My brother recently came across the following quote from Jack La Lanne and sent it to me.
“There are more gyms now than ever, and all kinds of crackpot diets, too,” he says. “It seems like they’re all out to make money. This stuff is so simple. Like I’ve always said, exercise is king, diet is queen, put them together and you’ve got a kingdom. And, if you want to lose weight, you have to count calories. You’ve got to take in less than 2,000 calories a day or you will never lose weight. These are not new discoveries. And you have to exercise. Not necessarily to the extent that I have. Twenty to thirty minutes three or four times a week is fine when combined with a sensible diet. But work and live vigorously.”–Jack La Lanne
Well, if it’s good enough for Jack, it is good enough for me! Definitely, a sound philosophy that has served him well for more than fifty years: Moderate exercise, sensible diet and a vigorous life. It sounds simple enough. And maybe it is. I remember reading an interview with him years ago in which he admitted to not liking exercise. I was shocked assuming that he loved working out. He said he hated exercise but loved what it did for him so he made the conscious decision to just do it.
My exercise approach, while less resolute, is just as effective. I simply found two things I love to do: yoga and walking and make sure I do them often. I get all the benefits that Jack describes without having to do something painful. Some days I would rather not walk, but that really isn’t an option when you live in a condo with a golden retriever. And when not in the yoga mood, I tell myself I only need to practice for fifteen minutes. Once on my mat moving and stretching I start to feel better and usually end up sticking with it for thirty minutes or more. You can do the same thing. Just find an activity you enjoy and do it for twenty to thirty minutes three or four days a week. Then follow a sensible eating plan and you too can be the master of your kingdom. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you.
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