I suffered from eating disorders when I was just a kid. I did not like me or the way I looked. But back then, you could not tell anyone.
— Richard Simmons
I do not want any child in America to have my childhood because it was taken away from me because I just wasn't good enough; well I am good enough now.
Number one, like yourself. Number two, you have to eat healthy. And number three, you've got to squeeze your buns. That's my formula.
If your oxygen mask drops down, it's time to take a breather!
Yeah, but I do call them back and follow up. Most people talk at overweight people, I talk with them.
I started my own class for people like me who can't find any place else to go.
It's not nice to make fun of people with issues.
But if you pick up every other magazine, it is the peanut butter diet, or the cabbage soup diet, and then you go to the radio and you hear that you can drink some solution and you will lose weight overnight. It just does not work that way!
Well mine is not gimmicky - it is the 6 food groups that God made, and exercising every day. Trying to think positively.
One day I may be meeting you and hearing how you've changed your life by saying, 'Farewell to Fat'.
I hope in my lifetime we can all continue to laugh at ourselves and not put down anyone for what they weigh.
People treat me like family, 'cause I've always treated them like family.
No tricks, gimmicks, special pills, special potions, special equipment. All it takes is desire and will.
A kid who moves is a kid who learns.
This is my theater. This is where I can sing and act out a play and do sit-ups at the same time.
I've never lived in the visual world. I live very much in an emotional-contact world.
You shouldn't make fun of people who have issues.
People are still grasping for the miracle, and unfortunately, there are no miracles, if you do not exercise for a year, and let your body remain dormant, then you will gain weight.
I get an abundance of e-mail every day, some say 'dear Richard, can you call my husband, he weighs 400 pounds...' or 'my 14-year-old is 200 pounds...' or 'I just got divorced, no one wants me, I am 500 pounds.' So I pick up the phone and I call people.
I've been going to shopping malls since I was on General Hospital.
Right now many schools have no recess. Most schools have no PE.
Everyone has a story that makes me stronger. I know that the work I do is important and I enjoy it, but it is nice to hear the feedback of what we do to inspire others.
I get tired of negativity in our country. I get tired of people who only want to know dirt. I get tired of people who don't believe in themselves.
Our children are obese, either have or being threatened by diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and not socially adjusting properly to others because of a lack of fitness.
I show them the funny part, the silly part, the laughing part, the crazy part and then the really deep, deep part where I'm talking from my heart to these people. Because I've been through everything they've been through.
I don't know about you, but every time some joker points me out as I walk through an airport wearing extra-small Dolfin shorts, a tank top and leg warmers, I get a little upset.
Everyone in this world is somehow connected. So why not just be nice to everybody.
I consider myself a court jester - motivator.
I don't have to teach anymore, I don't have to work anymore, God has been really good to me.
I have been up to my head just with calling people, I call about 50 to 100 people a day.
