For all of you who, like me, struggle with feeling fat and fluctuating weight – this is for you!
With the forthcoming wedding looming, over the past few weeks I have been trying to lose a bit of weight so wearing my dress on the day I won’t feel too self conscious.
*Speaking of weddings – a huge congratulations to Jo and Al who just got engaged this weekend! *
Anyway, I’ve mentioned before that I go to a Rosemary Conley class with my mum (Fat Club) that does work if you stick to it – low fat/GI diet, weigh in and aerobic exercise – but sometimes the low fat diet Rosemary proposes doesn’t do it for me. There are too many lovely foods that I don’t really want to miss out on ….creamy pasta dishes, homemade bread spread with real butter, a ripe oozing camenbert cheese on crackers, rich chocolate pudding….. (yum) which is probably why I have always struggled to keep my weight down.
I love food, as you probably have gathered, and there is a danger for me to be gluttonous – huge portion sizes, rich dishes. Yet, recently I read a book: French Women Don’t Get Fat and have found for myself that there is a way to enjoy good food and stay slimmer. All you need is a little self control, self discipline and some encouragement.
The book recommends a diet of fresh nutritious food, balanced portions and eating for pleasure. The author Mireille Guiliano teaches us to enjoy our food, to savour every morsel and to eat slowly as French women do. It is an antidote to the contemporary fast food, microwave meal culture. I’ve discovered that eating that way, not snacking between meals unless I really have to and doing some regular exercises including 20 sit-ups before bed have helped me to slim down a bit.
It is a mindset that often needs changing. From obsessing about what I’m going to eat for my next meal, I’ve learnt to think less about it and make more sensible choices when shopping for food. It also helps to have a goal – the wedding has focussed my mind somewhat, knowing there will be all those eyes staring at me. A friend also sent me this article which was if you pardon the pun, food for thought….
