Next spring at their national convention in San Francisco, IHRSA will present Jack LaLanne, the "Godfather of Fitness", with the association's coveted Person of the Year award.
"We are thrilled to honor Jack LaLanne as IHRSA's Person of the Year," said John McCarthy, executive director of IHRSA. "Jack LaLanne has served our industry with unparalleled enthusiasm as a health club owner and operator, equipment inventor, fitness promoter and ambassador. Because of Jack's personal passion for physical fitness and his determination to share the benefits of exercise with the American people, we are pleased to give him this award." |
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"You don't get old from age, you get old from inactivity".
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Jack LaLanne (above) received IHRSA's Person of the Year award for bringing exercise and good health to the masses.
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The 88-year old Jack LaLanne has been America's number one fitness enthusiast, motivating people to get fit and setting an inspiring example.
By his own story, Jack was a scrawny kid with pimples, boils, severe headaches, extremely underweight, constantly being picked upon by bullies and had low self-esteem. One day his prescient mother took him to listen to a nutrition lecturer speaking at the Oakland Women's City Club. That fateful night proved to be the key turning point in his life. The lecture was about the benefits of proper nutrition Jack had an epiphany when the speaker said,
And born again he was, starting the very next day, "I found the willpower to refrain from these foods that are killing me, all this sugar, sugar, sugar, all this processed food." Within days he joined the Berkeley YMCA and started his lifelong and steadfast daily routine of exercise, proper nutrition, and spreading the word to anyone that would listen.
In 1936, LaLanne opened the nation's first modern health studio in Oakland, CA. Defying popular and medical belief that weight training was detrimental to one's health, LaLanne established a steady following and soon developed several first models of exercise equipment, many of which are still used today.
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"My dear friends, it matters not what your present physical condition is, it matters not what your age is; if you obey nature's laws you can be born again!"
In the 1950's, LaLanne used television to spread his message: "Get up, work out and feel better!" to audiences all over the nation. As part of his motivation, LaLanne has staged a series of exciting and physically challenging feats much to the delight of his audiences. His first was in 1954, when at the age of 40, he swam the length of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge underwater with 140 pounds of equipment, including two air tanks attached to him. His outrageous feats would not end there, as in 1984, at the age of 70, LaLanne, handcuffed and shackled, towed 70 boats with 70 people aboard 1.5 miles across Long Bridge Harbor.
Jack's Daily Routine for longevity:
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Awake at 5 a.m., Leave a hot bed with a hot woman and go to the cold gym, lifts weights and swims for two hours.
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Breakfast of soymilk mixed with 50 grams of protein powder,
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Lunch of four egg whites and six raw vegetables.
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Supper of salmon and 10 raw vegetables and a couple glasses of wine.
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Pass on the caffeine, sugar and cigarettes. "Would you get your dog up in the morning and give it coffee, cigarettes and doughnuts?"
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Over the years, Jack LaLanne, together with his wife, Elaine, has authored a number of books and produced several motivational and home exercise videos. At present, he continues to develop new ideas and exercise programs while traveling the world lecturing about the benefits of exercise and nutrition.
About IHRSA
The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) is a nonprofit association dedicated to the growth, protection, and promotion of the health club industry, and represents more than 6,500 clubs worldwide. IHRSA is an international leader in health club industry education and research.
Source: IHRSA
More Like This…
(10/1/2004) Ageless Godfather of Fitness, Jack LaLanne, Turns 90
(09/28/02) Jack LaLanne Gets a Star on Hollywood Boulevard (03/27/2004) Gary Heavin of Curves Wins IHRSA "Visionary of Year" Award
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