Fretcherism

One sure method of reducing weight is by practising what is known as 'Fretcherism'. It was discovered in 1898 by Horace Fletcher of the U.S.A. Fletcher, at 40, considered himself an old man. He was 25 kilos overweight, contracted flu every six months and constantly complained of indigestion and exhaustion. After deep study, he discovered the rules for 'Fletcherism which are as follows:

1. Chew your food to a pulp or milky liquid until it practically swallows itself.
2. Never eat until hungry.
3. Enjoy every bite or morsel, savouring the flavour until it is swallowed.
4. Do not eat when tired, angry, worried and at meal times refuse to think or talk about unpleasant subjects.

Horace Fletcher followed these rules for five months. As a results, he lost more than 27 kilos and felt better than he had for 20 years. A weight-reducing programme built on fletcherism works wonders and is worth a trial.
Along with dietetic treatment, the patient should adopt all other natural methods of reducing weight. Exercise is an important part of the weight reduction plan. It helps to use calories stored in body fat and relieves tension, besides toning up the muscles of the body. Walking is the best exercise to begin with and may be followed by running, swimming, rowing and other outdoor sports.
Certain yogic osanas are highly beneficial. Not only do they break up or re-distribute fatty deposits and help slimming, but they also strenghten the flabby areas. These osanas include shalabhasana, dhanurasana, chakrasana, vajrasana, yogamudra and trikonasana.

These osanas work on the glands, improve circulation, strenghten many weak areas and include deep breathing which helps to melt off excess fat gradually. The methods for practising these osanas have been given in Chapter 15, "Yoga For Youthful Looks.

Above all, the obese person should make every effort to avoid negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, hostility and insecurity and develop a positive outlook to wards life.

Natural Remedies

Many diets are prescribed for the overweight to enable them to reduce. Some of these diets are so severe and extreme that are likely to be more determental to health than being overweight. Crash diets which severely restrict food intake or exclude all but one or two items are injurious to health, irrespective of the seriousness of the problem of obesity. Not only is the health likely to suffer but the person adhering to such a diet likely to put on many of those lost kilos back again after resumption of normal eating habits.

Another risk with most diets is that in cutting down on the amount of food, they drastically reduce the intake of vital nutrients and this may lead to tiredness and irritability. The only sensible way to lose weight and to maintain that weight loss is to follow a carefully planned course of dietetic treatment, in conjunction with suitable exercise and other measures for promoting good health.The chief consideration in this teatment should be the balanced selection of foods which provide the maximum essential nutrients with the least number of calories.

begin with, the patient should undertake a juice fast for seven to ten days. Juices of lemon, grapefruit, orange, pineapple cabbage and carrots may be taken during this period. A longer juice fast upto 40 days can also be undertaken but only under expert guidance and supervision. Alternatively, short juice fasts should be repeated at regular intervals of two months or so till the desired reduction in weight is achieved.

After the juice fast, the patient should spend the next four of five days on an all-fruit diet, taking three meals of fresh juicy fruits such orange, grapefruit, pineapple and papaya. Thereafter, he may gradually start on a low calorie, well balanced diet of whole grains, vegetables and fruits, with emphasis on raw fruits, vegetables and fresh juices.

The foods which should be drastically curtailed or altogether avoided are high-fat foods such as butter, cheese, chocolate, cream, ice-cream, fatty meats, fried foods and gravies; foods high in carbohydrates like breab, candy, cakes, cookies, cereal products, legumes, potatoes, honey, sugar, syrup and rich puddings; beverages such as aerated drinks and alcohol.

Tea and coffee should be eliminated completely. If this is not possible. they should be restricted to one or two cups a day. Heebal teas can be taken as they do not contain calories provided no sweetener is added. lemon juice also acts as a diuretic and can be taken for this purpose first thing in the morning with hot water. Having something to drink half-an-hour before a meal also helps to take the edge off your appetite. Skimmed milk should be used in place of whole milk as this is much lower in calorie. If some snack needs to be eaten between meals, raw fruits or vegetables are preferable to biscuits and cakes. All foods should be cooked carefully to retain maximum nutrient content, without increasing the calories. This means eating raw or steamed vegetables. Nutritious but high calorie foods, such as nuts, hard cheese, commercial fruits, yoghurt and avocado pears, should be avoided. Lots of salad should be included in the diet as they are low in calories and a good source of vitamins and minerals.

The Natural Way To Slimming

Obesity and beauty do not go together. It is difficult to look beautiful with bulges in the wrong places. Excess weaight affects the face and figure. It also shakes one's self confidence. Pride in one's appearance plays an important part in being beautiful.

Obesity is also serious health hazard as the extra fat puts a strain on the heart, kidneys and liver, as well as on the large weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and ankles. This ultimately shortens the life span. It has been rightly said, 'the longer the belt, the shorter the life'. Overweight persons are suceptible to several diseases like coronary thrombosis, heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, gout, liver and gallbladder disorders. Trimming your figure is, therefore, necessary for the sake of both goods looks and health.

The chief cause of obesity, most often, is overeating that is, the intake of calories beyond the body's energy requirment. Some persons are in the habit of eating much, while others may be in the habit of consuming high calorie foods. These persons gain weight continuously as they fail to adjust their appetite to reduced energy requirments. There has, in recent times, been an increasing awareness of the psychological aspects of abesity. Persons who are generally unhappy, lonely or unloved and those who are discontented with their families, or social or financial standing. usually take solace in over-eating.

Obesity is sometimes also the result of disturbances of the thyroid or pituitary gland. But grandular disorders account for only about two per cent of the total incidence of obesity. In such persons the metabolism rate is low and they keep gaining weight unless they take a low calorie diet.

Care for feet

One should not forget about looking after the feet because they are hidden. They need regular care not only to make them look good but also to avoid such crippling conditions like corns and callouses, which can lead to painful feet. Besides, the strain of tried and aching feet will adversely affect even the most beautiful face. It will also cause a loss of balance while walking and promote tension and irritability.

111-fitting shoes are the most likely cause of foot problems. Shoes should therefore be always chosen for comfort. They should support the arch of the foot well and should allow ample room for the toes. Shoes with high heels and pointed toes should never be worn as these prove harmful.

Like the hands, the feet should be kept in good shape with a few simple exercises. A useful exercise for the feet is to arch the ankles, bend the toes and flex the whole foot first thing in the morning. Walking is one of the best exercises for the feet. Feet that are sore and swollen after a long day, should be relaxed by placing them. In case of cold feet a massage with olive oil will help greatly. An ancient remedy for tried feet is to soak them alternately in hot and cold water, finishing with the cold water. Soaking the feet in warm water, to which Epson salts or special foot salts have been added, can be very soothing, but the feet should be rubbed over afterwards with eau-de-cologne to counteract any softening effect.

The toe nails should be given as much attention as the nails of the hands. An orange stick tipped with cotton wool should be used to clean around the nails. Particular attention should be paid to the sides of the nails where dirt tends to collect. Thereafter, a generous amount of moisturizing body lotion should be rubbed all over the feet.

To keep the feet smelling fresh, especially in hot weather, a deodorizing talcum powder should be applied each morning after washing. Socks, if used, should be washed daily.

The knees also to be looked after. The should be made weat and rubbed thoroughly with two tablespoons of powdered groundnut mixed with a tablespoon of salt. After a few minutes, they should be rinsed and a film of sesame oil mixed with a few drops of vinegar should be apllied. Regular massage in this manner will keep them in good condition.

Care For Finger Nails

Like the hair, nails are composed of keratin which is formeed mainly from protein and calcium. Therefore a diet rich in these two nutrients is an essential part of healthy nails. Nails that are in poor condition are indicative of poor general health.

Like the hands, the fingers nails are constanly subsjected to abuse. So any hand care programe should incorporate the nails. They will benefit from regular incorporate the nails. They will benefit from regular applications of a rich moisturizer such as a night cream.

An orange stick tipped with cotton wool should be used to clean beneath the nails. An orange stick should be used to gently shape the cuticles, to avoid breaking of the skin. The best time to shape the cuticles is after the hands have been in water, as it softnes the skin and makes the cuticles ready for shaping. Alternatively, the fingers can be soaked in a little vegetable oil, or in warm water and herbal shmpoo for a few minutes.

Drinking cider vinegar each day is believed to help strengthen the nails, as well as beaing good for general health. A tablespoon of the vinear should be taken in a glass of water three times a day before meals.

A useful remedy for keeping the hands young and beautiful is to dip them upto the wrist, in a bowl of milk. Then blot and apply three tablespoons of lanolin mixed with one tablespoon of sesame oil (til) on the hands and wrists. This should be done once a week.
Exercising the hands helps to make them flexible and improves circulation. The following exercises many be done, repeating them six to ten times.
1. Clench your fists tightly for a second. Then throw open the fingers as wide as possible.
2. Put your hands out in front of you, palm down. Press the fingers tightly against each other and then thrust them apart as wide as possile.
3. Allow the hands to be limp and relaxed. Then rotate them from the wrists in circles, first clockwise and then anti-clockwise.

If the hands are tired, soak them for a few minutes in warm water, to which about two or three tablespoons of salt have been added. This helps to soothe them. Another treatment which stimulates circulation is to soak the hands alternatively in hot and cold water. This also soothes the nerve ending.

Cleaning

Each night the hands should be washed with a mild soap and scrubbed thoroughly with a face brush. Incase of hard skin, it should be whizzed over with a pumice stone. If the fingers are stained due to vegetable or nicotine, they should be rubbed with lime. This will help bleach the stain. They should then be rinsed well and dried thoroughly.

The hands should be treated once o twice a week to a massage with a really rich cream. This should be precedded by soaking them in warm oil, preferbly olive or almond, for five to 30 minutes.
This is a good treatment for dry hands and nails.

Protection.

The most important factor for proper care of hands is that they should properly dried with a towel after every contact with water. The longer the water remains on the skin the more dehydrating it is. It is essential to protect them in such a way that they do not come into direct contact with a constant barrage of chemicals. A pair of rubber gloves should be worm for all household chres like washing and cleaning. One may feel uncomfortable, but will get used to it if a pair of fine rubber gloves is chosen. Cotton gloves can be worm for jobs where the hands do not come in contact with water.

Caring for hands and feet

Beautiful hands an essential complement to a woman's beauty. With proper care, almost any pair of hands can look beautiful. The state of one's hands cannot be kept hidden from view, however much one may try to do so. As with most things, preventing trouble is considerably easier than curing it.

The hands hands and fingers are one of the busiest parts of the body. They are expoed to all kinds of weather conditions. They also constantly come in contact with water which contains such poerful chemical solutions as washing poeder, bleach and washing-up liquids. The hands are therefore one of the first parts of the body to show signs of neglect and ageing. The guidlines for keeping them in proper shape are discussed herein.