The man who hosted the longest-running TV exercise show in history ("The Jack LaLanne Show," 1951-1985) came to San Francisco this week for his 95th birthday celebration with 100 family members and friends at John's Grill, where a seafood salad has been named for him since the 1970s. He also agreed to do an unusual thing: work out with a reporter, even though he never works out with anyone, even his wife.
So we met at the gym of Parc 55 hotel Tuesday, where the Morro Bay (San Luis Obispo County) resident was staying. LaLanne has professed the benefits of weightlifting and a low-sugar, meat-free diet for 70 years - decades before it was fashionable with the public and health professionals - and he still lifts for an hour and swims 30 minutes, seven days a week.
On this particular day, he'd apparently already worked out (!), so our get-together turned into a training session for me. Before we started, I asked for his thoughts about reading on the treadmill or listening to music at the gym.
