A Slender Figure

If your figure, Madam, is not slender, blame no one but yourself. For it is within your power to enjoy a slender figure whenever you wish. And how is that?

The rules are very simple, but you must keep practicing them until they become a habit in you, almost like instinct. Stand before a large mirror that reflects your whole figure, lift your head well, and draw your shoulders back so that your chest stands out. Then bend your knees without upsetting the balance of your legs, and push your hips forward until your abdomen is drawn out flat.

Practice this position many times over. When you walk, let your legs swing free from the hips and set them down on your heels. And when you sit, sit up straight, so that your back barely touches the back of the chair. And take care that your knees remain pressed together — how unsightly it is for a woman to cross one leg over the other.

And here is a rule of the greatest importance: stand erect with your back to the wall, your feet one step away from it, and see to it that your head, your shoulders, your waist, and your hips all touch the wall. Then move your feet slowly back and see how far they can go back without losing their balance with your waist. Try this position over and over until your figure touches the wall from the crown of your head to your heels.

You can likewise improve your figure still further if you lie down on your stomach, with your legs together and your hands clasped over your back, and try to raise your head backward several times each day without letting your feet rise from the floor.

But if, Madam, you have a figure heavier than it ought to be, then shun sweets, take only a little bread, eat vegetables in plenty in place of potatoes, and beware of eating anything between meals.

And so, God willing, you shall have the slender figure you desire.