http://www.katheats.com/jenna-eat-live-run/
I found Eat Without Guilt through http://blog.cooklikeyourgrandmother.com/ This is from the Eat Without Guild newsletter:Jenna wrote: from her FAQ's
How do French women stay so thin? How do they make it from one meal to the next without snacking?
A typical day in the life of a French woman might be a cafe creme (coffee with milk–whole milk) and a croissant and fruit for breakfast, an omelet, crepe or salad for lunch and a large late dinner such as chicken or fish. This dinner was usually at around 9:00 and you are right when you ask how could they possibly not snack?! It took me a few weeks to really get in the swing of things because my body was used to eating the american-way when we eat about every couple hours but after eating the French food for awhile my body got used to their eating times.
Typically in late afternoon, around 4:00, french women go out and get coffee and a little “pick-me-up†such as a small (and I mean SMALL…not american sized at all!) pastry. They sit and drink espresso and share something small.
The reason these meals keep french women satisfied a long time is because there is more fat in them. whole milk, egg yolks, butter…..its not a secret that fat keeps your tummy full. But surprisingly french women don’t get fat! how….because they WALK! everywhere! They walk for hours and hours…no one really drives in paris, everyone just walks. when I lived there I probably walked a good 5 miles every single day. And the women there do a lot of yoga. I know because there were yoga studios everywhere and the classes I attended were always completely packed. Even though they consume a lot of fat in their meals, breakfast and lunch are relatively small and dinner is much larger. But the secret is walking…trust me!
oh, and the yogurts are NOT fat free or low fat. They are full fat! I dont think anything there is low fat…but I ate a yogurt every single morning with muesli and fresh fruit from the farmers market near my apartment, as well as crepes and omelets for lunch, a sweet in the afternoon and a heavy dinner + dessert and I actually lost a couple pounds while I was there!!! amazing!
Have you ever struggled with food?
I struggled with my weight (always feeling like I had to lose 5 pounds) while I was in college and I really think it took me living in another country where the women eat for pleasure–not too much, not too little and don’t stress out over a silly couple pounds, to make me realize that its just a complete waste of time to deprive ourselves good food in order to try to be “perfectâ€. There’s no such thing as perfect! If you constantly live your life on a strict diet (when I say diet I mean depriving yourself bread, that piece of chocolate, your mom’s pasta), the joy in food is lost and food should be one of the most joyful, pleasurable things in this world!
A French Secret to Keeping the Pounds Off
by Dinneen Diette
When I lived in France, it was almost a ritual - eat the Sunday afternoon meal, then take a leisurely walk. During the meal itself, conversations between family members and guests would flow back and forth. When dinner was over, the entire family (and any guests) would continue their conversations strolling around the neighborhood.
I would often see groups of people walking around. Elderly ladies in their skirts and heels (LOW heels, mind you) men in their crisp pants with walking sticks, their sons, daughters, and grandchildren alongside. It was truly a family affair. Even the family dog would tag along!
In THIS Outfit?
I remember one of my first Sunday dinners in France (the dinner itself will be another story - what an experience!). The dinner plates had been cleared, coffee and dessert served and eaten, the cleaning up was done, and everyone got ready for the afternoon stroll.
As it was the first Sunday meal I was invited to, I had worn a nice outfit, with my good shoes. I thought to myself, “Walking, now? Can’t I go home, maybe lie down for an hour, then I’ll get my sweatpants and sneakers? I mean, these people are crazy?†Yup, that's exactly what I was thinking.
I was a newbie to the country and didn’t want to offend anyone, so I sucked it up and went along.
However, not only was it lots of fun, but boy did I feel good afterwards! Just getting up and moving for a while really kept my energy up. I couldn’t believe it. And my feet (and shoes) were fine!
Have you ever felt really lethargic, especially after a big meal?
Walking can help. It’s been shown that walking after eating improves digestion, keeps blood sugar under control, and helps the muscles in the lower part of your body return blood back to the heart, which in-turn keep at bay that sluggish feeling.
Now, this doesn't mean you can stuff yourself and just think you can "stroll it off"! It also doesn’t mean you should walk at a really brisk pace (after all, you've just eaten). No big exertion is needed, but get your body moving.
Not only is it healthy, but the he added benefit of walking with family or friends is a way to spend more time with them (REAL time, not watching TV time).
You should wait about 30 minutes after eating before strolling. And it really should be more of regularly-paced WALK, not a turtle-like crawl!
Though I originally thought the French were crazy for taking these walks, I came to enjoy them myself. It became automatic and part of my lifestyle. I didn’t have to consciously think, “now go walk after that big meal.†It was just second-nature. And it can be the same for you too.
YOUR ACTION PLAN
Next time you have a meal and just want to hit the sofa and TV remote (hey, we ALL do it) - instead, have the family go for a walk, or just go alone if needed. You’ll feel better, you'll get some fresh air, and maybe one day it will be a part of your lifestyle too.
The Health Benefits of Walking
I could list a hundred reasons to love walking - but here are just a few (of the many) health benefits of WALKING:
Reduces your risk of Cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic: walking keeps your heart healthy by lowering the "bad" cholesterol and raising the "good" cholesterol.
Reduces your risk of developing high blood pressure, a factor that also contributes to heart disease.
If you have Type II Diabetes, it helps you manage it. Walking on a regular basis can improve your body's ability to process sugar and also lowers your blood sugar.
Helps reduce stress. Stress is a big factor in many illnesses and diseases. It is much more harmful than people realize. Walking can help you clear your head, breath some fresh air, and wind-down after a long day.
Its good for your brain. In a study on walking and cognitive function (which just means the ability to process info - basically, memory), researchers found that women who walked the equivalent of an easy pace at least 1.5 hours per week had significantly better cognitive function (and less cognitive decline) than women who walked less than 40 minutes per week. Think about that!
Dinneen Diette is founder of Eat Without Guilt.com, a speaker, and contributor to various online health & wellness magazines, newsletters and websites. She helps and guides you to attain the dream of a slimmer, sexier and healthier you! To receive her easy tips, action steps, how-to articles and Special Report for FREE, visit www.EatWithoutGuilt.com