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.