By: Darren Rieck
"You can achieve anything".
That was from a recent speach where I heard Jack Lalanne address a crowd of gatherers for the Labor Day Contest at Muscle Beach in Venice, California. He was there to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award for all that he has done for the health and fitness of millions of people over the years.
It was not the first time I had heard these words, as we all have, but it was the first time I heard Jack Lalanne give a speach. Here was a man I had seen on TV when very young, and I have heard his name off and on again for years since. He is more recently known for his Power Juicer Infomercials, which I am not familiar with, but I beleive that drinking fruit & vegetable smoothies is a healthy practice. After all, it is not an uncommon practice for celebrities to put themselves behind a product, but there is not much that is common about this soon-to-be 94 year-old-man.
To me, the main point that came across was that when it is all said and done, your health and well being rests on your shoulders. Barring disease and accidents, your fitness and nutrition are in your hands. By putting in your time and watching what you eat (Jack says "if man makes, it don't eat it"), your overall health improves both in the short and longer term.
For those who are familiar with my writings, this has been my point all along (my book 25andUp.com), and I completely agree. You decide what you eat, and you decide how active you are. There is a great deal of good information available (start at HEALTHandFITNESS.com). If you need additional assistance, personal trainers and registered dieticians are available.
If you use a professional, be sure their goal with you is to not only instruct you, but teach you how to take care of yourself without their future help so you can do it on your own.
Remember, YOU have the POWER!
See & hear Jack Lalanne Labor Day 2007 here.
HEALTHandFITNESS.com 
