Fitness guru Jack LaLanne has plenty to smile about for the holidays.
In addition to celebrating his 95th birthday in September, he also celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with wife Elaine.
I've known this wonderful couple for years just from interviewing them, and every December, they always send me a nice Christmas card and family newsletter.
I constantly marvel at how healthy, happy and busy this man stays year after year.
Jack's older brother Norman LaLanne, who died in September 2005, lived to be 97. As for Jack, he says: "I cannot afford to die, it will ruin my image."
In September, he just released his latest book "Live Young Forever" (2009 Robert Kennedy Publishing $19.95) and he's beaming about the latest edition to his popular line of power juicers that bear his name and endorsement.
The Jack LaLanne Power Juicer Express is just as powerful as its predecessors but just a bit smaller for saving on kitchen counter space. It uses the same patented extraction technology to squeeze up to 30 percent more juice than other at-home juicers, and features a no-drip spout and extra wide mouth to facilitate juicing fruits whole requiring no pre-cutting. His simple way of turning ordinary fruits and vegetables into glass after glass of what he calls "good healthy with a healthy helper" also does not require peeling or coring to remove seeds from fruits and vegetables before loading up the juicer. He just dumps everything in and the whisper-quiet juicer delivers a tasty reward with easy clean-up. The juicers also come with two cookbooks featuring more than 100 recipes. All juicers can be ordered at powerjuicer.com or (973) 287-5150.
As for LaLanne's philosophy for good health, he encourages slowly changing bad habits into good habits.
For example, he suggests substituting whole wheat bread for the usual loaves of white sandwich bread.
He also recommends this is a great time of year, during fall apple, pear and peach harvests, to start eating fresh fruit instead of sugary store-bought desserts.
He still does regular exercise routines, which millions watched on his television show from 1951 to 1985, and he says he drinks plenty of water and eats at least 10 raw vegetables and five pieces of fresh fruit daily. He also eats fish, egg whites and high-fiber food. He urges others to also pass on caffeine, refined sugar and cigarettes.
"If man makes it, don't eat it" is one of his favorite mottos.
By the 1980s, he also had more than 200 Jack LaLanne European Health Spas around the country. However, by the late 1980s, he licensed, and eventually sold, all his health clubs to the Bally company, which by 1995 became known as Bally Total Fitness.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or 219.852.4327.
Today's Celebrity Birthdays
Actor Paul Picerni ("The Untouchables") is 87. Singer Billy Paul is 75. Actor-director Woody Allen is 74. Singer Dianne Lennon of the Lennon Sisters is 70. Country bassist Casey Van Beek of The Tractors is 67. Singer-guitarist Eric Bloom of Blue Oyster Cult and drummer John Densmore of The Doors are 65. Actress-singer Bette Midler is 64. Singer Gilbert O'Sullivan is 63. Actor Treat Williams and Keith Thibodeaux ("Little Ricky" on "I Love Lucy") are 58. Country singer Kim Richey is 53. Actress Charlene Tilton is 51. Model-actress Carol Alt is 49. Actor Jeremy Northam ("Happy, Texas") is 48. Actor Nestor Carbonell ("Lost," "Suddenly Susan") is 42. Comedian Sarah Silverman is 39. Singer Bart Millard of MercyMe is 37. Actor David Hornsby ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia") is 34. Guitarist Brad Delson of Linkin Park is 32. Drummer Mika Fineo of Filter is 28. Actress Ashley Monique Clark ("The Hughleys") is 21.
