A Wickedly Indulgent Approach To Losing Weight

When I was 30, I moved to Paris to live and write for a year. It may be a complete myth that French women don’t get fat (obesity rates are rising across the Channel, just as they are in the UK), but it’s certainly true that some French women seem to enjoy fine food, yet maintain their slim figures. You know the kind of women I mean — those elegant creatures who epitomise Parisian chic. I used to watch them each morning as I sat in a café on the Rue du Bac, sipping coffee before beginning to write my columns and books. And I came to realise it’s the way French women eat, not just what they eat, that makes such a difference.

- Jane Clarke

French women stay slim by taking time to relish their food and being conscious of what they eat says Jane Clarke. Just follow my rules, set out below, to start your journey to a healthier you. The only thing you have to lose is the excess weight.

FOR SLIMMER HIPS, TAKE SMALLER BITES

So often, we rush an evening meal so we can flop on the sofa. But what if we spent more time anticipating what we were going to eat, selecting the ingredients and then sitting at the table to enjoy it?

Even if you have only 15 minutes for lunch, you can switch off your phone, power down your computer and focus on the food and all the sensations it brings alive for you — the textures, aromas and tastes.

Take small mouthfuls and pause between each one. The more you lift your fork to your mouth, the greater the satiety you will experience.