31. Posted by Lisa W on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:44 pm PDT

I think activity and exercise is key. I used to live overseas and I either rode my bike or walked or took the train. Here in the states if we did not have drive-thru most fast food places would be bankrupt...

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32. Posted by clairebear82286 on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:44 pm PDT

Im living in Paris right now and I've been here for almost 6 weeks. I agree with many points in the article. They do eat slowly and enjoy every bite of what they eat. The portions are just right, they walk and bike everywhere, and they eat less processed food too. The fast food chains here are not that good; this is one thing they have not perfected yet, and I hope they don't either. I guess if you combine all these things with the fact that everyone smokes and drinks coffee instead of snacking all day, that is why French people stay slim. BUT...I have seen plenty of chubby and obese French people, so it's not just the Americans who are fat. It's all just stereotypes....

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33. Posted by shawn m on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:46 pm PDT

Americans are fat because they eat [profane]ty food, don't exercise, and are too stupid to educate themselves about what foods they need to be eating. The fat people I know would rather spend $100.00 a month to watch cable TV instead of spending that money on good food and complain about not having the money to buy good food. It's not complicated. Eat good food in the right amounts, make a consistent effort to burn calories, and you will stay slim. The French are not slim because they smoke, idiots. I know plenty of fat-ass americans that smoke.

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34. Posted by deladona on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:47 pm PDT

I was in France last year and found that the French are not as skinny as they used to be. I saw many obese wowen in Paris. Perhaps they were American tourists. :-) Macdonald is there. Hmmmm.....

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35. Posted by gawhitetails on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:48 pm PDT

Their sandwhiches don't have but a tiny sliver of meat on them, I couldn' t beleive it being a hillbilly who butchers his own meat, but it is their culture which I am jealous of, the way they are more relaxed and laid back, if they weren't a bunch of panty waists they would be all right as a country

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36. Posted by laxrider18 on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:48 pm PDT

i just wanted to say the way in which this editorial is written is beautiful. it doesnt speak of stayin slim or letting go of ur dark roast coffee. it speaks of appreciating life. from the meal preparation to the meal consumption. its about how you view life. and i believe you can tell alot from a person's demeanor from their perspectives/actions involving food and drink. and thank god, people realize that drinking these coffees to go is quite silly as well. hey if anything, you get much better crema in a real cup!!

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37. Posted by shawn m on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:49 pm PDT

I bet Elman is a big fat-ass too, or a chubby guy in the military who thinks he's in good shape because he can do 20 pushups.

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38. Posted by mfufu_jungle_goddess on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:49 pm PDT

their chairs are smaller, restaurants are smaller, apt. are smaller, cars are smaller, everywhere is choked, where can they expand to? what they know how to do is cut their coat according to their size.

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39. Posted by tnm00 on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:49 pm PDT

The French stay slim mainly because they eat mostly "real" food - not genetically engineered and/or modified or additives.

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40. Posted by Miss Cleo on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:50 pm PDT

It takes a lot of energy to stick your pinky out when you drink your lattes out of pretty cups. faux faux

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41. Posted by frank on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:52 pm PDT

Elman, is this a men's or a woman's name? Anyway, get yourself a history book: France lost almost 1 million men during WWII; a great portion of them (men, women) on The Resistance. France almost conquered the world (ever heard of Napoleon Bonaparte?). France's refusal to enter Bush's Iraq war is due to the fact that, unlike many of us, they ain't stupid. Your comments are reflective of your ignorance.

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42. Posted by deadeye_al on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:53 pm PDT

French woman are slimmer because they don't swallow.

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43. Posted by danlarson314 on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:55 pm PDT

Boxed wines. Maybe not the best but so inexpensive. What do you like?

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44. Posted by Eleanor M on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:55 pm PDT

Duh...They live in the city, walk everywhere and eat smaller portions.

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45. Posted by yourbabiesdaddy on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:55 pm PDT

I agree with a lot that was said and everyone has some good points but I also think one of the best points made is the increased rate of nicotine consumption in Europe (France) which is a know appetite suppressant. This could be a lead contributing factor.

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46. Posted by sally s on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:55 pm PDT

gimme a break!the food taste bad??yeah right!Go back to your junk food!They walk everyrwhere, eat small portions and enjoy a table, the cup won't change your life but treating yourself well can have indirectly an impact!Swallow the facts..not the best people but we have a lot to learn from their diet. Cheers

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47. Posted by Deanna W on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:56 pm PDT

When I was in France last fall, one of my French friends told me the secret to being thin was to "live on coffee and cigarettes". I noticed the super thin women smoked non-stop. And yes....I DID see fat French men and women! Guess they didn't know about the nicotine/caffeine diet.

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48. Posted by gawhitetails on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:57 pm PDT

Dead Eye is right from my experience in France

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49. Posted by brneyes63_2000 on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:57 pm PDT

Americans live fast-paced lives. Always on the go and our country is all about making money and not enough time to enjoy with our families. The French don't live the lives that most Americans do. They have no worries, in comparison to Americans. We eat too much junk food.

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50. Posted by spoonyg99 on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:57 pm PDT

What about the Germans? I've seen pictures and they look ok as compared to Americans, but they drink beer and eat liverwurst so how is this possible?

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51. Posted by apollodrummer on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:58 pm PDT

it's a scientific fact that french people poop bigger than americans. i've watched.

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52. Posted by Jim on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 1:59 pm PDT

They walk more because they have to--less car ownership. Also they sweat much more, leading to high levels of BO (all thoughout europe). As a culture they are capable of extreme cruelty, but in a fight they fold up like the ever-present white flag. Move a Frenchman to a culture like ours and you'll see they are much like us after awhile. We have true freedom to do virtually anything--whether moral or immoral--including the freedom and wherewithal to overeat. Yeah its a problem, but I like the way we live here, and the waves of illegals risking their lives to get here makes me think others agree. Do I hate the French? Not at all--but I'm not too anxious to be like 'em either.

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53. Posted by marcia r on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 2:00 pm PDT

THEY WALK! THEY BIKE! they eat small portions and don't snack. We Americans do everything to excess. By the way ...Wine is loaded with calories.

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54. Posted by rw_tackle09 on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 2:00 pm PDT

Well the simple equation to lose weight or to keep it off is to burn more than or equal to what you eat. Therefore, that is why I believe the French have been able to stay in shape and I would not be suprised if they had a higher life expectancy. Elman, do not rag on the French, sure they lost a battle against man, but I am sure you are losing yours to sin.

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55. Posted by ramona p on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 2:01 pm PDT

give us Spaniards some credit! We are raised learing to eat smaller portions of the proper foods. a lifetime of learning is never forgotten. At 55 yrs old I am still 118 lbs and a size 4, although I have been in the USA for forty years!

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56. Posted by steve s on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 2:01 pm PDT

who cares about why the French stay so slim...America should be concerned with why so many here get so damn fat!!! MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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57. Posted by Krisi Phoenix on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 2:01 pm PDT

The main reason Americans are heavier overall is because we spend so much time rushing from one thing to another that we don't take time to listen to our bodies to know when we are hungry and when we are full. If we got back to basics and ate when we were hungry and stopped when we were full, we would have no problem with weight. If we took time to enjoy our lives, we would be much more healthy. Everybody knows this, we just don't put it into action, because we don't want to be labeled lazy or a health-nut. I say we currently let our jobs dictate our lifestyle, and we should instead let our lifestyle dictate our jobs, and quit letting employers treat us like slaves.

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58. Posted by wsrfr on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 2:02 pm PDT

People need to stay away from junk food and other high calorie/fat food, and get out and walk whenever practical. Maybe now that gas it getting close to $5/gallon, more people will do that.

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59. Posted by Smiley on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 2:02 pm PDT

Screw the french!!!!! Arrogant bastardes!!!!!!!!!

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60. Posted by birdy0518 on Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 2:03 pm PDT

Ils sont minces parce que il ne mangent jamais entre les repas! (They don't snack)

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