Jack LaLanne was born September 26, 1914 in San Francisco, CA. During his childhood he was unhealthy and addicted to sugar and junk foods. His teeth were yellow, he was constantly sick, he had a terrible temper and his face was covered in pimples and boils.
This changed when a 15-year-old Jack attended a lecture by Paul C. Bragg, the father of the health movement in America. Bragg was so inspiring that Jack changed his eating habits then and there. Gone were the cakes, pies and ice cream Jack used to eat for dinner. After that, Jack’s diet consisted of healthy, wholesome foods that come from the earth.
Jack was truly a pioneer in the fitness industry. In 1936, he opened the first modern gym, known then as a physical culture studio. This studio was the forerunner of today’s modern health spas. He encouraged men, women, athletes and the physically challenged to exercise and lift weights, even though it was thought to be medically unsafe at the time. Always wanting to know more on how the muscles of the body worked, he attended Chiropractic College and became a chiropractor. He used this knowledge as a day-to-day personal trainer in his physical culture studios. He opened the first co-ed gym, had the first nationally syndicated fitness show, and invented the Leg Extension Machine, the Weight Selector Machine and the Smith Machine – all standard equipment in any gym today.
Jack dedicated his life to helping other people live the way he had – healthy and active. He had shared his sage advice through his TV show, his juicer, and now Live Young Forever.
Jack and his wife Elaine celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on September 24th, 2009. Jack passed away in Morro Bay, CA on January 23, 2011 at the age of 96.
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