Let’s Get Physical: Get fit and fabulous the ‘80s way
Are you sick and tired of clean eating? Do you miss the days when exercise was less mindful and more fun? And do you agree we could all do with a little more Lycra in our lives?The antidote to the modern malaise of serious health and fitness is a return to simpler times. In the 1980s, getting fit meant getting dressed to the nines in sparkling, skin-tight workout wear, teasing your hair or combing your moustache to its full glory, and shaking what your mama gave you to the top tunes of the day. It was fabulous, and it was fun.This hilarious, pocket-sized book offers an earnestly 80s introduction to getting fit and fabulous. From diet and exercise trends and top fashion tips, to the places to be and things to be seen doing to flaunt what you’ve got, this collection of vintage photos and caustic captions will help you to become your most excellent self, 80s style.
Читать Let’s Get Physical: Get fit and fabulous the ‘80s way онлайн беплатно
HarperCollinsPublishers
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
First published by HarperCollinsPublishers in 2017
Copyright © HarperCollinsPublishers 2017
Text by Ashley Davies
Picture research by Katie Horwich
Design by Gareth Butterworth
Front cover photograph © Education Images / UIG via Getty Images
Back cover photographs © Shutterstock.com
For full photography credits, see pages
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Source ISBN: 9780008277833
Ebook Edition © November 2017 ISBN: 9780008286620
Version: 2017-12-04
This ebook is copyright material. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
HarperCollinsPublishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constraints in operation at the time of publication.
Contents
Providing you were young, energetic and blissfully ignorant about the dangerously selfish socio-economic philosophies of the period, there was a lot of fun to be had in the ‘80s.
People started realising that exercise didn’t just help you look better – it made you feel fantastic too. And, in the true spirit of the time, working out became competitive. That extended to what kind of exercise you did, where you did it, whose programme you followed and, most importantly for a lot of people, how you looked while you were feeling that burn.
In an era of gigantic hair and shoulder pads, brightly coloured outfits and for-God’s-sake-please-notice-me accessories, there wasn’t an ice-pop’s chance in hell that workout wear was going to be drab or humble, and a thriving industry was born. Leg warmers were as huge as the lower half of leotards were tiny.
Crucially, everyone involved was enthusiastic, and that was infectious. So, if you find working out all a bit gloomy these days, perhaps it’s time to get physical like they did in the ‘80s.
Are the increasingly complicated demands of today’s clean-living lifestyle trends getting you down? Is the po-faced approach to wellness starting to feel like a joyless arms race? Do you yearn to inject some genuine happiness into your fitness regime?
There is an alternative. Exercise like it’s the ‘80s and you will feel alive in ways you never dreamt possible. True, mild static electric shocks will be inevitable, but, boy, it will be worth it.
All you need is a bouncy attitude and a willingness to accessorise like your life depends on it. Embellishment is the name of this game. Go big or go home. Here’s how to get started.
Start by choosing a gym buddy and co-ordinate your outfits. Try to outdo each other’s makeup and accessories. If she gets a belt, you get a belt and a headband. If she gets a headband and new leg warmers, put a key ring on your belt. This friendly competition is time-consuming but very motivating.
The road to corporeal perfection is littered with the bodies of rivals. Stay focused. Disguise the painful fury of your ambition with stage makeup.
Teamwork is vital though. Take care of your squad and they’ll take care of you. A dainty dab of wet-look gel will keep your ‘do fresh.
Leg warmers are the beating heart of ‘80s workout gear. Fight the urge to ask what the actual heck they’re for and embrace them. Treasure them. They will prove you’re taking this seriously.
If you’re on a budget, simply tie a shoelace around your head and smile convincingly.
Declaring your preferred method of artistic expression in diagonal letters on your shirt will help people know you are not to be trifled with.
The trend for eye-wateringly high-cut leotard thighs raged unchecked. They got so high that some people struggled to stand up.
And when they couldn’t get any higher, the competitive spirit propelled them upwards in ever-more creative ways.
Word to the wise: if you try to disguise your big old socks as leg warmers, you’re gonna get the side-eye, big time.
Fellas, you only need to follow three simple rules if you want to be accepted: co-ordinate, co-ordinate, co-ordinate.
If your house burns down or jealous haters steal your leg warmers, get your hands on something bright to stand out at aerobics, ideally a colour blend reminiscent of a toxic hazard warning. Be strong. Be seen. Be safe.
When co-ordinating workout gear with your best friends, select an outfit that represents all three personality types: confident, curious and weak with hunger.
