Catherine Dean Coaching

WHAT I LEARNT ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS FROM LIVING IN FRANCE

Part 1

Catherine Dean is a Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach supporting women feel better, have more energy and ditch diets. Her approach to health and wellbeing isn’t about quick fixes or fad diets. It’s about helping you to create healthy habits that fit around your busy life, make a real difference and, most importantly, last in the long term.

My husband and I have just moved back up north after working in France for the last seven years. While I’m thrilled to be back, I already know there’s going to be a lot that I miss about the French lifestyle. I love many things about France, but I am particularly fascinated by the French diet and lifestyle. The difference between the UK and rural France, where we were lucky enough to spend most of our time is striking. One of my favourite things about France?

How seriously the French take their lunch breaks. Many shops and businesses close for a long lunch each day. This may be happening less and less in the larger cities, but is still the case in smaller towns and villages.

In my first year working overseas I took my own car with me. After noticing the exhaust was making a very peculiar noise I took the car to a local garage. It was around about 11.30am and the staff told me that, “Of course they could help, but I’d have go back after lunch at about 2pm”. What I loved about this was that they were already winding down to lunch and had absolutely no intentions of starting a new job that they may not be able to finish in time for lunch. As I said, mealtimes are sacred and I just love this way of life.

It was a little difficult to get used to at first. More than once I’ve been to a boulangerie or local épicerie (grocery store) to get a little something for lunch only to be greeted with a closed sign. Yes, it can be a little frustrating at first, but once you’re used to it the slower pace is a welcome step back to the simple pleasures in life; slowly savouring delicious food and good company.

I don’t know if the French are healthier, but I do know that I always feel healthier when I’m there. Rates of obesity are slightly lower in France (21.6% of the population*) than in the UK (27.8%*) though. While I don’t know if the long lunch is in any way responsible for the lower rates of obesity, what I do know is that some of the things the French do can support weight loss.

How can a long lunch support weight loss?

Taking time to enjoy your meal means you are more likely to pay attention to how full you are and therefore less likely to overeat. Mindful eating can also help you to enjoy your food more, improve your digestion and create awareness of your relationship with food.

Taking regular breaks at work, unsurprisingly, has shown to reduce stress levels. As stress increases your likelihood of choosing fatty or sugary snacks, a long lunch could help you to make healthier food choices.

Enjoying a meal with colleagues or your family can support long term health. Research has shown that almost 50% of adults in England experience feelings of loneliness and Dr Mark Hyman quotes the fact that loneliness may be worse for our health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day, high blood pressure or obesity. In the Blue Zones, the areas of the world with the highest number of healthy, active & vibrant centenarians, mealtimes are the perfect excuse for a social occasion.

So, is it the long lunches that make me feel healthier when I’m in France? Possibly, but it could also be the daily walk to the local boulangerie for the family baguette. When I did this, I wasn’t the only one. Families would swing by the bakery for their bread and then by the local farm shop for their cheese. It was a delight to see.

Try these three simple tips to create a luxurious, long(ish) French style lunch experience:

1Take a lunch break Turn your screen off, move away from your desk and actually have a lunch break. Just 15 minutes can make a difference. Eating while you’re still working means your body’s natural stress response may be activated. Your body will be directing energy away from your digestive system, getting ready to fight or flee. In this situation your body isn’t prioritising

digestion, and you might not be absorbing all the nutrients you need from your food.

2Savour the flavour If you’ve been on the dieting wagon for some time it’s easy to believe that weight loss has to be difficult and that food is nothing more than fuel. Yes, we do get calories and therefore energy from our food, but food is much more than just fuel. It’s okay to enjoy your food. Really savouring the flavour means you’re more likely to enjoy your food, eat more slowly and less likely to overeat.

3Focus on eating more whole foods Include more veg, fruit, whole grains and legumes in your meals. Simple salads, bread from the boulangerie made with minimal ingredients and locally sourced cheese & eggs are all great ways to eat a simple, nutritious and delicious lunch. The first time I went to a BBQ at a French person’s house, I was both surprised and impressed by the simplicity of food we were served. Bread, cheese, snails (I didn’t touch these!), some sausages (it was a BBQ after all!) and bowl after bowl of freshly chopped vegetables. There were tomatoes, celery, radishes and much more. It was tasty, satisfying and surprisingly healthy. Absolument parfait.

Of course, not all French people eat this way all the time, but focusing on slowing down, eating more quality food and spending time with family can support your long-term health and weight loss.

If you’re ready to ditch diets, feel less stressed and have more energy a Nutrition & Coach could be exactly what you’re looking for. To find out how fully personalised nutrition coaching could help you to achieve your health and weight loss goals, head to: www.catherinedeancoaching.co.uk

Have a nutrition question that you’d like to be answered in a future article? Send your questions to Catherine at: info@catherinedeancoaching.co.uk