Jake's testing to see if I'm as strong as I was when he trained me...30-some years ago.

Jake came by the studio where we were filming my DVDs to do a shout-out for World Fitness Day and chat with me about the changes in fitness since we first met 30-some years ago. We used to work out in my driveway, using a broom handle, as I recall. He told me yesterday something I had not known: Ted Turner called him up one day and asked him to do a TV exercise show on TBS. “Ted gave me my big break,” Jake said. We had fun together, Jake and I, as these photos show.

We are exploring way to work together. He is a good business man and a really nice guy.

The whole crew celebrating after 3 full, fun days of taping my DVDs. I'm attempting to assume the iconic first Jane Fonda Workout legs-in-the-air pose (click photo to enlarge)

Even Tulea got into the act

Today’s the day that I went to the studio of producer/director, Darren Capik to be interviewed about my history in the fitness business, how I started it, why I am interested in doing programs for boomers and older folks, how being healthy is related to self empowerment, to ‘owning your body’ and not giving it away, exposing it to disease, or burdening it with obesity. We covered a lot of ground over the seven hours I was there. There are the dvds I am going to be making in a month and a number of other extremely exciting projects that will be heard round the world —if we do our job right. Richard Simmons is in on it with me (among other famous fitness gurus) and he was kind enough to come over to do part of the interview with me and then on his own, also talking about why he does what he does…what he has been doing since the early 1970s. He is in such amazing shape, still overflowing with good humor and song. I lost track of the number of Broadway tunes he sang in the 2 1/2 hours he was with me. I was sad when he left.

With Karen Kawahara, my makeup stylist, looking at the monitor of what we just shot

Waiting in front of the lights to start the first interview

Richard Simmons just arrived to join me in the interviews. Doesn't he look fantastic!!

Can't be serious around Richard for long.

Richard and I being interviewed...and, actually, it did get serious (and quite moving) for awhile

With Darren Capik, producer/director of my new dvds

Yesterday’s blog about Valentine’s Day will come tomorrow because the photos from last night’s party haven’t been sent to me yet.

Stay Tuned

I’m excited because things are falling into place for my 2 new exercise DVDs (used to be videos). We will film them mid March. Lionsgate will distribute. They have 8 of the top 10 exercise programs. But mine will target an audience that has been left out: MY age group and the boomers. I want to get to people who have stopped working out, or never did, or… I can’t wait. They won’t be released, though till beginning of 2011. But you’ll see photos (and film?) of me getting ready, of me actually making them, etc etc. What should I wear? Curious to hear from you about this. These folks I’m working with can do these productions with their eyes closed. I have to laugh when I think of when I did the first ever…still the largest selling home video of all time…17 million copies. WE had no budget, no hair stylist or makeup artists. We did it all ourselves. I wrote the script on a ski trip in Calgary on the floor of my hotel room. Who knew that that video would launch the video business…literally, people weren’t willing to pay a lot for the hardware, the machinery, when they had nothing they wanted to watch over and over..till my JF Workout. Stay tuned.

See you next time.