Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most iconic and beloved figures of the 20th century. Her status as a sex symbol was actively promoted. Her every word, habit, and move were the subject of public interest. Her show-stopping look captivated audiences. The multi-page spread shows the actress in intimate moments. She pretty much put an hourglass figure on the map. This article delves into the diet and exercise routine that helped shape the legendary Marilyn Monroe.
Marilyn's Philosophy on Fitness
In a 1952 interview with Pageant magazine, Marilyn Monroe shared insights into her approach to fitness and diet. She claimed in the interview that she never gave it much thought until she became famous. She expressed a somewhat nonchalant attitude towards exercise, stating, "Frankly, I’ve never considered my own figure so exceptional; until quite recently, I seldom gave it any thought at all." She admitted that her biggest concern used to be getting enough to eat, but now she had to worry about eating too much. She also confessed that she "never cared especially for outdoor sports” and had “no desire to excel at tennis, swimming, or golf." By nature, she supposed she had a languorous disposition. She hated to do things in a hurried, tense atmosphere, and it was virtually impossible for her to spring out of bed in the morning.
Despite her initial lack of interest in exercise, Monroe incorporated a simple routine into her daily life. "I never used to bother with exercises," she stated. "Now I spend at least 10 minutes each morning working out with small weights."
The 10-Minute Workout
Marilyn Monroe's workout routine was surprisingly simple and brief, lasting only about 10 minutes each morning. She would typically exercise with 5 or 10 pound weights. She focused on exercises that targeted specific muscle groups. She also explained that she had evolved her own exercises, for the muscles she wished to keep firm, and she knew they were right for her because she could feel them putting the proper muscles into play as she exercised. She didn’t count rhythmically and couldn’t stand exercise if she had to feel regimented about it.
Her routine consisted of the following:
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- Bust-Firming Routine: This was her first exercise after brushing her teeth and washing her face. Lying on the floor beside her bed, she would lift five-pound weights from a spread-eagle arm position to a point directly above her head. She did this 15 times, slowly, and repeated the exercise another 15 times from a position with her arms above her head. Then, with her arms at a 45-degree angle from the floor, she moved her weights in circles until she was tired.
- DB Bench Presses and Arm Circles: She'd do a few sets of DB bench presses and arm circles.
Marilyn's Diet: A Mix of Simplicity and Indulgence
Marilyn Monroe's eating habits were described as "absolutely bizarre" by some, but she defended them as being nutritious and suitable for her lifestyle. She ate right, and she ate at the right time. None of the meals are large. There are no all-you-can-eat challenges in this meal plan! Consistently eating every 3 hours sends signals to your body that it never has to defend itself against starvation.
Here's a breakdown of her typical daily diet, based on information she shared with Pageant and other outlets:
- Breakfast: Before her morning shower, she would warm a cup of milk on a hot plate in her hotel room. When it was hot, she would break two raw eggs into the milk, whip them up with a fork, and drink them while dressing. She complemented this with a multivitamin pill. She sometimes had orange juice or stewed prunes, hot oatmeal or Cream of Wheat, 2 slices of white toast with butter, and a cup of warm milk - sometimes with cocoa.
- Lunch: She usually had lunch at 1 pm with an egg, potatoes, spaghetti or noodles, eaten with tomato sauce or butter. The meal ended with cooked fruits or jelly.
- Dinner: Her dinners were "startlingly simple." Every night, she would stop at the market near her hotel and pick up a steak, lamb chops, or some liver, which she broiled in the electric oven in her room. She usually ate four or five raw carrots with her meat, and that was all.
- Snacks: In the mid-morning and afternoon, she had two snacks with milk or crackers.
- Late Night Indulgence: Despite her simple dinners, Monroe confessed to having a habit of stopping off at Wil Wright's ice cream parlor for a hot fudge sundae on her way home from her evening drama classes.
- Before Sleeping: Marilyn took a glass of eggnog.
Additional Insights from Marilyn's Cookbooks
Following an auction in 2021, notes written in Marilyn Monroe's hand were found in her cookbooks. These notes contained recipes and shopping lists that offered further insights into her eating habits. The lists resembled typical shopping lists, featuring foods not mentioned in her "unique diet" from the interview. The actress's detailed diet plan was also found, from meal times to foods and quantities.
The Importance of Sleep
Marilyn Monroe placed a high value on sleep. She stated, "Depending upon my activities, I sleep between five and 10 hours every night." She further added, "On Sunday, which is my one day of total leisure, I sometimes take two hours to wake up, luxuriating in every last moment of drowsiness." She slept in an extra-wide single bed, and she used only one heavy down comforter over her, summer or winter.
Beauty Routine
Marilyn took two quick showers each morning, the first hot and the second cold, to wake up and stimulate circulation.
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Her morning routine involved cleansing with soap and water, followed by a neutral toner and eye contour. A non-negotiable part of her evening routine was never going to bed without removing makeup!
Achieving an Hourglass Figure: Expert Advice
While Marilyn Monroe's diet and exercise routine may seem unconventional by today's standards, it's important to remember that she lived in a different era. Today's fitness experts offer alternative approaches to achieving a similar hourglass figure.
Jacquie Smith, a certified integrative nutrition health coach and fitness instructor, suggests that low-impact bodyweight and strength training moves like pilates, barre, and sculpt are the best exercises for achieving the coveted hourglass figure. Some specific exercises she recommends include:
- Side Plank: Helps define the obliques and achieve a smaller waist.
- Dumbbell Chest Press: Builds the muscles in the chest for a bigger bust.
- Glute Bridge: Hones in on the gluteal and hip muscles, making the hips and butt appear fuller.
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