Before Bob and Jillian, before Denise Austin, before Jane Fonda, before Richard Simmons, there was Jack LaLanne, a.k.a. the self-proclaimed Godfather of Fitness. The shiny jumpsuit-clad health and wellness guru died yesterday at home in California from complications of pneumonia at the very respectable age of 96. LaLanne was a proponent of exercise (he preferred the term “Trimnastics”), weight-lifting, and healthy nutrition long before personal trainers actually could become as rich and famous as Hollywood movie stars. He even pioneered fitness-oriented reality TV with his incredibly long-running series, The Jack LaLanne Show (1951 to 1985), which inspired several generations of housewives (he called them “students” and “girls”) to take care of their bodies at home using minimal props, fuss, and muss (and also starred his beloved dog, Happy). But this bodybuilder and chiropractor also designed the very first leg extension machines using pulleys, weights, and cables that you probably use in your gym today. We just wish we’d been around in 1936 to visit his first California health spa, which surely would have been awesome. And if you think you could never live up to Jack’s health and wellness standards (1,013 push-ups in 23 minutes; swimming from Alcatraz in handcuffs and shackles), just know that apparently, he was addicted to junk food as a youngster. So, in honor and memory of LaLanne’s serious substance (and chic style) as a fitness professional, here are a few must-watch highlights from his black-and-white TV show. (His fingertip push-ups and facial exercises are our personal faves.) More »
