A legend has died, Jack LaLanne at the age of 96. He was a health and fitness guru who practiced what he preached. In 1936 at the age of 21, he opened the nation's first fitness gym in Oakland, California

Many of you may not even know who Jack LaLanne was, or maybe he was just someone you had heard about, but I remember as a little kid, lying on the family room floor with my mom and doing legs lifts with Jack LaLanne and his wife Elaine LaLanne. Jack was a vivacious and endearing television show host, always in his jumpsuit and ballet slippers with his beautiful white dog making an appearance at the end of each show. His television shows featuring fitness, exercise and diet advice ran for 34 years. 

He preached the benefits of exercise, weight lifting and healthy eating. In 1936 at the age of 21, he opened the nation's first fitness gym in Oakland, California and encouraged women to come to the gym to work out. Jack LaLanne designed several weight machines that are still used by the fitness industry today. He would plead with older folks to continue to "get out there and exercise" in order to keep young. 

Jack was famous for his outrageous feats. In 1984 at the age of 70, handcuffed and shackled, he struggled against currents and strong winds and towed 70 row boats from Queen's Way Bridge in Long Beach Harbor to the Queen Mary - a one mile swim. This was just the last in a long line of stunts that proved that one could be active and healthy even as the years passed and that we weren't necessarily relegated to the front porch rocking chair.

He was the recipient of many awards and honors including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He appeared in many films and television shows, wrote books, and his juicers are still on the market today.

When it came to nutrition, Jack said, ”if man made it, don’t eat it.” Boy was he ahead of his time! He was married for 53 years to the same woman, worked out until the day he died, was stringent about the food he put into his body and lived an active life until the age of 96. Any questions?

Leslie Kollar has over 20 years of experience in the health care field in both the U.S. and Canada. She has worked professionally in medical offices and hospital administration, using her BA in Communications/Public Relations and MBA in Marketing. She has also seen the other side of the health care coin as a 15 year cancer survivor. As a survivor she is passionate that each and every person is and should be responsible for their own health - and with this passion she hopes to inspire, inform and educate through HealthWorldNet.