AP/Ariel Hankin

Fairwell to Fitness Legend Jack LaLanne

The legendary fitness guru who once joked, “”I can’t afford to die. It would wreck my image,” recently passed away at the age of 96.  On Sunday, January 23, 2011, wellness expert Jack LaLanne died of respiratory failure as a result of pneumonia.  LaLanne was a leader in promoting and popularizing fitness and wellness,  and is credited by numerous celebrities as the reason they adopted a fit, healthy lifestyle.

LaLanne used his enthusiasm and his understanding of wellness to encourage others and to bring exercise out of the gym and into the living rooms of the common man–and woman–as early as the 1950′s.  Jack LaLanne said, “The only way you can hurt the body is not use it. Inactivity is the killer and, remember, it’s never too late.”  The unassuming man proved this time and again through feats of strength and fitness that would amaze his audience and help spread his message.   According to an Associated Press obituary listed on Yahoo! News, LaLanne performed 1,000 pushups in 23 minutes on the show You Asked For It–at the age of 43.  When he was 60, he swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.  If successfully swimming more than a mile through the choppy, frigid water (seasonal temperatures in the Bay range from 46-73 degrees) weren’t enough, LaLanne swam “handcuffed, shackled, and towing a boat.”

Jack LaLanne – it takes more than exercise

LaLanne’s message of health did not end with the importance of exercise.  He was a proponent of natural nutrition, focused on whole grains, lean protein, and fresh fruits and vegetables.  In fact, he made getting vital nutrients easier with the Jack LaLanne Power Juicer, one of the most successful infomercial products available.

Finally, LaLanne focused on total mind-body wellness, illustrating the power of optimism and the role of exercise and nutrition on improving one’s emotional outlook:

When asked about his intensive daily workout routine and how long he planned to keep it up, Jack LaLanne replied, “”How long are you going to keep breathing? How long do you keep eating? You just do it.”

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Elaine LaLanne, and his three children, Dan, Jon, and Yvonne.

Jack LaLanne – you will be missed.

A CNN report from last year indicated that the nation’s recession had a surprising impact on the sale of infomercial products.  According to the report, companies such as Telebrands who specialize in As Seen on TV marketing saw record profits with the beginnings of the recession.  Telebrands CEO A.J. Khubani reported that the upswing in sales continues with the lingering recession, and to boost earnings–and stimulate economic recovery through consumer spending–the company continues to search for and market new, innovative as-seen-on-TV products.

Financial analysts say that this trend is to be expected as consumers spend more time at home, avoiding costly entertainment venues, restaurants, and shopping malls.  With an increase in time at home comes an increase in television viewing for most consumers.  With more exposure to television marketing, consumers see a number of ways to improve the quality of life at home.  If they aren’t dining out, shouldn’t they find a way to make cooking easy and more enjoyable with an infomercial kitchen product like the Big Boss Grill?  If they are watching television or reading a book, why not do so comfortably with the Snuggie or the Total Pillow?

Infomercials offer everything to consumers stressed out by the recession and the gloomy state of the economy:  cost, convenience, and comfort during a difficult time.

View the CNN report on the recession’s effect on infomercial marketing here:

You know, I really can’t say enough about how much I love my Snuggie.  I mean, I spent years mocking them, until I finally got one, and now, I love it.  Really, really love it.  Love it so much that it got me to thinking about the evolution of the blanket, which led me smack into the 1970′s afghan on the back of your grandma’s couch.  You know, the afghan–loosely knitted or crocheted with bulky yarn in all manner of objectionable colors and patterns?  Like this monstrosity lovingly crafted and displayed in the Ugliest Living Room Ever:

*shudder*

As I look at that afghan and the rugs and even the throw pillows (while trying to avert my eyes from that hideous couch lest I permanentlydamage my corneas), I can’t help but think the whole shebang was handcrafted via the Knit-Wit.  The Knit Wit was a simple, easy-to-use knitting device promoted in the late 1980′s and pre-dating modern knitters like the Knifty Knitter.  With the Knit-Wit, young and old alike could quickly knit both circles AND squares and stitch them together to create the warmth-giving beauties demonstrated in this 1988 vintage infomercial:

Crafting has certainly come a long way since the 1980′s and their knitted blankets that look giant versions of the “Toilet Paper Cozy” your grandma had in her bathroom (discreet and decorative) used for covering hideous couches rather than rolls of TP.  Now, you can get professional looking crafts with ease using items like the Cricut Expression or the Slice Digital Designer.  With these crafters’ tools, you will create projects you’ll be proud to display–not time-warp blankets that belong on plastic covered couches in the living rooms of the geriatric.

Speaking of geriatric living rooms, the ugly house photo above was taken from (drumroll, please) UglyHousePhotos.com, who did a whole post dedicated to the atrocity that is the afghan blanket.

At this time of year, many people are diving headfirst into their New Year’s Resolutions.  [4BP4M9G6FRD3] Even more are giving up on those lofty goals, figuring they’ve got the next eleven months to achieve them. (To quote a friend who lit up a cigarette at 12:05 a.m. on January 1, “I said I was going to quit smoking this year. I didn’t say I was going to quit today.”)  In the spirit of the new year, I was planning to write this week’s Way Back Wednesday with a focus on vintage infomercial weight loss products or as-seen-on-TV exercise equipment.  But quite frankly, all of this thinking about fitness just makes me hungry.  When I’m hungry, all I can think of is how to get food and how to get it NOW.

And so Way Back Wednesday takes a detour.

When my search for weight loss infomercials of the 1980′s and 1990′s turned to a search for infomercial products designed for cooking convenience, I came across this “handy” device.  The Handy Peel was a kitchen glove designed to make peeling vegetables quick and easy, and I’ve got to admit, it has me wondering how I can get a hold of this product:

I do think it is funny that the effectiveness of the Handy Peel is compared with peeling with a knife, rather than and actual vegetable peeler, like the Titan Peeler.

I think the Handy Peel introduced other “hands-on” methods of cooking.  I mean, why mess with extra kitchen utensils and tools, when you can just handle the food directly?  The Ove Glove eliminates the bulk of traditional oven mitts and hot pads, leaving you with the manual dexterity to adroitly pull your pans from the oven without burning yourself or dumping your freshly baked dinner on the floor. The Grill Glove is another way to make cooking easier by skipping the middleman and leaving your tongs and spatulas in the drawer.  Just grab and flip the meat on your grill; the heat-resistant silicone gloves are sanitary and safe.

Now if they could just invent a glove that would load the dishwasher, I’d be set.

Welcome to the first post of 2011!  We at Way Back Wednesday and Seen on TV Express wish you a very happy, prosperous, and fulfilling new year.

Of course, the new year brings with it a slew of resolutions, including the #1 New Year’s Resolution of all time–to lose weight and get in shape.  Gyms and fitness centers, much like my post-holiday jeans, are bursting at the seams.  Even though the crowds will thin much more quickly than the actual gym patrons themselves, adults of this generation are more fitness conscious than ever before, shaped by a childhood that emphasized activity and exercise.  Whereas America today is plagued by an epidemic of childhood obesity, the 1980′s encouraged fitness among children.  Just check out these gender-specific workout kits seen on TV in the era that first made leg warmers hot.

For the girls was Get in Shape Girl, with five different exercise kits to choose from:

Now, I remember that the Way Back Little Sister had the ribbon gymnastics kit, and she runs actual half-marathons and stuff–for fun–so I’m sure this early introduction to fitness had an impact on her future dedication to staying in shape.

(Note:  I tried a half-marathon once.  It was most assuredly NOT fun.)

For the boys, there is no better way to bulk up than with the help of WWF (pre-WWE) superstar Hulk Hogan:

I must admit, I’m a bit confused as to why Hulk Hogan’s Hulkamania Workout Set was promoted by Mr. Wonderful, Paul Orndorff, rather than the Hulkster himself, but that is a mystery that may never be solved.

What do these workout kits have in common?  Wall posters, cassette tapes, and–most importantly–sweatbands and wristbands!  You simply cannot get a good workout without elasticized terry cloth strapped around your head and arms.  It’s a fact.

Moving on from Kid Fitness – The Flex Belt, Gym Flex, Total Gym and others provide options for Adults

These days, Hulk Hogan has moved from the gym to the kitchen with his Hulk Hogan Ultimate Grill, but those of us who grew up on kiddie workouts can maintain our fitness lifestyles with today’s workout equipment for adults.  That old step from your Jane Fonda step aerobics video has been reinvented as the GymFlex, which converts from a step to a bench to an incline and contains straps, attachments, bars, and handles for a total body strength training workout.  The Total Gym also allows you to strengthen and tone your entire body at home, giving you an effective workout while allowing you to avoid the hoards of New Years Resolutioners that will hog all the treadmills and exercise machines at the local gym.  Finally, the FDA-cleared Flex Belt allows you to maximize your results by toning your abs even when you aren’t actively working out.

Of course, if your workout style is more Mr. Belvedere than Mr. Wonderful, there’s always the Perfect Fit Button and Pajama Jeans to get you through until next year’s New Year’s Resolutions come knocking.