I remember watching a physical fitness workout expert named Jack Lalanne when I was about 6 years old (this was back in 1962). I stumbled across LaLanne’s name today and wondered whether he was still alive. Indeed he is. Now 94, Lalanne has lived long enough to transform his media presence from his original black & white TV show to his current website, offering exercise tips, autographed photos and workout videos.
According to Wikipedia:
Back in the 60’s Jack LaLanne was the only exercise guru in the mass media. He presided over American physical fitness before trans fats, drive-up backs, fast food, size XXX t-shirts and ubiquitous two-car garages.
Consider this tidbit: Those Americans born in 1900 had a life expectancy of only 48 years. Those American babies born in 2008 have a life expectancy of about 78 years.
I remember watching him when I was a kid. Black & white, with that cheesy soap opera organ music accompaniment. The weirdest part was his face exercises, in which he would stretch and distort his face. Makes perfect sense, but in 1960 it was totally bizarre.
Like others, I probably emulate less than half of his tips. I work out, I avoid donuts, I walk everyday, etc.
Physical fitness is really not that hard. Oh, it feels like it is while you're doing it, but I keep reasonably fit with about five hours of weightlifting a week.
There are 168 hours in a week. You need 56 for sleep, roughly 56 to 60 to work. That leaves 52 hours for everything else. What's 5 hours? That's where psychology comes into play. It's easier not to. There are always justifications.
LaLanne works out 14 hours a week. It shows. But still, 94…my gosh.
What??? Iif it tastes good, spit it out??? I'm not sure if I want to turn that old, if I'm not allowed to eat nice tasting food at all.
My grandfather was still doing yard work well into his 90s, though his health gradually deteriorated thereafter until his death at age 100. His advice to me: "don't live past 95."
That Lalanne is still exercising reminds me of an elderly woman I spoke to at a garage sale last summer. She saw me arrive by bicycle, so she mentioned that she still enjoys riding her bicycle for exercise and that she has an indoor trainer to ride in the winter. I complimented her for continuing to stay healthy, to which she replied: "I do because I can, and I can because I do." That's good advice for people of any age.
I see him all the time doing an infomercial for a juicer.
I'd rather see him do a fitness show again.