Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-09-05
Fat and Lean.
HOW TO BUILD UP OR REDUCE.

A correspondent who seems to know all
about whereof he writes, has this to say on
the subject Of fat and lean +:
Having paid some attention to the sub
ject of increasing and diminishing the
amount Of adipose tissue in the human
frame, perhaps may be permitted to say
word in this matter. 1t IS quite true
that certain kinds of diet are more fat
forcing than others, but it does not, there
fore. follow that person living on this
kind of diet-saY, for instance, buckwheat
cakes and Barbados sugar-will become
fat. In many cases which have come I'M
der my own observation, all attempts to
increase the amount of fat by means of
q special diet (carbonaceous) have ended
In the person becoming bilious and suffer-
ing from 'congested liver and constipa-
ton. On the other hand, I have known
persons to fatten on bread and water. The
late Mr.. Swain, of Philadelphia, for many
years ate nothing but bread and molasses,
yet he was stout, healthy looking man.
Mr.. Mechi, the eminent English agricult-
urist, according to his own statement, can
increase his weight materially by merely
taking an extra lump or two Of sugar in
his tea. Another gentleman became rud-
dy-cheeked by adding pint of ale to his
midday repast. But these are exceptional
eases. AS general rule, if person in
good health, obtains seven or eight hours
sleep per night, and is not overworked,
does not get fat on mixed diet, he won't
get fat at all, and neither buckwheat cakes
and Barbados sugar, nor cod liver oil, nor
any other fat producer will fatten him.
Sound sleep is one of the best fat-produ-
GERS that know of, and then it has the
advantage of increasing the general health
and strength at the same time. Beware of
altering your diet for the mere purpose of
putting on more flesh. Results may fol-
low that you dream not of.
1t is easier to reduce flesh than to in
crease it as general rule. But there may
be danger even here. Many of those obese
gentlemen who followed the Bapting sys-
tenn, and tried to live on lean meat, very
little bread, and glass or two of sherry
per day, found themselves with seriously
disordered kidneys. the result of highly
heterogeneous diet. They might have OBJ
tanned that leanness for which they sighed
and retained their health, had they reduc-
ed the total quantity flood consumed and
eaten less bread, potatoes, and starchy
food, and more turnips, cabbage. beets, Gu
cumbers. tomatoes, melons and other wa
terry articles of diet. and taken more exer
else and less sleep: AS rule, fat people
are large eaters. They will tell you they
are not. Don't believe them. Flesh and
fat are not formed out of nothing. A stout
youth OF my acquaintance told me that he
ate "a mere nothing" and only slept four
hours per diem. I found that he really
ate as much at one meal as I could at
three, took little or no exercise, and slept
nine or ten hours out of the twenty-four.
Laugh and grow fat" is an old saying !;
but have not found fat people, as a rule
mirthful, but on the contrary, rather grave.
mean the very fat, not the merely plump.
1 have, too. met with fat people who were
Exceedingly nervous, though it is general
ly supposed that nervous people must nee
essarily be lean.