Losing Weight in France - Revisited

I’m guest posting at Mademoiselle Slimalicious, retelling the story of how I got motivated to lose weight after moving to France.  Mademoiselle Slimalicious is French and lives in Australia and has some great tips on weight loss the French way, so do pop over to her website and have a browse.  I’m sure you’ll find some good tips there and interesting interviews with Mireille Guiliano, author of “French Women Don’t Get Fat” and Sally Asher, author of “Losing It in France”.

It’s 14 months on now from when I first decided enough is enough and so I thought it would be interesting to review how I’m feeling about my weight now.  Well, the winter is always the hardest time for me (and just about every other woman I know), so I have gained a few pounds, but am still 1 ½ stone lighter than I was in January 2011 and I’m happy with that. 

My attitudes to food have changed for good.  The emphasis now is far more on eating healthily.  I do indulge myself occasionally, but if I have a treat of a cake or something, I’ll make sure to cut back on something else the next day to make up for it.  I’m aiming to have 1 week a month where I’m stricter with myself which helps to keep me on track. 

I’m trying to exercise more – I walk regularly with a friend and I’m consciously trying to use the car less and exercise more.  I still don’t think I’m exercising enough and so this is something I need to work on now.  I do find it difficult to find the time and motivation.  I’d much rather get the exercise I need by doing things in my daily life than join an exercise class – it’s far more natural.  I’m just going to have to try and get into gardening or something.

I’m concentrating more on how I feel in my clothes rather than focusing on how much I weigh all the time.  I weigh myself occasionally (maybe once a month or so) just out of interest really, but I’m not stressing about it.  If my trousers are getting tight I know I’ve got to take action.  The important thing is to be aware of it and tackle it before it gets out of control.  If you gain a few pounds it’s easy to cut back a bit, but if it slips into a stone or more, then you’ve got a bigger battle on your hands.

So, I’m pleased to say that I do feel I’ve cracked it at last and although I would still like to loose about a stone my weight is now manageable and at last I feel that I’m in control.  The truth is that we all have the power within us to be fat or thin.  If you really (and I mean REALLY) want to do it you can.  We all know what’s good for us and what’s not, there’s no mystery really it’s common sense.  Eat sensibly and you’ll loose weight.  I did it and you can too!  Go on – you know you want to!