Learning About Jack LaLanne, The Founder Of Fitness

Earlier this week, one of the biggest influences in this whole fitness trend passed away. Before there was Cross-fit, before there was Tae-bo, Jane Fonda, even Arnold Schwarzenegger, there was Jack LaLanne, who passed away in his sleep over the weekend. He was 96.

Over the last eight decades, LaLanne has been trying to promote a healthy lifestyle to anyone who would listen. He worked out and ate right every day of his life to the very end.

In the 1950's, he created a workout show (the first of its kind) that lasted until the 70's. In the show, he encouraged kids to drag their mothers and fathers in front of the television to do all these great workouts he was doing. A lot of times he didn't use any special equipment at all. Just items that could be found in your home.

In 1936, he opened a health studio in his native Oakland, that catered to athletes and women. These were innovative thoughts at the time and went against the grain that weightlifting would make women look masculine and athletes become slow. This was believed to be the first health club ever opened in America. He later opened a chain of health clubs across the land that bore his name.

When he first started, he understood that people would look at him as an idiot proclaiming all these crazy movements would make you be young and strong. That is why he started performing stunts that would later be one of his many claims to fame. For example, at age 60 he swam from Alcatraz to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco - handcuffed and shackled towing a boat.

He saw a need for fitness that has exploded today. Look at all the health clubs, personal trainers, specialty exercise niches out there. And it all generated from one man. The epitome of good health who continued to practice what he preached until the day he died. AWESOME!!