{"id":14508,"date":"2024-01-16T17:15:20","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T17:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/?p=14508"},"modified":"2024-01-21T13:04:02","modified_gmt":"2024-01-21T13:04:02","slug":"elaine-lalanne-what-ive-learned-for-healthy-happy-aging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/winter-2024\/elaine-lalanne-what-ive-learned-for-healthy-happy-aging\/","title":{"rendered":"Elaine LaLanne: What I\u2019ve Learned for Healthy, Happy Aging"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Editor Note: There used to be a saying &#8220;behind every great man was a great woman.&#8221; In the case of Jack LaLanne, who is considered by many to have been &#8220;the Godfather of Modern Fitness,&#8221; at his side was always his wife Elaine, working with him and helping him achieve his greatness.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_14703\" style=\"width: 489px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Jack_LaLanne_1961.600.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14703\" class=\"wp-image-14703 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Jack_LaLanne_1961.600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Jack_LaLanne_1961.600.jpg 479w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Jack_LaLanne_1961.600-240x300.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 479px) 100vw, 479px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-14703\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jack Lalanne, 1961. Photographer: Cliff Riddle, Hollywood, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em>Jack LaLanne, who died in 2011 at the age of 96, had a lot of firsts in the fitness and health industry Here are some of the biggest with Elaine at his side.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jack-and-elaine-650w.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14705\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jack-and-elaine-650w.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jack-and-elaine-650w.jpg 650w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jack-and-elaine-650w-300x206.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Opened the first modern health spa<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Invented the first Leg extension machine<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Invented the first weight selector for cable machines<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Conceived the design for the squat machine (now known as the Smith machine)<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><em><em>One of the original network television personalities and an original television pioneer<\/em><\/em><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jack-lalanne-group-650.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14704\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jack-lalanne-group-650.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jack-lalanne-group-650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jack-lalanne-group-650-300x240.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li><em>The first to have a nationally syndicated exercise show on television<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><em>The first to have athletes working out with weights<\/em><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-stretch-bands-750-h.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14738\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-stretch-bands-750-h.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"586\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-stretch-bands-750-h.jpg 586w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-stretch-bands-750-h-234x300.jpg 234w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 586px) 100vw, 586px\" \/><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><em>The first to have women working out with weight<\/em>s<\/li>\n<li><em>The first to have the elderly working out with weights<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>The first to have a combination Health Food Bar and Gym<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>The first to have a weight loss Instant Breakfast meal replacement drink (protein powder)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-and-jackexercise-2.750.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14740\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-and-jackexercise-2.750.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"515\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-and-jackexercise-2.750.jpg 750w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-and-jackexercise-2.750-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-and-jackexercise-2.750-700x481.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/>\n<\/a><\/em><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><em>The first to have a Coed health club<\/em><em>The first to combine weight training with nutrition<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>The first to have an edible snack nutrition bar<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>The first to sell vitamins and exercise equipment on television<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>The first to teach scientific bodybuilding by changing the program every 2 to 3 weeks<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>The first to encourage the physically challenged to exercise\u2026 to work around their disabilities<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">***<\/p>\n<p><i>Elaine LaLanne, who continues to be active, healthy, and happy at 98 years old in March 2024, now shares with us her story and philosophy of what is successful aging.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ELAINE-IN-DRESS-750.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14702\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ELAINE-IN-DRESS-750.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"612\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ELAINE-IN-DRESS-750.jpg 612w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ELAINE-IN-DRESS-750-245x300.jpg 245w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><p class=\"author-credit\">By Elaine LaLanne<\/p><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dropcap\">S<\/span>eventy years ago, when I was 27, I thought I was old because I was nearing the age of 30. Meeting Fitness Pioneer Jack LaLanne changed not only my attitude but also my life!<\/p>\n<p>It happened in San Francisco at KGO ABC 7 Television station before we ever thought of dating each other. I booked the guests and appeared as a Cohost, five days a week, on the 90-minute \u201cLes Malloy Interview and Variety Show.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I was on the air from 4:30 pm-6:00 pm. The \u201cJack LaLanne Show\u201d aired at 9:00 am. Often, I would come into the studio early. Jack LaLanne\u2019s words on his show one morning resounded in my head: \u201cThe power of movement is your motor, your generator of life. If you don\u2019t move, you atrophy and wither away. Yet, you can actually reverse the aging process; it\u2019s like a sport; you have to train for it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I wondered how Jack knew so much about the body because, in 1951, people weren\u2019t into regular exercise, and there were no other exercise programs on television. I discovered that his extensive knowledge came from Gray\u2019s Anatomy (the reference book on human anatomy &#8211; not the TV show!), his primary source for functional body structure since high school. He then furthered his physical knowledge and earned a Chiropractic degree.<\/p>\n<p>I didn\u2019t want to be old when I was old! Thus began my quest, and I trained using Jack\u2019s simple suggestions. I quit smoking, started his exercise program, and put live, vital food in my mouth instead of the junk food I was consuming (including candy bars for lunch!).<\/p>\n<p>Not wanting to wither away, I finally felt I was on the right track.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_14587\" style=\"width: 424px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0078.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14587\" class=\"wp-image-14587 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0078.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"414\" height=\"414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0078.jpg 414w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0078-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0078-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 414px) 100vw, 414px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-14587\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Elaine LaLanne<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I will be 98 years old in March 2024, and I\u2019m often asked how I\u2019ve lived this long. I\u2019ll share with you some insights that I learned and live by:<\/p>\n<p>AGING IS a PROCESS AND a PROGRESS that we cannot change &#8211; but can slow it down.<\/p>\n<p>We have around 70 trillion cells in our body that are continually dying, and new ones are taking their place. So, if you improve your eating and exercise habits, new cells should be superior to the old ones. That means you CAN become a new you! I visualized I could be a new me!<\/p>\n<p>I believe aging has three dimensions: Chronological, Mental, and Physical<\/p>\n<h3>Chronological Age<\/h3>\n<p>My actual age IS NOT important to me.<\/p>\n<h3>Mental Age<\/h3>\n<p>My mental age IS important to me. I think young, visualize I\u2019m young, dwell on the positive, toss out the negative, and enjoy people who have a great sense of humor!<\/p>\n<p>Jack and I laughed through our life together. Neither one of us liked discord, so he made fun out of almost everything.<\/p>\n<p>My fine lines are my laugh lines and part of my personality. I have found that people like you for your inner self &#8211; not your outer self!<\/p>\n<p>There is no set age at which we must slow down. Don\u2019t fret about it. If you think you\u2019re old, YOU ARE!<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-exercise.750.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14737 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-exercise.750.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-exercise.750.jpg 750w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-exercise.750-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/elaine-exercise.750-700x427.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>Physical Age<\/h3>\n<p>I strive to keep my physical age young by a simple exercise routine.<\/p>\n<p>You eat every day; you sleep every day; your body was made to move every day.<\/p>\n<p>If you and I were having a one-on-one conversation, I would tell you about my <strong>\u201cA R C H\u201d philosophy of wellness: Attitude, Resistance, Consistency, Harmony.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>A \u2013 ATTITUDE<\/h3>\n<p>If you have a Positive Attitude, you look at the bright side of everything, no matter the circumstance.<\/p>\n<p>You are your attitude! We are walking billboards. It shows when we tend to be negative, rehash the past, and say words like \u201cI can\u2019t,\u201d \u201cI won\u2019t,\u201d or \u201cI never\u201d! It brings on misery, and nothing is ever right.<\/p>\n<p>If you feel negative, practice sweeping negative thoughts out with positive ones; it works!<\/p>\n<p>Life often gives us setbacks we\u2019re not expecting, and we can\u2019t see the light at the end of the tunnel &#8211; including me. I believe we must handle them.<\/p>\n<p>Losing our daughter in an auto accident at the young age of 21, I could have chosen to live a long life of despair or accept that I could never bring her back. I chose to accept and concentrate on the many, wonderful memories. I knew in my heart she would want me to go on to help others.<\/p>\n<h3>R \u2013 RESISTANCE<\/h3>\n<p>is the key element in building and toning a muscle. This is also the premise of weight training and resistance bands.<\/p>\n<p>Muscles get weak with inactivity. Strengthen them with exercise and stretch for flexibility. Maintaining elasticity of your ligaments and tendons is also important!<\/p>\n<p>Equally, RESIST the foods that are undermining your health. A healthy bloodstream is your River of Life. Keep that river healthy with live and vital foods!<\/p>\n<h3>C \u2013 CONSISTENCY<\/h3>\n<p>Be consistent in your workouts and eating habits. Although Jack never deviated, he advocated, \u201cIt\u2019s not what you do SOME of the time that counts! It\u2019s what you do MOST of the time that counts!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If you don\u2019t develop consistency, your chance of achieving your goal is very small. A consistent exercise and good nutrition program will give you more strength and energy; it\u2019s your personal insurance policy!<\/p>\n<h3>H \u2013\u00a0HARMONY<\/h3>\n<p>Mind and body balance create Peace, Confidence, and Harmony within you.<\/p>\n<h3>MIND OVER MATTER<\/h3>\n<p>To add to my harmony, I visualize my desires as having already happened and believe in the adage, \u201cWhen one door closes, another one opens!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, sometimes, as we age, aches and pains creep into our bodies, and negative thoughts take over our minds, making it difficult to be positive. The more one dwells on a problem, the bigger it gets.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t let your mind run away with frustration and tension! Tune into your body. Take a deep breath, bring your shoulders up to your ears, elbows back and down. Repeat as you feel a relaxation come over your body and believe you will find a way to solve your difficulty.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, the problems I thought were huge were solved; now, I can\u2019t even remember what they were.<\/p>\n<p>Jack made a significant, positive impact and was a major influence in my life. We had mutual interests, especially concerning the mind. People often said to me, \u201cOh, what a body Jack had!\u201d My answer is and was, \u201cI didn\u2019t fall in love with his body. I fell in love with his mind!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He would often say, \u201cEverything starts between your ears. No physical accomplishment is possible without the full cooperation of your mind. If you hate to exercise, think of the results! Your health account is just like your bank account. If you don\u2019t put anything in, you can\u2019t take anything out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Along with his insight into exercise and nutrition, Jack had a gift for coming up with one-liners, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cI don\u2019t care how long I live; I want to LIVE while I\u2019m living!\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cI\u2019d rather wear out than rust out!\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cExercise is King; nutrition is Queen. Put them together, and you\u2019ve got a kingdom!\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jacklalanne-book-cover.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14588\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jacklalanne-book-cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"406\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jacklalanne-book-cover.jpg 406w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jacklalanne-book-cover-187x300.jpg 187w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 406px) 100vw, 406px\" \/><\/a>You will find more of Jack\u2019s and my writings in my new book with Greg Justice, <a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/winter-2024\/bookshelf-winter-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Pride &amp; Discipline: The Legacy of Jack LaLanne in His Words &amp; The Words of Those He Inspired.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<h5>Continuing to promote\/demonstrate Jack LaLanne&#8217;s philosophies, the incredibly energetic and charismatic 97-year-old Elaine and the LaLanne Family just published the fitness legend\u2019s memoirs and advice in, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/winter-2024\/bookshelf-winter-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Pride &amp; Discipline: The Legacy of Jack LaLanne in His Words &amp; The Words of Those He Inspired<\/em>.<\/a>\u201d Featuring Jack\u2019s enduring messages that remain as relevant today as they were 70 years ago, \u201cPride &amp; Discipline\u201d includes personal communications, wellness advice, and family photos that have never been shared outside of Jack\u2019s immediate inner circle.<\/h5>\n<h5>&#8220;<em>Pride &amp; Discipline&#8217;s<\/em>&#8221; Forward is by bodybuilding and entertainment icon Lou Ferrigno; and includes quotes\/favorite LaLanne stories from world-renowned health leaders and celebrities such as: Clint Eastwood, Denise Austin, Mark Wahlberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tony Horton, Jake Steinfeld, Kathy Smith, and Keith Morrison, among others, some featured in this <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/JackLaLanneCelebrityTribute\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tribute.<\/a><\/h5>\n<p>Learn more on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/jackandelaine_lalanne\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elaine&#8217;s Instagram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/shop-lalanne.myshopify.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shop Lalanne<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elainelalanne.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Elaine Lalanne website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Elaine LaLanne shares her secrets for successful aging from new book<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14623,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[181,182],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-winter-2024","category-winter-2024-features"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14508"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14735,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14508\/revisions\/14735"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}