This daily physical activity is one of the reasons they tend to be thinner.
Having a car in any European city is a challenge. As a result, city folks do
plenty of walking, and in the country, they walk or ride bicycles. And when
French people walk or drive, they usually are not eating, drinking coffee in
cardboard cups, or talking on cell phones.

Another thing that was noticed is that it’s virtually impossible to find a
non-smoking zone, in the city or the country. Smoking is a way of life, much
like sitting
in the cafes.

Perhaps all that coffee and cigarettes helps dull the appetite and helps
explain why the French are slim. Of course, we all know that smoking is
unhealthy
and certainly not a good way to get weight under control.

Viva la difference. What can we take away from these unscientific though
spot on observations? Well, I’m feeling a bit inspired to slow down, savor
the flavor, taste and aroma of my meals, eat whatever I like in small
portions, and keep on walking. Keep on working out with intense interval
training a few times a week, and really enjoying life!

What do you think? I’d love to hear your take on this. Please leave a
comment regarding the French paradox.

For a free report that will help you get your dream body to match your dream
life go to
www.kathystrahan.com

“Yogurt is the perfect food because it is high in calcium, has
carbohydrates, protein, and fat - everything you need in every meal,” she
says.

In most French markets, yogurts take up an entire aisle, while snack foods
like chips, sodas, and cookies have very little shelf space.

The article points out that it’s hard to figure out the nutritional value of
many of the foods in the French markets because nutrient labeling is
optional.

The average French consumer appears to be less interested in (fat free
items) but instead be more interested in added vitamins and minerals than
reduced fat or calories.

And there lies another secret to the French secret of slimness: Portion
control.

The author of the article attended a child’s birthday party where the adults
enjoyed espresso and mini pastries while the children played. After having
one tiny pastry, the author writes that her instinct was to go for another
until she realized that none of the adults had more than one paper wrapper
next to their coffee cups. Woops. Up rears that portion control issue again.

Interestingly, the parents at the party were asked to share their insights
into French dietary habits and here is what they said:

Breakfast is typically coffee with some kind of bread, yogurt, or cereal.
Croissants are a treat, and served mostly to visitors. Snacks are enjoyed
primarily by children after school; adults
usually stick to three meals a day. Dessert is de riguer, but the portions
are small — just like the tiny pastries.

France is certainly known for its good, rich food. Its good wine and
beautiful women and romantic men. So when I came across this article I was
excited to read it and then share it with you.

Apparently the author of the article was paid to go to France to collect
these “unscientific” findings, (right on) On a recent trip to France, the
authors’ mission was to eat like a French person- or at least to find out
just how they stay so slim. Observations that you’ll read here are quite
enlightening. So read on…

This is a country where on one corner, you find a boulangerie with
mouth-watering pastries, and on the next, a café where Parisians linger for
hours. It’s a place known for rich desserts, baguettes made from refined
flour, foie gras, fatty meats, and wine. Yet, as stated above, most
inhabitants seem to have little trouble maintaining a healthy weight. It’s
been called the French Paradox. And we Americans want to learn how to
emulate the technique so we can enjoy the same beautiful results.

Interestingly, one of the first observations was that the French are not all
thin. The percentage of overweight people is not nearly as high as in the
United States, but they are catching up to us.

Why? In part, the French blame the infiltration of fast food, french fries
(now that’s a paradox), and super-premium ice cream for their increasing
girth, according
to French diet expert David Benchetrit, MD.

Still, says Benchetrit, many French women have a mindset that helps them
stay slender.

“French women refuse to accept being overweight,” says David Benchetrit,
director of the Clinique du Poids weight loss clinic in Paris. “It is no
secret that they want to be beautiful, in love, and take care of themselves
so they look good.”

Indeed, Benchetrit says that two-thirds of the women he sees at his clinic
have a
body mass index
(BMI) of less than 23, which is in the normal range of 18.5-24.9.

Another thing that was observed is that the French and American ways of life
are very different. Eating is a leisurely experience. In the United States,
we often
wolf down meals in record time or eat while driving or sitting at our desks.
But the French appear to have all the time in the world to sit around and
dine.

“We sit down and eat for pleasure, using all of our senses,” Mireille
Guiliano, author of the best-selling book French Women Don’t Get Fat, has
said.

In America, low-carb diets have many of us saying no to white foods like
bread and pasta, but in France, everyone seems to be toting a fresh baguette
to
bring home.

“You need to eat a large volume of bread or pasta for the calories to add
up, and most of the time, French meals are quite light and portions are
small,”
says David Benchetrit.

Duck confit, foie gras, and many other fatty foods are enjoyed occasionally
- maybe once in two weeks, he says. Wine is enjoyed regularly, but in
limited
portions. And you won’t find artificial sweeteners in sherbet-colored
packets on every table. That’s because the French prefer small portions of
the real
stuff, like sugar and butter, according to Guiliano.