Lose weight, fat loss and weight loss is not part of a French woman’s vocabulary, because they have been following the same lifestyle for centuries and use common sense.
This diet allows you to eat a large selection of unprocessed meats, grains, dairy products, breads, vegetables and fruits. The key is all about portions.
It’s important for your body to vary your food selections for each meal because different foods contain different minerals and vitamins that are important for a well rounded diet.
You should have a nice salad and vegetables with your main protein, but the protein should never exceed one third of a pound.
If you look at local Frenchmen, they will have one dessert and share it with the whole table, so having cake or dessert is fine, but only a very small piece. The secret is to keep your portions sizes as small as you can, because if you are going to have a lot of this you will not lose weight.
French breads are fantastic, especially croissants. Remember though, that croissants in France are about one ounce, so that size with a meal would be fine.
A French diet without cheese, never. Yes, real cheese. Eating processed cheese would definitely not be included in a French diet, but eating small portions of real cheese helps you limit cravings for snacks because you’ll feel full.
Red wine has also always been part of French tradition, and it’s healthy for you because it’s full of antioxidants and fights free radicals in your body. Once again, a small portion, 1 to 2 glasses a day, not a bottle.
When eating, French women are very choosy, they like large portions of fresh fruit and vegetables; these are high in nutritional value and low in calories.
The French women have always eaten a fraction of the portions at their meals that most people in the US consume. When you consider the large portions we are served at restaurants in the US, it’s no wonder we have a habit of consuming a lot more food.
French women do not watch TV when eating, they eat slowly and savor the food, instead of gulping down, and can you remember when last you savored a meal?
French women are used to drinking more water during the day, it’s not only good for you but helps to keep your metabolic rate in high gear which is great for burning calories.
French women can easily forgive themselves if they have eaten too much. There will come a time when you just don’t have the willpower and you overindulge. All you do is cut back a little on your next meal - if we continue copying them it will help us with our fat loss efforts.