HOW TO TRAIN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3532, 1 August 1884, Page 2

HOW TO TRAIN.

In Dr Sargent’s recent lecture on “ What Shall We Eat to Get Strong?” ho said in the course of his remarks that it had been customary to train athletes on lean beef and qautton, but he thought this a mistake, as tissue-making food should be used in combination with these and the diet should be so changed as to meet the requirements of the person using it, for to establish one diet for all poisons was ridiculous. Beef alone was not superior to meal, beans, or other farinaceous food, and the size of the muscles of a man is not indicative of his strength. Farinaceous food tones a man down, and will tend to give him more endurance. A man who can strike a blow equal to 4001 b would be called a strong man, but this strength cannot be kept up for any length of time on animal food, as it comes from the base of the brain, and endurance must be sought for in other kinds of food. To reduce the weight of a man in training lean meats may do, but when he is down in weight he must go back to food containing more carbon, such as ham and sausages, which should always be eaten cold. Three years ago this would have been considered ridiculous by trainers, but for a diet for running, walking, and rowing it has been found that saccharine food, with beef or mutton, is the best; tea, coffee, and alcohol, as well as condiments, are objectionable; indeed, it is not the quantity of food a person eats that strengthens him, but the amount assimilated and worked into the organism.”