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You’ve heard the expression “we are all born equal” Yes, but we are all different. There is only one you, you can do many things that I can’t do. We are all individualized in this great universe. To be a winner and a success in life find out what you do best and what you enjoy doing!

Jack LaLanne on Aging for Willard Scott’s book, “Great Things About Getting Older.”

“Have you heard the expression, “Old age is not for sissies”? Well, it’s true in a lot of aspects when you get to my age of 88 (I was born September 26, 1914).

In my last year at Berkeley High, I was Captain of the football team and had a very serious injury to my right knee during the last game. I was told I would never walk again, but through exercise and perseverance, I survived! In 1936 I opened my first Physical Culture Studio, although I went to Chiropractic College, studied Grays Anatomy from cover to cover, I was ridiculed and made fun of. I was called a nut, a crackpot and a charlatan, because I was charging money for people to get in shape. Yesterday I was liar and a cheat, today I’m an authority and I survived! I went through World War II in the South Pacific, Guadalcanal and Suva…I survived! At 60 I towed a 1,000 pound boat from Alcatraz to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, handcuffed and feet shackled…I survived! I was told that I would never last on television…I survived for 34 years! The great thing is that I never gave up and I was able to reap the rewards of my perseverance.

Aging is like a sport, you have to work at living longer. The beautiful thing is that if we keep in shape and we have our physical and mental faculties about us, then we’re going to enjoy old age. We can appreciate the fact that we’re alive and living to enjoy them. Many people complain about their aches and pains, but have to learn to live with them. To live life to the fullest, normalize your weight and watch your diet— it could add years to your life. Today, the medical profession takes people who are 70, 80 and 90 years of age, and double their strength and endurance with a program of systematic exercise. Old age is heaven on earth and a blessing if you’re in shape. I f you’re not in shape it can be “hell on earth.” I’m very fortunate that I have been in my profession and enjoying my old age, because I have practiced what I preached all these years. I believe that anything in life is possible if you make it happen. Oh yes, one more thing, I can’t afford to die, it would wreck my image!” *

*Side note: Don’t worry, Jack, your image could never be ruined…you will always be a legend!

Many of you email and write us asking if Jack was a chiropractor…Here is our answer. Enjoy!

Yes, Jack LaLanne was a Chiropractor and was one since the early 1940′s following his graduation from Oakland Chiropractic College. Jack was always a student of the human body since reading Gray’s Anatomy in high school. His curiosity of how the inter working of the muscles of the body lead him to and attend Oakland C.C. following graduation Jack was actively operating the first modern health spa using his Chiropractic education to help his students get into shape. Then W.W. II broke out and he found himself in Guadalcanal evacuating and rehabilitating the wounded. Following the war, Jack returned to operating his spa and soon found himself on the television helping millions of Americans stay in shape and all the while being proud he was a chiropractor. Due to the aforementioned circumstances in his life, he was never able to hang out a shingle, but he supported his fellow chiropractors through lectures and personal appearances. Currently Jack has a chiropractic program called ‘Stay Fit Seniors’ that combines healthy exercise with chiropractic care, which continues on with his wife Elaine, son Jon Allen, and the rest of the LaLanne family. Additionally, in 2008, two of the most prestigious Chiropractic College, in the Nation, Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, TX, and Los Angeles Chiropractic College, now known as Southern California University of Health Sciences, bestowed an outstanding achievement award and additional doctorate upon him for his Chiropractic work. Even Jack’s eldest daughter, Yvonne, attended L.A.C.C. and became a Chiropractor. So Jack’s involvement in Chiropractic was very extensive over a long period of time and if you check Jack’s extended bio on our website it does mention his Chiropractic degree. Thank you for your interest in Jack LaLanne! Have a happy and healthy day!

What Jack had to say…

Today, lets get into the question, why do we get pooped out so easily? I call it Pooped-out- it is. I see it in three categories which can cause this condition.

1) Lack of exercise
2) Empty calories
3) Nervous tension.

Let’s take them one by one…Ok the first one lack of exercise.. Many people think exercise causes you to be tired, nothing could be further from the truth…the more you exercise the more energy you have. Now the second one empty calories, if you are eating dead food you’re going to feel dead…foods like cake, pie, and cookies…man processed foods. If you are eating live and vital food you are going to feel live and vital…foods like fresh juice, fresh vegetables, lean meats, fresh fish, and turkey. I am a great believer in cooked egg whites for my protein.

This is a guest post written by Ben Hanson, lead blogger for the Swanson Health Blog.

Hello friends! We want to let you know about a wonderful opportunity to share some of your memories of Jack and get a chance at winning some cool prizes. The folks over at Swanson Health Products are hosting a contest throughout the month of July where you can post your favorite Jack LaLanne story (or tip, inspiration, etc.) right on their blog for a chance to win one of ten prize packages.

You might remember Jack had teamed up with Lee Swanson, President of Swanson Health Products, a while ago to develop a new all-in-one nutrient formula. Their goal was to incorporate over 400 healthful ingredients into a great tasting liquid formula that was easy to take yet packed with all-natural nutrition. Together, Jack and Lee decided to name their new supplement Vita-Lanne in honor of the first multivitamin Jack created over 50 years ago.

Take a quick look at a few of the many key ingredients packed inside Vita-Lanne:

• CoQ10
• Probiotics
• Essential Fatty Acids
• Amino Acids
• Several proprietary blends focused on weight management, immune health, natural energy support and more
• And of course, a full range of vitamins, minerals & supporting herbs

Vita-Lanne truly is an all-in-one formula that Jack was proud to help create. Now, you have a chance to win one of ten prize packages that include two bottles of Vita-Lanne as well as a copy of Jack’s book, “Live Young Forever: 12 Steps to Optimum Health, Fitness & Longevity.”

Be sure to check out this awesome contest over on the Swanson Health Blog while it’s still open and submit your favorite story about Jack for a chance to win! Visit the Swanson Health Blog Giveaways page now. (You can also read the stories that have already been posted here.)

Good Luck!

Our friend Richie Ornstein noted in looking back over the years 2011 celebrates the 75 anniversary of Jack LaLannes first Health Spa the it was called “Physical Culture Studio”. 2011 marks the 60th anniversary of Jack’s very first exercise TV Show in 1951! In recognition of this milestone please remember to do your moment of movement every day for the remainder of the year and beyond!!!

It’s the key to everything in life. It’s doing the the right things and living by the rules. You can’t have one with out the other. It takes pride to have discipline and it takes discipline to have pride. Its just like you, you can’t separate the mind and the body, in fact; the only way you can hurt the mind and the body is don’t use the. It’s doing the best with what you have. It takes discipline to exercise everyday, to watch your diet so that you don’t overindulge; it takes discipline to make an effort when you don’t feel like it. If you have pride then you want to do the right things. You have self-esteem, you’re proud to be a good citizen, to look and feel good. If you fall down you can get up again, you keep going and don’t quit!