French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.15 You Save: $8.80 (59%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.12 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of French Women Don't Get Fat
Book Review: French Women Don't Get Fat
Summary: 4 Stars
As many of you who know me personally are aware, I have lost since July 2009, about 40 lbs. following the Belly Fat Cure program by Jorge Cruise. I recommend that program, but was also interested in this book, primarily because my wife has not had similar experience on BFC. Also, I am aware that generally speaking, it seems for difficult for women to lose weight than men, and wanted to see if this book has any insight about that. Also, having begun to learn French at the age of 9 in elementary school, I am still somewhat of a francophile, especially when it comes to wine, food, and pleasure.
I read this book in two sittings, one long and one short, because I wanted to finish it quickly so I would not interfere with my wife's "getting on with it". The author, Mirielle Guiliano, former CEO of Clicquot, Inc.(LVMH)recounts her personal story about how as an adolescent came to look like a "sack of potatoes" in the eyes of her father. She takes us through the thoughtful and kind prescription of her "Dr. Miracle" who helped her gain control of herself, recognize her "petits demons" and take charge over her eating, her pleasures, and her life.
I found the book to be an enjoyable read with sound advice for men and women of all ages and nationalities. Guiliano speaks of an approach based in self awareness, understanding foods, wine, and "offenders" and what makes the needle move for you. She does not advocate dieting as Americans understand it (deprivation for a limited period of time with short term dubious results) or excessive exercise (three hour gym poundings on machines that resemble weaponry; but instead promotes a systematic, incremental approach to reducing and eliminating the foods that cause weight gain, and adding regular walking, water, and self dicipline to your routine. At the same time, she favors allowing yourself the basic pleasures of food and wine (including champagne, of course) with the awareness that indulgence today will have a cost of reducing or abstaining tomorrow.
The version of the book I read is chocked full of recipes to assist people in converting themselves from fattening, unfulfilling junk food eaters into conneiseurs of what is best for you: real, good food properly prepared.
With the exception of the fact that her recipes and approach likely contains a little too much sugar for those who are serious about losing weight regularly, I found this book to be basically sound and consisten with the principles that have enabled me to successfully lose weight. I would still recommend the Belly Fat Cure by Jorge Cruise over this book, if you were to buy only one. That said, I think this book is a good supplement to the BFC program and especially offers a woman's perspective that many (men and women) will find useful.
Enjoy this book.
Book Review: Wisdom on getting and staying slim
Summary: 4 Stars
French Women Don't Get Fat is not your typical diet book, thank goodness. It is however, more of a philosophy of how one should approach food and life from the French perspective of author, Franco-American, Mireille Guiliano. She recommends a more relaxed approach to food consumption and preparation with less emphasis on what you can't have and more emphasis on enjoying the food you do eat, choosing smaller portions with bigger flavor.
French Women Don't Get Fat also contains fifty-five recipes that range from the exotic, like Fingers and Caviar and Duck Breasts A La Gasconne, to more simple fare of Lentil Soup and Baked Apples. There are also recipes for making homemade yogurt. I found most, but not all of the recipes contain ingredients the average American kitchen would have on hand.
I found the book a bit of a slow read, but the principles are sound enough. As every dieter knows, losing weight requires increasing activity and limiting portions. The difference is the author also reminds the reader that diets don't work; therefore you have to make long-term changes that will work for your lifestyle and tastes. She suggests staying away from fast food and hunger cravings by eating good food in season, prepared well, which is the best way to eliminate the boredoms, and mindless eating resulting in the inevitable weight gain.
If you are looking for a non-typical diet book with interesting new recipes and French wisdom for getting slim and staying that way-then you will enjoy French Women Don't Get Fat.
Armchair Interviews says: Interesting perspective on food and dieting.
Book Review: Advice on changing your relationship with food.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is not a typical "diet" book that's going to give you some magical secret or dictate that you have to count carbs, points, calories, or anything else. What I got out of this book is that I can make small changes that add up over time. I have about 15 pounds to lose that have crept onto my body in the past couple of years due to my poor relationship to food. I see many of my friends and family also having their own poor relationships to food. The advice in this book directs you to re-think your choices, make small changes, don't deny yourself anything but keep your indulgences under control. I've been seriously modifying my way of eating (I won't call it "diet") over the past few weeks (prior to reading this book). And now I can see that a lot of what I'm doing are things that the author recommends. And I let myself have a treat once in awhile, but I make sure it's a really good treat that's completely worth it. My small changes have added up to the loss of about 4 pounds so far -- without feeling like I'm "dieting." Check out this book, but remember it's not a prescription for big weight loss, but some thoughts on how you can make your relationship to food a much healthier one.Book Review: Good sense.
Summary: 4 Stars
This book echos my views, and it's good to read them when I need a tuneup of how I'm doing with my nutrition and life. It just makes sense. Diets don't work. Well maybe except Weight Watchers, but that is also a lifetime change.
I love the idea of enjoying all great food, but changing how it's enjoyed and in what amounts. I really agree with not making a habit of sugar free and fat free.
I don't feel this book is condescending to Americans and a snooty idea of French is better either. We have bad eating habits and not enough moving. It's just a fact. Maybe some sweeping generalizations are made, but they make good sense.
I totally disagree however with 48 hours of leek soup only. Just not healthy. So, when I did it I did the alternative soup with more veggies and I had eggs, fish, chicken in the amounts needed to meet protein requirements of 48 hours. I can't do veggie only for that long and not get dizzy and too weak.
Doing this I'm down 10 pounds from where I started these changes, or rather got back to it, and find I can keep it up (mostly, who doesn't have more indulgent days) and enjoy food and life!
Book Review: misunderstood
Summary: 4 Stars
I feel that some people are taking this book too literally. This book, like any other diet book, is about changing some habits from unhealthy to healthy. And it promotes thinking about food in a different way, and using different ingredients than you normally would.
I used to go to the farmers market every Saturday and buy loads of healthy food, and then let it all go to waste because I was either too lazy or uninspired to do anything with it.
After reading this book I am planning my meals more, thinking about at least 3 different recipes I could use for one kind of fruit or vegetable when I buy them (to prevent waste), and balancing my meals better.
Sure, sometimes it can come off as condescending, but what diet book doesn't?
Instead of nitpicking maybe people should just get over their attitude and enjoy the book for what it's worth.