Weight loss has always been a primary concern for most of us through the ages. While beauty standards have evolved and changed over the years, the appeal of a slender body has been a rage for women since time immemorial.

This video, marketing some very, very strange gym equipment will give you a sneak peek into the kind of workout options that were available for women back in the 1940s. While it’s unclear whether these weird contraptions actually helped tone thighs, they sure look like they would be handy for other purposes.

This vintage Ad for ‘Battle of the Bulges’ promises that these strange contraptions would provide some fancy “womaneuvers” so that women could look like “sea nymphs.” Watch the full video here: