Jack LaLanne, the guru of fitness, has died in his home at the age of 96 from a one week battle with pneumonia. He passed his time spending two hours a day lifting weights and one hour a day swimming. He was the ultimate old man running. Life is about living strong. This man got it right.
Some people claim that smoking and obesity cost society less because people die sooner. Jack LaLanne is a classic example of how wrong these people are. When you live right, you live well. Your odds of dying doubles every eight years. When, where and how you end depends strongly on how well you choose to live your life.
Growing old isn't about growing into a nursing home. It's about enjoying the golden years the way you want them to be enjoyed. Jack LaLanne is a testament to the power of exercise in finishing strong. I have experienced the power of exercise in my life. It's why I have my own running log and why I talk about it often on The Happy Hospitalist.
Exercise is all about living. Jack LaLanne understood that. His passion helped millions of people finish strong. He died after a brief and rapid illness, on his own terms. That's the way it's supposed to happen. He defined his own mortality. God Bless you Jack. You are an inspiration. Here's Happy's tribute to your life, graphically defined.
