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Outside Magazine, May 2009

A Brief History Of
Workout Videos
Stretching the Limits of Fitness Programming

By Ivan Miller


1951
Jack LaLanne, the Godfather of Fitness, popularizes the tracksuit—and biceps flexing—on his TV show

1977
Arnold Schwarzenegger wins his sixth Mr. Olympia crown and taunts Lou Ferrigno, the Incredible Hulk, in Pumping Iron

1982
Jane Fonda shows her flexibility in pink tights and purple leggings in Workout

1988
Richard Simmons slims down and dances to "It's My Party" (and he cried if he wanted to) in Sweatin' to the Oldies

1991
Abs of Steel

1993
Televangelist Pat Robertson starts Cable Health Club—now FitTV—as the first health-centric TV channel

1999
Billy Blanks makes Tae Bo a hit, despite an endorsement by Paula Abdul

2003
Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease introduces America to the cardiovascular benefits of lap dancing

2007
Wii Fit

2009
iPump 20 sends workout clips directly to cell phones, giving would-be fitness buffs one more distraction from actually working out ($1 per video; pumpone.com)




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