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Flash from the Past, the “Melt Off Sauna Suit” with Space Age Design

Ahhh, the 80’s. Society has always been trying to find the perfect way to lose weight and seemingly with the least amount of effort. Here’s a Flashback Friday commercial about…

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Mixed Martial Arts: UFC 159: Gian Villante putting on sauna suit in hotel locker room while trying to make weight before Men’s Light Heavyweight fight vs Ovince Saint Preux at Westin Jersey City Newport. Villante lost 17 pounds in a week by cutting his weight.
Jersey City, NJ 4/25/2013
CREDIT: Eric Thayer (Photo by Eric Thayer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
(Set Number: X156438 TK1 R1 F91 )

(Photo by Eric Thayer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images) (Set Number: X156438 TK1 R1 F91 )

Ahhh, the 80's. Society has always been trying to find the perfect way to lose weight and seemingly with the least amount of effort. Here's a Flashback Friday commercial about the "Melt Off Sauna Suit."  It'll help you lose weight without diet pills or strenuous exercise.  What's the secret?  A "space age design" that seals in your body heat so you sweat off the pounds. It sold for $19.99 and whether you were sitting on the couch reading a book or doing some light housework you'd be burning off the calories according to the commercial. Many users point out the issue with this design in that there is no ventilation and they're pretty sure you'd overheat quickly. Not to mention what you might be smelling like when you peeled that "space age' suit off. Ever struggle to just get a sweaty t-shirt off after some exercise? Something tells us this would be soggy. It would definitely make you sweat but we can't speak to how much weight you'd actually lose.  Maybe the show will have to try and track some down and just see what they look and feel like! I sense a James challenge in the near future!

With all the weight loss programs and weight loss shots nowadays, you don't see many ideas like this to lose weight. What is one of the strangest ways you or someone you know has tried to lose weight? Do you know anyone who owned the "Melt Off Sauna Suit"?!?

Vintage Gadgets: Outdated Tech That Still Sparks Joy

Best Buy has announced that starting in 2024, following this holiday season, they will discontinue the sale of DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K Ultra HD discs, both in their physical stores and online. They have said the reason for this decision is due to the increasing popularity of streaming services.  This move aligns with the prevailing trend, as more people turn to streaming for their entertainment needs.

Physical Media

Physical media does come with certain inconveniences, such as taking up space and limited mobile accessibility. But there are still people who appreciate the more traditional way of enjoying movies and music. There are some advantages of owning Blu-rays and DVDs. These include owning what you buy and having bonus content you can't get anywhere else.

Pagers!

In the '90s, owning a pager was considered a status symbol and a fashion statement. Today, it's even possible to purchase a fully functional vintage Motorola pager from online marketplaces like eBay.

Outdated but not obsolete.

With the widespread use of mobile phones and free calling applications that offer unlimited calls via Wi-Fi, traditional landlines may eventually become obsolete. However, the complete phasing out of this technology may take some time. This is because certain regions or countries still contend with unreliable internet or cellular coverage. As of August 2023, Community Phone reports that approximately 40.35 million households in the United States still maintain landline phones, and 38.1 million households have both a landline and a cell phone.

For some people, "new" technology doesn’t always mean "better." On Reddit, a user started a discussion thread asking, “What outdated or obsolete tech are you still using and are perfectly happy with?” The thread received more than 16,000 responses from people who shared the outdated everyday items they still happily use. Check some of them out below.

A Physical Calculator

You probably haven't seen a calculator in ages, but a Reddit user chimed in to say that, for them, the old-school scientific calculator beats the one on your phone or any app. They simply put it like this, "Honestly, a standard scientific calculator is just easier to use than your phone's built-in scientific calculator." It could be the fun button-tapping sound or the nostalgic thrill of typing in cheeky words with numbers that makes this person prefer calculators.

Close up calculator on business working desk, dark background concept.

Kanizphoto/ Getty Images

Watches That Only Tell The Time

Smartwatches may pack in loads of features, but there's a catch - they need regular charging and maintenance, and their battery life is shorter. On the flip side, traditional watches are a low-maintenance choice with longer battery life. In fact, a Redditor mentioned they still rock a "a lovely, inexpensive, bombproof, analog, big face Casio." They also pointed out that smartwatches aren't allowed at their job, so their trusty Casio gets the job done.

Wristwatch isolated on white background

popovaphoto/ Getty Images

CD Player, MP3 Player, and Vinyl Albums

If you've put a ton of effort into collecting CDs and vinyl records, and creating some killer playlists, why ditch them, right? One person told their story about growing up in the '90s, building a massive CD collection, and stashing them all in one of those Case Logic CD binders. They fondly shared, "I still keep it with me in my car and it’s a wonderful trip down memory lane every time I open it. I laughed and cried a little when my kids friend asked me what it was and I said, 'CDs' and they followed up with, 'What’s that?'" But also: not everything is available on streaming services.  That obscure soundtrack or tribute album from the '80s? Licensing issues may have prevented it from hitting the streamers.  Love Joni Mitchell? Well, Spotify doesn't have her catalog. Sure, you can subscribe to another service, but if you kept your old vinyl and have a turntable, you can listen to it the old school way.

Piles of CDs in a shelf.

IngaNielsen/ Getty Images

"I Love Wires"

You have people who can't stand a tangle of wires in their tech setup, and then there's that Reddit user who's all about the wired life. They firmly believe that wired networking is "not obsolete or outdated." According to them, it's superior in every aspect, except for the mobility it lacks compared to wireless. They put it simply, "Wired is the ideal, you only go wireless if running cable is unfeasible for the situation.

Pile of tangled old smart technology wires, used charging cables and connectors for electronic devices in men's hand. The concept of recycling and disposal of electronic waste.

Diana Sand/ Getty Images

A Regular Doorbell

A regular doorbell does its job well. It lets you know someone's at the door. On the other hand, a video doorbell does the same but with the perk of letting you see and hear the person at your door, even if you're not home. Someone mentioned they'd be up for a smart doorbell if it kept the data local. They said, "I don't want anything being sent online, so I might need to set up my own system... I'll just stick with the traditional kind."

A finger ringing a doorbell.

eurobanks/ Getty Images

Physical Buttons

A Redditor shared their affection for good old physical buttons, arguing that not everything needs to go the touchscreen route. They stressed the importance of having car radios equipped with buttons rather than screens, believing it's a safer choice. They explained, "It’s easier for me to push a button to change the music while keeping my eyes on the road/ I can’t do that if my car has a screen. It increases distracted driving incidents."

Radio panal control in Car, Dashboard

Supersmario/ Getty Images