“Many people have arthritis and rheumatism; they get bum knees, a bum back. A lot of guys get a little pain in the toe or knee and then they won’t exercise. Well gee, you have 640 muscles in your body. There may be a few exercises you can’t do, but there are hundreds you can do!”_
~Jack Lalanne
I grew up watching Jack Lalanne in black and white, wearing his silly jumpsuit, saying things that were, at the time, kind of crazy. “Come on ladies, you have to move your body. You can’t just sit around all day and not expect to be fat”. I have to believe that his words were unpopular and offensive to many people. But he never gave up his fight against the belly bulge. I heard him speak at a fitness convention when he was 74 years old. I mean young. He challenged all 2000 of us buffed out fitness professionals to a push up contest, and he won. On his fingertips! I will never forget his words. “You can do a thousand push ups on your knees, and still not be able to do one on your toes.” If you know me, you have undoubtedly heard me say those words more times than you wanted to.
So here’s to a soldier. A front line fighter in the war against laziness and obesity. Here’s to taking the days we have left in these human bodies, and using them to do great things. Like beating a room full of youngsters in a push up contest when we’re 80! I love you Jack. And I hope there are dumbells in heaven. Lord have mercy on all the lazy angels.
I also remember Jack & my mom doing those strange bicycle-pedal-pushes with legs up in the air while Jack Lalanne cheerfully chirped about doing just-a-few-more reps of artery-swishing exercises on our B&W TV set. ~~ Funny you should query about "dumbells in heaven". My immediate thought? With so MANY dumbells on Earth, the "odds" are: SOME of them ought to land Up with Jack !! [whew! There might be hope for This bookworm After all.]