The best way to get in shape for your wedding day is by eating right and exercising regularly. Although exercising is not quite the thing to do in a place like Paris, preparation is key and so is staying healthy. But there are some simple lifestyle routines that can help you achieve your health and fitness goals.
Un - Enjoy good food and prioritize yourself
We are all busy people. But if you change your appointment to meet the wedding planner at a time and location that is of convenience to you, then you won't need to skip your essential meal or grab a quick bite that's not healthy for you. Personally, I don't believe in restricting yourself to certain food or getting on a strict diet. I believe in enjoying food and performing my regular jogs which is already a cardio that does everything for the body.
We are all busy people. But if you change your appointment to meet the wedding planner at a time and location that is of convenience to you, then you won't need to skip your essential meal or grab a quick bite that's not healthy for you. Personally, I don't believe in restricting yourself to certain food or getting on a strict diet. I believe in enjoying food and performing my regular jogs which is already a cardio that does everything for the body.
Deux – Drink lots of water
Water is a natural thirst quencher, has no calories and is great for your skin. Water is also the key to keeping you feeling refreshed and hydrated. Aim for eight glasses of water per day, and try and avoid sugary drinks such as cola, lemonade or juice. Reduce your coffee or tea intake to 1 or 2 cups a day. A glass of red wine with friends occassionally will help wind you down after a day of wedding planning too.
Trois – Eat only when you're hungry
You may enjoy good food but it doesn't mean that you don't have to take control of your body. Humans should only eat when the body is hungry and not for the sake of finishing the plate up. The average Australian serving is three times what it used to be and we’re used to seeing a lot of food on our plates, which you don't have to eat it all up! Aim for meals that are high on vegetables – at least 3-4 100g serves of vegetables per meal and keep meat or fish portions at about 100-120g per serve.
Water is a natural thirst quencher, has no calories and is great for your skin. Water is also the key to keeping you feeling refreshed and hydrated. Aim for eight glasses of water per day, and try and avoid sugary drinks such as cola, lemonade or juice. Reduce your coffee or tea intake to 1 or 2 cups a day. A glass of red wine with friends occassionally will help wind you down after a day of wedding planning too.
Trois – Eat only when you're hungry
You may enjoy good food but it doesn't mean that you don't have to take control of your body. Humans should only eat when the body is hungry and not for the sake of finishing the plate up. The average Australian serving is three times what it used to be and we’re used to seeing a lot of food on our plates, which you don't have to eat it all up! Aim for meals that are high on vegetables – at least 3-4 100g serves of vegetables per meal and keep meat or fish portions at about 100-120g per serve.
Quatre - No booze gorging. Ladies, please.
Alcohol is full of empty calories. One glass of white wine can cost you up to 185 calories while one standard beer will set you back about 135 calories. Try replacing your regular after work drink with sparkling mineral water or choose a beverage that is lower in calories, such as vodka with soda and lemon which only has about 60 calories per standard drink. Cutting back on the booze can also help your hip-pocket as well as your waistline!
Cinq – Be on the move
The most effective way to lose weight safely is exercise. Aim for 30-45 minutes of exercise three to four times a week. This could be a walk, jog, exercise class, or, a gym workout or session with a personal trainer. As well as keeping you fit and toned, regular exercise releases endorphins and is a great way to distress or unwind after a hard day of wedding planning!
Here’s a typical example of the day’s meals in Paris:
Petit-déjeuner:
Fresh or toasted baguette with butter and jam. Coffee with milk and sugar, tea or hot chocolate.
(you notice – no orange juice, no doughnuts, no Danish,no bacon and eggs, no cereal – although cereals have made big inroads in the last decade).
Fresh or toasted baguette with butter and jam. Coffee with milk and sugar, tea or hot chocolate.
(you notice – no orange juice, no doughnuts, no Danish,no bacon and eggs, no cereal – although cereals have made big inroads in the last decade).
Lunch or dejeuner is the major meal of the day. Whether you eat at home or at the workplace, this is typically a sit-down hot lunch, not a sandwich eaten on the run. Lunch will normally include a starter such as crudite which can be diced carrots, beets, or other raw vegetables, a main course including meat or fish (chicken, beef, white fish) accompanied by rice/potatoes and a vegetable, a green salad with a simple vinaigrette dressing, a small square of cheese and a yoghurt or fresh fruit for dessert. Between 3 and 4 pm, if there are kids in the family, snacktime might be a croissant, a slice of brioche with jam or a few squares of a chocolate bar.
Le dîner:
Dinner at 8 pm consists of soup, slices of boiled ham or other cold cuts like a country pate, bread and cheese followed by yogurt and fruit. On special occasions, dessert could be mousse au chocolat. Tarts, cakes and assorted pastries are reserved for Sunday dinners. After dinner, an infusion is served (tisane or verveine).
Wine is served with both lunch and dinner. Bottled water is always available. People normally have a bottle of water by their bed.
Butter is only on the table for breakfast. The rest of the day, bread is served without butter. Much of the cooking is done on the top burners or in a pressure cooker. The broiler is rarely used. Pots and pans were usually pretty easy to clean up after a meal because French cooking is done with so little butter or oil.
After the 8 pm dinner or supper, there is no snacking. The concept of couch potato does not exist. Any food that goes into your mouth is consumed at a dining table. Needless to say, the Parisian lifestyle is in constant flux. You’ll still catch the occasional person wolfing down a sandwich as he walks down the street – but this is unusual – and definitely not the norm.
Although some diets like Slim Fast have gained in popularity in France, the typical advice suggests that the traditional daily meals with no snacking is the best way to stay trim. People trying to lose additional weight will continue to eat three meals a day, but they may:
1. Make a soup the primary plate for their evening meal.
2. Dilute wine with water or cut out alcohol altogether.
3. Limit their bread to two slices per day.
4. Reduce their meal portions.
Images: Chanel / Audrey Hepburn / Twiggy
