for your
health
An interview
with Jack La Lanne
Keeping
LYNDSAY MICHAELS PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.
the f
a
ithBy Will Fifield
“Bill y Gra
ham is all about the
hereafter. I a
pioneer Jack La Lanne
during a recent conversation with T he
Costco Connecti on. After 71 years in
the industry, La Lanne still talks patience with health or fitness
about health and fitness with shortcuts. He advocates consistent exercise and eating well. He
the fervor of an evangelist. Energetic, spry and believes all other approaches are
given to spontaneous outbursts of song, he false doctrines that will lead
loves joking around and greets fans warmly. to disappointment.
Despite his vigor, however, La Lanne is no The simplicity of his
longer the muscleman of years past. Indeed, approach to health and his
his slight figure was difficult to spot in the infectious enthusiasm for
hotel lobby where we met in Irvine, California. fitness have won him mil-He struggles with the frailty that age has lions of devoted follow-brought, even to his body. Yet his firm hand- ers. His charisma and
shake and warm demeanor are subtle clues of
his strong zeal for life.
Yes, he still works out—two hours a day,
mostly in the pool now. “At my age, this [work-ing out] is kind of an ego thing. I’ve been
doing it so long now I just want to see how
long I can keep it going,” he says. He lives in
Morro Bay, California, with Elaine, his wife of
more than 50 years. The La Lannes travel
together around the world, sharing their stories in hopes of motivating people to live a full,
vibrant life through exercise and nutrition.
Seventy-eight years ago La Lanne experienced a dramatic conversion to the simple yet
arduous way of life to which he has faithfully
devoted himself. Because he feels exercising and
eating sensibly literally saved his life, he has little
50 The Costco Connection JANUARY 2008
m about the
here and now,” qu ips 93-
year-old health and fitness
PHOTO COURTESY OF
