You’ve undoubtedly heard the sad news by now:
Richard Simmons, known for his seriously short shorts, sparkly tank tops, and frizzy hair, passed away at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 76. He was a universally recognized and beloved fitness personality and icon for over 50 years.
Simmons created a fitness empire beginning in the 1970s, including videos, classes, books, products, infomercials, his own show, and innumerable TV appearances. In his lifetime, he made more than 65 fitness videos, such as “Sweatin’ to the Oldies,” that sold over 20 million copies.
Simmons described himself as a compulsive eater as a young boy. He was bullied and ridiculed because of his weight.
“I grew up without any physical education,” he recalled in an NPR interview. “I was 200 pounds in the eighth grade, and when I graduated high school, I was almost 300 pounds. I was a very unhappy, bewildered teenager who couldn’t figure out what I wanted in life and why I had such a strong relationship with food.”
On his website, he said he tried diets and laxatives but eventually adopted “a lifestyle of balance, moderate eating and exercise.” His life’s work became making exercise fun for all types of bodies.
In 1974, Simmons opened his own studio in Beverly Hills, which catered to people who wanted to lose weight and get in shape. His workout style was upbeat and welcoming. In a commercial for one of his famous “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” videos, he enthused, “If you’re looking for a lively, entertaining, stimulating, humorous, colorful, frolicking, playful, inspiring, safe, low-impact workout that’s full of kicks, thrills, gusto, fervor, passion, fury, bustle, and action you don’t have to look any further. This is it!”
He wanted to make sure everyone felt safe, inspired, and deserving to be there.
Simmons’ philosophy was simple: He preached positivity, portion control, and moving your body for at least 30 minutes every day—a message that resonated with people who didn’t see themselves in the traditional world of fitness and who felt like the last person picked for the team.
He believed exercise was for everyone.
We couldn’t agree more.
No matter where you are in your fitness journey, make moving a priority. Don’t do it because it’s healthy. Don’t do it because you want to lose weight. Don’t even do it because it will help you live longer & better.
Move because you can.
https://www.businessinsider.com/woman-realized-richard-simmons-workout-was-exactly-what-she-needed-2023-2
https://www.facebook.com/TheWeightSaint/posts/600682371427600
https://www.today.com/popculture/richard-simmons-today-show-no-one-holding-me-my-house-t79821
https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/benefits/index.html