Jack LaLanne- Fitness Guru A Man Ahead Of His Time
by Linda Tremer

The other day was Jack LaLanne’s 93rd birthday (Sept. 26, 1914). I thought it fitting to write a short article about him. I couldn’t decide whether to put it in the exercise or nutrition section of my web site. Exercise won out but not by much. I can remember in the 1950’s my mother watching Jack on television. She would do the exercises in the living room on the floor or she’d bring in a chair from the kitchen to use for the different exercises. As a young child I remember his big white German Shepard dog Happy. Happy was on television with Jack..

I just called my mother who is 85 years old to see what she remembered about the show. She remembered that Jack was funny. His wife was on the show with him and sometimes she couldn’t do an exercise and she would laugh. And then he would laugh and make a joke about it. She told me she watched and exercised with all of his shows. Television was in its infancy in 1959 when "The Jack LaLanne Show “ the first exercise show on television went nationwide.

In his younger days Jack LaLanne was addicted to sugar and junk foods. He decided to change his diet. He concentrated on bodybuilding and weightlifting. At that time working out with weights was frowned upon. He designed the first leg extension machines and pulley machines common in gyms today.

At the age of 70, Jack swam 1.5 miles in the Long Beach Harbor handcuffed and shackled while towing 70 boats with 70 people on board.

Today Jack can be seen on infomercials promoting his juicer. He looks and acts younger than his 93 years. He is most gratified that everything he has been preaching about exercise and nutrition for the last 60 years has come true. When he first started he was labeled as a crackpot and charlatan.  Now Jack LaLanne is an authority. Jack's lifestyle is the best weight loss program you could envision. Strive to make it yours.

Jack LaLanne has stated that,”My top priority in life is to work out every day.” He works out for two hours every morning. He still lifts weights and swims each day.

His simple rule of nutrition is “if man made it, don’t eat it.” Make those words the basis of your healthy diet plan and you can’t go wrong. Sixty years before fitness, exercise and nutrition were household words Jack LaLanne promoted all three. Here’s to Mr. Jack LaLanne, may we all adopt his fitness, nutrition and exercise beliefs.

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