I have no record of measurements previous to 1895. I remember, however, that my weight in 1871 (during my "sparring bouts" with my old chum, Charlie Nolting in the old Fourth Street gymnasium, in Cincinnati, Ohio.) was then but 145 pounds.
From 1895 to 1898 the measurements remained about the same, but in the latter part of 1898 (having passed my fifty-first birthday anniversary) I formulated my system of tense exercises (double contraction), which I now take daily.
Note the increase in the measurements of the forearm, upper arm, neck, calf, thigh and chest; the decrease in waist and hip measurements, and the great decrease in weight since 1895.
It will be observed that in 1902 I dropped down to 167 pounds (the lowest in twenty years). This was due to a change of diet—but only in one respect, viz.: the complete cutting out of meat for a period of three months. This occurred during our never-to-be-forgotten sojourn in that most charming city, country and climate—Victoria, B. C.
During that period I made no other change in my habits, but rode my wheel, as usual, in the early morning hours (covering 1,039 miles), and ate, as usual, but two meals a day.
Not being a vegetarian, I did not partake of those vegetables that are a substitute for meat (beans, peas, lentils), except occasionally the former. This was not because I do not believe in them, but because I do not like them. In the place of meat I ate eggs and cheese, daily. Notwithstanding the fact that I ate cereals with an abundance of sugar and cream, more potatoes in the three months than I would usually eat in a year, cheese (of which I am exceedingly fond); these and other fattening foods, I lost in weight instead of gaining. Physiologically considered, this may seem to be almost paradoxical; but not so. In the ordinary run of life this would make one very fleshy (adipose tissue), but my exercise was so vigorous that instead of this food forming fat cells it was consumed as heat for the necessary muscular energy.
The result as regards health? I was, have since been, am
