Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1915)
SIDE-STEPPING STOUTNESS. By Edwin F. Bowers, M.D. “What causes obesity, and how may it be prevented?” A moderate excess of fat is one of our very best forms of life and health insurance. It is a storehouse of food and energy—a fuel reserve for times of stress. If we are to remain healthy, every tissue of the body, ex cept the nails and teeth, must contain more or less of some form of it. If we are stricken by fever, or any wasting disease, we have thirty per cent, better chances of recovery if we are comfortably plump than if we are spare and emaciated. Fever bums fuel; physiologically, it is cheaper to give it fat to oxidize than it is to let it burn up more vital tissue. Each ounce increase in the con sumptive’s weight increases his pros pects of ultimate recovery. Many neurasthenics are physically as well as nervously bankrupt, and one of the most successful methods of restoring their nervous balance is to fatten them. Yet there is a point beyonc «ch fat is excess baggage; for no man who has to rock his abdomen to sleep in his lap is properly qualified for the hurdles of life. In obesity the heart and lungs must work harder, and fatty degeneration of important internal organs is not unusual. Fat folk are especially lia ble to heat prostration, hardening of the arteries, dropsy, skin eruptions, diabetes, asthma, apoplexy, gallstones, and gout. They stand operations poorly, and lack resistance to acute infection. They are very prone to anemia and conditions resulting from lack of red cells in the blood. Yet there are some things worse than being too plump. These are the methods sometimes used to eradicate the condition. Remedies and methods that “just make the fat fly” are ex tremely likely to make the owner of the fat fly also. The only two internal remedies that have any certain value as “fat ic ducers” are so uncertain as to what else they may do that they should never be used except on medical ad vice. Most other remedies are value less. This was demontsrated by the du reau of Chemistry of the United States Department of Agriculture, which recently “tested out” a series of “fat-reducing” nostrums. Two sub jects were obliged, after the second week, to stop taking a “favorite spe cific” of a great obesity specialist. If they handn’t stopped, the “cure” might have killed them. Another sud ject gained two and a half pounds on a “guaranteed discovery.” Another method of being swindled getting slim consists of placing Ep som salts, washing soda, or other al kalis in the bath. These are similar innocuous compounds are the basis of most of the obesity cures—where you simply put a few cents’ worth of something for which you paid a dol lar into the bath water and the fat is “washed away”—vanishing with a chuckling gurgle down the waste-pipe. But, it will be asked, is there no way of parting amicably with this dangerous surplus There are ways. But they lie over the rough and ar duous path of self-denial. First, it must be recognized that there are certain diseases in which excessive corpulency is merely a symptom, among which are dropsy and disturbance in the pituitary anu other glands. Before fat reduction is attempted these causes must be ex cluded. The Cure—Diet and Exercise. Failing to find such a cause, we may remember that fat is derived from food; and, no matter how little food we may be eating, we are getting either the wrong kind or too much of the right kind. So it requires merely that we reduce the fuel intake of food to a point below the expenditure of bodily activity, or else increase bodily activity until more than the daily in take of food energy is consumed— or both. In short, the cure for obesity it less eating and more exercise. While the system can make fat out of only food-stuff, it makes it with almost ridiculous ease from starches and sugars. Alcohol, also, by unduly hastening the conversion of albumins, sets free fat-producing substances that materially assist in padding the blanket of fat. Yet it is not necessary to punish one’s self dietetically or to risk cer tain dangers to acquire svelteness. It is merely necessary to eliminate all surplus and to limit the amount of food to that required to maintain strength. This is accomplished by relying upon lean meats, with liberal amounts of green vegetables. These may in clude lettuce, celery, tomatoes, onions, parsley, and sour fruits. Also salads without oil. Pork and all fat meats, oily fish,— such as mackerel and salmon,—pota toes, rice, pie, tapioca and all fari naceous puddings should be avoided. Also beer and malt liquors, nu gravies and sauces, cakes, pastries, ice cream, beets, sweet fruits,—as figs, prunes, dates, grapes, and oranges—candies and all sugars, so far as possible. Graham bread and gems, or dry toast, may be substituted for white bread. Fluids should be limited in quantity, but not so limited that the system will suffer from lack of one of its principal sources of elimination. A cup of hot or cold water, with the un sweetened juice of half a lemon, on rising, and another in the afternoon, helps to keep the liver active, and sometimes aids fat reduction. The use of plain soups, which are filling but not fattening, should be encouraged. Buttermilk or soured milk, if taken slowly, a small mouth ful at a time, makes a nourishing and satisfying meal. If the food is thor ougly chewed, much less of it will satisfy the appetite. Masticate each mouthful until swallowing becomes al most an involuntary act. Cold-water baths, if they do not cause rheumatism or nervous shock, are an excellent aid in fat reduction. It is well to avoid sleeping too much, and it is especially advisable to forego the doubtful luxury of the afternoon nan. We build tissue faster during sleep than we do while active or awake. Six or seven hours of unin terrupted sleep—provided one feels recuperated—should be enough. Exercise of all kinds is indispensa ble. When it can be indulged in, swimming is probably the best form, as it exercises the little used muscles of the abdomen as well as nearly every other muscle in the body. The cold water also melts away the fat. All outdoor activities, and forms of gymnastics than can be practiced in well ventilated rooms, are very bene ficial. In fact, all muscular exertion that does not put too much strain upon the heart and circulatory ap paratus is helpful. ~ ■■ ■■ .. . — Other Helpful Exercise. Some derive benefit from “rolling.” Others crawl, bend, stretch, stoop, twist, and turn. Others gallop about on all fours, to the great confusion of fat. Lying upon the back and slowly raising the legs with stiffened knees, then lowering them with equal delib eration, discourages embonpoint. That classic exercise known as “picking pins,” in which the devotee stands with stiffened knees and, with out stretched fingers, touches the floor repeatedly, also punishes ponderosity. Kicking is good for hips and bad for fat. High kicking, a la ballet dancer; front kicking, ostrich fashion; and side and back kicking, mule fash ion, are all effective. Turkish baths will reduce flesh; but people who are strong enough to withstand their debilitating influence are strong enough to get rid of their excess fat in safer ways. Depend rather upon the tape meas ure than upon scales for affirmative evidence that you are parting with your too bountiful store. For fat is of a sponge-like texture and very light in weight. But remember that any method that produces irritability, restlessness, weakness, or an uncomfortable crav ing food, is doing far more harm than are the few extra pounds of peaceful adipose.—Washington Star, Magazine Section. A GOOD CHANCE TO HELP SOME FAMILY To the Editor of The Monitor: Will you kindly furnish space in your paper for the following sug gestion and appeal: As Christmas is drawing near and everybody is making preparations to make not only those around their own fireside happy, but to contribute to the happiness of the less fortunate ones, I desire to suggest through your paper that any of our people who feel disposed to help some family among our own people, should phone the Associated Charities, Douglas 2287, and the name and address and needs of a worthy family will be given them to whom cheer and hap piness and substantial help can be given on Christmas day. I have taken up this matter with a representative of the Associated Charities and they say that this is the method being employed by many of the white citizens, and they feel that we should have a share in this good work for the sake of sweet charity. Thanking you in advance for your courtesy, I am Yours respectfully, JOHN GRANT PEGG, Insp. W. & M. Omaha, Neb., Dec. 14, 1915. REPLY TO TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCE. Tuskegee, Ala., Dec. 9, 1915. Rev. John Albert Williams, Chair man of Committee, St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church, Omaha, Neb. My Dear Sir: I am writing to express to you and the other ministers who signed the telegram, and through you to the colored citizens of Omaha for Mrs. Washington, and for the officers, teachers and students of Tuskegee Institute their grateful thanks for the message of condolence you so kindly sent them upon the occasion of the death of our lamented princi pal, Dr. Washington. Your expressions of sympathy are a great solace to all of us. Sincerely yours, EMMETT J. SCOTT, Secretary. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES—1% cents a word for single insertions, 1 cent a word for two or more insertions. No advertisement for les3 than 15c. Cash should ac company advertisement. FURNISHED ROOMS FOR RENT. Mrs. L. M. Bentley-Webster, first I class modern furnished rooms, 1702 N. 26th St. Phone Webster 4769. Nicely furnished room for respect able lady; private family; home privi j leges with board if desired. Web. 7881. Nicely furnished front room. Mod em except heat. Mrs. R. Gaskin, 2606 Seward street. Webster 4490. Furnished rooms for rent, modem, reasonable, for men only. 2809 Cum ing St. Hubert Thompson. Modern furnished rooms, 1819 Izard street. Tyler 2519. Nicely furnished rooms with hot and cold water, $1.50 and up per week. Close to car line. Mrs. Hayes, 1826 North 23rd street. W. 5639. Nicely furnished room for married couple; hot and cold water; on Dodge and Twenty-fourth car lines. Mrs. Annie Banks, 912 North 20th St. Phone Doug.4379. FOR SALE—REAL ESTATE FOR SALE—An eight-room house, strictly modern, 2722 North 30th St. Terras. Webster 3602. If you have anything to dispose of, a Want Ad in The Monitor will sell it. WANTED. Respectable young widow woman wants position as housekeeper. Will exchange references. Mrs. Esters. Call Harney 6385 Barber Wanted—Good position for the right man. Apply 1918 Cuming. Mason, also carpenter, all around repair man; jobs on hand for each to pay down payment or rent on good small home or lot that I have for you. Address at once. Call 507 Paxton block. WANTED—Correspondents and sub scription solicitors for The Monitor In Nebraska cities and towns. SUBSCRIBE FOR THE MONITOR. OMAHA TRANSFER CO. I “The Only Way” I baggage: 1 Checked to Destination | SUBSCRIBE FOR THE MONITOR.