Recent warm weather has prompted many women to reach for the slimming books in an attempt to fight the flab. A survey released today by Montignac Publishing (UK) Ltd reveals that the first things women banish from their shopping baskets in the battle of the bulge are chocolate and wine.
While 60 per cent of the 500 women interviewed for the Methods & Myths* survey automatically deleted chocolate from their shopping trolley, over a third of them (35 per cent) admitted that forsaking it gave them the greatest grief when dieting and over half (52 per cent) confessed a good dose of cocoa solids was their favourite indulgence when rewarding themselves with a treat.
A further quarter (25 per cent) of those quizzed, pine for wine when counting calories, while nearly one in five (19 per cent) treat themselves to a glass of liquid grape fruit over the less indulgent grapefruit when their self control wavers.
While French healthy-eating guru, Michel Montignac, is not surprised by these admissions he does have a surprising tip of his own for British women trying to stay trim: 'Eat three good meals every day, allow yourself, say, a chocolate mousse and wash it down with a couple of glasses of wine'.
In his enlightening book, "The Montignac Method - Just for Women", Michel Montignac explains that long-term low fat, low calorie diets will actually increase body weight over a period of years, despite short-term weight loss. 'The body takes a long time to recover from the yo-yo effect of reducing calories as it desperately tries to hang onto every pound believing itself to be in a state of malnutrition. Quite simply, reducing weight by reducing calories is a myth,' he maintains.
The Methods & Myths* survey reveals that while nearly 90 per cent of all the women interviewed regularly choose a calorie-controlled, low fat diet in their quest for weight loss, almost half of them (45 per cent) reported their diet left them feeling hungry and unsatisfied. Almost a third admitted sticking to their new weight was a real battle because of their love of fine food and wine.
Montignac argues that this is a positive attribute in the war against unwanted pounds (or kilos) as an enjoyment of good food will help women to maintain their target weight - his large lunches include at least three courses plus cheese and wine!
Based on maintaining the body's natural sugar levels, the Montignac Method is not so much a diet as a way of life and an end to calorie counting and food denial - see the attached menu plans for more details on how to literally eat yourself slim.
The Methods & Myths* survey discovered that a quarter (25 per cent) would like to swap bodies with Princess Diana and even more (27 per cent) cited supermodels as those with whom they would most like to carry out a body swap. From the skinniest Kate Moss to the voluptuous Elle MacPherson and curvy Claudia Schiffer, supermodels have what most women want in the bodywork department. Interestingly, only one per cent of the women interviewed claimed they went on a diet to impress their husband or partner proving that sisters really are doing it for themselves.
What Montignac followers have to say:
"Eat to feel good, that is what it is all about. I found that the Montignac Method gives me a lot of energy. Being a model, l travel a lot
and I do get invited to dinner parties and the Method is just so easy to follow. With Montignac, you learn that losing weight has
nothing to do with calorie counting but with metabolism. It has become a way of living!"
Nicola Huber, Model
"The Montignac Method was recommended to me by a friend. By nature a skeptic, I didn't believe it could work. After all, who eats
to get slim? However, I was mistaken and not only did I lose weight - about 8 kilos - but I enjoyed doing it."
Anna Felderhof, Fabric Designer
BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER |
BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER |