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10 Weight Loss Secrets French Girls Don't Want You to Know

Ever wonder how girls in France stay so thin while eating baguettes and cheese?
FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback

Have you ever wondered how French girls stay so thin, all while eating crepes slathered in Nutella, baguettes and cheese, and rich meals? Frederique Bros is a French YouTuber and influencer who currently lives in the United States. In a viral video, she uncovers some of the best-kept diet secrets from the women in her country. "Some people say French women do not get fat, which is not true. But statistically, we are the fittest in Europe," she says, going on to reveal the key diet secrets "that French women don't want you to know."

French Women Don't Count Calories

"I don't know any French women who have been calculating calories," she says. Instead, the day following a heavy dinner, "I'm going to eat light," she says. "It's all about balancing and really listening to your body."

They Have Also Mastered "Quiet" Exercise

While you might not see French girls in the gym as much as Americans, they enjoy "quiet" sports. "We do a lot of running, we love swimming, a lot of walking" and "obviously cycling," she says.

They Walk and Run Everywhere

Running woman. Runner jogging at summer day. Female fitness model training outside in Paris City with beautiful view on Eifel Tower - symbol of Paris.
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Parisians also walk everywhere, she says. "Leaving your house is burning calories. Why Parisians are usually slimmer "is a simple reason," she says, which is they do "a lot" of walking, making it easy to achieve 10,000 steps per day. "Paris, I can assure you, or any big city, we are always running. We are always running after the subway, the bus, and the taxi," she says. This makes 15,000 to 20,000 steps a day a possibility.

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They Don't Weigh Themselves

She also doesn't weigh herself. "Do not jump on your scale every day. I didn't weigh myself in six months, but I know I'm not putting on weight because I'm testing with my clothes, and I also measure my body," she says. "It's not about losing weight only because muscles are heavier than fat. So if you jump on a scale and after training for three months and you're a little bit heavier and you think, 'Oh, I don't understand, I'm putting weight here. No, it's just because your muscle mass is much heavier, and the best way to burn fat is to build muscle everywhere."

There Is No Snacking Between Meals

"Usually in France, and it's a big no-no for us, we do not snack between meals. This is how you're going to accumulate bad fat if you do it," she says. "If you really want a snack between meals, try fruit, anything with colors and vitamins and minerals."

They Only Cook with Real Butter and Olive Oil

Organic olive oil pouring from carafe into glass bowl
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She also only cooks with "butter, real butter, real french butter and as well olive oil," she says. Or, if she is cooking Asian food, she might use coconut oil.

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They Eat Lots of Veggies

Farmer woman harvests vegetables in the garden. Selective focus. Food.
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"Of course, you should have vegetables every day, almost every meal. So healthy, so good for your body. The more you eat healthy and the more fibers in your body, the more you're going to the loo. Yes, I'm talking about the bowel movement because you need to have a lot of bowel movement to get healthy," she adds.

They Make Their Own Salad Dressing

Don't bother buying salad dressing. "We eat green salad but like a lot every day, and we don't do the full dressing sauce on the top of it," she says. "Usually, I just use a little bit of olive oil and quite a lot of balsamic vinegar." She also sometimes adds "a proper mustard" or "just a lemon juice, salt and pepper."

They Eat Both the Egg Yolk and White

When it comes to eggs, "just get the full egg" with both the white and yolk, she says. "Eggs are amazing. They're full of proteins." She recommends organic.

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They Drink a Lot of Water

And, don't forget to hydrate, which "is good for your skin and everything," she says. If you are still hungry after a meal, she recommends waiting 30 minutes and then having a glass of water. "It takes a minimum 30 minutes for your body to start the digestion system," she says. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Leah Groth
Leah Groth has decades of experience covering all things health, wellness and fitness related. Read more