Is every reducer haunted by the specter of the next plateau? I certainly am. The scale seems to be cooperating with me these days, but the prospect of having to ratchet things up a notch is always in the back of my mind. They say that the pounds get harder and harder to lose the smaller you get. So I'm arming myself with ideas these days. Laying by strategies for the day when I just can't get that scale to budge.
One sport popular with women in the '40s was swimming. Beauty expert Alicia Hart explains why in this March 9, 1940 newspaper feature on actress Ruth Gordon:
When you see a woman who looks years younger than she really is, you can bet your last nickel that she does not lead a sedentary existence…
Miss Gordon believes that swimming is, for most people, the best all-around exercise for all the muscles of the body. She agrees with prominent physical training instructors that swimming eliminates bulges in the wrong places… Furthermore, no matter how firm the muscles become through perfection and practice of the crawl, or even the side or breast stroke, they just never do get too hard or knotty. You can slim down by swimming without fear of losing any of your natural feminine curves…
For those who find it impossible to swim often or, for that matter, to go in for any active sport, a brisk one-mile walk a day, supplemented by five minutes of limbering and stretching exercises in the morning, will keep muscles firm and supple, the general appearance decidedly youthful.
One of the exercises I've been doing in the evenings is actually supposed to be a stand-in for the woman who doesn't have access to a swimming pool. I'm basically doing the breaststroke while lying on top of my bed! Hey, maybe I could mix up my daily walks with a dip in the pool. They have an outdoor pool at the rec center and it might be cool enough to use it come October. Alicia Hart explains in a later article that a woman seeking to maintain her figure should "swim a reasonable distance three times a week."
Nope, no "natural feminine curves" missing here...
6 comments:
I have found that I must eat less as I loose more, which sucks. On the other hand, I will say , my appitite isn't what it used to be. I must be getting used to my small calorie count- about 1200 a day. I just eat small portions throughout the day, and I make sure that half of my plate is either veggies, fruit, or both. That seems to do the trick. As a matter of fact, I am off to have a snack of cottage cheese and pineapple. Yum!
Thanks doll,
The Glamorous Housewife
I wish I had a place to swim! Swimming has the added benefit of being lower-impact on most peoples' joints than many land-based exercises. I gave up jogging when I no longer had access to a treadmill because, even with good shoes, it made my legs ache. I'd like to have knees when I'm 60!
I switched from a physically demanding job to a very sedentary job four years ago and the difference in activity level has done bad things to my physique. I hate being the girl who complains about her weight, but I very definitely need to get both my eating habits and my exercise habits back on track. I recently went back to walking 2-3 miles 3-4 times a week (more if I cans squeeze it in). The heat here kills my appetite very effectively after that.
I wish that I had access to a pool. =(
Definitely take advantage if you can. Woman who swim do have wonderful physiques!
I just have a voracious appetite and love food so much. I know if I actually did some exercise that it would do wonders. Do I hear pasta and potatoes calling me?
Keep up the great work! Swimming would probably be a really fun activity too that would not feel like you were doing a boring workout!
lpm
TGH, isn't that the pits! What scares me sometimes - even with the success I've experienced in losing weight thus far - is that I'll never, ever be able to go back to not exercising at this pace or eating like I used to. 1200 calories seems very small indeed.
Latter-Day, I'm convinced my tush is slowly molding into the shape of my chair at work. But fighting it every step of the way! Swimming is supposed to be very gentle on the joints. Definitely a plus...
lpm, I like the idea of mixing the exercise up a bit. Gotta keep it interesting to stick to it!
Swimming is great because it is low impact. Swimming is not great if your hair is high maintenance. Swimming is great because it cools you. Swimming is not great because it dries your skin. Swimming is great because it really increases your lung capacity. Swimming isn't so great because it also increases your appetite. However, I vote for swimming. But then, I LLOOVVEE to swim. Big grins
Oh, yes, the hair. Ideally, we could all swim in natural water. That chlorine can really do a number on you!
I was listening to a radio program the other day on exercise and the personal trainer who was being interviewed mentioned that swimming is also great because the water makes it a resistance-type exercise in addition to an aerobic exercise.
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