How Women Stayed Fit in the 50s Was staying fit in the 50s as hard for housewives then as it is today? What did they do for exercise? For one thing, housewives in the 50s were more likely to walk to the store when they needed something for dinner than we are today. For another, many families only had one car, and some didnt even have a car, so walking or riding a bike was a more common means of transportation than it is for most of us today.

Keeping their figure was still important to many women in the 50s. Women tried all sorts of dieting plans, just as many do today. One way women of the 50s tried losing weight was by taking Ayds, a specially made candy containing health giving vitamins and minerals.

Many women understood the value of exercise as a means of staying fit. Jack LaLanne had a series of television exercise programs during the 1950s that taught nutrition along with the exercises. One of his programs was specifically designed for women.

Spot exercising to tone specific areas of the body were common. Exercises aimed at reducing fat on the insides of the knees advocated slapping the knees together and kneading the fatty deposits. Other exercises were aimed at reducing flabby arms or stomachs.

Fitness and exercising was still in its infancy in the 50s. The groundwork laid then, helped to prepare the way for our better understanding of how nutrition and exercise affect our health. While many things have changed since the 50s, our need for fitness and exercise hasnt.