Elaine La Lanne was a junk food junkie, living on chocolate doughnuts, candy, and soft drinks from vending machines, hotdogs, and ice cream. That was when she was 27, working at KGO, the ABC-TV station in San Francisco, where she appeared on and was the talent booker for The Les Malloy Show.

It was there that she first met Jack La Lanne, who said to her: "You should be eating apples and oranges and bananas, and if I didn't like you, I wouldn't be telling you this." Elaine remembers looking up at him while puffing on a cigarette and saying, "Oh yeah?" But Jack's comment did make her take a good hard look at herself and her life. Her chestline was sinking to her waistline. Her legs were getting that "washboard" look.

She started exercising every day at a class Jack conducted at the studio. She quit smoking and revised her eating habits. The results were remarkable. Her skin became smoother and tighter and she reapportioned her body through exercise and diet. Ever since then, she has, along with Jack, preached the fitness message to all who would listen.