'50S WOMEN WERE FITTER

NY Post ^ | August 11, 2003 | Bill Hoffmann

[presidio9]

Women have come a long way in 50 years - but not when it comes to being leaner and fitter. A new report claims women were in much better shape 50 years ago than their descendants today, despite the modern obsession with dieting and working out.

[Rebelbase]

[tiamat]

WELL, most ladies back then ALSO wore "foundation garments"! ( AKA "girdles"! ) Myself? I like being able to breathe! LOL!

Tia

[SaveTheChief]

Let's take a look at the difference in food choices and how the food business has developed since the 1950's.

In the 1950's we had wives and mothers cooking healthy foods at home and looking out for the well-being of the family. Dinners included meat and vegetables.

Today we have more snack foods, more junk foods, more sweet foods, processed foods, fast food restaurants that have unhealthy foods, and the list can go on. Dinners include starchy foods, processed and easy to prepare foods.

We can also blame the change in the lifestyle of the average Amerucan.

In the 1950's, people were generally more active and did things outside the house to entertain themselves.

Today you do not even need to leave the sofa. We have laptop computers, game consoles, cable television, satellite, and many other diversions that add to our current lifestyle.

This can all be changed. I do not place blame on food companies or the diversions at home, but squarely on myself for my own physical condition. I have the capability and the choice to exercise, to eat healthy foods, and not spend most of the day sitting around doing nothing.

I just wish all the lawyers and lawsuit happy slobs out there would figure this out too.

[meowmeow]

My grandmother gave me a great cook book from the 50s that has recipes that start out with things like, "trim fat from meat; melt fat in pan and add meat..." I tried a sauce from it once that was so rich with butter and heavy cream that we could barely eat it.

However, looking at old family pictures, there are plenty of plump looking people (they were farmers or coal miners). According to mom, most of the men only lived to their 50s. But if they could survive past that, they usually made it to 90+.

[Alissa]

Not sure about your microwave theory, the old fashion oven didn't burn too many calories either. However, I spend way too much time in front of my computer, it's addicting! When I didn't have a computer I was more physically active.

I can predict this will turn into an even worse problem for future generations if we're not careful!

[TomServo]

Why, yes, I plan to.

And yet, another newbie fails to appreciate your humor. ;-)

[Lazamataz]

And yet, another newbie fails to appreciate your humor. ;-)

Nobody gets me, except a select few.

[been called a cynic]

i dunno, your tag line actually made me chuckle out loud.

[BBT]

Not to mention, chasing kids around all day burned a lot more calories than driving them to and from the day care center.

[Mr. Mojo]

The women of yesteryear kept trim by washing, cooking, ironing and cleaning

"Hey honey, I got a new diet plan for you." ....(as I duck away from flying pots and pans).

[Atlantian]

I've seen your picture and you're very trim. You must know how to eat correctly.

[Trailerpark Badass]

A new report claims women were in much better shape 50 years ago than their descendants today

Sure, but they were all oppressed by the phallo-centric culture which condemned them to live unfulfilled lives as handmaidens to the patriarchy.

[Cooter]

Blame the food pyramid.

[the Deejay]

Each person in the family didn't have a car back then. Only one car per household was the norm. Women did a lot of walking.

[EagleMamaMT]

I believe fast food and soda pop are two of the main reasons Americans are getting fatter. I was born in 1959, so I don't remember the 50s, but I do remember the 60s.

Growing up back then, we got a soda pop on Saturday afternoon for a special treat, but didn't drink any at all during the rest of the week. Our main drink was ice water and at supper sweet ice tea.

Our family ate out usually once a year at a fast-food restaurant, usually while making a trip to visit relatives in Louisiana. The rest of the year Mom did all the cooking. And we ate large meals, too. Breakfast was eggs, sausage or bacon, homemade biscuits and sometimes hot cereal, too. Supper was usually some sort of meat that was chicken fried (I grew up in Oklahoma) with two or three vegetables, a salad, bread and then a desert as well, usually pie. I don't remember snacking between meals at all as a child. Potato chips and cookies showed up around our house about once a year, usually around the Fourth of July for a picnic.

My mother had a long, busy day, too. She raised a huge garden every year and canned about a 1000 jars of vegetables and pickles, plus putting bags and bags of corn in the freezer. She also had a large flock of chickens that she tended to. Plus the sewing, washing, ironing and housekeeping for a family of 8. It makes me tired just to remember how hard she worked!

I do know we played out a lot more as children than my kids do today. I almost have to threaten them with bodily harm to get them off the couch and outside. We live way out in the country, too, with big fields for them to roam and woods to play in, but those things just can't compete against the wonders of PlayStation and Nintendo.

[OldPossum]

The OldPossum's wife wants to know how much ironing you did. Did you iron cotton clothing for a family of six? Did you haul the wet clothes down to the yard to hang them on the line? It's work, calorie-burning work.

[Skooz]

Sure, but they were all oppressed by the phallo-centric culture which condemned them to live unfulfilled lives as handmaidens to the patriarchy.

LOL! Plagiarism bait.

[the Deejay]

People back then were much good looking. Had much better personalities & weren't complaining all the time.

[DC native]

"i dunno, your tag line actually made me chuckle out loud."

Me too!

[I still care]

I also think a huge difference was walking. I was a 50's child, not a woman, but I remember we walked everywhere. Most families didn't have 2 cars - if you were a two car family, you were "rich". Dad took the car to work or Mom drove him to the station.

We walked the 8 blocks to go shopping, and took the groceries home in a hand cart. Same with clothes. Most everyone I know did the same. Also walking the kids to school. Kids nowadays all have buses. I walked 2 miles to school and back everyday. (It amazes me when I think of it.)

How many people do this today? If you need something from the grocery store on the corner, you drive.