are reading or watching television. Avoid anything which will distract you from really tasting your food. Eat at the dinner table, use nice cutlery and crockery - turn your dinner into an enjoyable affair.
French Weight Loss Secret 5: Take Exercise
French women are allergic to going to the gym but are very active. They walk everywhere. It can be difficult to find two hours to go the the gym so try to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Walk to work, get out for some fresh air on your lunch break, take the stairs instead of the lift. All these small changes add up and will increase your daily activity levels.
French Weight Loss Secret 6: Balance
This is such a simple principle and is the secret to keeping your weight stable. Think of your weight as an equilibrium. If you overindulge one day, make up for it the following day by taking exercise and eating light meals. This way you get to enjoy your indulgences rather than feeling guilty – a far healthier approach to food.
