New Slimming System Advocated In America

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27685, 15 June 1955, Page 2

New Slimming System Advocated In America

NEWS FOR WOMEN

The problem of slimming, whether for the sake of appearances or for health reasons, has reached television in America, and many women who were not inclined to face the rigours of strict dieting are adopting the new plan known as “Skip-a-day” diet.

} The originator of the scheme is a i small blonde woman, Claire Mann, j who appears on one of the major ■ television circuits for 30 minutes every • day to give talks about glamour and beauty.

i Miss Mann started a society which she named Overweight Anonymous. Members eat what they like one day and then have “Skip-a-day” diet the next. In three years the society has grown to have a membership of 100.000, of whom one in every 100 is a man. Every day on television Claire Mann advises and encourages her disciples, and urges them to take to the “skip-a-day” diet. But the name “skip-a-day” is somewhat misleading, for according to the scheduled diet a liberal amount of food is allowed on the diet day, though the menu consists almost entirely of non-fattening foods. She does not ban even mid-morning and mid-afternoon cups of tea. General rules for the diet day are

* no sugar, the barest minimum of salt ’ (or none at all), the usual ban on i bread, potatoes and fried foods, no > liquids with meals (take tea or coffee > afterwards), no skipping of meals, no ’ nibbling between meals. Particularly is there a veto on a new weakness — i TV nibbling. , Miss Mann claims that by eating as ’ much as one likes on alternate days ■ and keeping to her menu every second ■ day. the average loss of weight in six weeks would be 251 b. Here is a typical set of menus for the diet day. It is varied slightly, but the quantities and food values stay the ■ same. On rising: Lemon juice (fresh) and ’ water. ; Breakfast:' One boiled egg, one slice • dry toast, doffee or tea with a little milk, but no sugar. Mid-morning: Tea or tomato juice with one water-biscuit'. Lunch: Two slices cold meat, half head lettuce, one tomato, one raw ' carrot, one slice dry toast, coffee *or tea. Tea: Tea and one water-biscuit. Dinner: Any grilled or boiled meat or fish (not roast or fried), two cooked vegetables (not potatoes), jam or a half i grapefruit. Coffee or tea.