Reducing Your Weight

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 4, 26 March 1927, Page 4

Reducing Your Weight

BY

MARGARET MONTROSE.

“Oh, I am getting so fat!” sighs the plump woman. Then she proceeds to eat a hearty lunch, flirts with sweet cakes at afternoon tea, and is ready for a “substantial dinner.” I have said nothing of breakfast, but that will surely have been preceded by the inevitable cup of tea in bed and after that a really good “British” breakfast. Truly has it been written that half of us dig our graves with our teeth. We must, of course, recognise that there are some women who get stout without overeating. It “runs in the family” as they say, and it is undeniable that corpulency is hereditary. Over-stoutness is unfashionable to-day unless we happen to be living out in the East. But apart from “Fashion’s stern decree,” we must remember that obesity means bad health and probable disease. It shortens life. It is, therefore, a menace. Let us see, then, what can be done to fight this danger. Incidentally it may be mentioned that generally speaking “fat reducing” tablets are a delusion and an expensive snare. They are mostly composed of a substance which is really a sort of seaweed. It is not this kind of stuff which is wanted, but a few commonsense rules as to dieting. It is fat which must be attacked. Fat in moderation is good; indeed, without it we should wither away, but in excess it is unsightly and distinctly dangerous. To diet properly, self-control is necessary. Many women who have a redundancy of figure and face, will say, “Don’t talk to me about diet. I’ve tried it and it’s no good.” But analyse it and you will probably find that they have either gone on eating something they “cannot give up,” or are not dieting properly. A few simple rules which may be observed in general will be found useful. I will call them the “Don’ts.” Thus: Don’t sleep too much; a little is good, but overmuch tends to make you fat. Don’t eat until you feel replete; the old adage about rising from the table before appetite is satisfied is a sound one. Don’t confuse real hunger with the false appetite produced by indigestion. That “sinking feeling” is probably not real hunger at all. Don’t think it absolutely necessary to drink with your food; you do not need it —and it fattens. Don’t take sugar, but substitute saccharine. Don’t eat salt. If you find this makes food too insipid, eat as little as you can. Don’t take more meat than you can help; remember, a vegetarian diet produces slimness Don’t eat white bread, sweet biscuits, pastry, cakes, cheese, rice, potatoes, puddings, peas, beans, lentils, or eggs. All these are fat-forming. Don't eat liver, calves’ brains, or chicken. These are the especially fatforming substances. Take plenty of exercise, such as walking, tennis, rowing or potter over a game of golf. Fight against the delusion that because you are stout you should lounge in a chair. Get out and about and fight the fat demon. You will very soon hear your friends say, “Dear me! Why, you have grown quite slim again.” And that will be your reward.