Jack Lalanne

If, like me, you’re an insomniac, you may have seen adverts for the Jack Lalanne Juicer on late night television.  But who is he, and why is he such a pivotal figure in the world of fitness?

Born on September 14^th 1914, Jack Lalanne has led an incredible life, leading him to earn the name of the ‘Godfather of fitness’.  As a boy, he had a powerful addiction to sugar, and junk and overly-processed food. However, after hearing a speech by nutritionist Paul Bragg, he decided to work to overcome his bad diet, and to increase his level of exercise.  With the help of the “Henry Grey’s Anatomy of the Human Body” [otherwise known as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’], Lalanne concentrated his efforts on bodybuilding and weightlifting, and quickly noticed several changes in his body and lifestyle.

After graduating high school, Lalanne attended night classes in Oakland, California in order to become a chiropractor. After graduating, he encouraged patients to improve themselves via weight and strength training. Lalanne also became a trend-setter and a leader in the fitness field by inventing the leg training machines that are seen as standard today, and pioneering the Smith Machine in the 1950s. Lalanne was also seen as influential in female bodybuilding, as he encouraged women to lift weights, despite the popular belief that it made them look masculine.

Over the years, Lalanne has performed astounding and incredible feats of strength, many of them involving swimming extreme lengths in the ocean whilst towing boats behind him; at one point towing 70 at a time. Although being a huge feat, this has since been parodied by the Simpsons [with Lalanne making an appearance], and by Lalanne himself, who, on his 93’d birthday, stated that his next strength feat would be to “tow [his] wife across the bathtub”. In reality, however, Jack Lalanne did in fact plan to celebrate his ninety-fifth birthday by swimming to Santa Cataline island- a distance 20 miles.

Lalanne, although 95, still works out every morning for two hours, spending at least one and a half hours weight training, and at least half an hour swimming or walking; in the same manner as he has since he was young, with the only alteration being the time that he starts. He also condones processed food, and advocates a vegetarian, organic diet, with fish simply for essential oils and protein.  He is well renowned for saying “if man made it, do not eat it”, and “if it tastes good, spit it out”, with he himself following these two rules of nutrition in order to maintain his healthy figure and lifestyle.  Lalanne has also stated that he does not “eat anything that comes from a cow”, including milk.

Lalanne once also had has own chain of gyms, once again portraying his willingness to create a fitter, healthier world, as well as his television production, “The Jack Lalanne Show”, which is still the longest running exercise programme on American television.

Lalanne stated in an interview that he exercises as a means to survive, as “everyone needs a discipline”.  It is completely undoubtable that Jack Lalanne is a huge inspiration in the world of bodybuilding, strength, and fitness, as well as to the general public in terms of health.

Written by Ravi