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As someone living in France, there's something which doesn't get enough attention. Everyone in France (okay, almost everyone) "does sport". It's drilled into k

by sofixa 2y ago

As someone living in France, there's something which doesn't get enough attention. Everyone in France (okay, almost everyone) "does sport". It's drilled into kids that they need to have some sort of physical activity, and it's one of the things people getting to know each other ask one another - what sort of sport do you take a part in. There are "hype" sports like wall climbing, quite popular in some of the big cities; there are more communal (football/basketball/etc.) ones; there's swimming etc etc. But it's normal and expected that you do something. IMO this is more important contributor than the cuisine, which although quite "natural", includes lots of meat, cheese, sauces (not American style sauce with sugar + corn syrup + a bunch of chemicals, more like blue cheese-based sauces) etc. which aren't the most calorie light foods.

orwin 2y ago
Regular exercise help with being overweight, what you eat help too, but not that much compared to how much you eat. One of the advantage of regular exercise not talked about enough is how it makes your metabolism faster, thus increasing your baseline calory expanse, but still from an ex-obese: the quantity matters. Which is helped with eating slowly, and taking time between dishes (and we do this, a lot).
novariation 2y ago
I have to confirm this as a nerdy french person: I don't like sports and it always felt awkward because it's not something I enjoy, people keep asking for it and it makes me uncomfortable. I tried hard to fit in though: I tried judo, tennis, swimming, running, rowing. But couldn't make any stick, 2 years each (except judo for a few years). French moms really force you to exercise and my immigrant dad always felt weird about it.
throwaway22032 2y ago
I agree with this and think that the role of exercise and sport in body composition is often misunderstood. The calories burned playing a five a side football match aren't that big a deal, neither is the BMR adjustment from going to the gym unless you really go hard on it. It makes a difference, yes, but it's not the real key. What matters is that it forces you to be to some degree mindful about what you are eating, because most sports become really shit and unenjoyable if you are out of shape, you can literally see and feel your performance decreasing.

by sofixa 2y ago

orwin 2y ago

Regular exercise help with being overweight, what you eat help too, but not that much compared to how much you eat. One of the advantage of regular exercise not talked about enough is how it makes your metabolism faster, thus increasing your baseline calory expanse, but still from an ex-obese: the quantity matters. Which is helped with eating slowly, and taking time between dishes (and we do this, a lot).

novariation 2y ago

I have to confirm this as a nerdy french person: I don't like sports and it always felt awkward because it's not something I enjoy, people keep asking for it and it makes me uncomfortable. I tried hard to fit in though: I tried judo, tennis, swimming, running, rowing. But couldn't make any stick, 2 years each (except judo for a few years). French moms really force you to exercise and my immigrant dad always felt weird about it.

throwaway22032 2y ago

I agree with this and think that the role of exercise and sport in body composition is often misunderstood. The calories burned playing a five a side football match aren't that big a deal, neither is the BMR adjustment from going to the gym unless you really go hard on it. It makes a difference, yes, but it's not the real key. What matters is that it forces you to be to some degree mindful about what you are eating, because most sports become really shit and unenjoyable if you are out of shape, you can literally see and feel your performance decreasing.