Comments on: Not exercising

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:30:32 +0000

Wow *shocked* “Parisian women are not to sweat. And not to wear sneakers (except for trendy ones)”. I hope the french DO realize that Supermodels (victoria secret models-the highest paid models) exercise and have there own personal traniners to get there most beatuiful figure. Every super models exercise.

So i assume since the french dont’ exercise, they starve themselves to stay thin? wow. that’s messed up. lol.

By: david

david — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 23:51:19 +0000

Alan, most people in America don’t exercise. If they DID jog, it WOULD do go for them. So your comparison makes no sense. As for sports associations, all of them are expensive, which is the reason why most people can’t join them. Jogging on the other hand, is free.

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:03:30 +0000

I see that you’ve become a true parisian, spending time writing an article just to complain against other parisians.

Do you want to compare how fat is the average american to an average french? Doesn’t seem like jogging does much good to them.

Anyway for your info, in paris you can choose among 195 different sports.
There are more than 2000 sport associations.
You’ve got almost 400 sport sites, and they’re open all year long.

If for you, sport = jogging, then indeed parisians don’t seem to do much sport (which is false, go to the Luxembourg garden or Champs de mars around the Effeil tower, and you’ll see people running at any hour)

If people tell you that they walk a lot (unlike in the USA where people take their car even for walking distances), it is true, if you live in Paris you’ll have to walk even when taking the metro, especially during strikes <:)

By: Olivier Magny

Olivier Magny — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:38:24 +0000

Paris Parfait… Try and run, you won’t have to suffer from the looks as much: quicker to pass people!
Ewa… merci Ewa!
Rochambeau… if only you saw my face!!
David… I love America!! Good story, can totally imagine the looks you got in that classroom!!
Don’t be so French… merci, adorable!!
Jessica… well for sure, the Parisians that exercize are the ones that are really very much into their appearance, go they go against social norms!
Leesa… Yeah, needless to say, outside Paris does not qualify . I’d say most Parisian women in gyms are on a direct or less direct quest for a lover… maybe I should sign up to a gym!!
A clear Blue Sky… I went for a run (bouhhhh) in the Parc Monceau for the first time a few weeks ago! Just priceless! Total scene!! Id say most people in there use the excuse of exercizing to parade! (except for you and I of course!!)

By: TidBITS Opinion: Confessions of an iPhone Convert

TidBITS Opinion: Confessions of an iPhone Convert — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:10:27 +0000

[...] of the reasons I thought I wouldn’t benefit from an iPhone is that I work at home and, like a good Parisian, shun exercise for its own sake – so I don’t really need a portable gadget for listening to music [...]

By: A Clear Blue Sky

A Clear Blue Sky — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:41:34 +0000

Very funny. I live close to Parc Monceau (yes, in the 8th, quel beauf) and either the population here is very stupid, very gay or not parisian. So am I.

By: Leesa

Leesa — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:40:28 +0000

Hi Olivier… Thanks for emailing me with your blog link.. It’s great! I emailed it to all of my friends, in fact!! I may have to disagree with you on this one to some degree- even if it’s a micro degree. I have fit “Parisian” friends- women… and at the gym I work out at, there are TONS of sweaty ladies.. they really love the spinning classes that just started about a month ago… I even see a few women here and there in the weight room.. The gym is Moving, in La Haquiere… I know that is really in the burbs, too… so maybe you can’t really count it as “Paris.” Let me know…. Cheers, Leesa
Felicitations pour ton noveau blog…

By: jessica mordo

jessica mordo — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:37:07 +0000

Your blog is spot-on brilliant. I have a different take on the issue of Parisians exercising: it’s fashion that counts. Check out my blog – the most recent post is all about that. http://l-etrangere.blogspot.com/

By: Don't be so French

Don't be so French — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:12:49 +0000

Olivier… J’adore ton blog, c’est tellement vrai tout ce que tu dis, et pour la Parisienne expate que je suis, tu me fais sourire avec tes histoires de Parisien!!

By: David

David — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 22:52:55 +0000

Yep… This is all true…

Two anecdotes:
-Back in the days when I lived in the US (I taught French) I was giving a “cultural crash course” to some students that were gonna spend the summer in France. One student asked me: “Where can I run in France?” and I responded: “You just don’t”…
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a blank stare of not understanding before…

As I’m French, I don’t exercise and I don’t pay attention to what I eat, and of course, during my time in the US, I gained about 25 pounds…
When I returned to France, I lost it all just by walking daily and eating French food…

To this day, even after 7 years in the US, and countless American friends, I don’t understand why you can’t have an American walk three blocks without them wanting to take their car, but later they’ll be throwing a fit if something prevents them from running their daily run…