Why I (and Americans I know) lost weight when visiting Marrakesh

Many  of you have heard me talk (perhaps ad nauseum) about how I was looking forward to losing weight during my stay in Morocco.

Well, a month gone and 10 pounds down later and, you know what, I don't care how much I aggravated you!!!!

So you're wondering what is this Moroccan magic I speak of. Let me tell you. But understand, I believe the weight loss arises from a combination of reasons, and as I read about health, wellness and fitness often, trust me, I know what I'm talking about.


1. It's the food, stupid!
Seriously, these people eat fresh, wholesome, non-processed meat, veggies and fruit, green tea, coffee, mik, whole grain bread and olive oil every day. They buy this food every day and they cook it immediately. This leads me to the second reason for my shedding the weight.

2. No pantries.
This is a biggie, I can assure you. Pantries don't exist here and, other than the ingredients to cook with, there is not much to be found in the refrigerator. As a result, there is no mindless snacking between meals or when you sit down to a movie or any other of the million times you can find an excuse to eat when the goodies are right in front of you. No! You pretty much only eat at meal times, tea times and coffee times. No way, you say! Yes way. I've watched these people and there is no noshing between set eating times.

3. Portion control
In Morocco food is served on a single platter and everyone eats from it. As they don't serve a ton of food to begin with and you are sharing your food with everyone else,I believe this combination leads to less consumption overall. Also, no one goes back for seconds. This is another thing I've watched for and it's true. When the food is gone, so is the appetite apparantly.

4. No soda or other sugary drinks.
These folks drink water at meals. That's it.

5. They eat often.
When you wake up you have what is called first breakfast. This is anywhere from 7:30-9 a.m. There is usually soup (kind of like milky grits) and coffee. Then at 11:30 or so they serve second breakfast, which is normally mint green tea, freshly prepared and baked (in the home) whole grain bread which is dipped in olive oil. Come on!!! It just doesn't get much healthier that that. This food combination happens to be delicious and is one of my favorite snacks of the day. Lunch is eaten around 2:30, then we have coffee around 5 or 5:30 with dinner following at 8 or 8:30. So it seems like you're eating a lot but really you're only eating often, which results in a faster metabolism. It also keeps people out of the kitchen between set eating times...not that they'd find anything to eat anyway but you get my meaning.

So I think that's pretty much it. That in addition to all the walking you do. I walk my kids back and forth to school eight times a day. Eigtht times!!! Also, since they buy food every day, often before every meal, Moroccans are continuously walking to one of the many neighborhoods hanuts (tiny little stores that line the streets and are sandwiched between homes).

There you have it folks. The facts of the fabulousness that is eating and losing weight in Morocco!!!!