Farewell to 'The Godfather of Fitness'

Last week, the fitness world lost a true pioneer, and powerful force of nature in Jack LaLanne. LaLanne succumbed to respiratory failure from pneumonia in his home last Sunday at the age of 96. Called "The Godfather of Fitness," LaLanne dedicated his life to spreading his message of better living through fitness to an previously unwilling audience. LaLanne's own life changed at age 15 after he attended a seminar conducted by nutritionist Paul Bragg. After listening to Bragg, LaLanne realized he was a junk food addict, and committed the rest of his life to bettering himself through exercise and nutrition. He began reading everything he could on fitness and nutrition, later enrolling in a pre-med program, and graduating from chiropractic college. Then in 1936, LaLanne opened the nation's first health studio in Oakland, Calif. He began teaching people how to exercise using freeweights (which the medical community at the time said would cause heart attacks and loss of sex drive) and even invented several fitness technologies that are mainstays in today's health clubs. LaLanne was decades ahead of his time in his systematic approach to fitness and nutrition, with today's research backing what he was saying back in the '50s. "If man makes it, don't eat it!" was one of his most famous quotes — back before we knew the dangers of hydrogenated oils and refined sugars. Jack taught women to use weights before we had studies on the effects of strength training on bone density. He preached the healthful benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables before the science of antioxidants emerged. He was a true visionary, and he was passionate about getting the world healthier from the inside out. This passion led to an enormous opportunity in 1950 that would catapult him to nationwide fame via a new media: television. LaLanne was the star of the nation's first fitness television show. It quickly became a nationwide hit, spanning more than 20 years on the air. He had a dynamic personality that was bigger than life, and his energy and passion was contagious. You couldn't meet him and not want to be better. "Exercise is king, nutrition is queen. Put the two together, and you have a kingdom!" was his mantra. LaLanne demonstrated the power of a fit life by regularly doing stunts that attracted global media. His last stunt was one of his most impressive. At the age of 70, LaLanne, handcuffed and shackled, swam Long Beach Harbor while towing 70 boats with 70 people 1.5 miles through fighting strong winds and currents. LaLanne also set several world records, including completing 1,033 pushups in 23 minutes in 1956, and completed 1,000 push-ups and 1,000 pull-ups in an hour and 22 minutes in 1959. This amazing, amazing man was also recognized for his heart as well as his muscle. He received numerous humanitarian awards over the course of his lifetime, including the People of Vision award from RP International, the YMCA IMPACT Award, and an honorary doctorate of humanities from Southern California University. Jack LaLanne unquestionably is responsible for fitness becoming an industry, with personal trainers, fitness experts, and fitness professionals, owing their careers to this remarkable man. So I'm going to say farewell to the Godfather by promising to keep moving his legacy forward by doing what I do. I'm going to honor Jack LaLanne by living what I preach, and spreading the LaLanne "gospel" of better living through regular exercise, and superior nutrition. I hope you will, too. Don't let Jack's legacy fade into history. Head over to his website, www.jacklalanne.com , and learn from this revolutionary national treasure. Goodbye, Jack. You've saved millions of lives through your life's work, and you will truly be missed. Chad Smith is a Hagerstown personal trainer, and co-owner of Home Team Fitness LLC. Visit his website, www.hometeamfitness.net, or find him on Facebook www.facebook.com/hometeamfitness.