Dieting and Eating Well in Spain
Talking about losing weight, eating better and keeping healthy habits with Spanish friends and colleagues.
In Spain lunch is the big meal, often a weekday menú del día with three courses, and dinner comes late, around nine or ten. People talk about weight and food very openly, and a friend will happily comment that you've put on or lost a few kilos. The cards follow someone changing their habits over a month of office lunches and walks.

- 1
Estoy intentando perder algo de peso.
I'm trying to lose a bit of weight.
- 2
Este año he cogido cuatro kilos.
I've put on four kilos this year.
- 3
No, gracias, que estoy a dieta.
No thanks, I'm on a diet.
- 4
Pico demasiado entre horas.
I snack between meals way too much.
- 5
He dejado el azúcar del todo.
I've cut out sugar completely.
- 6
Me he apuntado al gimnasio.
I've signed up at the gym.
- 7
Lo hago más por salud que por estética.
I'm doing it more for my health than for looks.
- 8
El médico me ha dicho que tengo el colesterol alto.
The doctor said my cholesterol's high.
- 9
He ido a una nutricionista y me ha puesto un plan.
I've been to a nutritionist and she's given me a plan.
- 10
No se trata de dejar de comer, sino de comer mejor.
It's not about stopping eating, it's about eating better.
- 11
A mí las dietas no me funcionan.
Diets just don't work for me.
- 12
Llevo tres semanas y no bajo ni un gramo.
Three weeks in and I haven't lost a single gram.
- 13
Date un capricho de vez en cuando.
Treat yourself every now and then.
- 14
Lo importante es no cenar tarde ni mucho.
The key thing is not to have dinner late or too much.
- 15
¿Y si pides ensalada en vez de patatas?
What if you get salad instead of chips?
- 16
Para mí el menú del día, pero el pescado a la plancha.
I'll have the set menu, but with the fish grilled.
- 17
Tienes que beber más agua.
You need to drink more water.
- 18
Desde que camino todos los días, duermo mucho mejor.
Since I started walking every day, I sleep much better.
- 19
¡Qué bien te veo! ¿Has adelgazado?
You look great! Have you lost weight?
- 20
Tampoco quiero obsesionarme con el tema.
I don't want to get obsessed with it either.