KEEP FIT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 113, 6 February 1937, Page 21

KEEP FIT

Exercises For Middle Age Hot relaxing days are not conducive to exercise. A laze in the garden or on the beach is just as attractive ns sitting over a cosy lire on a dull wintry afternoon. Both indulgences, in those not-so-slim or nearing middle-age, are capable of producing ugly excrescences of fat in different parts of the body. Such things do not develop in the young unless there is some endocrine disturbance. This ductless-gland theory bolds good also in approaching middle-age, because the curve of life is then on its downward arc. With this natural happening the powers of resistance become sluggish generally. The .result is that exercise is not taken to the same extent as it was in earlier life. Middle-aged people should decrease their diet instead of increasing it—a usual but bad mistake. A good rule is to eat everythng that one fauces at meal-time, but to leave the table with the sense of “not feeling qute satisfied.’ ’ Sit Upright. In addition, seek aid from definite exercises to attack these offending excrescences. Begin with that beige at the back of the neck. Sit upright on a chair. Flex the head on the chest. With hands clasped firmly low down on the back of the head and approximated elbows, raise the head slowly, resisting it by the clasped hands till the face looks toward the ceiling. The elbows will be forced apart as the head is raised. s Double chins, even in the young, are ageing. Lift the head back so that the neck muscles are quite tense. Then turn it slowly first to the right and then to the left as far as possible. Relax and repeat. To reduce the spare-tire waistline, ■ lie on the Hoot - and place the feet under a cupboard or chest. Keep the arms and knees stiff. Breathe deeply and raise the body to sitting position. Bend forward as fur as possible. Finally, lower it slowly to the original position on the fioor. AH movements must be made from the waist. Another exercise. Stand erect, keeping the knees stiff. Extend the arms above the head and lower them very slowly till the fingers touch the toes. Then rise to the first position. This; must be done very slowly. ■ The middle-age “spread” will be quickly dispersed by rolling. Lie on the fioor. Keep the back flat adu touching the ground all througb this exercise. Roll the lower part of the body as far as possible from side to side. Ankles arc often unsightly during middle-age. Sit. down and cross the legs. Hold the tendon at the back of the heel between finger and thumb firmly. Rotate the foot several times from right to left and left to right. Then extend and ilex the foot as. far forward and as far back as possible, still holding the tendon. All these exercises should be done six times (not more than eight) with open windows in the morning. As they attack definite parts of the body, they are useful in ridding one of the defects which so often accompany middle-age.

Take lib. of juicy plums. Put into stone jar, and place jar in pan of boiling water. Boil until juice flows freely. Strain through sieve and add lib. loaf sugar and white of egg. Beat well till it is a thick paste. Spread on buttered paper, and bake in a cool oven till dry. Turn upside down and allow the under-part to dry. Cut into thin strips. Keep in layers of while paper in tin box. This makes an excellent sweetmeat.