Young at heart
by Bonnie SieglerFitness guru Jack LaLanne shares his thoughts on assessment, diet, exercise and longevity.I've never felt better, more fit or full of energy in my entire life," says the legendary fitness guru Jack LaLanne as he prepares to be the next spokesperson for FitnessAge[R]. "FitnessAge helps determine your physical age through various body composition, step and flexibility tests." Through lectures and personal appearances, the 85-year-old health pioneer is hoping to get the word out. "This is going to revolutionize the fitness industry," he says. "Say you're 40 years old and your physical age is 60. That can blow your mind and, hopefully, will encourage people to start doing something now. It's a wake-up call for everyone. It will be great for corporations who want to know the condition of their employees." The exercise king hasn't slowed down a bit. In fact, he still works out for two hours every day, seven days a week. "My FitnessAge is 29," he says. "I've been working out since I was 15 years old and it's paid off." In his rambling two-story home on three acres which he shares with his wife of 48 years, Elaine, the golden-age fitness guru rolls out of bed at 5 a.m. "I roll out and Elaine rolls over, but she gets going by 7 a.m," LaLanne says. He then retreats to one of his home gyms. "One gym has all the equipment that I ever invented. I invented most of the fitness machines that gym have now way back in 1934 through 1937. There was no equipment then, just some barbells:" In fact, LaLanne lays claim to inventing the first leg extension machine, cable machine and weight selector. "All of those came out of my little head," he says. Taking fitness very seriously, LaLanne will do one hour of weight training in his state-of-the-art gym, followed by another hour of laps in his backyard pool. "I have 640 muscles in my body and they all get their share of work," he says. "Monday, I work out my deltoids, lats and pecs. Tuesday, I work my legs, lower back, abdomen, triceps and biceps. Then I repeat this routine for seven days. At the end of 30 days, I change my program completely. The minute a muscle gets used to a certain exercise, it won't respond anymore. You have to keep yourself motivated and charged up to enjoy fitness. Some people dread going because they've been doing that damn treadmill for months and months and they're bored with it. If you had to eat spinach the rest of your life, you'd be so bored and malnourished. Keep changing the routine so your muscles stay excited and your brain charged. Even when I'm traveling, I'll work out at the hotel." And his theory of nutrition? "If man makes it, don't eat it," he says. "So many of our fruits and vegetables are sprayed with insecticides and our air is being polluted. It's no wonder we all have to take extra vitamins and minerals. People are eating too many inferior foods and not exercising on a regular basis. Everyone should wake up with energy and vitality, be able to work all day, then still be able to take care of their families." To get his energy juices flowing in the morning, LaLanne will drink his breakfast power shake: 50 grams of protein powder, half of soy product, half carrot juice and half celery juice mixed with an apple and banana. "I'll have two or three pieces of fruit and that's my breakfast. Lunch is four to six egg whites, five pieces of fresh fruit and that's it." Could his secret of longevity be healthy home-cooked meals? "We eat out every night," he says. "We never eat at home except on holidays. If the restaurant doesn't have salad, we bring our own with dressing. If they don't serve the soup I want with no cream, butter or cheese, I'll bring my own. And we always bring our own pita bread. I practice what I preach. That's why my Fitness Age is 29." Where does Jack LaLanne see fitness heading in the new millennium? "It's going to get better, especially if we can incorporate FitnessAge into schools and the corporate spectrum of America," he says. "I hope to see fitness philosophy beginning in kindergarten. It needs to be taught at an early age, cultivating good health habits. You have to be physically and mentally healthy and it should start at a very early age." Does he feel young? "Oh sure. Any ass can die, but it takes guts to live." LaLanne Blender Soup - One can of chicken broth or homemade schicken stock
- One carrot chopped
- One small bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 zucchini, shopped
- One celery stalk, chopped
Mix the above ingredients in a blender. Pour mixture into a saucepan and bring to boil. "You may substitute any of the vegetable mentioned for the ones you have sitting in your fridge," LaLanne says. --B.S. Bonnie Siegler covers celebrity fitness for American Fitness. COPYRIGHT 2000 Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group
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