How to Stay Slim

Husband knows the signs: when I buy Brewer’s Yeast, wheat germs and blackstrap molasses it is Gayelord Hauser–Time again.

I do love this man. His most important book was “Live long – look younger.” Written in 1950, it says  almost everything that modern nutrition and health gurus preach nowadays. He stresses the blessing of good nutrition. Vitamins from real food, (especially the vitamin B family), lots of protein and lesser carbohydrates are important. He tells you to eat yoghurt with wheat germs and black molasses, eat yellow and green vegetables and avoid sugar. 

I have always been slim, but I see women with beautiful rounder figures and like that too, and I see too haggard women. This famous model I think is looking sick and poor:

And I am very concerned that male models now start to become anorexic as well. 

I do not want to sound smug. In other times women wore three ample skirts one over the other to appear thicker - which was the fashion then. As long as one feels well in ones body it is unimportant whether one has the 'ideal weight' - that differs from generation to generation. 

My aim is to remain strong, flexible and agile. And for that aim I do something, or even: quite a lot. 2 – 3 times a week I go to Kieser – a no-nonsense fitness-studio where you lift weights (that supports the back, is good against flabby arms and wobbly legs and gives you a taille). I do Tai-Chi with my dear friend Stephen Russell’s method (he is the Barefootdoctor) - that means: quicker and more energetic than the normally very slow movements. And I walk whenever I can - which is often the case.

I try to eat healthy. Gaylord is very rigid when it comes to explanations why people don’t get thinner. Of course sick people are exempted – but he believes that very seldom the glands are the culprit, but eating too much and moving too little.

I often look aghast at the monstrous portions a lot of people devour. And I seldom see that the gobbling person seems to be happy: in the tube a young lady ate a whole chocolate bar – and looked as if she was punishing herself. Why not relish that treat? A packet of crisps is automatically finished off: grip, grip, grip, cram, cram, cram – while looking at something else. At the cinema they sell those elephant-leg-sized popcorn buckets! And call their restaurants “All you can eat”!

If I eat ice cream, I take one scoop – not four. And I do not eat it every day - a treat should remain a treat. Often heavy people eat very hastily – they give their stomach no chance to say: enough. In Japan there is a saying that you should fill your stomach only to three quarters – that makes sense to me. They use smaller plates – good! Much, much better than the weird example of Mrs. Osborne who had an operation where they put a steel band around her stomach. Now, I read, her daughter will follow her example.

Health Government is very strict upon smokers. That is OK – but IF you think you have to tell your citizens what to do: why not be strict on sugar too? Fat? Additives in convenient food? In Germany we all have to pay for the back problems, overburdened joints, diabetes of sick thick people. You don’t have to jump onto the scales every day or week – just feel if your favourite pair of trousers still fits. If not: do some walking, cut back on a drink or Crème double or whatever (I do not believe in diets) or eat less for a while. I did just that when half a year after the birth of my son I didn't like the size of the T-shirt they offered me in a shop.   

I think it is the question of self-motivation and discipline. Having a sweet tooth I like a lot of sugar in my coffee – but I can resist and take only one teaspoon. When I see a large cream cake I can image what it will become in time. That does not mean that I don’t eat cake – I do, and with cream – but: I only eat a little bit. 

I don’t buy sweets for my home (except Easter or Christmas) or for my office – I know that at four o’clock in the afternoon I would become weak. But if nothing is there – I cannot eat it. And it is highly unlikely that I will go to my colleagues and beg for sweets. In front of the TV I put a plate with carrots, apple slices etc on the table: you will munch it away if some series is really suspenseful. 

From your 30th birthday on you should eat 10 calories less a day each year - when you are sixty, you should eat 300 calories a day less. I do not count calories - it should only persuade you to eat less - and then: high quality. I prefer almonds to marshmallows. (Most of the time - I am not strict). 

I often think that there must be another motive behind eating too much: boredom, not really loving oneself (Victoria Moran wrote an interesting book "Love Yourself Thin"). 

From birth on we got a body that has a special form -  round or slim, both can be beautiful. I don't like the extremes on both sides (Dear Gayelord also wrote a chapter: "Don't get too skinny" and gives you tips for changing that). 

I believe in good nutrition – that even includes 2 tablespoons of oil a day – lots of protein and vegetables and fruit. I love to cook – and my guests and I love to eat my food.  

And when I bake: I share it. So we all have fun - and stay healthy.