American Fitness Icon Jack LaLanne Has Died

America' s well-known health and fitness guru, Jack LaLanne has died at the age of 96. Jack LaLanne died at his home Sunday afternoon from pneumonia.

Jack LaLanne became a household name back in the 1950's when he had his own show on television. The show was on in the morning and it was in black and white. I remember getting ready for school each morning and my mother would be watching "The Jack LaLanne Show". LaLanne would show easy exercises that could be done using just a chair for housewives all over the country. My mother would sometimes workout while trying to get us ready for school. The show was very popular and lasted into the 1970's. His show is still the longest running exercise show on television ever.

Jack LaLanne who is hailed as "The Godfather of Fitness", not only had his own fitness television show, but according to his blog he also started a chain of fitness centers and he invented the first leg extension machines which are now a standard in the fitness industry. You can check out his blog, by clicking on Jack LaLanne's blog.

I remember when Jack LaLanne made the headlines after he swam from Alcatraz to San Francisco while he was handcuffed and towing a boat. The Associated Press states that he was 60 years old at the time.

In recent years, Jack LaLanne promoted the benefits of eating healthy be eating more fruits and vegetables. He marketed a machine called Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer.

What Jack LaLanne did that many of us don't do, is to make exercising a part of his lifestyle. It wasn't just a workout for him, it was his life. According to the Associated Press, Jack LaLanne's daily routine consisted of two hours of weightlifting and one hour of swimming. This was his lifestyle not a workout routine.

Jack LaLanne received many awards over the years including being inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2005.

Jack LaLanne leaves behind his wife of 51 years, Elaine and their two sons and one daughter.

Sources: Jack LaLanne's Blog
Associated Press
Wikipedia