Women: Tips for a Perfect Figure
Very few of us women seem to feel completely happy with our bodies. Despite all the helpful pep talks we get about how "every woman is beautiful in her own way," we know, deep down, that it isn't really true. Right? There really are "attractive" and "unattractive" body types, and we could all use some help. So here’s how to get that figure any woman would want:
First you take an ounce and a half of oyl of foxes, oyl of lillies, and capons grease…
Oh, wait. This isn’t the 17th Century.
But even three hundred years ago, there was plenty of advice available for women who wanted to look more attractive and have perfect figures. One such source was "The Ladies Dictionary; Being a General Entertainment for the Fair Sex," a volume written in 1694 that recently turned up in a Yorkshire book dealer’s library.
(And by the way, the "fox oyl" and the rest of the above ingredients are just the beginning, and the result is a poultice that you slap on your midsection to melt excess fat and make your breasts less saggy. Does it work? Well, we’ll report back—just as soon as we find a more cooperative fox.)
The good news, especially given the current Fox Oil shortage, is that it’s a great reminder of how beauty standards change. Thin women are considered "scragged, sad-looking and not comely." Make-up should be avoided because "a painted face is enough to destroy the reputation of her that uses it."
How about diet?
Apparently the low-carb craze was popular back then, too. You were best off filling up on "new eggs, veal, mutton, and capon."
And as to exercise?
Surprisingly, it was recommended back then too, especially before meals. "Chase your body as much as you can, that the blood may be stirred in the veins and the skin sit more loose."
Men's advice
Men also can get some helpful advice from a similar book, written in 1661, up for sale at the same auction as the Ladies’ Dictionary. Want some creative tips on how to compliment a woman on her figure? Just let her know "her breasts are a pair of maiden-unconquered worlds." Or that they’re "twins where lillies grow." (So guys, next time you meet an attractive woman at a bar, please report back on how well those lines work for you).
The bottom line?
Times change. Standards for physical perfection are often totally arbitrary. What’s "hot" today may just be "scragged" tomorrow, so try not to get too caught up in it!
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Wow, that'd be a neat book to read...just for the fun of it. I like old books like that. I have a really old medical dictionary from the 1910's that talks about cancer and what causes it. The theory was that it was caused by anything from infections to "bad air". Weird.
It's interesting that they talk about exercise and eating a high protein diet, even back in the day. And I guess some things never change...women will always want perkier boobs, no matter what. Except back then it was fox oil instead of "Bloussant" or whatever the heck else you can buy to make your boobs bigger.
ReplyMy tip for a perfect figure:
1. Push your body to do incredible things. After running 26 miles, you don't care what you look like, you love your body.
2. Find a significant other who constantly grabs you and tells you how sexy you are.
You will not wish for a better figure ever again. $25.95 please. ;)
ReplyMy question has always been why women's bodies reflect the beauty ideal of the times while men's bodies stay relatively the same...??
ReplyYou have to wonder what the thinking process was like with some of this stuff. Lets see, foxes are slim and vigorous, so if I slap some "oil of fox" on myself then I will be too? Gosh, just hope I don't grow a big bushy tail!
I'm sure some of the advice we get today (even from experts) will seem just as goofy in a few hundred years.
(Although Heather's advice sounds pretty timeless!)
ReplyI'm not sure that's exactly true... the ideal male figure has become much more slender of late, too, it seems.
ReplyWell then, I'm apparantly old-school. Skinny girls and make-up are nasty.
ReplyActually, I don't agree with that!
For your first point - why should you have to run yourself to exhaustion to feel good about yourself? I believe in changing from the inside out, not the other way round...
For your second point, having someone tell you that you're sexy isn't enough when you're feeling bad on the inside. You tend to discount compliments when you have poor body image. I have a client who has a husband who adores her, is always chasing her around the bedroom and telling her she's sexy. But she doesn't believe him because it doesn't fit her own view of herself...
Thanks Crabby for more food for thought.
ReplyBut, I've often seen her work with obese women who have artistic talent but feel bad about themselves, and she encourages them to develop and take pride in what they have and can offer. She doesn't tell them to start training.
It's also true that I've known several obese women who I think are much more beautiful than several slender and fit women I've known...
I think Heather's point is: if you want to look good, work out, don't be afraid of pain, and love and be loved. That's sound advice. I think your point is: if you feel good about yourself, you look good, and feeling good about yourself is an inner process. True too.
I very well could be wrong, but I'd guess where Heather and Talia would agree are the following points: it is important to love and be proud of yourself and what you can do; someone who loves you sees your beauty; exercise makes you look better, and being strong is attractive; it's a rush when your looks turn a stranger's head.
ReplyI will say that having a husband who tells you you're sexy all the time is definitely an ego booster, but my husband would tell me I'm sexy no matter if I weighed 100 lbs or 300 lbs. For me to feel great about my body, I like to push it to the limit. I love the feeling I get when I get done running 11 miles or squatting more weight than my husband. I think no matter what size you are, you have to love yourself first.
Replyride your bike for 6 miles, do resistance training (i do body pump)take brisk, quick walks and you will feel superb!!! i promise. and you'll be losing weight doing something you enjoy!!!!
Reply
pick something you love to do.i personally have a God-given passion to excersize!! i ride my bike for 6 miles, do resistance training (i do body pump)take brisk, quick walks.i feel superb!!!and so will you!!!and you'll be losing weight doing something you enjoy!!!!drink lots of water eat salads and veggies with your meals!for those who have kids, don't use that as an excuse. i have 2 that are not in school yet. i put them in the trailer attached to my bike, and all gyms have daycares!! go for it!! you will be blessed with physical, mental and emotional health!!and a great body, i might add!!!blockquote>Heather said:
ReplyMy tip for a perfect figure:[...]
Fashions change, but I don't think a woman should ever get too low in fat.
ReplyEveryone has good points, but remember balanceing the internall and externall care of yourself is important and eating the right mix of food for you is also. If you want to follow a guide the www.mypryamid.gov site gives alot of good information for nutrition and has a site to track both intake and output of calories so that you can strive for the right balance with help.
Replyi think facing the reality is the best.. which truth would you like to consider? subjective or objective?? truth is the conformity of mind to a thing, basically from what you see or feel.. a subjective one is something that you feel to satisfy your belief while the objective is based from what the people see.. So if your waste line is 32inches and you feel sexy and beautiful about it for your reason that beauty if from within or blabla- then that's a subjective one while honestly majority would tell you that you are fat and your body is ugly which is an objective truth.. the word FAT is in the dictionary to describe fats.. so if you have this excess fats in your body then YOU ARE FAT.. why be broken hearted about it?? accepting that fact is accepting who you are.. because it's your choice to be fat because you did not do anything about it.. if you are obviously fat but you are close minded about it, then you have a psychological problem..! im saying this because i hate it when people tend to get mad at people who tell them the TRUTH..
ReplyIn reply to the cruel and ignorant comments by Krishna
Truth : The a matter of fact with integrity, time tested accuracy.
Fat: Adipose tissue, connective tissue of the body used for energy.
"For optimum health the ideal waist size for a woman is 32 and 1/2" once you hit 37" the dangers to your health increase." pg. #11 You on a diet, by Mehmet C. Oz, M.D. and MichaelF. Roizen, M.D.
Narrow minded: Intolerant
ReplyHOW CAN I INCRESE MY HEALTH.AND BE A PERFECT FIGRE GIRL.
ReplyNOW MY AGE IS 22.AND MY WEIGHT IS 38KG.MY HEIGHT IS 5'2" VERY SLIN AND THIN.
im 23 with 5'4 height facing problem with small bust and my weight is 54
ReplyI agree in the last statement that times and preferences change. Not only that but even on an individual basis everyone is attracted to different body shapes so there is always someone for everyone.
ReplyNo offense to those of you who diet all the time and still dont feel good enough, But lets face it god never gave us a BMI or a weight chart he made us in his image and to judge others and to say who's fat and whos not is wrong, Many famous painters painted what they thought adam and eve would of looked like and eve certainly had a waist bigger than 32inches and adam wasnt some gay looking anorexic Cavin Klein model and yet people look at those paintings and see pure beauty. I do belive in good exercise and diet but no matter how much you starve and strive to look like what you think is beautiful your always going to be what god intended you to look like, So love your body eat well and exercise and find the beauty he gave you.
ReplyThis is the best 2 tip ever i heard.
ReplyThank you
Gabriela, I totally agree with you on this one. If you can find something you love doing when it comes to staying active you will lose weight much easier. I actually look forward to my workout time for more than just dieting or maintaining purposes, but rather for my mental state of mind. It's amazing the rush you feel after a good work out! Those that are constantly stressed should try this too because the feel good hormones the body releases during exercise can really ease tension. This is me time where I tune everyone and everything out, just me and my i-pod and the open road. Exercise helps to boost mood and metabolism. When you are depressed it's very easy to get hard on yourself, lose focus, and possibly sabotage your weight-loss goals. Use physical activity as a tool for mental well being and benefit by achieving a great figure too!
ReplyIt's true, the perception of beauty is changing constantly and no culture views it the same. We just need to decided what we think as individuals and not be swayed by the media or mass social views about what is acceptable as beauty.
Replyhi am 18 year old girl my weight is 35kg and im so slim in look than i want increase in weight , hight and maintain figure also .
Replyso i need tips for improve these things . sugest me tips