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By Vicky Paraxismos Waite
I was concerned when a dear friend of mine hadn't sent me a Christmas card. She always does every year and then when I called her, I became more concerned because she is the type that responds quickly. I didn't hear back from her, so I now got very concerned knowing she lives in California where her area was affected by the wildfires. After a very long period all my worries left when I found out she was ok. To me and her friends and family she is known as LaLa. But the world knows her as Elaine LaLanne, the first lady of fitness.
It’s funny how I met her the first time. It was when I was six years old watching The Jack LaLanne Show and Jack and his wife Elaine working out. I was kind of a chubby little kid who grew up in a Greek family from New Jersey. My parents owned a food business, and they brought leftover cookies and cakes home almost every day. I found myself becoming a human garbage disposal as I enjoyed watching the show while eating cookies and trying out new exercises. I thought I could grow up and be like.
Over the last 65-70 years she has helped teach and motivate people to live a healthy and balanced life. A movement that started the fitness world as we know it today. It was great to hear she and her home were safe from the fires. Unfortunately, one of her family members did lose their home, but were safe and sound. While talking she was quick to remind me that she sends her Christmas cards out after the holidays which I now remembered from the past years. This 99-year-old pushing 100 is sharp as a whistle, reminding me what I totally forgot. She certainly has no plans on slowing down. That’s right physically nor mentally. It’s hard to believe she will be turning 25 four times in March.
“You have to move, if you don't move you become immovable.” she says. Her typical day starts from her bed, lying stretched out on the top of the covers with about 20 Jack knife sit-ups that target her lower abs. She'll head to the bathroom sink and do some incline push-ups, which target the upper chest muscles. She makes it a point to stretch her whole body every day, including face and neck. To relieve tension in her shoulders, she'll shrug them up towards her ears and then down towards her back. She does the knee-to-chest to relieve tension in her lower back and hips, then it's squats and toe raises. Lala heads to her home gym and walks uphill on a treadmill for a few minutes. She does lat pull-downs on a machine which target all her back muscles. She likes to stretch and hang from a pull up bar letting her body hang like a ragdoll. Weights are coordinated along with her workout.
If you're just starting and never exercised before she says to go easy, one step at a time. Work your way up. Lala says everything starts in the mind. She says you have to believe you can. It certainly has helped her live as if she were decades younger. She’s a true believer in keeping things simple. She feels if you want to combine healthy habits into your life whether it's diet, exercise or stress management, it's all about keeping it simple. Otherwise, she says it's less likely for it to stay a habit. LaLa and Jack always kept an attitude of a positive mindset. They would tell you “Your mind is like a mine that is full of diamonds. All you have to do is dig them up”. LaLa says. The mindset is key to aging healthfully.
Being that I'm no spring chicken, maybe I better start maintaining a more positive mindset so I can break 100 like Lala! She goes on to say instead of focusing on what you can’t do, focus on what you can. She believes everything in moderation. Lala is big on our minds controlling our bodies. She says in order to keep your mind active; you have to be active. She asks, what moves your finger, your foot or your arms? It’s your mind.
If you ask LaLa what are the words she lives by? She’ll tell you in the pattern of the acronym ARCH: A is for ATTITUDE. Have a positive one. The way you think becomes your attitude. YOU ARE YOUR ATTITUDE. R is for RESISTANCE. Resistance is the key to building muscle and toning your body. She also emphasizes how important it is to resist foods that undermine your health. C is for CONSISTENCY. She believes in being consistent in your workouts and in healthy eating habits. It will prolong your life. H is for HARMONY. When you put all this together with s sense of humor, you have a life of Harmony! For LaLa a sense of humor is a biggie when it comes to aging. And that she has a lot! I can easily say she is a natural comedian! Having a sense of humor and finding time to have a good laugh could be the keys to aging in good health. The benefits of laughter include boosting the level of oxygen in the blood and the release of cortisol, endorphins and the immune system’s T-cells. Laughter also boosts levels of dopamine and other stress busting chemicals and hormones that can naturally help to lower anxiety and depression. It’s hard to feel that stress when you are laughing. LaLa explains tomorrow is what you eat today and how much exercise you get. “The rest is to rust!”
In one of her many published books, If You Want to Live Move with Jaime Brenkus, she shares how to take control of the aging process and lessen the risk of cancer, depression, diabetes and hypertension through better nutrition and offers her recipes for meals with less salt, fat, sugar and dairy content. LaLa encourages the elderly to engage in ongoing projects. This can be a great way to promote cognitive function, physical activity, and overall well-being. The idea of always having a project can be a source of meaning and purpose in life. Finding fulfillment and engagement through personal projects, whether they be creative, intellectual, or physical. Having a project gives a proactive and engaged approach to life, helping individuals to stay connected, creative, and stimulated throughout their lives. Her latest book Pride and Discipline–The Legacy of Jack LaLanne and those He inspired, including LaLa, with forward by Lou Ferrigno delves more into the mind, and how she was inspired by her husband, Jack LaLanne and has been a best seller on Amazon. It is co-authored by Greg Justice with quotes from many people including Arnold, Mark Wahlberg, Denise Austin, Tony Danza and Keith Morrison. Her LaLanne Pass It On podcast is becoming very popular and can be seen on You Tube.
Elaine LaLanne continues to play a vital role in the fitness world. In the last few years, she’s been featured on national Television and in the New York Times, London Telegraph, Daily Mail. and in national publications. She is an inspiration to me and many others throughout the world. She is a great friend, and I just love talking to her and feeling her positive energy.
You know the saying: Behind every great man is a great woman and Elaine was always that woman and more! She still runs her family’s business. BeFit Enterprises. It sells archival videos and memorabilia and licenses the LaLanne name. Check out one of her many latest books on page Pride and Discipline. Great Read!