Jack LaLanne (1914-2011) was known as the "Godfather of Fitness" for his strength and endurance well into his 90s. He opened one of the first health clubs in the US in 1936 and developed fitness devices like the leg extension machine. LaLanne hosted the first exercise television show in the 1950s and advocated nutrition and exercise to encourage healthy living. He continued demonstrating his strength into old age, such as towing 70 boats with 70 people at age 70.

1. “The Godfather of Fitness”

3. •Jack
LaLanne was born on September 26, 1914, in San
Francisco, California.
•Because
of his strength and endurance, even in his 90’s, LaLanne
was often referred to as the “godfather of fitness.”
•He
was the first to open a health club in the United States and to
have an exercise show on television.

4. •As
a child, he ate a lot of sugary foods and got into trouble at school.
•“
I was a sugarholic and a junk food junkie! It made me weak and it made
me mean.”
•After
attending a lecture by Paul Bragg, a well-known nutritionist, he
decided to change his life around.
•He
cut out sugar and other unhealthy foods from his diet and began
exercising. He transformed into a top high school athlete.

5. LaLanne opened a health club in Oakland, California, in 1936. One
of the nation’s first fitness gyms.
Some doctors reportedly advised their patients not to go to his
gym and labeled him a health nut.

6. Encouraging people to do weight training, he developed several
fitness devices, including the first leg extension machine.

7. His club also had a snack bar offering healthy foods as LaLanne
advocated good nutrition as an important part of getting in shape.

8. IN 1951 LALANNE WAS
CHOSEN BY A HEALTH FOOD
COMPANY TO HOST A LOCAL
EXERCISE SHOW, WHICH
EVENTUALLY WENT
NATIONAL.
THE JACK LALANNE SHOW
AIRED MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY FOR MORE THAN
30 YEARS
“People don’t die of old age, the die of inactivity.”

9. LaLanne proved how strong he was when he turned 70. He swan a
1.5 mile section of Long Beach Harbor while towing 70 people in
70 boats in 1984. If that was not enough, LaLanne was also
handcuffed and shackled at the time.

10. Jack LaLanne passed away at his home on January 23,2011. He died
of respiratory failure.
LaLanne has been credited for being “an apostle for fitness by
inspiring billions all over the world to live healthier lives.”

11. “Jack Force LaLanne.” 2014. The Biography Channel website. Jan 31 2014.
http://www.biography.com/people.jack-lalanne-273648