Chic & Slim: How Those Chic French Women Eat All That Rich Food and Still Stay Slim

This edition has only a few reviews, but a previous edition of the same book has 29 reviews so anyone interested in a broad range of opinion, check out the other earlier edition. In that one I gave a similar review which I'll quote here. "I really wonder if the negative reviewers actually needed to lose a lot of weight (like me) or if they focus on superficialities. For me this book, and it's sequel (C+S Encore) plus the next book (C+S Techniques) have been the first ray of hope in a very long time. I've struggled with weight all my life. As I've shared in my recent Guide, I did manage to attain "normal" weight and kept the weight off for 5 years, then exhaustion and stress took their toll and I regained it all and then some. I've had direct experience with yo yo diets, always gaining back a bit more than my starting weight. And diets take a lot of effort. Oh I can hear the judgemental cries, "all you need is will power" or the other one "you are just lazy". Both make the judge sound so strong, so hard working and the struggler sound lazy and weak. If will power or effort was all there was to losing weight, and keeping it off, then I can sell you a bridge in Brooklyn honey! HOWEVER THIS BOOK AND IT's sequels, (plus a few others I share in my guide), are changing my weight and my life, without effort, without pain and without will power. I'm enjoying food, life, living -------and slowly I'm LOSING weight. I can't rate this book highly enough. I bought it on the recommendation of Lee Mellot, and Diane Von Behren, and I'm very grateful to them for their positive reviews. To those who were less then positive, I don't get it. This book explains some very key reasons why I gained weight and couldn't seem to lose it without a lot of strain and effort. I don't care about the politics of a writer, just whether the book is good and true. This is a book about understanding reasons why some North Americans have a hard time with weight. She does use comparison between French and Americans to help people understand why some cultural differences are hurting us. She isn't trying to recreate France in America or cause Americans to hate themselves any more than she is trying to get fat people to hate themselves. She is trying to explain some key reasons French women have an edge, an advantage. Works for me! I got my copies from her site. I followed a recommendation in the reviews to google her name, or the words French Chic and Anne Barone. She sells them direct for a lot less than they are sold second hand. But whatever you have to pay for these books, get them if you want to lose weight, and then read them over and over till the concepts begin to sink in. Take time, allow yourself time to learn and change. Another book to read alongside this is The Rules of Normal Eating by Karen Koenig. It agrees with what Anne says, and gives some further explanations of why this method works. Bottom line, these books by Anne Barone are worth their weight

After seeing another author of a similar book interviewed on one of the network news magazines this week, I pulled CHIC & SLIM off the shelf to reread. It's a new edition with the same, charming take on the delightful charms of the french, especially french women. Sick of the "typical" diet and beauty books? Give this tiny little tome a try for a fresh take on the healthy lifestyle of the trés chic. It won't disappoint!

Anne certainly has her opinions and she doesn't mince words. the way she describes the American woman's attitude towards food, self-respect, style, the relationship with her mother - broadly speaking, is not inaccurate. American culture was formed from Puritan England in the early 1600's. As she states, America termed the phrase "no pain - no gain" while the French termed the phrase "joie to vie". That certainly speaks to the differences between our two cultures. The review by Mommy Reader, 12/21/04, sounds as if it was written by an angry, overweight American woman who has perhaps had a bad experience with a man recently. Her review seemed more a personal criticism of the author rather than the material or Barone's writing ability. I enjoyed the book. It generalizes "the French this" and "the French that" but, based on my experiences, it isn't far off the mark. Bottom line, the book is an easy read written by someone that has definite opinions and isn't afraid to express them. French women are raised with a strong sense of self. In addition the the French find excess to be uncouth, whether it comes in the form of food, fashion or otherwise. Moderation is the key. Have confidence in yourself, your mind and your body and use moderation as a guide. Sounds like a good formula to me. A new website will be published in March that will have a section on just this topic and how Americans, women in particular, could benefit from understanding the French as well as adopting a bit of their way into their lives. http://www.bestkeptsecretsofparis.com PS - ...."Adulterous as the French...." Poor angry Mommy Reader. She also wrote a second angry review on this same book that is listed separately. She is really on a rampage, which is unfortunate for Barone.

If you go to annebarone.com, you can buy all her books directly from her for a reasonable price.

Anne Barone's book "Chic & Slim Encore" is a favorite on my bookshelf, so I was delighted to discover her earlier work "Chic & Slim" has been reprinted."Chic & Slim" is the original book written by Anne Barone to share the secrets of how the French women eat rich foods, drink wine, are rarely seen at the gym and still manage to wear size SMALL!The key according to Anne is the choices the French woman makes. She chooses natural unprocessed foods. Portion sizes are smaller. Exercise is fit in naturally by walking everywhere. Water not soda is the beverage of choice. Sugar is eaten in moderate quantities. Instead of aiming for quantity, the French aim for quality. Eating a small slice of the finest pastry instead of a whole box of processed twinkies. Drinking one or two glasses of red wine instead of a number of unhealthy cocktails. Don't supersize your fries and double your burger. Instead eat a little portion of "pomme frites" with a palm size piece of grilled chicken. Forget the salad dressings with synthetic ingredients instead dress your lettuce with just a bit of heart healthy olive oil and vinegar.Anne also goes into "ATTITUDE". The French women sees herself as a beautiful women despite her physical flaws. She is worth the effort of eating well, taking care of herself. She deserves to be slim and healthy. Many American women are unfortunately caught in a cycle of trying to look like the models we see in magazines instead of enjoying what we have and making the most of it.The French woman does things that make her feel good about herself. She dresses to look and feel her best. No sloppy sweats and big gym shoes. Clothing that makes her feel feminine. A perfume that reflects her personality.The book "Chic & Slim" also shares Anne's triumph of losing weight when she stopped dieting and started eating like the French. She shares more of her ideas at her website annebarone.com."Chic & Slim" like its sister book, ""Chic & Slim Encore" is a must read for the woman who wants to learn to enjoy and appreciate herself more. The woman who wants to get off the diet rollercoaster and learn to eat sensibly and with joy. A true treasure!