She’s actually modelling swimsuits in this photo spread but check out Jean Harlow working the cable machine!! (Although I’m not sure what move she’s doing – triceps kickbacks? Lat pull-throughs? Shoulder somethings??)
Did you know that Marilyn Monroe was one of the first women to publicly embrace weight lifting? Or that Katharine Hepburn could still walk on her hands at 80 years young? Or that Jean Harlow struggled with yo-yo dieting for her entire career? It turns out that the Grand Dames of Old Hollywood, while they were born with amazing bone structure and talent, still had to work hard to stay in movie-star shape. (Although I must add that it was a different movie-star shape than the one aspired to today. Sadly.) In one of the most fun pieces I’ve got to do for Shape I researched the diet and exercise secrets of some of the most beautiful women of our age. (My fave tip: Audrey Hepburn’s afternoon nap rule!) Plus it gave me the perfect excuse to drool over vintage dresses for an hour. Check out the full slideshow Shape Up Secrets From Old Hollywood Glamour Girls at Shape.com
Who is your favorite Old Hollywood leading lady? Were you as surprised as I was at how hard they worked for their figures? (I really need to get over just assuming that beautiful people look that way with no effort or concern – seriously, I do that all the time.)
And… other stuff I wrote recently:
9 Ways to Prevent Allergies – Without Meds
Mariah Carey Throughout the Years: Shape magazine’s May Covergirl on babies, weight loss, Whitney and more
Should Ice Cream Trucks be Banned From Parks? Health Conscious Moms Say Yes
String Bikinis For Toddlers? Yes, they exist and yes, most moms are appalled.
Tori Spelling is Pregnant With #4… Just 1 month after having #3. How far apart did you space your kids?
Top Ten Essentials Moms Need to Get Through the Day
Why Are The Hunger Games #1 on the ALA’s “most challenged books” list?
How Old Do You Have to be Before Wearing Your PJs in Public Isn’t Cute Anymore?
Have you seen the new safety helmets for toddlers learning how to walk? Yeah, it’s a thing now.
Looking for ways to help a new mom in your life? Check out these readers’ suggestions for the nicest thing someone did for them after their baby was born.
Should Hospital Formula Freebies for New Moms be Banned?
Why are we still arguing about what type of mom works harder? We all do. Next!
It happened to me: Easter Egg hunt cancelled because parents brawled.
My favorite old Hollywood leading lady is Ava Gardner. I saw her as a pre-teen in the movie Showboat and I wanted to be her – green velvet dress and all! 🙂 I was a bit of a nerdy child. . . I do think many beautiful women then and now work very hard for their bodies and looks. That being said, I do think they are born with stunning genetics that provide them quite a few steps up the ladder the rest of us average people don’t have.
I can’t speak to spacing the kiddos out, but I do know that my only son (so far) was a very challenging toddler. He was rather. . . mischievous. If I’d had two of him close together, oh my!
Never been to a group Easter egg hunt, and I have no desire to do so, lol! Some parents can get kinda crazy when it comes to that kind of thing.
My favorite is totally Audrey Hepburn! I’m completely obsessed with her! I also love Marilyn Monroe of course, and anyone wearing adorable vintage clothing! I actually knew that Marilyn Monroe lifted weights and that Audrey Hepburn took afternoon naps but also maintained her amazing figure by pretty much doing nothing (sigh), but I did not know about Katherine Hepburn and the other ladies you mentioned, I found it really interesting! Especially since I’m stuck in the past as far as fashion and music and, well, everything goes.
I really liked this piece!
Audrey Hepburn. So classy.
And Marilyn…she had the curves 🙂
I noticed that To Kill a Mockingbird is on that list of 10 “possibly unsuitable” books…really?
I love Marilyn’s curves. And she is more of a European star, But I love love love Sophia Lauren 🙂
You’re one productive writer by the way!
Great article! I must agree that dieting and staying active is key with any weight loss program. Its what helped me to lose butt fat.
Jean Arthur
I LOVE Barbara Stanwyck. She had such guts!
And I cannot believe someone stole candy form your son’s basket! What a tool! 🙁
I love Audrey Hepburn and Marylin Monroe! I wish I had either of their bodies; sadly I doubt I’ll ever naturally be able to attain Marylin Monroe’s uber-curvy figure (sigh) and the only way I could look like Audrey Hepburn would be through starvation. . . I still love it that Monroe did weight training, it totally justifies me doing it (and all women for that matter!)
Hey would you mind subscribing to my new workout and meal plan for males and females blog please and thank you =)
These are some great tips by the owner of a good figure and a glamorous Hollywood actress. Its nice to go through this post and found it helpful.
Marilyn Monroe- 24″waist and 37″bust and 35″hips at 5’5.5″
I’m glad to be 5’6″ with the same body type as Marilyn so I can be beautifully curvaceous.
Very informative article, i am regular reader of your website.
I noticed that your site is outranked by many other blogs in google’s search results.
You deserve to be in top ten. I know what can help you,
search in google for:
Omond’s tips outsource the work