Remembering Jack LaLanne

I was saddened this morning when I heard on the news that Jack LaLanne, America's original fitness guru, had passed away yesterday at age 96. I remember watching his exercise program when I was a kid and thinking he was the coolest guy ever - a buff old guy who got to wear head-to-toe Lycra every day. Back when doctors told their patients that lifting weights was bad for your heart and would diminish your sex life, LaLanne thumbed his nose and pumped iron. He was ahead of his time in blaming overly processed foods as the cause of our health problems, and ascribed to a heart-healthy "fishetarian" diet.

With all the fad diets and quick weight loss fixes we're bombarded with these days I always admired LaLanne's no frills approach to leading a healthy lifestyle: exercise and eat well. He said, "If man made it, don't eat it."

Amen.

Here's to you, Mr. LaLanne. And our sympathies to your family.

Photo by Flickr user nathancremisino