Fitness buff

Jack LaLanne, "The Godfather of Fitness"

He was exactly twice my age, and I’m no spring chicken. Jack LaLanne was so old that all my early memories of him are in black and white. About the time I was born, he began his career as the nation’s fitness coach. So, I can safely say Jack LaLanne spent my whole lifetime promoting America’s health.

LaLanne died this week, leaving behind a legacy of jumpsuits and jumping jacks, often mocked by many-a couch potato. But LaLanne got the last laugh. Evidently, he enjoyed great health for most of his 96 years, something very few aging Americans can claim.

Dubbing himself “The Godfather of Fitness,” LaLanne was the unrivaled pioneer of the health and fitness industry. However, unlike thousands of modern fitness trainers who appeal to the narcissism in each of us by emphasizing individual strength and beauty, LaLanne appealed instead to patriotism. Literally tugging on the American flag, he insisted that our collective health as a nation was directly correlated to making America “the greatest nation on the face of the earth.”

When he warned us, “We are going to be losing our place as a first-class power if something isn’t done radically,” I don’t think he was talking about just our physical power. In fact, he considered our health to be our greatest economic asset, as he asserted in his slogan, “Your health account is your wealth account!”

Anyone who exercises knows that working out makes minds sharper, senses keener, endurance stronger, and general well-being better. Wanting these benefits, I try to work out five or six days a week. Because of my exercise pattern, one of my friends called me a “fitness buff.” Hardly a buff! 

At the gym, I see many people far more dedicated than I am. They arrive before I arrive and leave after I’ve left; they run farther; they lift more weights; and they do more sit-ups, pull-ups, and pushups. Unfortunately, however, even though our country's gym memberships are up, so is our nation’s obesity rate, growing from 13 percent when LaLanne began his career to 34 percent today.

Clearly, many Americans didn’t take Jack LaLanne seriously. Even decades ago, he observed we had “become soft” because we had “too much of everything in this great land of ours.” No matter how much we have, though, all it takes is getting sick or injured for most of us to realize the truth of the old saying, “Without your health, you have nothing.” 

So, if I can live with the same verve and health as the real fitness buff Jack LaLanne, then, as he said, “Long live living long!”