Health Notes

Hutt News, Volume 16, Issue 40, 31 March 1943, Page 6

Health Notes

By H. K. & D. W. Adamson, (Osteopaths).

Well, after reading last week's notes, how many of you people checked up on the circumference of your Waistlines % All doubtful cases we hopej and of course, those of you whose waistline exceeded the circum ference of your chests, will naturally want to get the benefit of that extra ten per cent on your tenure of life which we mentioned. Here's how you go about it. You have already made these two measurements —your waistline and your chest. weigh yourself and make a note of both measurement and weight for future reference. Now, there are two main factors involved in the putting on of: extra fat. Firstly, too little exercise and secondly, too much fattening food. The harder you work (physically) the less chance you have of putting on fat irrespective of how much you eat because your activity burns it all up. The less active you are, the more you fatten, sometimes, no matter how little you eat, therefore, you have to strike a happy balance. You can no longer consume the huge meals of your youth so forget about what you used to do. And, you can no lbnger work up enough physical activity to burn up large amounts of food even if you wanted to because your heart would never stand up to the strain. Therefore in strilc ing a happy medium, you take amply sufficient foods to maintain your health and strength and at the same time, just sufficient muscular exercise to keep your muscles in sound working order. It is not necessary to weigh every morsel of fat forming food you consume (unless yours is a special case) It is essential however, to restrict the,amount of sugars and sweets, butter and fats and cakes and pastry etc., which comprise the main fattening foods. Sometimes all that is necessary to reduce, is to cease eating between meals — the morning and afternoon teas and suppers, foxinstance. v Merely eating less will not reduce the fat that has already accumulated. This can only be removed by starving it off or by working it off and the best way to work it off is to exercise the muscles in which it has deposited or accumulated. So when you arise in the morning and have had your pint of warm

water, get uowu and proceed to rid yourself o£ your life shortening encumbrance. First of all, spend from three to five minutes rolling over and over. From your back to your stomach and back again from your stomach to your back. Keep your arms out of the way by extending them beyond your head, and roll first to the right and then to the left as vigorously as you can until you begin to tire, Then lie on your back for a "blow" and start all over again. Exercise 2. —Lie on your back and raise your legs till they are pointing upright. Normally, you should be able to touch the floor behind your head with your toes, but you had better reduce the middle section before attempting this feat. Raise and lower the legs till they tire slightly

Exercise 3.—When you tire of looking up at your toes! try looking across at them. In this exercise you assume the same position as previously but keep the legs on the floor and raise the body into a sitting position. Repeat till slightly tatigued. To perform this movement, it may be necessary to anchor the feet beneath a ledge or strap attached to the floor or skirting.

Finally, try looking down at your toes. In this exercise you stand erect with arms stretched above head, knees straight and by bending at the hips touch the toes (or as near as possible) then straighten up again. Repeat till slightly fatigued.

These few movements may occupy from ten minutes to a quarter of an hour to perform, which, when you think it over, isn't much for the added zest they will impart to you, plus of course, the longer expectation of life.