Who is Jack LaLanne?
As the “Godfather of Fitness” and “First Fitness Superhero” who popularized gyms and good health, Jack LaLanne is well-known throughout the world.
Short Career of Jack LaLanne
Jack LaLanne demonstrated the value of general health by becoming a household figure with his program, “The Jack LaLanne Show,” and by performing amazing acts of strength to show that his physique was more than just good-looking.
But Jack’s life wasn’t always about exercise.
He used to self-identify as an “addict of junk food and sweets.” Jack’s life was in shambles; he yelled at those close to him and battled numerous illnesses, but one day he saw a speech by Paul Bragg that changed everything.
As soon as Bragg taught LaLanne the value of maintaining a good diet and exercising regularly, Jack’s performance skyrocketed.
He helped individuals all over the world lead healthier lives while writing fitness books, playing high school football, and building a fitness company.
To this day, Jack’s fitness legacy is still inspiring people. Here is his account:
Body Measurements of Jack LaLanne
| Full Name: | Jack LaLanne |
| YEAR OF BIRTH: | 2011 |
| ERA: | 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 |
| PROFESSION: | Bodybuilder, Fitness Model, Personal Trainer |
| NATIONALITY: | American |
| ALIAS: | Jack LaLanne |
Accomplishments
Fitness Achievements & Records
- 1954 (age 40) – swam the entire 8,981-foot (1.7 mi; 2.7 km) length of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, underwater, with 140 lb (64 kg; 10 st) of air tanks and other equipment strapped to his body; a world record.
- 1955 (age 41) – swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco while handcuffed. When interviewed afterward he was quoted as saying that the worst thing about the ordeal was being handcuffed, which significantly reduced his chance to do a jumping jack.
- 1956 (age 42) – set what was claimed as a world record of 1,033 push-ups in 23 minutes on You Asked For It, a television program hosted by Art Baker.
- 1957 (age 43) – swam the Golden Gate channel while towing a 2,500 lb (1,130 kg; 180 st) cabin cruiser. The swift ocean currents turned this one-mile (1.6 km) swim into a swimming distance of 6.5 miles (10.5 km).
- 1958 (age 44) – maneuvered a paddleboard nonstop from Farallon Islands to the San Francisco shore. The 30-mile (48 km) trip took 9.5 hours.
- 1959 (age 45) – did 1,000 jumping jacks and 1,000 chin-ups in 1 hour, and 22 minutes, to promote The Jack LaLanne Show going nationwide. LaLanne said this was the most difficult of his stunts, but only because the skin on his hands started ripping off during the chin-ups. He felt he couldn’t stop because it would be seen as a public failure.
- 1974 (age 60) – For the second time, he swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf. Again, he was handcuffed, but this time he was also shackled and towed a 1,000 lb (450 kg; 71 st) boat, according to his obituary in Los Angeles Times in 2011 and his website. However, according to an account of this event published the day after it occurred in the Los Angeles Times, written by Philip Hager, a Times staff writer, LaLanne was neither handcuffed nor shackled if each of those terms has the conventional meaning of “tightly binding the wrists or ankles together with a pair of metal fasteners”. Hager says that LaLanne “had his hands and feet bound with cords that allowed minimal freedom”. But “minimal” clearly did not mean “no” freedom, since elsewhere in the article Hager describes LaLanne’s method of propulsion through the water as “half-breast-stroke, half-dog paddle” which is how you swim with your hands tied.
- 1975 (age 61) – Repeating his performance of 21 years earlier, he again swam the entire length of the Golden Gate Bridge, underwater and was handcuffed, but this time he was shackled and towed a 1,000 lb (450 kg; 71 st) boat.
- 1976 (age 62) – To commemorate the “Spirit of ’76”, United States Bicentennial, he swam one mile (1.6 km) in Long Beach Harbor. He was handcuffed and shackled, and he towed 13 boats (representing the 13 original colonies) containing 76 people.
- 1979 (age 65) – towed 65 boats in Lake Ashinoko, near Tokyo, Japan. He was handcuffed and shackled, and the boats were filled with 6,500 lb (2,950 kg; 460 st) of Louisiana-Pacific wood pulp.
- 1980 (age 66) – towed 10 boats in North Miami, Florida. The boats carried 77 people, and he towed them for over one mile (1.6 km) in less than one hour.
- 1984 (age 70) – handcuffed, shackled, and fighting strong winds and currents, he towed 70 rowboats, one with several guests, from the Queen’s Way Bridge in the Long Beach Harbor to the Queen Mary, 1 mile.
Movies & TV
- You Bet Your Life, (1957)
- Peter Gunn, (1960) LaLanne appeared in an episode with Craig Stevens.
- The Addams Family (Season 2, 1966), episode “Fester Goes on a Diet.”
- Batman (man on the roof with girls, uncredited cameo) (1966)
- Fit & Fun Time (kids TV pilot) (1972)
- The Year Without Santa Claus (1974) Hercules
- Repossessed (1990)
- Amazing Discoveries (1991)
- The Simpsons (Season 10, 1999), episode “The Old Man and the C Student.”
- Beefcake (1999)
- Hollywood’s Magical Island: Catalina (2003)
- “Mostly True Stories: Urban Legends Revealed” (2004)
- Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (Season 2, 2004)
Biography
Young Years
On September 26, 1914, Francois Henri “Jack” LaLanne was born in San Francisco, California. He was the child of French immigrants from Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Jennie, and John LaLanne. At the Port of New Orleans in the 1880s, Jack’s parents arrived as young children.
Ervil, who tragically passed away while LaLanne was still a youngster, and Norman, who gave LaLanne the moniker “Jack,” were his two elder brothers.
Jack was raised in Bakersfield, California, but his family later relocated to Berkeley, California, around 1928.
Jack’s father passed away in a San Francisco hospital in 1939 at the age of 58. According to Jack, it was brought on by “coronary thrombosis and cirrhosis of the liver,” brought on by a poor diet and way of life.
Jack used to be dependent on processed food and sugar. Additionally, he experienced violent outbursts in which he acted out against both himself and those around him.
“A horrible goddamn kid, it was like hell,” was how he described himself.
Getting Motivated through Fitness
Jack experienced violent outbursts during his earlier years, in addition to headaches and bulimia. He was fourteen when he left school at this time in his life.
Jack didn’t finally kick the bad habits and change his life around until he was 15 years old. This took place after hearing Paul Bragg speak in front of the public about the advantages of a healthy diet and the “evils of meat and sweets.”
He was inspired by Bragg’s words and realized the value of proper diet and wellness. At this point, he began to pay particular attention to his food and workout routine.
Jack said that he had been “born again.” Jack started working out every day, and over time, he noticed improvements in both his physical and mental health.
Getting Back Into Education
Jack returned to school where he joined the high school football team after beginning to feel better about himself. Later, Jack joined college with success and graduated with a doctor of chiropractic degree.
Jack focused on bodybuilding and weightlifting while studying Henry Gray’s Anatomy of the Human Body.
When Jack began his new workout regimen and healthy eating habits, he initially faced derision from others who did not comprehend his new way of life. Jack said it,
“For no one to witness me eat my lunch of raw vegetables, whole bread, raisins, and almonds, I had to bring it to the football field alone. You have no idea how terrible it was for me.
The First Time I did Bodybuilding
Jack first encountered bodybuilding when he observed two men working out in a private gym that only they had access to.
The men laughed when he asked to use their apparatus and remarked, “Kid, you can’t even lift those weights.”
Jack went up to the two men and issued a wager challenge. They agreed to let him use their weights if they couldn’t defeat him in a wrestling battle.
They kept their word and offered Jack a key when he defeated them both. Up until he had enough money to purchase his own, Jack used their weights.
Jack LaLanne’s TV program
The Jack Show was his television program, which lasted from 1953 until 1985. After years of training and furthering his expertise, Jack started to publish several books.
Along with the well-known Smith Machine, Jack also created several other workout devices, such as the pulley and the leg extension.
He was a fervent advocate for exercise during his whole career, encouraging ladies to join fitness clubs. He helped the elderly and crippled stay fit by coaching them.
A Trained Bodybuilder
Along with his achievements on television and his work promoting health and fitness across the nation, Jack achieved success as a bodybuilder, where he showcased his strength skills.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was the one to use the phrase, “That Jack is a beast!” after a competition in which Jack, 54, defeated Arnold, 21, in bodybuilding competition.
Along with his attempts to motivate “billions all over the world to live healthier lifestyles,” LaLanne was cited by Arnold as being “an apostle for fitness.”
LaLanne was added to the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness when Arnold was elected governor of California.
Not only did Arnold give Jack credit for his work in the fitness industry, but Steve Reeves also claimed that Jack influenced him to have a lean body with a narrow waist.
Strength and Fitness Feats
Jack was such a fitness proponent that he not only put fitness into practice by working out every day but also put it on display by performing incredible strength feats. breaking global records and showing the world what can be done with years of dedication and hard work.
Such occasions included the “Spirit of ’76,” during which he swam 1.6 kilometers (miles) in Long Beach Harbor.
He was restrained with handcuffs and a shackle while he dragged a total of 76 persons in 13 boats that symbolized the 13 original colonies.
On the TV show “You Asked For It,” Jack performed 1,033 push-ups in 23 minutes, which was credited as a world record.
The Sense Of Humor In Jack
He responded, “I’d hate to die; it would ruin my image,” when asked about his reputation. He added, “If I passed away, they would announce my passing. Jack didn’t put his words into action.
He was also questioned about the impact of sex on him as he got older. LaLanne has a running joke about his usual bedtimes with his wife: “Almost on Monday, almost on Tuesday, almost on Wednesday.”
Award for Lifetime Achievement
LaLanne earned a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 at Muscle Beach in Venice Beach, California, in appreciation of his achievements during the years he worked in the health industry.
Jack received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the California Hall of Fame for his work in the fitness industry.
LaLanne’s Passing
LaLanne passed away on January 23, 2011, at the age of 96, from pneumonia-related respiratory failure. He had been ill for a week, according to his family, but he wouldn’t go to the doctor.
They added that the day before he passed away, he was exercising as usual. LaLanne was laid to rest in the Hollywood Hills, California, Memorial Park.
Jack LaLanne’s message of living life to the fullest continues to inspire thousands of people today.
Training
Working Ineffectively
LaLanne likes to push himself physically during most of his workouts. He exerted himself physically to the point of exhaustion. The phrase “training to failure,” which is now a well-known training technique, was allegedly coined by him.
Interval Training
LaLanne appreciated continuing without pausing from one exercise to the next. Initially, many predicted that he would become tight and uncoordinated as a result of this.
But Jack showed everyone that he was not only capable of performing intense workouts but also acrobatic feats like hand-to-hand balances.
No Warmups
Jack frequently exercised in his swimming pool or the gym at home. He received open criticism for his training methodology, which excluded warming up.
“15 minutes to warm up?” asked LaLanne. When a lion is hungry, does he warm up? Oh no, an antelope is approaching. You should warm up. No! He simply goes outside and consumes the sucker.
Jack’s Letter
“I train the same way I’ve always trained my entire life as if I’m training for the Olympics or a Mr. America competition. Life is a battleground, you see.
Life is a struggle for the strongest. How many persons in good health do you know? How many content individuals do you know?
Consider this. People put more effort into dying than they do into living. My workout is a duty I have to live. It’s my sedative. It’s a component of how I tell the truth, which has sustained me throughout the years.
Maximizing One’s Life
Jack jokingly added, “I know so many folks in their 80s who have Alzheimer’s or are in a wheelchair or anything. I am a great believer that exercising will avoid many ailments.
Also, I tell myself, “I don’t want to live that way.” I don’t want to put my family through too much. I must experience life. And I would detest dying since it would damage my reputation.
Death is simple. It’s painful to be alive. It resembles a sporting event. You must prepare for it.
You must exercise and eat healthfully; your bank account and your health account are the same. More can be taken out if you put more in. Together, exercise and a proper diet make up a kingdom.
In his 90s, Jack resumed his two-hour daily workouts, which included circuits of walking, swimming, and weight training.
“If it was manufactured by a human being, don’t eat it; if it tastes delicious, spit it out.”
Nutrition
Holistic diet
After reorienting his diet away from junk food, Jack promoted whole foods including meat, fruit, and numerous veggies.
Jack followed a vegetarian diet for six years before switching to a pescatarian diet that included fish and eggs.
Everyone should have “fruit, eggs, and/or meat with whole wheat toast for breakfast,” according to LaLanne. “A huge salad and meat or fish for lunch; and a large salad, two vegetables, meat/fowl, and fruit for dinner,” is how it goes from there.
Two Meals Per Day
After his two-hour workout, Jack preferred to eat two meals a day, including a healthy breakfast of “hard-boiled egg whites, a cup of broth, porridge with soy milk, and seasonal fruit.”
He would have fish, egg whites, and raw veggies for dinner.
LaLanne’s Dietary Guidelines
“Look at the typical American diet: full milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, and so on. People are unaware of just how much of this junk you accumulate over a day.
All this high-fat diet is the cause of elevated blood pressure. Do you know how many calories there are in cheese, ice cream, and butter?
Would you wake up your dog early in the morning to get him a donut and a cup of coffee? Most Americans likely rose this morning with a cup of coffee, a cigarette, and a donut in hand. Why should they be ill and dirty?
Influences and Idols
When he first watched Paul Bragg discuss the risks of processed meals and sugar, Jack was greatly influenced. From that point forward, Jack’s health began to improve.
Then he saw two men exercising in a gym in a back room. This gave him even more motivation to keep up his weight-lifting regimen and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Along with his influences, Steve Reeves and Arnold Schwarzenegger were also influenced by his innovative methods and his lean, athletic figure.
What Jack LaLanne Can Teach Us?
At the beginning of his life, Jack was a junk food and sugar addict. He was an “out-of-control” youngster who had trouble not just with himself but also with his environment. But after he discovered the secret to health and fitness, everything changed.
Jack grew stronger as a result of hearing Paul Bragg’s discourse on the value of nutrition. He began with high school football before moving on to weightlifting.
From there, he created an empire centered on his name, The Jack Show, which was the pinnacle of fitness, and several strength competitions.
Jack left his impact on the fitness industry after motivating well-known bodybuilders like Arnold and Steve Reeves as well as thousands of other fitness aspirants.
What we can learn from Jack is that if you experience imbalances in your life due to an unhealthy diet or way of life, as Jack did in his early years, you may benefit from his advice.
You too may enhance both your physical and emotional health by following in his footsteps and possibly even assisting others in the process.