Guard the Beauty of Your Figure

Woman takes more interest in her figure than man does, and she is never wholly content with her present state: the thin woman envies her plump sister, while the plump one envies her her slenderness. It is not possible for all women to become beauty queens — and man himself would dislike it, for he sees a woman's beauty in what distinguishes her from others, in individual differences.

Whatever your figure, you can improve it by taking exercise and eating foods suited to your condition. I have noticed that a girl between seventeen and twenty grows troubled if she puts on weight or if the complexion of her face changes, whereas we consider added plumpness at such an age a natural thing; and she can reduce her weight as far as she is able if she eats the right food and takes care over her clothes. It is the mother's duty to guide her daughter as to what kind of clothes she should wear to suit her age and her body. Many girls play tennis, swim, dance, and walk, and these strengthen their muscles and prevent excessive stoutness.

The signs of femininity begin to blossom between the ages of twenty and twenty-five; and even as she advances in years, a woman keeps her beauty if she practices care over her diet!

Watch the calories that add to your weight. The human body is a machine that burns fuel to create energy; its fuel is food, and the units of power that food produces are called calories. The body spends a fixed number of them every day; if you eat more food than the stomach burns, the extra amount remains, to add to your weight. These are well-known facts, but one thing stays hidden: it is not the "quantity" that adds the calories, but the "kind" of food, and the way it is prepared.

A student or a woman writer needs 2,000 calories a day; if her work increases she spends 2,400 calories, while a man working in an office needs 2,500 to 2,800, or more if his efforts increase. After a person passes adolescence, and the age of twenty, athletic activity slackens, and one therefore needs fewer calories — unless one is doing strenuous work.

Whenever the body burns a gram of fat it gives off nine units, while a gram of "protein" gives seven. Fruits and vegetables are counted among the low-calorie foods. It is said that bananas are fattening — an idea science does not endorse. A bottle of plain milk contains eighty calories; and eggs, meat, and cheese supply the body with the protein it needs to build the fleshy tissues and to increase the "hormones." Liver, mutton, and chicken are not so fattening as pork, for example. Fried meat contains extra calories, so avoid that by grilling or boiling it; and fish and seafood are not very fattening.

Do not eat too much bread, cake, and sweets; once you give real attention to watching your foods you can avoid stoutness without cutting down your nourishment.

As the days advance upon us, responsibility weighs heavier on our shoulders, and we must come out of the paradise of our dreams to face what confronts us. It is easy to say: put worry aside and follow a fixed regimen; yet some doctors believe that worry may add to the weight or take from it in equal measure, and this depends not on a woman's nature alone, but on her situation and her regimen. Whatever may be weighing on your mind, always sit up straight, and stand without stooping your shoulders or bending your knees! There is also hereditary stoutness; but whether you are stout or thin, there are ways of improving. Among the causes of gaining weight is excess in eating and drinking. So cut that down, and take nothing between one meal and the next; and there is a rule for every woman who wants to bring her weight down: not to take much liquid — even water she should take at least an hour after a meal.

If, on the other hand, you are thin, your case is naturally harder, for you think a great deal and never give your nerves any rest. The first thing you must do is rest your mind and your body; you may also practice massage with oil, but the most effective means is the right food — the food that builds up, such as milk, eggs, cheese, and butter. If you are at home, accustom yourself to taking a cup of coffee with milk every morning; if you are one of the confirmed smokers, give up this habit; and before you go to your bed, take a glass of warm milk. In both cases, lie down and stretch out often; and while you are doing the housework, turn on the radio and listen to music — you will feel a great exhilaration. And do not forget to take your exercises regularly!