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See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 29 Fotos
Fat-reducing soap
- Yes, in the 1920s you could just wash fat away with this soap! How amazing is that? It goes without saying it was snake oil. You'd be clean though...
© Getty Images
1 / 29 Fotos
The Moby Revolving Hammock
- If you wanted a healthy spine, a full chest, and a small waist, this was the device to get. The Moby Revolving Hammock was introduced in 1922.
© Public Domain
2 / 29 Fotos
Cigarettes
- Indeed nicotine is an appetite suppressant and it can speed up the metabolism. But then there's all the other chemicals that literally kill you.
© Getty Images
3 / 29 Fotos
Hamster wheels
- Okay, we must admit, this one looks pretty fun! But we're not so sure about its fitness benefits, other than perhaps strengthening your core through a static hold.
© Getty Images
4 / 29 Fotos
Vaulting horses
- Not your typical one used in gymnastics. This one was more akin to a mechanic bull.
© Getty Images
5 / 29 Fotos
Bile beans
- Yes, diet pills have been around for a long time. These slimming pills were actually laxatives, and, believe it or not, they were sold up until the '80s!
© Public Domain
6 / 29 Fotos
Ozone bath
- Jump into a giant zip lock bag and pump some ozone for the ultimate weight loss effect. It was great for you skin too, apparently.
© Getty Images
7 / 29 Fotos
The Spring Leg
- Want to tone your legs? This exercise apparatus is the answer. Or not.
© Getty Images
8 / 29 Fotos
Dr. Electric Massage
- This one has a medical vibe to it. Invented by a South African doctor, who knew electricity could be such a good weight loss tool?
© Getty Images
9 / 29 Fotos
Vibrating bras
- Yes, this was a thing. It worked similar to any other vibration devices and was supposed to strengthen your bust.
© Getty Images
10 / 29 Fotos
Las Picas
- This bizarre exercise machine was basically two poles attached to a small box. You could rock and do all sorts of movements with it.
© Getty Images
11 / 29 Fotos
Reducomatic
- This portable device allowed you to sweat by pumping steam through a suit, as if you could sweat excess fat away.
© Getty Images
12 / 29 Fotos
Somersault machines
- This bizarre apparatus was used to perform somersaults and cartwheels in the 1930s.
© Getty Images
13 / 29 Fotos
Vibrating belts
- These were introduced in the 1920s. They were wrapped around the waist or other areas, and were supposed to shake fat off.
© Getty Images
14 / 29 Fotos
Vibrating belts
- They became quite popular in the 1960s among women. And you didn't even have to wear active gear or break a sweat!
© Getty Images
15 / 29 Fotos
Treadmill
- The treadmill stood the test of time and is still used worldwide, but the first models were indeed quite archaic. This one is from 1923.
© Getty Images
16 / 29 Fotos
Hula hoop
- The hula hoop was huge! In the first six months, over 100 million units were sold (this in 1958).
© Getty Images
17 / 29 Fotos
Roller skating
- This was the cool way to keep fit in the '70s. All the cool kids who wanted to be in shape did it.
© Getty Images
18 / 29 Fotos
Vibrosaun
- Another device that promised weight loss without any effort. It did what it said on the tin. Vibrosaun was a mix between a massage machine and a sauna.
© Getty Images
19 / 29 Fotos
Jazzercise
- Show us your jazz hands! This dance workout was established in 1969, and it's still around to this day.
© Getty Images
20 / 29 Fotos
Weight loss sunglasses
- Hailing from Japan, these innovative blue shades would make your food look pretty unappetizing. As a consequence, you wouldn't eat as much.
© Shutterstock
21 / 29 Fotos
Treadmill bike
- Why cycle when you can walk on wheels? We don't have the answer to this question either.
© Getty Images
22 / 29 Fotos
Hot yoga
- What can be better than doing yoga? Doing yoga in 38°C (100°F), of course! This form of yoga was introduced in the '70s by Bikram Choudhury.
© Shutterstock
23 / 29 Fotos
Bootcamp classes
- The '90s saw the introduction of bootcamp-style classes. It was like being trained by the army, but then you could just have a nice shower and go home.
© Getty Images
24 / 29 Fotos
Aerobic strip
- Carmen Electra brought fun and fitness into the bedroom with her strip aerobics routines in the 2000s.
© Getty Images
25 / 29 Fotos
The Shake Weight
- The Shake Weight is essentially a sort of vibrating dumbbell that you shake to tone your muscles.
© NL Beeld
26 / 29 Fotos
Toning shoes
- These became quite popular among celebrities. They're designed in a way that make you burn more calories and tone your legs as you walk.
© Getty Images
27 / 29 Fotos
Goat yoga
- A way to mix yoga and animal therapy. Having animals around can be great for your health, and so can yoga. Sources: (It's Rosy) See also: The bizarre history of home fitness
© Getty Images
28 / 29 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 29 Fotos
Fat-reducing soap
- Yes, in the 1920s you could just wash fat away with this soap! How amazing is that? It goes without saying it was snake oil. You'd be clean though...
© Getty Images
1 / 29 Fotos
The Moby Revolving Hammock
- If you wanted a healthy spine, a full chest, and a small waist, this was the device to get. The Moby Revolving Hammock was introduced in 1922.
© Public Domain
2 / 29 Fotos
Cigarettes
- Indeed nicotine is an appetite suppressant and it can speed up the metabolism. But then there's all the other chemicals that literally kill you.
© Getty Images
3 / 29 Fotos
Hamster wheels
- Okay, we must admit, this one looks pretty fun! But we're not so sure about its fitness benefits, other than perhaps strengthening your core through a static hold.
© Getty Images
4 / 29 Fotos
Vaulting horses
- Not your typical one used in gymnastics. This one was more akin to a mechanic bull.
© Getty Images
5 / 29 Fotos
Bile beans
- Yes, diet pills have been around for a long time. These slimming pills were actually laxatives, and, believe it or not, they were sold up until the '80s!
© Public Domain
6 / 29 Fotos
Ozone bath
- Jump into a giant zip lock bag and pump some ozone for the ultimate weight loss effect. It was great for you skin too, apparently.
© Getty Images
7 / 29 Fotos
The Spring Leg
- Want to tone your legs? This exercise apparatus is the answer. Or not.
© Getty Images
8 / 29 Fotos
Dr. Electric Massage
- This one has a medical vibe to it. Invented by a South African doctor, who knew electricity could be such a good weight loss tool?
© Getty Images
9 / 29 Fotos
Vibrating bras
- Yes, this was a thing. It worked similar to any other vibration devices and was supposed to strengthen your bust.
© Getty Images
10 / 29 Fotos
Las Picas
- This bizarre exercise machine was basically two poles attached to a small box. You could rock and do all sorts of movements with it.
© Getty Images
11 / 29 Fotos
Reducomatic
- This portable device allowed you to sweat by pumping steam through a suit, as if you could sweat excess fat away.
© Getty Images
12 / 29 Fotos
Somersault machines
- This bizarre apparatus was used to perform somersaults and cartwheels in the 1930s.
© Getty Images
13 / 29 Fotos
Vibrating belts
- These were introduced in the 1920s. They were wrapped around the waist or other areas, and were supposed to shake fat off.
© Getty Images
14 / 29 Fotos
Vibrating belts
- They became quite popular in the 1960s among women. And you didn't even have to wear active gear or break a sweat!
© Getty Images
15 / 29 Fotos
Treadmill
- The treadmill stood the test of time and is still used worldwide, but the first models were indeed quite archaic. This one is from 1923.
© Getty Images
16 / 29 Fotos
Hula hoop
- The hula hoop was huge! In the first six months, over 100 million units were sold (this in 1958).
© Getty Images
17 / 29 Fotos
Roller skating
- This was the cool way to keep fit in the '70s. All the cool kids who wanted to be in shape did it.
© Getty Images
18 / 29 Fotos
Vibrosaun
- Another device that promised weight loss without any effort. It did what it said on the tin. Vibrosaun was a mix between a massage machine and a sauna.
© Getty Images
19 / 29 Fotos
Jazzercise
- Show us your jazz hands! This dance workout was established in 1969, and it's still around to this day.
© Getty Images
20 / 29 Fotos
Weight loss sunglasses
- Hailing from Japan, these innovative blue shades would make your food look pretty unappetizing. As a consequence, you wouldn't eat as much.
© Shutterstock
21 / 29 Fotos
Treadmill bike
- Why cycle when you can walk on wheels? We don't have the answer to this question either.
© Getty Images
22 / 29 Fotos
Hot yoga
- What can be better than doing yoga? Doing yoga in 38°C (100°F), of course! This form of yoga was introduced in the '70s by Bikram Choudhury.
© Shutterstock
23 / 29 Fotos
Bootcamp classes
- The '90s saw the introduction of bootcamp-style classes. It was like being trained by the army, but then you could just have a nice shower and go home.
© Getty Images
24 / 29 Fotos
Aerobic strip
- Carmen Electra brought fun and fitness into the bedroom with her strip aerobics routines in the 2000s.
© Getty Images
25 / 29 Fotos
The Shake Weight
- The Shake Weight is essentially a sort of vibrating dumbbell that you shake to tone your muscles.
© NL Beeld
26 / 29 Fotos
Toning shoes
- These became quite popular among celebrities. They're designed in a way that make you burn more calories and tone your legs as you walk.
© Getty Images
27 / 29 Fotos
Goat yoga
- A way to mix yoga and animal therapy. Having animals around can be great for your health, and so can yoga. Sources: (It's Rosy) See also: The bizarre history of home fitness
© Getty Images
28 / 29 Fotos
Bizarre health and fitness trends
What celebs did before Ozempic
© Getty Images
The health and fitness industry never fails to surprise us. There is always a new device, a new slimming pill, a new way to lose weight, tone our muscles, and get fit. And if we don't have to break a sweat doing it, even better! Though the sad truth is that the vast majority of these devices don't really do what they claim to do. Some machines, such as the treadmill, stood the test of time, but many other trends came and went.
Curious to see what people were doing years ago to keep in shape? Then click on!
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