Slow week

Sorry for being M.I.A. this past week. Too many to-do's and not enough inspiration contributed to my lackluster performance here on the blog.

At the same time, I sort of wonder if I should force myself to post something every day, even if there isn't much to tell. Is that daily discipline good, or counter-productive? And if I do post something every day, am I being creative or just making stuff up??  I'm really not sure.

In any case, next week the blog will be 'on vacation' since the time has finally arrived for my Foundation of Pastry class at the San Francisco Baking Institute. I'm really looking forward to it.

See you in a week!

R.E.P.O.R.T. card

Time to see how things are going.

So, grades:

• Real, natural foods: B
• Enjoy the dining experience: B+ 
• Portion control: B+
• Only at mealtimes--no snacking: B+
• Run around--incorporate exercise naturally: B 
• Treat yourself: C

Some trends continue. Lunch is still the meal most likely to be eaten out, and that means having less control over the quality of the food (and more temptation to mess up on quantity, as well). Dinners were reasonably good, and there were times when I was very good about portion control. On the downside, though, there was almost an emotional eating problem. Started to indulge in an unhealthy snack just because I was stressed and sad, but caught myself and course corrected. At least that's good!

Weekly weigh-in: 165 (+0.5 lbs versus last week and -2.0 to-date)

Final Grade: B

This week I'm going to focus on building in some exercise every day (even if it's just a walk around our local park) and on menu planning. I was really starting to enjoy seeing that lower number on the scale and I want to see it again, soon. :-)

Bienvenue, été! Welcome, summer!

It's a bit hard to believe that the Memorial Day Weekend is already here and summer is upon us.

Summer is by far my favorite season. I live for long days and light evenings, and find the warmth (as long as it doesn't get too hot) very relaxing. But, summer is not without its share of issues.  Bathing suits, for starters.

No matter how strictly I enforce the French diet 'rules', I know there is no way that I will quickly drop enough of my excess weight to feel as fabulous as I'd like for this summer season. Quick-French-Diet-Weight-Loss is a sort of oxymoron. The whole point is to re-evaluate your attitude towards food, diet, health and lifestyle so that, when you adopt the French diet, you slowly but surely reach your body's proper balanced weight.

So, that means that I have to be patient and focus on looking my best as I am currently, whether I'm at home, by the pool, at the beach, or out with friends and family.

It seems to me that planning some fun adventures is one sure-fire way to focus my attention on what summer is all about.

So, welcome back, Summer! I've missed you!

Eating, French Style

I must admit I am still a little surprised by the reading on the scale this week. To make sure I hadn't imagined it, I re-weighed myself this morning. (Now, I know that it is typically best to weigh yourself only once per week and at the same time each time you do it, but I couldn't help myself.)  Today's weight? 164 lbs. Wow! Not only was the other day's reading not off, but now it's even better! Yay!!

Anyway, that got me thinking, "Why??" Whatever I'm doing that is working, I want to keep doing it!  :)

I started looking over my food log and one thing I noticed is that this week (and one earlier week when I also had good results) I had more yogurt at breakfast time. This may be a coincidence, but I'm going to continue to keep watching to see if there's a correlation.

Usually I eat Greek-style yogurt by Fage. Specifically, Fage Total, which is the "full fat" version. Full fat, it turns out, means 10g of fat per serving, as opposed to the 2% or 0% versions which have 2g or 0g, respectively.

The Fage container I get has 7 oz (200 g) of yogurt, and according to the label, it is considered 1 serving and it has 190 calories.  I get about 4 servings out of this same container because I split it with Monsieur over two days. Usually, I add a very small amount of strawberry jam to my yogurt, or some fresh raspberries if I happen to have them. 

A French-style yogurt that I want to try again is from the Saint Benoit Creamery, up in Sonoma County. This yogurt is sold by Whole Foods near where I live. I looove the small glass jar packaging! (I am a sucker for good packaging, so this is no surprise.)

The Saint Benoit yogurt is sold in a 4.75 oz (135g) serving size. I don't know if I would get two servings out of this size container or if I'd be "forced" to eat it all. I guess it would depend on how yummy it was. It is somewhat interesting, though, that the serving is just automatically smaller (almost half the size of the Fage yogurt). That feels very French to me. 

I'll have to pick some up the next time I'm at Whole Foods and report back.

Speaking of reporting back, I did end up deciding to sign up for the week-long patisserie baking class that Monsieur offered for my birthday. That will be the first week of June so I probably won't be blogging much. The class runs from 7 am to 3 pm, M-F. That means I'll have to be up by 6 a.m. Yikes!! Still, I think that good patisserie is worth a little sacrifice, don't you? 

R.E.P.O.R.T. Card

Not sure what to expect this week. Looking back, there were some good things (dinners were mostly had at home, and there was more exercise) but there were still some areas for improvement (again, lunches are not the best and frequently eaten out).

So, grades:

• Real, natural foods: B
• Enjoy the dining experience: B 
• Portion control: B
• Only at mealtimes--no snacking: B
• Run around--incorporate exercise naturally: B+ 
• Treat yourself: B

A few things worth noting: Only two servings of pasta/pizza this week, when I split a chicken penne dish with Maman for lunch on Friday, and later split a pizza Margherita with Monsieur during our 'date night'. Also, I had fish twice last week (homemade Crab Louis and grilled salmon) and I think eating fish definitely helps. Finally, I went for an 8+ mile bike ride on Friday afternoon. I rode for nearly 50 minutes on a mix of flat and slightly hilly land.

Where did it all get me?

Tuesday morning weigh-in: 164.5 (-2.0 lbs versus last week and -2.5 to-date)

Final Grade: B+

I'm actually somewhat shocked by the number on the scale this morning. I have to confess, my tummy was a bit unhappy last night and this morning, after feeling very bloated yesterday, so I don't know how much that may or may not have to do with this reading. In any case, I'll take it! Now I have to make sure that is a real number by keeping up what's working and continuing to ask myself WWFD and adding in some more exercise. Yay!

Interesting Article

This morning, before I'd realized it, I had already had my breakfast and a couple of cups of coffee before I did my weekly weigh-in. So, I'll be doing my R.E.P.O.R.T. card tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's a link to a pretty interesting article that I found from the NY Times, Always Hungry? Here's Why, which examines whether the prevailing wisdom that calories consumed - calories burned = weight gain (loss) is actually the best way to look at our current battle of the bulge.

There are some interesting insights which track well with the French diet, and it's gratifying to see that people are continuing to look for what might be making us all fat.

Quality over Quantity

One of the things that I think really characterizes the French style and mindset is the concept of Quality over Quantity.  It seems that the French are naturally inclined to think in that way, and to prefer something that is really good, even if it's in a small amount, to a lot of something that's only meh.

In the realm of food, that means preferring something like a filet with Bearnaise sauce, accompanied by vegetables sauteed in butter (real butter) and a bit of a delicious dessert (perhaps Tarte Tatin or some profiteroles) over the all-you-can-eat buffet cooked in hydrogenated oils and desserts made with high fructose corn syrup.

In the realm of fashion, that means having a few basic pieces (maybe from Zara or H&M) but dressing them up with some seriously fashionable accessories (Hermes! Chanel! St. Laurent! Oh my!).

I recently read Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris, by the American writer Jennifer Scott, who spent a year abroad during her college years.

According to Ms. Scott, one secret to the French's incredible sense of style is that they hone down their wardrobes because they just don't have the space for tons of clothes. She advocates getting down to a 10 item wardrobe (10?!?!) and creating multiple outfits through the clever use of accessories. (As a side note: it's no coincidence that her first three chapters are dedicated to diet and exercise. And, yes, she repeats what others have already said--no snacking, don't deprive yourself, and incorporate exercise into your everyday life.)

Anyway, her book inspired me to start a major wardrobe re-evaluation and a closet clean out. I don't expect to get down to 10 items, but I think there's plenty of room for improvement in my wardrobe.

I know that what I really need is to change the way I think and apply these new, basic principles to all aspects of my life. Not just to food or fashion, but to everything, in my pursuit of health, happiness and chic!

A Gentle Reminder

I went to a local bakery for a baguette for tonight's dinner. Monsieur is grilling some thin steaks and we're expecting a friend of his to join us.

While I waited in line to pay, a young woman was tending to her two small, very blonde children, and talking with them in lightening fast French. When the clerk asked her how he could help her, she said (in very good, but heavily accented, English), "For tonight, I'll take one demi-baguette."

I had considered ordering a demi-baguette myself. As a snack. For myself. Alone.

She, however, was going to split a demi-baguette (which really looked like more of a one-third-of-a-baguette instead of a demi) with her two kids.

Next time I'm asking myself WWFD maybe I'll have to remember this lady.

And, as if I needed to say it-- she was slim.

Letting Go

"Experts" say it takes anywhere from 21 to 30 days to break a habit. I don't know if that's true, since I can't recall many instances where I've actively decided to change a bad habit. 

A few times I've had to go cold turkey and give something up. Case in point: I learned I had some food allergies/intolerances. The consequences of eating these foods were unpleasant enough to make it pretty easy to give them up and not look back.

But in general, I have not really had much success in changing my stripes.

For example, this past weekend we ordered a cake for Monsieur's birthday. We were expecting 20 people so I ordered a big cake and it seemed even larger once it arrived. We still have quite a bit left, despite the fact that we had cake on Saturday, Sunday and  last night. And it's still remarkably fresh and tasty.

The point is, though, that both Monsieur and I are having a hard time just letting it go and feeling that it's okay to throw the leftover cake away. Neither of us works in a place where it'd be easy to bring the leftover cake, either, or else this would be an option:

Joking aside, though, why is it so hard to let go? Despite my best efforts to adjust my mindset and ask myself WWFD and think like a French person, my first instinct is to think, "Oooh, cake! I never get a good cake like this! I have to enjoy it!!" 

The idea that I never get cake is what's at the heart of my hesitation but it is a totally erroneous assumption!! I give myself plenty of treats, believe me. And, if I really starting thinking like a French person, I would know that there will always be another opportunity to have cake. In fact, I am allowed to go get myself some cake anytime I darn well please, because, well, "I'm worth it!" and so there is no reason to fear I won't ever have another chance at having a slice of cake again.  

When you really look at what is motivating you (fear) and how your mind is working (irrationally) then you really start to realize how ridiculous it all is!!

So, perhaps the "experts" are right and it is just a matter of time until you can change how you think and drop a bad habit. I guess we'll see.

Anyway, gotta go. Have to go throw away some leftover cake!

à bientôt!

Lundi: R.E.P.O.R.T. card

Well, I'm a bit worried about this morning's check-in because this weekend there was cake. Delicious cake. Leftover cake.  But let's see what happened...

First, grades:

• Real, natural foods: C
• Enjoy the dining experience: B 
• Portion control: C+
• Only at mealtimes--no snacking: B+
• Run around--incorporate exercise naturally: B 
• Treat yourself: C

Last week was a pretty busy one. It started out pretty well, in terms of quality of meals and dining experience, but as the week wore on and I had more and more things to do to get ready for our weekend party, I started relying more heavily on take-out food. Also, there were several servings of pasta (some fettucine, some pizza). And finally, as I mentioned at the outset, there was cake. Delightful gold cake with chocolate ganache, strawberries and whipped cream filling. Yum. 

So, I'm sort of expecting to see the scale move, and I'm already resolved to recalibrate this week. First thing on my to do list for today (after finishing this post) is to prepare this week's menu and go food shopping.

Anyway, why put off the inevitable. Here goes:

Monday morning weigh-in: 166.5 (0.5 lbs versus last week and -0.5 to-date)

Final Grade: C

I have to say, I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the scale result. I honestly was worried it would be a lot worse. I think that I can definitely reverse that this week, as long as I focus on the key French diet principles.

Planning: La fête d'anniversaire

I've been running around non-stop today, getting ready for a weekend gathering to celebrate Monsieur's birthday. We are expecting at least 18 people for a backyard BBQ, only I'm following Ina Garten (the Barefoot Contessa)'s advice and I'll be cooking some, ordering some, and assembling some.

So far, the menu includes assorted kebabs (ordered), spanakopita (from the Kokkari restaurant cookbook) and Greek salad (cooked), dips with pita (assembled), and a fantastic birthday cake (definitely ordered).

The challenge will be to enjoy myself without diving face first into the cake. ;-)

Anyway, as a result, today has been crazy and there's no sign of things slowing down before nightfall, so this will have to do for today's post.

Wishing all the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and godmothers out there a very Happy Mother's Day!

Style Inspiration: Costanza Pascolato

One of the blogs I read regularly is Garance Dore's. She "introduced me" to Costanza Pascolato, of Brazilian Vogue.

Costanza is 74 years old, and the woman has style in spades!  This morning, she made another appearance on Garance's blog. She was asked for her views on age and aging. Here's what she had to say:

“Here in Brazil, it is a very young country, with a new sort of middle class that is very aspirational. The “body” is the new status symbol. This means that women are in search of “eternal youth.” This is achieved, most of the time, very artificially (plastic surgery, treatments, drugs) that are starting to be a huge part of the economy.

I am a lucky person. All women in my family were strong and positive. They taught me to accept aging. But of course, they were intelligent, elegant, and my mother was very beautiful. The new generation follows their examples: my daughter Consuelo is 50 and looks great. And Alessandra is 48 and looks much younger than her age. We all have a sense that life is a privilege. So we treat our bodies (and souls) gracefully. I do a lot of exercise, eat well etc., but I do not try to look much younger than I am. I only want to look the best for my age (74), and that, happily, makes me stay away from anxiety.”  (Bold emphasis mine)

When I read her comments, they struck me as very in line with the French spirit and with the spirit that I'm trying to cultivate within myself.  I love how she says that the women in her family have a grateful, appreciative attitude towards life and towards themselves.  Although her comments are in response to the question of how she views aging, they also could easily apply to "How do you feel about dieting and weight?" I think her answer would be very similar, "I only want to look the best for my age, and that, happily, makes me stay away from anxiety" and it's one I want to apply to my life as well.

Motivation & Rewards

Many, many diets and weight loss programs that I've read about encourage you to set up goals and rewards at regular intervals.

The treat-oriented part of me always liked that concept. Unfortunately, it didn't ever really work for me.  Maybe because the reality of losing 5 lbs "cost" me a lot more than what a manicure or new lipstick ever did. I mean, honestly, do you know how hard it is to lose 5 lbs, especially if you've been holding onto extra weight for years? (Not to mention losing even more weight!)

Let me just go on record and say that if I manage to lose a significant amount of weight and I can fit into a size 8, you can be darn sure I'll be splurging on something other than a pair of jeans. Something more like this:

This is an Hermes blouse and it's a size 8. I found it on The Real Real, which is an online luxury consignment 'store'. This top, because it is being sold on consignment, cost a bit more than a pair of premium denim jeans. Now that's what I call a reward!

Anyway, when I was reading about the French attitude towards food, diet, and health, I thought it was very interesting to see that there isn't really that same concept of progress and rewards.  Why is that??

Well, I think part of the reason is that French women see being healthy and slender as their right. They deserve to be slim and beautiful and cherished. And likewise, getting a manicure and a haircut is part of a woman's regular grooming or 'maintenance' and not something that has to be earned through weight loss.

So, who's right? Is the American system of goals and rewards actually an effective weight loss tool? Or should we embrace the French way and look at weight loss in the same way as we would look at any other element of living a happy, healthy life? As something that is meant to be and deserved, and not as something that we need to earn. What do you think?

Strategy for Success: Menu Planning

As I've probably already mentioned, I tended to easily fall into the pattern of waiting too long to eat and then grabbing whatever to satisfy my by-then-ravenous appetite. I  was at especially high risk at lunchtime, since that's when I would often be out of the house and away from healthier food options.

But, it could also be a problem at dinner, too, especially if I had been out all day and there was nothing on hand for me to easily and quickly cook up when I arrived at home on the later side. That's when I would often resort to ordering some take-out or going out to eat.

I realized that I needed to be more organized and more prepared, but it was just so hard to change my bad habits.

Then, some weeks ago, I found this handy meal planner at The Container Store:

\

This meal planner is divided into two sections. Across the top, there's space for you to enter your meals for the week: lunch, dinner and snacks/dessert. In the lower half, there's space for any important meetings or activities (a.m., noon, and p.m.). 

This planner is marketed to moms and the idea is that you might want to know that on Thursday evening you have Annie's school play, so for Thursday dinner you'll be ordering pizza, or that sort of thing. But mom or no, I think this is still quite a good tool if what you want is to organize your menu and plan your shopping accordingly.

Now all I have to do is be consistent and come up with creative meals to fill in all the boxes!

Lundi: R.E.P.O.R.T. Card

Is it already Monday, again??  Well, let's see how last week went.

First, grades:

• Real, natural foods: B
• Enjoy the dining experience: B- 
• Portion control: B
• Only at mealtimes--no snacking: C
• Run around--incorporate exercise naturally: B+ 
• Treat yourself: B+

I think that this week was a bit better than last week, overall.

On the positive side, I got a few longer walks in (approx 1.5 miles each time, walking home from the train station) and generally felt more 'active'. It was also my birthday last week, and I didn't use that as an excuse to go crazy, so that was good. :)

On the negative side, I probably over-indulged my sweet tooth and I nibbled a bit more between meals. Mostly nuts, but still--the French way would be to not have snacks at all. I also feel that I didn't focus as much on the positive aspects of the French diet, like savoring my food and enjoying the dining experience. I also ate out a few times, and I feel like it is definitely harder to know how much you're eating if you share plates (pizza, Chinese food, or appetizers/tapas, say).

So, as I prepare this "report card" before I step on the scale, I'm really not sure of what to expect. I'm guessing that I didn't go down at all, but hoping that I just didn't go up, either.

Now for the tough part--stepping on the scale:

Monday morning weigh-in: 166.0 (No Change versus last week and -1.0 to-date)

Final Grade: C+

This week I'm going to prepare really delicious, well balanced meals at home, and enjoy the dining experience. To do both, I'll need to get organized and be prepared so that I don't resort to ordering food in or grabbing whatever is convenient.

Dilemma: Baking Enthusiast or Svelte Sensation?

I celebrated my birthday in April, and Monsieur offered me an extra-special opportunity as my birthday gift: a week-long class at the San Francisco Baking Institute on Pastry. The class promises to teach you "how to master pastry doughs and use them to create an unlimited variety of exciting pastries."  

As I may have mentioned before, I love pastries in general, and French-style patisserie (Paris-Brest pastries, éclairs, Breton tarts, etc.) best of all.

So, here's my dilemma: 

If I'm trying to lose weight and I know that pastries are a particular weakness, should I really be signing up for a week-long, intensive baking class like this?? Am I just playing with fire? Courting disaster? Sabotaging myself? [Insert confused look here]

Sounds like it's time to resurrect the old WWFD (What would a French person do?) strategy here.  Going to mull it over and I'll let you know what I decide.

Feedback/comments/advice are always welcome...  :)