French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

[mountaingal]

I've started to read this book, which starts off disparaging diet books, but which I suspect is itself very much a diet book. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/whistle.gif[/img]

I'm also greatly amused by the author's air of French superiority - I can see why at least one American reviewer tek set genst di book. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70365-flirt.gif[/img]

So far, though, there's lots of common sense. I hope to finish reading by tomorrow, so we can start discussing it - in particular, how what is said could or could not apply to Black women.

[Magician]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mountaingal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm also greatly amused by the author's air of French superiority
</div></div>

What a surprise. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[mountaingal]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

Lol! Here’s an example, Magic:

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">At the outset, let’s state that French women simply do not suffer the terror of kilos that afflicts so many of their American sisters. All the chatter about diets I hear at cocktail parties in America would make any French woman cringe. In France, we don’t talk about “diets,” certainly not with strangers. We may eventually share a trick or two we’ve learned with a very close friend – some cunning refinement of an old French principle. But mainly we spend our social time talking about what we enjoy: feelings, family, hobbies, philosophy, politics, culture and, yes, food, especially food (but never diets).</div></div>

[SandiF]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

I've started reading this book, expecting something different, but it is preaching the same principles as every other diet book about losing weight. Exercise. Drink Water. Practice portion control. Watch the carbs. The author advise on not to follow fad diet...but she's introducing her own brand of fad "diet food" with the leek soup.

Maybe one day I'll jump on the bandwagon and write my own book on how to eat right and feel good the Jamaican way! (Probably should get that title copyrighted from now eh?)

[mountaingal]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

you seet doah, Sandi. and because i'm so easily programmed when it comes to fad diets, mi already mek plans fi try di leek soup this weekend. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

was talking to one a the bosses about it (she's a francophile), and she seh she read it, she hated the leek soup, but liked what was said about pizza - mi no reach that part yet though...

it's a diet book wrapped up in cultural language.

[mountaingal]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

Sandi - one of the reasons we're reading this book is to see if there are any insights into the interplay of food, culture and self-esteem that affect Black women, compared to French women.

I'm a black woman who, like many others, have significant weight issues. The obesity rate among black women is such that it becomes a bit of a cultural issue, but where is the crux of this issue? does it have to do with the way we are socialized in North America, that we address self-esteem issues through food? or is it a class issue - poor people tend to be fatter because of the unavailability/cost of healthy food, and because more black women are poor, more of us are obese?

what i'm learning so far from Guiliano's book is that French women learn a different approach to eating, prefer to eat less of better tasting and healthier food, not into the huge portions that seem culturally American, etc. - How does that compare to how we black women approach eating?

[SandiF]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

Excellent! Mi did come close to putting it aside but I'll continue reading and getting into the discussion.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mountaingal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sandi - one of the reasons we're reading this book is to see if there are any insights into the interplay of food, culture and self-esteem that affect Black women, compared to French women.

I'm a black woman who, like many others, have significant weight issues. The obesity rate among black women is such that it becomes a bit of a cultural issue, but where is the crux of this issue? does it have to do with the way we are socialized in North America, that we address self-esteem issues through food? or is it a class issue - poor people tend to be fatter because of the unavailability/cost of healthy food, and because more black women are poor, more of us are obese?

what i'm learning so far from Guiliano's book is that French women learn a different approach to eating, prefer to eat less of better tasting and healthier food, not into the huge portions that seem culturally American, etc. - How does that compare to how we black women approach eating?
</div></div>

[SandiF]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

cho...duplicate.

[ILP]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

read the book, but i actually remember this lady when she was on Oprah. She hasnt said anything that I havent heard other Europeans say about Americans and food.

Plain and simple...(through the eyes of our European "sisters"), we Americans eat entirely too much. Period.

1. When I lived abroad (Europe). I was suprised that my English, Spanish counterparts ate out every single day. They ate desserts, and drank wine. They ate everything, but in small portions. I remember being sooo hungry, when I first arrived in Cadiz. But, I got used to eating less and enjoying food more DWL: I was amazed that I actually lost weight, while I was there.

A spanish friend of mine, that still lives in Spain, has come to visit me several times here. He absolutely, gasps when we go to Starbucks to get coffee. I still die laughing when I think about the first time we ever went to Starbucks and the lady asked him what size coffee he wanted and he said, he wanted the litre sized one [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

2. Most of the Europeans also didnt drive, they commuted by rail or bike. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

She does come across sounding a bit preachy to me too, but its more like she is preaching to the choir.

[Gen]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

smaller portions in Europe and also..imporant to note...people nah eat pan the run like merca...every weh yuh tun is a drive through

In Europe the duration of the meal is way longer than that of those in the US...they sit, eat slowly and savor the meal bite by bite in their mouths...and they have wine with meals...

I know for a fact that the more food one consumes the more yuh gut stretch fi handle the extra food and here comes the weight...

Meal times in the US will never be like it is in Europe...capitalism does not allow for it.

[Gen]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

one concept that some builders/architects are trying to push is developments with a main street/village kind of feel..where residents are able to walk everywhere, to the pharmacy, supermarket...lots of bike paths and laid out in a way where ammenities are easily accessible via foot


soon come back with thoughts as the book relates to us

[Nunya]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

I haven't read the book and have no plans to do so (diet books - disguised or no - are not my cup of tea) but I do recall seeing the author on Oprah.

I believe in addition to the points made here, she said that if Americans took more time in preparing even a simple snack, they would lose weight. Her point was that instead of slapping on the cold cut and the mustard pan de bread, we should take time to cut the meat into charming shapes, lightly toast the bread, remove the crusts, make sure the mustard is of the highest quality with just the right touch of bouji &amp; delicately flavoured.

The herbs and spices should be top drawer, freshly bought daily and only from the vendor who has been selling at the same spot for years and who knew your mother when she was a maiden.

Ofcourse you can't use the chip plate (even though you're eating alone)- the finest china should be used with the delicate filigree matching the trim around your haute couture dressing gown...

Like please [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70400-talktohand.gif[/img]

Like Geneva say, who's got time for all that???? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70392-silly.gif[/img] It soun nice an whatnot, but how practical is all that in our everyday lives???

And I think she's got a follow up book coming out???

[ILP]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

Nunya I hear you on what you said.

However, she did point out something that I notice other Europeans practice and that may also lead to their being thinner. When I lived in Cadiz, my friend never quite understood my neurosis (as he called it) about eating chocolate, and ice cream, etc. He was always like, "If you want it, eat it." Of course, when I went to the confectioners and the pastry places, I was only sold the best, top quality, freshest (made that morning), things. Period. I noticed that I never need a large piece in order to feel satisfied.

I brought that practice back with me when I returned to the states. I only eat the freshest, top quality, purest, wholesome ingredients (whether I prepare them myself or not) and I feel more satisfied with only a small portion. And nothing is off limits (for the most part). Only the best past ILP's lips [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

I think that was her point about Americans in the book. We eat anything. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img] And we know that in our African American communities that it isnt high quality or fresh foods that is sold in the stores. Where our eating habits make me the most saddest is when I see the birth weights of our (community) babies. Anyway, that is another topic.

now di author is on har own wid di fine crockery ting...fi real [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70374-lipsrsealed.gif[/img]

[Gen]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img] at chip plate...Nunya yuh is mad enuh [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img] by the time mi done set out fine china and all mi nuh hungry again ..so maybe that's the plan [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]

[Nunya]

Re: French Women Don't Get Fat book discussion

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: iluvportland</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I brought that practice back with me when I returned to the states. I only eat the freshest, top quality, purest, wholesome ingredients (whether I prepare them myself or not) and I feel more satisfied with only a small portion. And nothing is off limits (for the most part). Only the best past ILP's lips [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

I think that was her point about Americans in the book. We eat anything. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img] And we know that in our African American communities that it isnt high quality or fresh foods that is sold in the stores. Where our eating habits make me the most saddest is when I see the birth weights of our (community) babies. Anyway, that is another topic.

</div></div>

This is prolly whe mtng a talk bout? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif[/img] In any event, there are times when I cannot afford to buy the best or the freshest. A jus so it go. And I make a concerted effort in finding the best within my budget for my family. But nuff time mi know say a crap mi a get fi mi buck...

How much worse must it be for folks who are working minimum wage (specifically many black women) and or relying on food banks to supplement their diets.

Yuh dun know say de sitn dem whe yuh a go get fram food bank a de bottom a de barrel stuff.

An moas a de stores dem whe have de reduced items or no name brands, jus basically have repackaged junk. People cannot afford to look too closely at the meat dem a buy. Figa whe dem no know whoan kill dem...

So when she a go stress how wi fi go fi quality as opposed to quantity, de bottom line is nuff a wi cannot afford it. And to mek matters worse, when wi buy de crap we can afford, wi no have de time fi drain awf de fat cause wi haffi a mine de pickney, do de laundry, clean de house, iron de clothes all while preparing to go on de night shift.

I just think her stuff was impractical for the majority of black women who suffer from weight issues. But then again, mi jussa talk from whe dem didda say pon Oprah...