Article: Richard Came to our Town

Exercise guru makes fans swoon
Richard Simmons works the crowd at convention centre `Hello, Canada.

My job today is to make you sweat'

DEBRA BLACK
STAFF REPORTER
Toronto Star

Exercise guru Richard Simmons knows how to work a room.

"You smell so good, I don't know whether to kiss you or lick you," he
whispered in a reporter's ear, while sweeping through LIFEfest
yesterday at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre in a kind of walkabout
more commonly associated with royalty than fitness experts.

Simmons flitted from booth to booth, joking with visitors to the
healthy living weekend show, sponsored in part by the Star.

At one booth, where June Smith lay prone to test a back-care product,
Simmons started massaging her legs.

"Oh, look it's Snow White, she's fainted," he teased. "I'll have to
kiss her." Then he planted a kiss on her cheek.

Wherever Simmons went fans stopped him, chatted and asked for his
autograph. He chastised one woman for eating corn chips. At the main
stage, a sea of enthusiasts and fans awaited him, decked out in workout
gear. As he drew closer, their applause and cheers grew louder.

Then suddenly, the phenomenon known as Richard Simmons was on stage,
leading a mass aerobics workout and corralling about 30 people on stage
to work out with him.

Young, old, thin and not-so-thin, they all gyrated, flexed and sweated
along with Simmons, who was dressed in his trademark shorts and
sequins.

"Hello, Canada," he bellowed. "My job today is to make you sweat until
your underwear is wet."

Then he looked up in the crowd and saw one man doing nothing. He
dragged him on to the stage, asking: "How old are those shoes honey?"

Simmons got down and dirty and made the crowd sweat, as he mugged,
joked and sang throughout the hour-long aerobics class.

"You're doing great," he encouraged the crowd as they sang along to the
Bee Gees.

"I've been working out to Richard Simmons for three or four years,"
40-year-old Bev Jull said between songs. "He's a great inspiration."

"This guy is so motivational," said Heather Lisner-Kerbel, a
47-year-old participant.

"How can you refuse an opportunity to see Richard Simmons? He makes it
fun to work out."

For Albert Anton, who turns 81 next week, it was a chance of a
lifetime. Anton works out three or four times a week to Simmons'
exercise videos. Yesterday, the retired engineer was up on stage with
Simmons, strutting his stuff.

"Five, six, seven, eight, plie," Simmons instructed. "Breathe."

For Sue Kojic, Simmons has been a life saver. "I've lost 110 pounds
thanks to Richard," said the 36-year-old support care worker, beaming
as she worked out on stage.

"I ate and ate and ate to compensate for hurt. I do his tapes three
times a week in my basement. I've got 60 pounds to go. I want to be
about 150 or 160."

The workout done, his fans sweaty, tired and happy, Simmons grew
serious.

He extolled the virtues of healthy living, healthy eating and exercise,
warning about the dangers of obesity and its relationship to heart
attacks, strokes and diabetes.

He recounted his own personal battle with weight gain and anorexia.

"I am a compulsive eater. If I went to your house and found an M&M in
your sofa ... well, let's just say I wouldn't throw it away.

"Like yourself no matter what you weigh," he told the crowd. "Stand up
for yourself. Just try to watch your portions. Make your portions
small.

"

--
Diva
******
There is no substitute for the right food

Exercise guru makes fans swoon
Richard Simmons works the crowd at convention centre `Hello, Canada.


Thanks for the update on Richard Simmons. I hadn't heard anything about him in
a long time. I originally started on his Deal a Meal program, and lost a lot
of weight. I then switched to just counting my calories and writing them
down. But it amounted to the same thing. Good to hear something about him.
Beverly Banks 300/167/160)

wow beverly, WHATEVER your doing, it sure is working!
congrats to you!

--
read and post daily, it works!
rosie

republicans are the party that says government doesn't work, and
then
get elected and prove it.
.......................... p. j. o'rourke




"BANBEVER" wrote in message
...

Exercise guru makes fans swoon
Richard Simmons works the crowd at convention centre `Hello,
Canada.


Thanks for the update on Richard Simmons. I hadn't heard anything
about him in
a long time. I originally started on his Deal a Meal program, and
lost a lot
of weight. I then switched to just counting my calories and
writing them
down. But it amounted to the same thing. Good to hear something
about him.
Beverly Banks 300/167/160)

"Carol Frilegh" wrote in message
...
Exercise guru makes fans swoon
Richard Simmons works the crowd at convention centre `Hello, Canada.

My job today is to make you sweat'

DEBRA BLACK
STAFF REPORTER
Toronto Star

Exercise guru Richard Simmons knows how to work a room.

"You smell so good, I don't know whether to kiss you or lick you," he
whispered in a reporter's ear, while sweeping through LIFEfest
yesterday at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre in a kind of walkabout
more commonly associated with royalty than fitness experts.

Simmons flitted from booth to booth, joking with visitors to the
healthy living weekend show, sponsored in part by the Star.

At one booth, where June Smith lay prone to test a back-care product,
Simmons started massaging her legs.

"Oh, look it's Snow White, she's fainted," he teased. "I'll have to
kiss her." Then he planted a kiss on her cheek.

Wherever Simmons went fans stopped him, chatted and asked for his
autograph. He chastised one woman for eating corn chips. At the main
stage, a sea of enthusiasts and fans awaited him, decked out in workout
gear. As he drew closer, their applause and cheers grew louder.

Then suddenly, the phenomenon known as Richard Simmons was on stage,
leading a mass aerobics workout and corralling about 30 people on stage
to work out with him.

Young, old, thin and not-so-thin, they all gyrated, flexed and sweated
along with Simmons, who was dressed in his trademark shorts and
sequins.

"Hello, Canada," he bellowed. "My job today is to make you sweat until
your underwear is wet."

Then he looked up in the crowd and saw one man doing nothing. He
dragged him on to the stage, asking: "How old are those shoes honey?"

Simmons got down and dirty and made the crowd sweat, as he mugged,
joked and sang throughout the hour-long aerobics class.

"You're doing great," he encouraged the crowd as they sang along to the
Bee Gees.

"I've been working out to Richard Simmons for three or four years,"
40-year-old Bev Jull said between songs. "He's a great inspiration."

"This guy is so motivational," said Heather Lisner-Kerbel, a
47-year-old participant.

"How can you refuse an opportunity to see Richard Simmons? He makes it
fun to work out."

For Albert Anton, who turns 81 next week, it was a chance of a
lifetime. Anton works out three or four times a week to Simmons'
exercise videos. Yesterday, the retired engineer was up on stage with
Simmons, strutting his stuff.

"Five, six, seven, eight, plie," Simmons instructed. "Breathe."

For Sue Kojic, Simmons has been a life saver. "I've lost 110 pounds
thanks to Richard," said the 36-year-old support care worker, beaming
as she worked out on stage.

"I ate and ate and ate to compensate for hurt. I do his tapes three
times a week in my basement. I've got 60 pounds to go. I want to be
about 150 or 160."

The workout done, his fans sweaty, tired and happy, Simmons grew
serious.

He extolled the virtues of healthy living, healthy eating and exercise,
warning about the dangers of obesity and its relationship to heart
attacks, strokes and diabetes.

He recounted his own personal battle with weight gain and anorexia.

"I am a compulsive eater. If I went to your house and found an M&M in
your sofa ... well, let's just say I wouldn't throw it away.

"Like yourself no matter what you weigh," he told the crowd. "Stand up
for yourself. Just try to watch your portions. Make your portions
small.

"

--
Diva
******
There is no substitute for the right food

I was debating going to see him... well actually going to the expo itself.
Never did though.

I am sure that he's helped a lot of people... but something about Richard
Simmons annoys me. I used to listen to Howard Stern years ago and he was a
frequent guest. I think that is when Richard started getting on my nerves.
He was so darn annoying to listen to all of the time! Am I the only person
that is annoyed by him?

"Carol Frilegh" wrote in message
...
Exercise guru makes fans swoon
Richard Simmons works the crowd at convention centre `Hello, Canada.

My job today is to make you sweat'

DEBRA BLACK
STAFF REPORTER
Toronto Star

Exercise guru Richard Simmons knows how to work a room.

"You smell so good, I don't know whether to kiss you or lick you," he
whispered in a reporter's ear, while sweeping through LIFEfest
yesterday at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre in a kind of walkabout
more commonly associated with royalty than fitness experts.

Simmons flitted from booth to booth, joking with visitors to the
healthy living weekend show, sponsored in part by the Star.

At one booth, where June Smith lay prone to test a back-care product,
Simmons started massaging her legs.

"Oh, look it's Snow White, she's fainted," he teased. "I'll have to
kiss her." Then he planted a kiss on her cheek.

Wherever Simmons went fans stopped him, chatted and asked for his
autograph. He chastised one woman for eating corn chips. At the main
stage, a sea of enthusiasts and fans awaited him, decked out in workout
gear. As he drew closer, their applause and cheers grew louder.

Then suddenly, the phenomenon known as Richard Simmons was on stage,
leading a mass aerobics workout and corralling about 30 people on stage
to work out with him.

Young, old, thin and not-so-thin, they all gyrated, flexed and sweated
along with Simmons, who was dressed in his trademark shorts and
sequins.

"Hello, Canada," he bellowed. "My job today is to make you sweat until
your underwear is wet."

Then he looked up in the crowd and saw one man doing nothing. He
dragged him on to the stage, asking: "How old are those shoes honey?"

Simmons got down and dirty and made the crowd sweat, as he mugged,
joked and sang throughout the hour-long aerobics class.

"You're doing great," he encouraged the crowd as they sang along to the
Bee Gees.

"I've been working out to Richard Simmons for three or four years,"
40-year-old Bev Jull said between songs. "He's a great inspiration."

"This guy is so motivational," said Heather Lisner-Kerbel, a
47-year-old participant.

"How can you refuse an opportunity to see Richard Simmons? He makes it
fun to work out."

For Albert Anton, who turns 81 next week, it was a chance of a
lifetime. Anton works out three or four times a week to Simmons'
exercise videos. Yesterday, the retired engineer was up on stage with
Simmons, strutting his stuff.

"Five, six, seven, eight, plie," Simmons instructed. "Breathe."

For Sue Kojic, Simmons has been a life saver. "I've lost 110 pounds
thanks to Richard," said the 36-year-old support care worker, beaming
as she worked out on stage.

"I ate and ate and ate to compensate for hurt. I do his tapes three
times a week in my basement. I've got 60 pounds to go. I want to be
about 150 or 160."

The workout done, his fans sweaty, tired and happy, Simmons grew
serious.

He extolled the virtues of healthy living, healthy eating and exercise,
warning about the dangers of obesity and its relationship to heart
attacks, strokes and diabetes.

He recounted his own personal battle with weight gain and anorexia.

"I am a compulsive eater. If I went to your house and found an M&M in
your sofa ... well, let's just say I wouldn't throw it away.

"Like yourself no matter what you weigh," he told the crowd. "Stand up
for yourself. Just try to watch your portions. Make your portions
small.

"

--
Diva
******
There is no substitute for the right food

"Perple Gyrl" wrote in message
...
I am sure that he's helped a lot of people... but something about Richard
Simmons annoys me. I used to listen to Howard Stern years ago and he was
a
frequent guest. I think that is when Richard started getting on my
nerves.
He was so darn annoying to listen to all of the time! Am I the only
person
that is annoyed by him?


I can only take a few minutes of him at a time and it really depends on my
mood. If I'm in my Biker Chick mood (read the comic Rose is Rose if you
don't get the reference), I can't take him at all. If I'm in a more silly
queer tolerant mood, then I can almost work out to the end of the Sweating
to the Oldies DVD I have. There's a giddiness and a forced exuberance there
that seems so fake at times. I like the work-out "leaders" who have a more
"I know this isn't fun but it'll make you strong" attitude. I can't
remember her name and I don't want to interrupt what DH is watching on the
tube to find out but the woman (Tami Something, I think) in the Arms and Abs
of Steel video is good and also is the guy who does the Firefighter's
Workout DVD.

Tonia

"That T Woman" wrote in message
...

"Perple Gyrl" wrote in message
...
I am sure that he's helped a lot of people... but something about
Richard
Simmons annoys me. I used to listen to Howard Stern years ago and he
was
a
frequent guest. I think that is when Richard started getting on my
nerves.
He was so darn annoying to listen to all of the time! Am I the only
person
that is annoyed by him?


I can only take a few minutes of him at a time and it really depends on my
mood. If I'm in my Biker Chick mood (read the comic Rose is Rose if you
don't get the reference), I can't take him at all. If I'm in a more silly
queer tolerant mood, then I can almost work out to the end of the Sweating
to the Oldies DVD I have. There's a giddiness and a forced exuberance
there
that seems so fake at times. I like the work-out "leaders" who have a
more
"I know this isn't fun but it'll make you strong" attitude. I can't
remember her name and I don't want to interrupt what DH is watching on the
tube to find out but the woman (Tami Something, I think) in the Arms and
Abs
of Steel video is good and also is the guy who does the Firefighter's
Workout DVD.

Tonia

Firefighter's Workout? What's that like (type of exercises)?
Are there good looking firemen in the video?

Jenn
always looking for ways to raise my heart rate during exercise...

"JMA" wrote in message
...

"That T Woman" wrote in message
...

"Perple Gyrl" wrote in message
...
I am sure that he's helped a lot of people... but something about
Richard
Simmons annoys me. I used to listen to Howard Stern years ago and he
was
a
frequent guest. I think that is when Richard started getting on my
nerves.
He was so darn annoying to listen to all of the time! Am I the only
person
that is annoyed by him?


I can only take a few minutes of him at a time and it really depends on
my
mood. If I'm in my Biker Chick mood (read the comic Rose is Rose if you
don't get the reference), I can't take him at all. If I'm in a more
silly
queer tolerant mood, then I can almost work out to the end of the
Sweating
to the Oldies DVD I have. There's a giddiness and a forced exuberance
there
that seems so fake at times. I like the work-out "leaders" who have a
more
"I know this isn't fun but it'll make you strong" attitude. I can't
remember her name and I don't want to interrupt what DH is watching on
the
tube to find out but the woman (Tami Something, I think) in the Arms and
Abs
of Steel video is good and also is the guy who does the Firefighter's
Workout DVD.

Tonia

Firefighter's Workout? What's that like (type of exercises)?
Are there good looking firemen in the video?

Jenn
always looking for ways to raise my heart rate during exercise...


It's a weights routine designed to more to gain strength than to build showy
muscles.

http://www.firefightersworkout.com/

I bought the book first from the bargain bin and got the DVD later when I
came across it at Best Buy and just discovered the website now. It looks
like he's gone commercial big time. Oh well. Still, it looks like in the
article section that he has some interesting ones. I don't think I would
shell out the $$ for a custom program myself personally.

In the video, there are two guys, Stefano and another guy, the other guy is
good looks-wise but Stefanos not what I consider handsome. Nice body of
course but lacking in the face handsomeness IMHO. There are also two women
so the guys are not left with nothing to enjoy looking at.

Tonia

"Perple Gyrl" wrote in message
...
I am sure that he's helped a lot of people... but something about Richard
Simmons annoys me. I used to listen to Howard Stern years ago and he was
a
frequent guest. I think that is when Richard started getting on my
nerves.
He was so darn annoying to listen to all of the time! Am I the only
person
that is annoyed by him?

I don't think I could be in the same city as his voice! Yes, he's extremely
annoying. I did like the Sprint ads with him though, very funny.

Martha

I never said he couldn't be funny... he just gets on my nerves!

"MH" wrote in message
I don't think I could be in the same city as his voice! Yes, he's
extremely
annoying. I did like the Sprint ads with him though, very funny.

Martha