Elaine LaLanne, the "First Lady of Fitness," at 99 is still inspiring the public that you can work at being fit at any age. Photo courtesy of IDEA World

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Elaine LaLanne is a beacon of light promoting the benefits of a healthy lifestyle at any age to millions of fitness aficionados throughout the world.

Known for decades as the "First Lady of Fitness," LaLanne will be 100 next March.

And LaLanne is still constantly on the go as she shares the lifelong work of the Godfather of Fitness, her late husband, Jack LaLanne, via fitness conferences, podcasts, books, the Internet and running Befit Enterprises.

Today's Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers have nothing over LaLanne; the 99 year old has more energy, strength and cheerfulness than many of us. That's why she works daily to bring an awareness about exercise, nutrition and positive attitude to everyone who will listen about how to stay healthy from childhood to 100 and beyond.

It's a far cry from her mid-20s when LaLanne ate donuts, smoked cigarettes and did not exercise. 

During a lunch break at the recent 2025 IDEA World fitness and wellness event at the Sacramento Convention Center, LaLanne laughed, "I thought I was old when I was 27." 

But then she met Jack LaLanne, an Oakland body builder and the first modern health club owner, in 1951 during an episode on the ABC-affiliate KGO-TV "The Les Malloy Show" that she cohosted. He did pushups nonstop throughout the entire 90-minute show.

Soon, the TV cohost changed her lifestyle and "started exercising, doing pushups and weights. My muscles got more toned. I quit smoking and broiled everything, instead of frying everything."

Jack LaLanne's appearance on "The Les Malloy Show" led to an invitation for him to be on the nationally-syndicated "You Asked for It" TV show. Jack LaLanne broke a world record with 1,033 pushups in 23 minutes.

Shortly after, Jack LaLanne became the first exercise and nutrition show host on TV with "The Jack LaLanne Show" on KGO. The show was television's longest-running nationally-syndicated exercise program, running for 34 years. 

Little did the LaLannes know in 1951 that "The Les Malloy Show" segment would propel them to become pioneers of a healthier lifestyle and that their impact would still be felt internationally in 2025.

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine in 2022 honored the LaLannes with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their work spreading awareness of the benefits of exercise and good nutrition throughout the decades.

Elaine LaLanne was a featured speaker during IDEA World’s Expert Spotlight Series on July 18 in Sacramento. She had the audience doing facial and foot exercises during the beginning of her talk. Photo by Seth Henderson

Jack LaLanne created prototypes of popular exercise equipment, including the weight selector, wall pulley, leg extension, resistance band and squat machine, according to the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and created the first protein drink, "Instant Breakfast," and protein bars.

Fast forward to today and Elane LaLanne is still the Number One model for healthy living.

Her advice to others, especially those individuals who don't include fitness as part of their daily life, is to keep it simple and to not make it complicated.

"Simply said, if you don't move, you're removable. When you boil it down, you have to oil your joints, move your body, "LaLanne said. "That's why exercise is king and nutrition is queen. Put them together and you have a kingdom. Jack taught me that."

Having a positive attitude is a huge part of the fitness equation for LaLanne.

"You can either go forward or you can go backward," LaLanne said. "I think we should go forward with the positive energy instead of the negative energy."

Her son, Jon LaLanne, standing nearby, added to his mother's comments by saying that he learned much from his parents, including common sense.

"My parents came from the Depression and used good-old-fashioned American common sense. A lot of people not doing well see the glass half-empty instead of half-full," Jon LaLanne said.

You might not be able to change a situation, the First Lady of Fitness said, "but you can realize your frustration and tell yourself that it won't bother you. It's all about attitude."

"I live each day to the fullest," LaLanne said. "I don't think about the future. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow isn't here yet. Today, being with you, is the most important part of my life."

For nutrition, LaLanne stresses moderation.

"What you eat today is walking and talking tomorrow. You want to feel energy," LaLanne said. "If you eat foods in their natural state as much as possible and eat vegetables and fruits with vital vitamins, you'll be OK. Too much pasta, too much of anything is not good."

After turning 80, LaLanne told her husband that she would have a piece of cake "once in a while." Jack LaLanne responded, she said, that it's what you do most of the time that counts.

"I don't overload my body; I have a little of this and a little of that," LaLanne added.

Even today, LaLanne starts every day with exercise. She does 20 jackknifes, stretching exercises, leg exercises, arm crossovers, cardiovascular punches, shoulder exercises, leg lifts and pushups before breakfast.  

Yes, LaLanne still does full body pushups. Jackknifes are challenging core exercises that strengthen the abs and hip flexors.

For those who are strangers to exercising, LaLanne said to start out easy.

"It's never too late to get fit," LaLanne said encouragingly, "People who don't want to work out say, 'It's not for me.’ But think of the results: building muscle, having a better positive attitude and keeping healthy. Plus it mentally cleans out the cobwebs." 

The more you exercise, according to LaLanne, the sharper your mind is. And it's not how you look, whether you have crow's feet or wrinkles but "just be you. Think, 'I'm me and I love me.' You have to love yourself. It's not the look, it's what's in your heart. You have to believe in yourself because there's no one else like you." 

While LaLanne is reassured that many gyms are filled with members intent on keeping fit, she also knows that "some people still pooh-pooh exercise and a lot of people know about exercise's benefits but they don't do it."

"So I've got to be an example. I do the best I can with the equipment I have," said LaLanne, who has vision issues and uses a walker like many others 30 or 40 years younger than her. "The years go by so fast. If I take that I'm not 20, 30 or 40 anymore, I accept what I have and I go for it."

Enjoy each decade, LaLanne stressed.

"I wear old lady shoes, I'm blind in one eye, my other eye is going, I have a bad knee but my core is strong. I do 30 jackknives every day," she said.

To LaLanne, "this is my fun, talking about fitness and writing about it."

As she continues to be a fitness advocate and icon today, LaLanne is shining that beacon of light for all of us to become healthier, whatever our age and our fitness levels.