Nourish Yourself Sexy: Lessons From The French

I love and embrace the raw food diet (I teach it!), but I am also French and for me, eating is sensual, nurturing, and deeply satisfying.

If your relationship with food is less than pleasurable (make that drab, tasteless, fearful, or stressful), you are missing out on one key (and rarely talked about) concept: pleasure is a powerful metabolizer.

Ever wondered why the French don’t get fat? Forget about red wine and good genes. If there is one thing the French are expert at, it’s how to have a love affair with life, something Americans sorely lack in their over-doing, over-working, over-eating, calorie-counting culture.

You would think that with all the bustling activity, the busyness, and the countless hours logged at the gym, we would be the leanest population on Earth, but that’s not the case.

A few years ago, while still living a very typical “must control my body” triathlon-obsessed phase, it seemed normal to me to over-exercise and live on protein shakes, steamed vegetables and grilled chicken. I resisted all forms of leisure or fun, for fear of losing control of my body and life.

I didn’t realize at the time that no one at the gym was ever smiling, or pleased with the results of all their hard work. Yes, I was lean and had muscle definition, weighted the arbitrary 100 pounds I had decided was the right number, but was I happy? Healthy? Could I keep it up in my fifties? No chance.

My wake up call came when my health came crashing down, and no doctor was able to help me. Through studying holistic nutrition and getting back to my (very French) roots, I was able to get my body and life back…and a whole lot more.

Diet is only the tip of the iceberg. Pleasure, fun, and feeling good are what will turn on your metabolism and turn YOU on to ditch your so-so life for a va-va voom love affair with yourself. No calorie-counting necessary.

Nourishing yourself sexy is not complicated, or hard work, but it requires commitment, playfulness, and a willingness to slow down. Only then can the sensuality and satisfaction of eating breathe you back into the hot, feisty, and powerful woman you are meant to be, AND bring your awareness to the other pleasures in your life you might have otherwise missed: your kid’s dimples, your partner’s kisses, or the sun’s warmth.

Ladies, your body is wired to seek pleasure and live an orgasmic life. And I don’t believe we were put on this earth to suffer endless dieting.

It is time to treat yourself to the French experience:

• Make love in the kitchen. It pays off to spend some quality time in this special room. A one-night stand won’t cut it. Commit to a long-term relationship and learn to play with your food. Food prep can be quick and even enjoyable.
• Eat for pleasure and stay slim. Slim physiques and decadent foods CAN coexist in a pleasurable way. It is all about HOW and WHEN you eat them.
• Reveal in your own sexiness. The French own their bodies, no apologies, even if they don’t look like Brigitte Bardot. Sexiness is not a number on the scale; it is a feeling that stems from confidence, playfulness, and attitude. I feel sexier now in my forties and ten pounds heavier than I did in my triathlon training days. No matter what my body looks like, I cultivate the feeling of sexy with nice lingerie, sensual body products, and powerful superfoods.
• Make movement a daily practice. The French don’t have gym memberships, they walk, bike, dance, and partake in (hum) other pleasurable physical activities. Personally, I swapped my 7-10 hours of working out for 15 minutes interval training and dance breaks.
• Simplify your life. One of the not-so-secret ingredients in my programs is simplicity. The French don’t overstuff their bodies, lives, and homes with food, things, and to-do lists. Let go of the need to be super woman and become sexy lady instead!
• Get juicy! Improvise a party for your cells. Green juices will treat them to a real good time. They are easily available now so no excuse not to get started.

Want to get your taste buds buzzing and nutrient density soaring? Treat yourself to this supercharged recipe.

Chia Apple Power-Up Pudding
If you have yet to hop on the chia seed bandwagon, you are missing out on incredible energy and slimming properties.

Serves1-2

• ¼ cup chia seeds
• 1 cup almond, coconut, or rice milk
• 1 T almond butter (raw is best)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp of powdered stevia
• 1 T lucuma powder (optional but oh-so-good)
• Toppings: cinnamon (great for inflammation), chopped apples, shredded unsweetened coconut, hemp seeds.

Mix all the ingredients, except for the chia seeds, in a glass jar. Shake well. Add the seeds and blend vigorously with a fork for 3-5 minutes until the chia seeds expand. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight. Add toppings. Savor one spoonful at a time.

Note: The chia seeds and hemp seeds are high in protein, making this treat ideal for breakfast, post workout, or snack time.