Okay, so I decided to take on this whole “French women” thing. I mean, you always hear about how chic and slim they are, and I wanted to see if there was any truth to it. So I dove in, and let me tell you, it’s been a bit of a ride.
First, I started with the food.
I read somewhere that French women eat a lot of whole foods, fruits, vegetables, and less processed junk. I got rid of all the chips and cookies in my pantry. This was tough, no lie. I actually tossed out all the junk food in my house and went to the grocery store to load up on fresh produce. I bought some fancy French-sounding cheeses, too, because, why not? They eat cheese, right?
Then, the whole portion control thing.
Apparently, they don’t do huge American-sized servings. I started using smaller plates and really paying attention to how much I was eating. It was kind of a pain at first, but I got used to it. I started eating really slowly, chewing each bite like a million times. I even tried that yogurt thing – one or two a day, they say. Not gonna lie, it did keep me from feeling hungry all the time.
And, oh boy, the walking.
These women walk everywhere! So I started walking more. To the store, to the park, even just around the block after dinner. My step count went way up. It was actually pretty nice, once I got into the habit. I started noticing things around my neighborhood that I’d never seen before.
- No more processed foods.
- Lots of fruits and veggies.
- Smaller portions.
- Walking, walking, and more walking.
- Yogurt is the key to control hunger.
The “3 P diet” thing was interesting.
When they indulge, they supposedly cut out bread, pasta, and pastries. So after a big meal out, I tried skipping those for a few days. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. There are so many other things you can eat, and I didn’t really miss the carbs that much. I felt lighter, which was a good thing.
So, what did I learn?
Results
Well, I didn’t magically turn into a Parisian model, but I did lose a few pounds. More importantly, I felt better. More energy, less bloated, and just generally healthier. It wasn’t about a strict diet, but more about changing my habits. It took some work, but it was worth it. I am still doing it and hope can keep it forever!
