|
Recently, I stumbled onto one of the coolest things I’ve ever found: Marilyn Monroe’s complete health plan, circa 1952. Apparently, Ms. Monroe gave Pageant magazine a huge exclusive, complete with sauna tour, diet advice, workout tips, and plenty of bon mots about her lifestyle. It was just too much of a gem not to share, so I’ve reproduced it here. I’m not advocating Marilyn’s diet, but it’s a fascinating look at one of the 20th century’s most iconic women. The text is a little hard to read, so I transcribed Marilyn’s quotes below. Enjoy! —Lacey Gattis How I Stay in Shape, By Marilyn Monroe "Frankly, I’ve never considered my own figure so exceptional; until quite recently, I seldom gave it any thought at all. My biggest single concern used to be getting enough to eat. Now I have to worry about eating too much. I never used to bother with exercises. Now I spend at least 10 minutes each morning working out with small weights. I have evolved my own exercises, for the muscles I wish to keep firm, and I know they are right for me because I can feel them putting the proper muscles into play as I exercise." She Doesn’t Like To Feel Regimented "Exercise. Each morning after I brush my teeth, wash my face and shake off the first deep layer of sleep, I lie down on the floor beside my bed and begin my first exercise. It is a simple bust-firming routine which consists of lifting five-pound weights from a spread-eagle arm position to a point directly above my head. I do this 15 times, slowly. I repeat the exercise another 15 times from a position with my arms above my head. Then, with my arms at a 45-degree angle from the floor, I move my weights in circles until I’m tired. I don’t count rhythmically like the exercise people on the radio; I couldn’t stand exercise if I had to feel regimented about it." | 
