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When in France … - Fat Fallacy: Applying the French Diet to the American Lifestyle - book review

American Fitness, Jan-Feb, 2002

While doing his post-doctoral work in France, William Clower realized there was something wrong with the way Americans eat. He watched the fit-as-a-fiddle French eat cheese, cream, butter and bread--foods obsessed-with-low-fat Americans avoid like the plague. Clower adopted the French diet and, without trying, lost weight. His came to visit and, throwing caution to the wind, ate the delicious food this epicurian country had to offer and she lost weight, too.

Americans live by the low-fat mantra, yet "over half the adult population in the United States is grossly overweight," states Clower. We suffer over the food we eat, constantly counting fat grams, calories and carbs. The French take pleasure in what is layed out on their table. They celebrate eating.

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As a good doctor discovered, there is more to the French diet than what we eat. Not only are our differences due to the types of foods we eat, but also in the way we eat. In France, diners eat in courses and linger over their lengthy meals. "There's no French equivalent for the phrase `pig out' or the American tendency to wolf down food," states Dr. Clower. "For us, eating is a hurried and incidental via point between errands. For them, it's a luxurious commitment to enjoyment, not a distracting means to some other end." For most of us, the most difficult part of adopting this new diet may be the lingering part.

In his book, The Fat Fallacy: Applying the French Diet to the American Lifestyle (Perusal Press; $24.95), Dr. Clower encouranges the reader to indulge the French diet for low weight and decreased heart disease by going low on animal tissue and high on dairy products. For example, whole milk, butter, sour cream, eggs and nuts are filling and prevent snacking.

The Fat Fallacy is available in bookstores and by calling Perusal Press at (866) FALLACY or visiting www.fatfallacy.com.

When in France … - Fat Fallacy: Applying the French Diet to the American Lifestyle - book review

American Fitness, Jan-Feb, 2002

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