September 19, 2007
Dying is Easy, Living is Tough
Jack LaLanne on Exercise: It’s a ‘Pain in the Gluties’
Many of these What’s Your Workout columns are lame, but this one with Jack LaLanne is great:
“The way people eat today is sick,” laments Mr. LaLanne. “Would you even feed your dog a cup of coffee and a doughnut in the morning?” Mr. LaLanne has many favorite sayings when it comes to diet: “Everything nature’s way.…If man makes it, don’t eat it.…If it tastes good, spit it out.…The food you eat today you’re wearing tomorrow.” He lives by all of them. “Before I eat something I ask ‘What is it doing for me, the most important person on Earth?’ ”
Mr. LaLanne only eats two meals per day: One at 11 a.m. after his workout and one at 7 p.m. at a restaurant with his wife.
His 11 a.m. meal consists of three to four hard-boiled egg whites, a cup of broth-type soup, oatmeal with soy milk, raisins and a plate of seasonal fruit.
“Every restaurant we frequent has the ‘Jack LaLanne salad’ which is ten raw vegetables and four egg whites hardboiled,” he says. “I make them throw the fat and cholesterol in the yolk away and you’re left with the best protein known to man. Four egg whites have the same amount of protein as one pound of steak but only 60 calories compared to 1,000 calories.” Mr. LaLanne eats fish nearly every night at dinner. The only other meat he eats is roast turkey. He doesn’t snack between meals.
With dinner he drinks wine — a mix of white zinfandel and red. “French people live the longest and they have wine with lunch and dinner every day,” he says. “Americans drink milk instead. Milk is for a suckling calf. How many creatures still use milk after they’re weaned? Man.”
I subscribe to the “many small meals throughout the day” philosophy, but I’m with Jack on the rest of it.
September 19th, 2007 at 11:51 am
It does work, good article thanks
September 19th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Glenn: Thanks, I’ll erase my question then.
It’s the same old stuff that Jack’s been preaching all along, but it’s good to re-read.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
i’m on a bit of a fitness kick lately myself. the biggest thing with food is of course portion size. eat unprocessed food and lots of veggies. i love egg yolks though- i’m going to get my own chickens in the spring so i can enjoy fresh eggs.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Yeah I caught the fitness bug too, been working out and watching the portions I eat. My only weakness? Beer!
September 19th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
yeah my one beer a week is kinda sad :(
September 19th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Scott, can you keep chickens where you live? I wanted too but my town (semi rural) won’t allow it. They explicitly don’t allow hogs either, for some strange reason.
September 19th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Tom,
Drive by a hog farm, and you’ll know where your town is coming from with that restriction…
:)
I love milk, I agree with Jack on a bunch of stuff, but also don’t want to take handfuls of pills everday
September 19th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
i live out in the country so i can have what i want. my sister has 3 hens in portland oregon. she is allowed a max of three hens and no roosters. seems like you should be allowed to have a few-they are easy to keep and quiet.
i like milk too :).
September 19th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Well I’m all for discipline, but Jack seems likes a bit of a hardass..(but I guess with his workout regime, he is, literally and figuratively)
I bet his wife sneaks drinks of milk behind his back
September 20th, 2007 at 2:13 am
Linda P., I’d have to say you come across as “a bit of a hardass” on ole Jack. It’s very hard to argue with success and Jack has definitely been successful living a long, healthy life.
Did you ever give thought as to why mammals wean their young? Maybe you should consider giving up your milk addiction. ;>)
September 20th, 2007 at 2:24 am
Pancho,
What you say about Jack is very true. I would love to make it as far as he has, or will in the future.
But given the choice, wouldn’t you have liked to stay attached to your mother’s breast for the rest of your life? :)
Now, your mother also has a say in this. Hence, the weaning.
September 20th, 2007 at 3:42 am
Jack got me wondering, what the hell is coffee made out of?
September 20th, 2007 at 3:48 am
Honestly Linda, that thought turns my stomach. Just curious, are you still living at home with your parents?
September 20th, 2007 at 6:06 am
I used to enjoy this blog for market insights and difference of stock opinions.
Now it seems either literary or culture related which is fine, but it is no longer so market oriented. So many of the market blogs are biased or try to front run their readers, that this one stood out.
Am I out of line with these honest, heartfelt comments?
thanks
Jack S
September 21st, 2007 at 1:55 am
Jack: You are not alone. On his own admission, the Chairman does not trade anymore. No wonder his blog wanders. Instead of sharply observed trading setups, we are treated to fuzzy pictures and Bloomberg excerpts. Soon after the GCC Pics stop coming, all twelve of us will be gone… :-)
I love the Chinese perspective, though.
September 21st, 2007 at 8:21 am
Jack: About 95 out of 100 posts are market-related. If you don’t enjoy the blog anymore then I suggest you stop reading it altogether.
Andre: The excerpts from the Most Read stories on the Bloomberg are invaluable, and even though I’m not trading at the moment I still think this is the best “trading” blog out there (but I’m biased).
September 21st, 2007 at 10:22 am
You seem very defensive in your answer, when someone gives you negative feedback it is often out of respect. I thought this blog had the potential to give very insightful market/trading comments. It has drifted away from that and that is why I said what I said. I think you have good insights and could offer much much more. (compliment)
Bloomberg comments dont add that much so I will probably stop reading.
Somehow you missed the point I was trying to make.
?? Stop reading it altogether?
September 21st, 2007 at 11:18 am
I’m still enjoy’n Mao’s blog.
I don’t daytrade, but his basic method is pretty well documented in the archives. I didn’t realize Mao had stopped trading, which begs the question, why do you still keep the bloomberg? Those things are expensive. I have one, but I don’t pay for it.
September 21st, 2007 at 11:38 am
@Jack: I am defensive about it because the vast majority of the posts are market-related and you whine every time I post something that’s different.
The Bloomberg posts are extremely valuable for two reasons, 1) they are the top five Most Read stories worldwide which tells you what the people who matter are reading, and 2) I excerpt the best bits and offer my own pithy and erudite comments. ;-)
Keep reading if you wish, but stop whining every time I post something about bad breath or books.
@DSC: I don’t pay for the Bloomberg either. I’ve stopped day trading but I’m still very active in the markets and have always kept in touch with many day traders so I know what’s going on.
September 21st, 2007 at 9:52 pm
I’ve tried to figure it out for a while now without asking, because I was afraid it would seem like a stupid question to those in the know. But, I’ve searched the archives to the best of my ability and still can’t figure out what exactly it is that you DO for a living Chairman. Can you enlighten us? I feel like it would give your blog much better context. I know that you used to daytrade…was that your full time job? Who do you work for now. No need to get too specific…just a general “I’m a trader for a US investment bank” or whatever would suffice. Clearly, somebody pays for your Bloomberg, what do they get in return? Thanks!
September 21st, 2007 at 11:06 pm
CM is the Warren Buffet’s illegitimate child who stands to inherit 1/4 of Berkshire Hathaway’s fortune. He dates super models like Paris Hilton. lol
September 21st, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Larry: I never talk in specifics (or even generalities) about what I’m up to … I like to maintain a bit of mystery. Rest assured that the people who pay for the Bloomberg get very little in return. ;-)
September 22nd, 2007 at 1:11 am
He’s an over-educated househusband. That much is obvious.
September 22nd, 2007 at 6:00 am
No offense, tongue in cheek, lots of respect.
September 22nd, 2007 at 6:01 am
He doesn’t owe anybody an explanation. That’s what’s great about the internet.
September 22nd, 2007 at 6:15 am
I really enjoy the pithy and erudite comments they give good insight - but I agree that there has been more non-market postings than before. and I don’t mind, its a nice break from staring at numbers all day
September 22nd, 2007 at 6:27 am
Piker, you are very perceptive. I wonder how many others have figured that out. {evidently not Larry ;-) }
Andreas, I really enjoy the Chinese perspective too.
September 22nd, 2007 at 8:19 am
The Piker: It’s true that I’m hugely overeducated but I’m not a househusband. I even work for the man a few hours a week like you schmucks. ;-)
September 23rd, 2007 at 12:01 am
Chairman, i enjoy every single post you make, great job. Those who have a problem should stop reading or start their own blogs…
September 23rd, 2007 at 1:16 am
CM, just wondering why do you stop day trading?
September 23rd, 2007 at 1:33 am
Here’s my 2 cents:
Very cool blog and I’ve been reading more because of the top Bloomberg stories. I also like the off topic stuff alot. I’m a bit of a health/fitness nut.
This is also the only blog I read to get a perspective on what is happening in China on a local level.
zen
September 23rd, 2007 at 11:58 am
@Born2 & zen: Thanks for the kind words and support.
@crz: After we moved to Beijing from London back in early 2005 I started to pursue some other interests. The 12 hour time difference is tough when you’re an old man like me.
September 23rd, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Here are a couple of good nutrition links:
This site is put together by a couple of doctors. They have some books out, but if you look around the net or catch a bit on PBS you can probably skip buying the book:
http://www.realage.com/
5 nutritious habits of the planet’s healthiest countries:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/08/31/cl.worldly.advice/index.html?imw=Y
September 23rd, 2007 at 11:48 pm
zen: Are those guys at realage a gay couple? Looks like they’re good at self-promotion.
I saw that nutritious habits article earlier and thought it said nothing new (all common sense stuff).
September 24th, 2007 at 9:58 am
I don’t think they are gay, but I’m not sure. I agree that they are good at promotion. Some of their info is interesting. Yes, the other article is basic but some of the info was new to me and I’m a health nut.
September 24th, 2007 at 10:02 am
zen: As a health nut, where do you come down on dairy products?
September 25th, 2007 at 12:44 am
I like to eat. Living is tough when you take it to seriously.
September 25th, 2007 at 8:20 am
Zen,
Can you expand upon your comment about your yoga breathing practice? How has this benefited you? Can you give a brief description of what this involves and where one can go to find out more? I was hoping you would have this info on your blog, but was not able to find any reference to it. I’m very interested.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:54 am
yang, I tried made a comment but it was flagged as spam. I think CM will ok it later.
September 27th, 2007 at 10:28 am
yang:
This is from zen, who has been blocked for some reason by the spam filter:
Yang,
Benefits: I just feel better, it’s hard to describe. I feel really good after doing some yoga. I have had better athletic performance and better recovery from hard workouts. I think the yoga is helping my digestion and I think my body is detoxing.
This is the school that my instructor studied at:
http://www.kym.org/index.html
Let me know if you need more.
September 27th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Thank you both, very much appreciated.
It’s good you see tangible results.
The site doesn’t really tell much in regard to technique. Anything you can offer on this would be welcome, thanks.
September 29th, 2007 at 2:52 am
am I back on???
September 29th, 2007 at 2:53 am
yang,
You should work with an instructor and not try to do this yourself. IMHO
z
September 30th, 2007 at 11:27 am
zen: I went back and tried to recover all your old comments. Once the spam filter identifies your comments as spam, it automatically deletes *all* your comments, which is a pain when it misidentifies someone. You might be interested to know that the term “zen” appears in a ton of spam comments and so it’s quickly flagged as suspect.
October 9th, 2007 at 1:05 am
CM,
Interesting about the filter on “zen”. Sheesh. I’m posting this under “Fred”. Maybe I’ll have to tweak my blog too.