The Inspiring Life of Jack LaLanne
Jack LaLanne was a fitness icon and a true pioneer of the modern fitness movement. He was a sports and fitness trainer, accomplished bodybuilder, TV personality as well as a business entrepreneur. He was a strong advocate of health and fitness and his message of physical activity and healthy nutrition was far ahead of its time. As a young boy one of my earliest memories is of his unique and energy filled TV show. He is partly responsible for my life long interest and devotion to physical fitness. I really wanted to take a look at the inspiring life of Jack LaLanne. Lalanne’s story includes his pioneering work in the fitness industry and his lasting legacy.
Early Life and Family Background
Jack LaLanne was born in 1914 in San Francisco, California, the son of French immigrants. He grew up in a family that did not prioritize physical activity or nutrition. In fact, his mother cooked with lard and he ate ice cream and candy every day as a child. As he got older, he became overweight and suffered from a variety of health problems. He was unhappy with his physical appearance and health and decided to make a change.
At the age of 15, he discovered physical fitness and nutrition. He read books on nutrition and exercise and began to make changes to his lifestyle. Young Jack was inspired by the works of Bernarr Macfadden, a leading advocate of physical culture. He started exercising and eating healthy, and in just a few years, he had completely transformed his health and physique.
LaLanne was an ambitious and determined young man. He was determined to make a name for himself in the world of fitness and exercise. He attended the University of California at Berkeley and graduated with a degree in physical education. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles and opened his first gym. He quickly gained a reputation as a skilled and knowledgeable fitness instructor. He also became a popular figure in the fitness world and was invited to speak at conferences and events all over the country.
Jack LaLanne went on to become one of the most influential figures in the history of fitness. He was a fitness instructor, a businessman, a personal trainer, and an advocate for health and fitness.
Jack Lalanne -Pioneering Work in the Fitness Industry
As part of his mission to promote exercise and healthy eating, Lalanne wrote many books on fitness and nutrition and developed his own line of exercise equipment. He was one of the first to introduce weightlifting machines and fitness equipment to the masses. He is probably best known for his long running TV show, believed to be the very first television exercise program.
Fitness Innovations
What is less commonly known is that Lalanne invented and designed many of the strength training machines people still use today. These include the weight selector (weight stack with plates) and the common quadriceps Leg Extension machine. He also conceived the concepts for the squat machine, now known as the “smith machine.” The common calisthenic exercise “Jumping Jacks” were invented by Lalanne as an overall body warm up exercise.
LaLanne was also a successful businessman. He opened a number of gyms and fitness centers throughout the United States. Lalanne was one of the first to introduce exercise videos and home fitness programs and marketed his own brand of vegetable juicer.
Lalanne hosted the exercise and fitness TV show The Jack LaLanne Show from 1951 to 1985. During the 1950s TV exercise show was aimed largely at women, whom he also encouraged not only to exercise but to consider joining local health clubs, which was not at all common at the time. During the show he would often use household objects, such as a broom or books, to be used as exercise equipment. In addition, he coached senior citizens and the disabled to engage in exercise, believing it would enable them to improve their health and strength.
Lalanne was inspirational, high energy and very charismatic. During his show he would often use his white German shepherd dog, Happy, as part of the show. The dog’s tricks could attract children to the program, so that LaLanne was reported to say to the children: “You go get Mother or Daddy, Grandmother, Grandfather, whoever is in the house. You go get them, and you make sure they exercise with me.”
Jack Lalanne’s Incredible Feats
As advocate of proving that just about anything is possible, Jack LaLanne often performed amazing feats of super human strength and endurance through his life. Many of these include some unbelievable and unique swimming accomplishments. He continued to do so well into his 80s. Here are just a few of these incredible feats –
1954 Age 40: Swam the length of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge underwater with 140 pounds of equipment, including two air tanks… an undisputed world record.
1955 Age 41: Swam, handcuffed, from Alcatraz to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, CA.
1956 Age 42: Set a world record of 1,033 pushups in 23 minutes on “You Asked for It, a TV Show with Art Baker.
1957 Age 43: Swam the treacherous Golden Gate Channel, towing a 2,500-pound cabin cruiser. This involved fighting the cold, swift ocean currents that made the 1 mile swim a 6 ½ mile test of strength and endurance.
1959 Age 45: Completed 1,000 pushups and 1,000 chin-ups in 1 hours and 22
minutes. “Happy” is born and The Jack LaLanne Show goes nationwide
1974 Age 60: Swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf, for a second time handcuffed, shackled and towing a 1,000-pound boat.
1975 Age 61: Swam the length of the Golden Gate Bridge, underwater, for a second time handcuffed, shackled and towing a 1,000-pound boat.
1976 Age 62: Commemorating the “Spirit of ‘76”, swam 1 mile in Long Beach Harbor, handcuffed, shackled and towing 13 boats (representing the 13 original colonies) containing 76 people.
List courtesy of https://jacklalanne.com/
You get the idea here. He was a Superman who regularly performed super human feats!
Jack Lalanne – His Enduring Legacy
Jack LaLanne’s legacy lives on today. Among the many honors and recognitions he is a member of the California Hall of Fame and is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was indeed a pioneer in the fitness industry, a role model and a true icon of health and fitness. He was known nationwide as was an advocate for healthy living and physical activity. His message of exercise and healthy nutrition was seen to be far ahead of its time. He inspired and motivated many people to adopt regular exercise and proper nutrition. His legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. If you want to learn more about the inspiring life of Jack LaLanne, be sure to check out the book Pride & Discipline: The Legacy of Jack LaLanne
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