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French Women Don't Get Fat (Abridged): The Secret of Eating for Pleasure Audiobook
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Stylish, convincing, wise, funny–and just in time: the ultimate non-diet book, which could radically change the way you think and live. French women don’t get fat, but they do eat bread and pastry, drink wine, and regularly enjoy three-course meals. In her delightful tale, Mireille Guiliano unlocks the simple secrets of this “French paradox”–how to enjoy food and stay slim and healthy. Hers is a charming, sensible, and powerfully life-affirming view of health and eating for our times. As a typically slender French girl, Mireille (Meer-ray) went to America as an exchange student and came back fat. That shock sent her into an adolescent tailspin, until her kindly family physician, “Dr. Miracle,” came to the rescue. Reintroducing her to classic principles of French gastronomy plus time-honored secrets of the local women, he helped her restore her shape and gave her a whole new understanding of food, drink, and life. The key? Not guilt or deprivation but learning to get the most from the things you most enjoy. Following her own version of this traditional wisdom, she has ever since relished a life of indulgence without bulge, satisfying yen without yo-yo on three meals a day. Now in simple but potent strategies and dozens of recipes you’d swear were fattening, Mireille reveals the ingredients for a lifetime of weight control–from the emergency weekend remedy of Magical Leek Soup to everyday tricks like fooling yourself into contentment and painless new physical exertions to save you from the StairMaster. Emphasizing the virtues of freshness, variety, balance, and always pleasure, Mireille shows how virtually anyone can learn to eat, drink, and move like a French woman. A natural raconteur, Mireille illustrates her philosophy through the experiences that have shaped her life–a six-year-old’s first taste of Champagne, treks in search of tiny blueberries (called myrtilles) in the woods near her grandmother’s house, a near-spiritual rendezvous with oysters at a seaside restaurant in Brittany, to name but a few. She also shows us other women discovering the wonders of “French in action,” drawing examples from dozens of friends and associates she has advised over the years to eat and drink smarter and more joyfully. Here are a culture’s most cherished and time-honored secrets recast for the twenty-first century. For anyone who has slipped out of her zone, missed the flight to South Beach, or accidentally let a carb pass her lips, here is a buoyant, positive way to stay trim. A life of wine, bread–even chocolate–without girth or guilt? Pourquoi pas?
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"I loved this book. The main story was great along with great recipes. The leek diet while it may be slimming I can't do for 2 days,but when I do remember about it I have the soup. I have always believed in the philosophy of eating when hungry and I try not to eat with other media. But of course sometimes I cheat. I also try to have the big dinner hour a bit earlier like 4 oclock. Which in general works very well with my kids, because they are very hungry and cranky. We then have a snack in the later evening before bed time."
— Soon-gill (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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It’s hard not to be enlivened by a [weight-control] book that celebrates both chocolate and bread, and espouses such wisdom as ‘Life without pasta? Perish the thought.’
— Lily Burana, Washington Post Book World -
The perfect book for the more literate dieter . . . A blueprint for building a healthy attitude toward food and exercise . . . Full of down-to earth advice . . . We’d all be thinner (and happier) if we followed it.
— Miriam Wolf, San Francisco Chronicle -
You’ve heard it before . . . But somehow, when the advice comes from Mireille Guiliano, you actually listen. A perfect, slim (and slimming) read for dieters and bon vivants alike.
— Marie Claire -
Ah, Paris, the ideal destination for museum-hopping, couture shopping–and quick weight loss? Mais oui, insists Mireille Guiliano . . . For those who can’t hop a plane whenever their zippers won’t close . . . her new memoir-cum-‘nondiet’ book [is] filled with slimming secrets.
— Kim Hubbard, People -
She spurs readers to give up the guilt and dieting extremes, to eat smarter and more joyfully . . . Readers can practically hear the rustling of fallen leaves beneath the narrator’s feet as she forages for mushrooms . . . Her writing, like her three-meals-a-day diet, is all part of her joie de vivre.
— Rosemary Feitelberg, Women’s Wear Daily -
Delightful . . . Hands down, this is the best of the newest crop of weight-control books.
— Nanci Hellmich, USA Today -
The past few years have been dominated by ‘scientific’ diets . . . I welcome this break from the usual kind of quick-fix diet book . . . Will this book transform one’s eating habits? Its good sense is unanswerable–and, personally, I love the bit about not going to the gym.
— Lynne Truss, bestselling author of Eats, Shoots & Leaves, The Times (London) -
Part Proustian memoir, part guide to living well, part recipe for Miracle Leek Soup, this book announces its distance from the Zone, the Atkins and all the rest on the very first page . . . Even the most skeptical and envious woman will find it hard to hold out against the charms of a beautifully written book that features both chocolate and love as key ingredients in a balanced diet.
— Allison Pearson, The Daily Telegraph (London) -
Mireille Guiliano's book is slender, elegant, well-spoken, sensible, and unembarrassed by the frank embrace of stratagems–just like the French women whom she holds up to the reader to admire and, if we can, to emulate.
— Adam Gopnik, author of Paris to the Moon -
I recognized things from my own French background and discovered quite a bit more. An important and fascinating book for all those people out there who’ve ridden the vicious diet roller coaster to failure.
— Nicole Miller -
Not only delicious, but a true story from one of the greatest ladies in the world.
— Chef Emeril Lagasse -
French Women Don’t Get Fat is not only charming and witty, but useful. It made me want to run out and buy a pound of leeks and a bottle of Champagne!
— Sharon Boorstin, author of Cooking for Love and Let Us Eat Cake
French Women Don't Get Fat Listener Reviews
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anni kotov, 6/7/2022
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" Good tips. I seriously need to take notes. "
— Alicia, 2/17/2014 -
" This is the best book I have ever read concerning diet. It helped me focus on eating for the rest of my life, not dieting. There are so many American eating thoughts that we need to get away from, and this book definitely helps. Plus, you can still eat desserts, cheese, and wine! "
— Laurel, 2/11/2014 -
" I liked this book more for learning the differences between cultures - very interesting - and a new way of looking at things! "
— Lizabeth, 2/9/2014 -
" Nice approach. Funny read. Good recipes. "
— Bettina, 2/3/2014 -
" I managed to drop 25 lbs with the help of this book. I haven't gained one back. "
— Nalleli, 1/25/2014 -
" Interesting, a new philosophy for eating right - variety, fresh, seasonal - smaller portions. Exciting and motivating. Totally do-able! "
— Fay, 1/16/2014 -
" Well written, a great message. I was impressed with the author when she was on the Today Show. "
— Bonnie, 1/11/2014 -
" Perfect, common sense. However, theory = great. Application = easier said than done. "
— Stacy, 1/8/2014 -
" Based on the premise that French women aren't fat because they enjoy food MORE than everyone else. Mmmmmkay. "
— Lia, 1/3/2014 -
" FINALLY read this. It was at the house we rented over the 4th of July weekend. I love any book that tells you to eat chocolate and bread. Good recipes included to boot. "
— Leighanne, 1/1/2014 -
" This is a cute book with lots of good ideas and many recipes that are simple and easy to prepare. It also lets us know that we should all slow down, enjoy our meals and have a glass of champagne with our lunch! "
— Patty, 12/29/2013 -
" to every woman the art to indulge in food without consequences "
— Syroezhka, 12/13/2013 -
" I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was simple and straight forward. A great reminder of how important it is to eat fresh and local. "
— Staciarj, 11/17/2013 -
" This book made a lot of sense to me and really fits well with other books I've been reading. Deep down, I know all this stuff, but advertising and nutrition/fitness experts have made me doubt this knowledge and have actually detoured me from a healthy lifestyle. "
— Danielle, 9/25/2013 -
" don't let the title fool you- i thought it was a little obnoxious. but, this book is charming and frenchy and fun to read. good recipes and reminders of things you probably already know about your health- but needed to be reminded of. it's also very quick. "
— Jessie, 8/31/2013 -
" Loved this book! Great philosophy, I wish this woman was my neighbor. It did make me want to start drinking wine :o)but I'm sure I can stay svelte without it LOL! She forgot the chapter about how French women only have 1.5 children, but that goes without saying! "
— Ashli, 5/4/2013 -
" I could not stand this book. The lady is skinny by not eating and that's just not something I can do. In the beginning, she says French women don't believe in exercise, and that's when I knew the book wasn't right for me. "
— Trista, 4/13/2013 -
" Fairly amusing and somewhat informative read. Certainly not a diet book, more like one woman's view on eating in France and the US. "
— Emma, 11/17/2012 -
" Very reasonable suggestions! "
— Laura, 9/25/2012 -
" An interesting diet book that doesn't tell readers anything new or earthshaking. It makes weight lost seem easy! "
— Kelly, 8/4/2012 -
" this is my anti-diet-but-don't-be-a-fatty book. i pick this up every so often when i need a reminder not to be so gluttonous. "
— Christa, 6/17/2012 -
" No need to work out. Just be active and eat good food. Je pense Mireille Guiliano est chouette! Et brilliante, aussi. "
— Renee, 5/5/2012 -
" An interesting look into how the French lifestyle differs from the American. Full of common sense ideas--moderate portions, don't go cold turkey, think about what you are eating and why. And of course, it's okay to have wine and chocolate, and bread, just in moderation. "
— Jennifer, 4/22/2012 -
" a steal for 25 cents, this book's not about a diet, it's about a way of life.... riddled throughout with recipes "
— Heather, 4/19/2012 -
" quick, funny read "
— Melisssa, 8/20/2011 -
" The constant Clicquot references were annoying, but I liked this overall. One of my favorite tips: Water in the morning, water at night. Sleep is dehydrating:) "
— Jillian, 7/9/2011 -
" Quick little book about all the things we probably already know, but presented in a way that makes weight loss less about deprivation and more about living in a balanced, sane way. <br/> <br/> "
— Ineke, 5/24/2011 -
" I picked this up at my library in the fiction paperbacks. I was expecting a comedy/mystery. I was surprised to find it a diet book. Much was a repetition of things I've heard before, but it was explained it a fun, easily understood manner. "
— Julie, 5/23/2011 -
" Best non-diet book that actually works ever. Someday I'll learn to stick to it... "
— Lauren, 5/22/2011 -
" An in-depth look at the French paradox. "
— Jeanne, 5/9/2011 -
" I enjoyed the passages on different foods and drink the best. Some of the "French Women do and don't" got a bit old. But it was an enjoyable read -- especially as a "listen". Her accent and presentation are quite charming. "
— Lauri, 4/26/2011 -
" Interesting and intriguing. Includes recipes of great low fat foods to make. "
— Margo, 4/12/2011 -
" Basically a common-sense reminder to drink water and move your butt and devote your attention to the pleasure and ceremony of food. I actually have a little bit left to read but I'm sick of seeing it up here. "
— RH, 3/18/2011 -
" Pretentious is the word that kept popping in to my mind as I read this. So much of what she says is obvious. She must really think we Americans are morons or at least she just treats us that way! Don't waste your time! "
— Suzie, 3/15/2011
About Mireille Guiliano
Mireille Guiliano, born and brought up in France, is an internationally bestselling author, long-time spokesperson for Champagne Veuve Clicquot, and former president and CEO of Clicquot, Inc. She is married to an American and divides her time between New York and Paris and Provence in France. Her favorite pastimes are breakfast, lunch, and dinner.