Eat Like a Parisienne... Part IV -- A Flashback Post

If you are just joining us this is a flashback post from a couple years ago.  I now have a "fab five" and am posting this series again to celebrate losing the baby weight in a LONG 51 weeks and to continue to motivate myself and others to stay healthy and if you want to lose weight this is a fun and unique approach.  Thank you all for the kind words in my decision to re-post this series.  I'm so happy you are enjoying it!  If you're so inclined pin it to your health and fitness boards and I'll luv ya foreva.  

Part IV.

So... 

Where did we leave off...

Chocolat?

I just got the Fab Four tucked in and I wish I had some right now!

Oh, that's right.  

We left off on "chemicals".  

We've talked about what the Parisienne's don't eat, now let's talk about what they do and how they do (and don't) do it.

Here's a few more hints...

• Les Parisienne's also, as mentioned in a comment - take the TIME to eat.  When you stand up to eat, YOU EAT MORE.
• They employ the fork and knife.  Finger food, aside from asparagus spears is hardly acceptable.  Use silverware this week.  You'll slow down.   You'll notice when you are full.
• They eat good food and eat it often, just less of it.  As noted in the last post - they enjoy wonderful food, thus eliminating the need for binging.
• Lots of veggies and lot's of exterior aisle food (also talked about the other day).  Shopping along the edge of the store means you are buying produce, meat and dairy.  Things you need to make recipes.

Many of you have mentioned Mireille Guiliano's books and you are right, they are so wonderful!  The first time I read French Women Don't Get Fat you probably heard me screaming, "Oui! Oui! Oui!" - it's just so good.  It's what American women NEEDED to hear.

If you haven't read them - you HAVE to read her books.  Plus, if you have always wanted to try cooking French inspired food, they are a WONDERFUL way to get your feet wet.  Many of the recipes will become instant favorites for you and your family.

If you read her second book, A French Woman for all Seasons you probably noticed her suggested seasonal menus.  
Take note of the portion size.
Take note of the portion size.
Take note of the portion size.
 Take note of the portion size. 
Take note of the portion size. 

I don't know what it is, or how they do it but our Parisienne sisters control their portions in a way we can hardly wrap our heads around.  I bet in many cases they eat HALF the amount we do - or less.  I am not talking about stupid Hollyweird calorie counting... who wants to walk around looking like a death camp survivor.  Hollyweird's obsession with looking skeletal and pre-pubescent is just gross.   I am not talking about wasting away... I am just talking about SLASHING our portion size.  

And oh, my gosh, it's so hard.

It's like its hardwired into our American brains how MUCH to eat, and hardwired into their brains how little to eat.  And every time I think I am going to "out portion control" a French person (when we are dining together with French friends) - they STILL eat less than I do.  Grrrrrr.....

Let me interject just to make you feel better - they talk insesantly.  Surly that allows their stomach the time
 to tell their brain they are full.

Again, some of it has got to be that pressure their culture keeps on them.  Around here, now come on, you know you've thought this...  you pack on a few pounds and you think, Well, at least I am not as big as so and so.  Most of us have a heavier co-worker or someone we could go stand next to to feel momentarily good about ourselves (sick I know, but keep it real, we've all done it).   But what dread to pack on a few and have a whole Metro car of skinny minnie's to stand next to all the way from Châtelet to Luxembourg. 

 Ugh.

Come on - if you've been to Paris, can I get an AMEN?

Here's a tiny glimpse of what we have eaten around here this week...

Plain yogurt (full fat!) with organic strawberries and honey.

Pea Soup with a drizzle of heavy cream.  Y-U-M.

Cantaloupe wrapped with Prosciutto.  Double Yum.

Goat cheese, one egg omelette's with side salad - and of course, my addiction.

Pellegrino.

So, let's get out our pom pons and ra-ra for each other!

And this is the only time you will read me using this horrid expression but...

YES WE CAN!

YES WE CAN!

YES WE CAN!

We can eat less.  

We can eat ONE slice of bread and not shove the entire baguette down our throats.

We CAN slow down and eat our pizza with a knife and fork.

We can actually take the time to chew our food.

We can stop after those first few bites and

 see if we REALLY want more. 

We can.  We can.  We can.

But we'll all hit a bump in the road.

Some sudden, freakish urge to hit a Diary Queen this summer when it's 99 degrees out.

The demon of PMS that convince us we need a pizza 
at 10:30 some Friday night while we are chillin' on the couch.

A party with bowls of M n M's on every coffee table...

No matter how motivated and "changed" we are, we are a product of our environment... we ARE NOT Parisiennes...

Which is why you have to work out LIKE AN AMERICAN!

So, put down that glass of wine and lace up your shoes girls!

Stay tuned...

Google Images:  French Women don't get Fat

MnM's & Turbo Jam

Eat Like a Parisienne Work Out Like an American Part II - Flashback Post

 Post Script 8/5/14.  This post originally appeared April 24, 2012 and out of all my thousand plus posts it's one of my favorites.  It takes me back to my times in Paris.  It inspires me and makes me laugh.  I hope you enjoy.  If you haven't read it, it's new to you and if you have I think you'll enjoy it again.  
For part one in this series click here.

A little about Parisienne's...

It's been hashed over and talked about so much it's almost redundant for me to even write this part of the series but you and I know, those darn Parisienne's eat much different than us, their American sisters and we can't seem to get enough of learning their tricks...

But first off - let's be real.
I mean, come on.
Have you seen a "real" Parisienne?

Lord love 'em, I am not trying to stereotype - this is all in fun...
but girlfriends are, for the most part, positively Napoleonic in size.

Seriously.

Once I was on the metro, and you'll pardon me for saying this, but I could not stop staring at this women's derriere, IT WAS SO SMALL!  And I don't mean small like, Hollywood small, I mean small, like a CHILD'S or something.  I just kept thinking,
 "I didn't know an adult butt could be that small!"

So many of them, not all of course, but so many of our French friends are just... small.
It can really make a girl feel like Sasquatch.

Once I was in this little boutique (my favorite in Paris) on the
Blvd. St. Germain...

perhaps you know it...
Les Filles a la Vanille... 

  Isn't that the COOLEST place???  Well, anyways... David...
 "Daa-veed" had to break the news to me that I wore the largest size in the store as he was helping me put an outfit together.
 Really?
 The LARGEST?
  Me??

Ouch.

So, they have that going for them... those petite Parisienne's and...
they smoke.
OK, not all of them.  But lot's.

Audrey  Toutou

I wish I smoked.

I am kidding of COURSE!
But darned if you don't always have something to do if you are a smoker.
You would never have to eat out of boredom, you could just light up a ciggy and die your slow death.
And, they smoke while dining out too... which I imagine breaks up their meal a bit, giving their brain time to realize they don't need to eat anymore.

I'm serious.  Think about it.
If you've ever people watched at a Paris café then you know what I mean.
Smoking, talking, hands waving in animated gestures, nibbling here and there.

They also have that whole, amazing food going for them.
Good, glorious, colorful, decedent, sweet, herb infused, delicious food.

It seems that our Parisienne sisters don't live in constant
 fear of food like their paranoid American counterparts.
Jenny Craig hasn't landed on their South Beach, holding hands with Dr. Atkins while snarfing down a Grapefruit but dreaming of a Slim Fast. 
 They have a real Nutrisystem and it's called REAL FOOD.

Come on... that was good.

Delicious food.
The Parisienne surrounds herself with it.
From crepe stands to open air food markets in her neighborhood.
From her local baker to her favorite cheese shop.
She eats delicious, flavorful, full-fat food and she does it often... because food is a PRIORITY for the French, and not an afterthought, she knows she will have such good food again and again with regularity so she doesn't have to binge on that wedge of Brie, desperate for it's creamy goodness... she knows she can easily have some more in a day or two.

I imagine the Parisienne has a sense of shame.
In that I mean, in many aspects Americans have done away with the shame to being very overweight - we accommodate ourselves with extra large movie seats, airplane seats, special plus sized stores and if we get too big we can use a little moped to drive around the grocery store.

Meep. Meep.

But for the French... well... if you are going to be told at a normal, healthy weight that you are the largest size in the store...
I guess that would limit your options a bit wouldn't it?

It's my guess that in such a beautiful culture there is a certain amount of pressure to garder la ligne 
or maintain ones figure.  I suppose that is good and bad for them just like our fading lack of shame is both good and bad for us.

In the meantime, I love to be inspired and I do find aspects of it very inspiring.

Now... how to eat like a Parisienne?
Stay tuned...

And for more info on the wonderful subject you must read the guru of eating like a Parisienne.   You can shop by clicking on the books.  Shopping Amazon thru Parisienne Farmgirl supports the time invested in this blog and my family and I thank you.

All images found with Goole images and are stock photography, source unknown,
from company websites such as the boutique photo (linked) or are public domain.

Eat Like a Parisienne Workout Like an American Part One Flashback Post with Updates

Post Script:  August 2nd 2014.  Round FIVE of loosing the baby weight.  She'll be one year in two weeks and it's finally gone.  Another fifty pounds.  Whew!  I had to take my own advice plenty of times over the last year.  
Hope you enjoy!  
This post originally appeared 4/20/12.

 

No.

I'm not on drugs,

Unless you'd call Chateau St. George a drug

... but I'd beg to differ.

Let's talk figures.

 1,2,3,4,5... 

More like....

As I have said a few times this week, I am on my fourth round of being on the "Final Fifteen"

I've lost 46 pounds since Chubs was born in September

I've heard that you should weigh 5 lbs. over 100 pounds for every inch you are over 5 feet tall.  (IE: 5" 5' you should weigh 125)
Yikes.
I've also heard, the older you get or the more babies you have, the thinner you will need to be to maintain your "normal" look.  Hmmm.... that's interesting isn't it?

Thinner?

Thin?

That is a word that will NEVER be used to describe me
 and that is O.K. 

The reality is, I am short but not petite.

Some people call it curvy.

When I carry extra weight it's simply called

 "thick".

Over the next week or so I am going to write about food, weight loss and health, simply from my own opinions and experience...

 but I know how woman are...

So promise me this...

No comparing.

Heaven forbid to me, or your neighbor or some knit-wit in Hollywood who really needs to binge on a big, fat, juicy burrito.

I do want to encourage you though...

I am all about health and I am
well, I am NOT that girl who can loose three pounds on accident.

I am NOT that girl who can work out for 20 minutes a day, three times a week and see 

"dramatic results"...

BTW, who are those people?

I've got big arms, thick, un-feminine legs
 and a good old mid-west booty to boot!!!
And I like it, thank you very much.

I love food.

I eat carbs.

I drink wine... often... 

And those cakes I make almost every weekend - yeah, I'll have a slice or two.


Aside from Jesus, what in the world do we have in this life besides family, food and sex???
Yes, that's what I said!

These are gonna be real life blog posts about choices we make...flavor... bread... sweat dripping in your eyes and finally zipping up that favorite pair of pants or effortlessly sliding into that LBD...

And let me tell you, there is nothing like sliding into that LBD, 
though it's been awhile since I've done it effortlessly!  

You ready?

Cause you gotta eat like une Parisienne and work out like
 une Amercaine.
You'll see what I mean...
-Angela

  

ALl images unless stamped ParisienneFarmgirl,  Google & Amazon

Trim Healthy Parisienne Farmgirl???

So...
I bet you know someone who is on the Trim Healthy Mama diet thing.

I know a good handful.  They are shrinking.  Seriously shrinking.  And so, though full of suspicions since I have my last batch of weight to lose I thought I would download the e-book and see what the fuss was about.   (DON'T bother.  I asked for my money back.   The e-book is not user friendly.  My sister bought the actual book and she loves it.)

You know I am NOT a dieter.

I believe strictly in a whole foods diet.  Or better stated an "old fashioned" "can you make it yourself" diet.  I've seen people on THM start shopping for low carb this, low carb that and stevia, stevia, stevia.  It seems so fadish.  And stevia freaked me out.  It just seems weird.  What's wrong with a little sugar every once and awhile? 

Well, I skimmed the book.  Learned a bit.  I had always wondered if some of my favorite foods were being converted to sugar... leaving it VERY difficult for me to lose the last bit of weight.

So, I'm giving it a try - sort of - I don't really have a desire to learn a bunch of new recipes with substitute ingredients or weird stuff I have to go to a bunch of different stores to get.  I rather LIKE the way we eat, I like my own recipes and frankly for the most part the recipes look gross unless you start using food that you have to BUY and can't make yourself (stevia, Dreamfield's pasta, Laughing Cow cheese, Whey powder, etc.)  I know Mercola says Stevia is OK but I just can't get over how it creeps me out.  And to add to it, I've noticed it doesn't settle well with me.  It gives me serious cotton mouth, a sore throat and diarrhea.  I won't be buying it again. 

THM has helped me understand some things about my hormones, given me a better understanding of how a good portion of my daily food was being converted to sugar and I did lose six pounds in about a week.  (WHAT?!)

But I am still really skeptical.  Not that it "doesn't work" but just that it's a diet.  A mon avis.   It's not REAL eating.  A mon avis.  I mean I can't have my homemade pasta with my homemade pasta sauce???  No honey on my toast?  It seems strange that they refer to the Bible for their ideas about food but then they poo-poo honey.  Honey is all over the place in the Bible.

I will still apply some of what I learned because hey- six pounds in a week after a four month plateau - that really got my attention!   But I am not down with a bunch of cauliflower pizza crusts, low carb, processed tortillas and all that.  Eww.  I don't mind incorporating what I learned but I'll do it my way.  Mais bien sur.   I have to be pragmatic too - I sure won't be making separate meals for me.  Because it's VERY IMPORTANT to me that my daughters don't think "mom eats a special way" or that "momma is obsessed with loosing weight, measuring food, denying herself butter while we all enjoy it" -- they are told that I work out to "be strong" -- I NEVER grumble about wanting to lose a couple pounds in front of them.  All they know about is HEALTH.  They will NOT grow up to be terrified of food or thinking at ten years old that their thighs are fat.
And for the love of my skinny jeans - I don't want to talk about if some meal is an "s" or an "e" when we sit down at a meal.  That is 99% of the reason I don't subscribe to the latest diet trends (South Beach, Atkins, Paleo, etc) because it leads to neurotic dinner time conversations that no self respecting Parisienne would ever have.  One should be concerned with the quality, taste and art behind ones food - not with it's carb or fat content.

So, what do you think?  Are you a Trim Healthy Mama?  If you are, do you see what I am saying or did I just pick a fight with my own Mama, Sister and half of Blogland?  I'm gonna still tinker with it - I was unknowingly eating WAY too many things that convert to sugar in one sitting.  Sugar is a breeding ground for cancer.  So, no special foods.  Less sugar.  And I am eating a LOT more food than I was so it's refreshing to not be constantly thinking "is this meal going to sabotage my workout".  But with my luck everyone will lose fifty pounds and I will be standing around with my self-righteous opinions about stevia.  HA!!

But hey - at least I can eat my homemade pasta and sauce :)

I would say, if you are interested in health - read Nourishing Traditions FIRST ad THM second and incorporate THM into your families Nourishing Traditions.



I'll keep you updated.
Angela
-Parisienne Farmgirl

Eat Like a Parisienne, Work Out Like an American Part VI

It was never my intention to drag this series out...

but life does go on and mine has been very busy.

Not feeling my best the last couple weeks... and for our big sale I made and boxed over 600 macarons.

Today I don't care if I ever see another one again!

Been working out?

Been eating well?

Ugh.

Thank goodness it's Monday (oops, now Wednesday) - I love new beginnings.

Now we all have our own story to tell...

the reasons we do or do not work out.

The excuses, contrived or legitimate.

But since we don't live like our great grandparents, since we have a more leisurely life than any generation before us we've got to keep moving.

Here's my over-worded workout bio...

 I mentioned before I have worked out for the last eighteen years.  In high school I was so out of shape (even as a cheerleader!) I couldn't run a mile without my lungs feeling like they were on fire!  But soon after graduating I realized things were going to go downhill fast if I didn't stay in shape so I began doing step aerobics (which I LOVE!) and using small weights to tone my arms.  Soon after getting married I continued with my step at the local women's gym and added weight machines.  I never got "buff" or anything but was able to maintain my weight pretty well.  Then a few years later I REALLY got into it thanks to some very fit friends -  I began running and soon got addicted.  Within 4 months I was up to 4 miles a day and with no kids and only a part time job I added roller blading and swimming to my routine.  Crazy!  I would run to the pool, swim a mile and then run home.  Then I got a "Total Gym" - you know, the old Chuck Norris/Christy Brinkely infomercial from days gone by.  Now that thing ROCKS!  It's fun and within five months I had serious biceps, tri's, strong abs and legs... it was awesome.  My work out schedule was decedent and self absorbed - I was working out two hours a day between the running, swimming and weights.   

I worked out thru month seven with my first pregnancy (as sick as I was) and still packed on 42 pounds.  Six weeks after he was born I threw him in the stroller and we were off!  The weight MELTED off - I remember looking down in the shower at the newly emerging bones of my feet thinking, "Damn!  Those are sexy feet!"  With baby number two I had gained some of that weight back (about 8 pounds) and was the heaviest I had ever been not pregnant so again, the minute she was six weeks old I threw together a playlist of pumping music, grabbed my old step from the basement  and did step aerobics in my bedroom while Aidan rode his plastic train up and down the hallway.  I can still remember my baby blubber belly in the mirror (you know how it's all squishy and weird after you give birth?!) hanging over my low cut shorts thinking - this is it.  It's never going away.  But that was February and by August I had lost fifty pounds and felt great.  I never gave up and often in the afternoon, once the weather was warm I would throw them in the stroller and hit the only hill in our area... I would chug up that hill and back down, ten times in a row, squeezing my a$$ the entire time, holding that belly in... believing it was going to make a difference.  Working out with two kids was worlds away from those days where I would run to the pool, swim and run home... When baby girl would cry I would do my step routine holding her (and you remember what a giant chunk she was - that was no easy feat!).  I never gave up.

With baby number three I again gained a good amount, only 38 that time but instead of three months - it took seven to shed... yikes... I was getting older.  This was hard!  My wonderful mornings of walking were over - My oldest was too young to ride a bike and I didn't have a triple stroller - So I went back to step aerobics - one day I would do my routine with arms weights (small dumbbells) and the next day I would focus on the tush and legs.  I missed running so much but it was pretty clear after baby number one that aside from some sort of "pelvic floor miracle" it'd be better for me to keep up my long strides power walks and other forms of exercise.  I do miss pounding the pavement and envy my running girlfriends... I really would like to do a small triathlon someday... hopefully I can pick running up again...

With this last baby I gained the most ever - 50 pounds.  He is now 8 months old and I have only lost 48 of the pounds for my heart hasn't been in it the entire time.  But I am on a streak now with the great weather - it's time for baby showers, weddings, band in the park night... I can't hide in gardening clothes all summer!

My workout of choice thanks to my cousin who inspired me a couple years ago is Turbo Jam.  (Here).  In a word - I'm addicted.  I've been doing it super faithfully since January and you've got to know - it works.  My figure is really changing and it makes all the work worth it.  These days I don't have time to lift weights, do ab work AND cardio but with Turbo I get all three.  My favorite DVD is Cardio Party III.  The music ROCKS which is VERY important to me.  I've about maxed it out though, now using leg and arm weights and adjusting the routine to accommodate my super strong heart and lungs.  I am ready to upgrade to Turbo FIRE! 

(here).

Working out works.

Dieting sucks - I don't recommend it.

But if you simply enjoy food without stuffing your face and keep working out your  figure is going to improve.

It has to.

Just keep going.

When you are working out,

suck in your abs,

stand up straight,

squeeze your tush,

be strong,

be conscious of what body part you are working on - no spaghetti body!

When you are done, reward yourself with a big glass of water and sit down to plan your next meal... dreaming of flavors, herbs, textures...

(Now watch this while I wrap this whole series up in a tidy little package) 

You'll miss days here and there...

which is why you have to eat like a Parisienne....

and then you'll get a burrito craving...

which is why you have to work out like an American....

You get it.

Stay strong, stay healthy and truly enjoy food.

-Angela

Parisienne Farmgirl 

  

ALl images unless stamped ParisienneFarmgirl,  Google & Amazon