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As a teen with an eating disorder, Richard Simmons showed me I could exercise with joy and hope

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1 year ago

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As a teen with an eating disorder, Richard Simmons showed me I could exercise with joy and hope

After panning over New York City, swooping from bridge to train, the camera drops to calf-level, looking out from a shoe store shop display. On the sidewalk, a man pauses, raising a leg to try on the pair in the window. The leg is bare, tan, and toned, not poured into jeans; the shoes aren’t black leather, they’re blizzard-white trainers. It’s not “Stayin’ Alive” throbbing but a Gibbsian falsetto droning, “Get on down.”

The “Saturday Night Fever” homage continues, the man strutting into a Brooklyn home. He flicks through a closet’s rainbow of tank tops, picks out a halo of tawny curls, and enters a nightclub (Brooklyn Disco) to a chorus of “how you doin’s.”

By that point, not yet two minutes into the video, I was marching. Keeping time with the beat in my socks, a scant six feet from the looming media cabinet in our cramped living room. It was the only room with a TV, and for “Disco Sweat” I’d endure my self-consciousness about exercising a hallway away from my mom, in the kitchen. I was 15. Three years out from an anorexia diagnosis, post-relapse number two, any physical exertion was suspect. And was I going to exert! I’d boogie to “Boogie Fever,” clap to “Born To Be Alive” and sashay to “I Will Survive,” inches from shimmying into the La-Z-Boy or Travolta-armsing our Airedale. Reflexively, I smiled at the TV. I was about to spend 70 minutes with Richard Simmons.

Simmons, who died on July 13 a day after his 76th birthday, was as recognizable as the golden arches of McDonalds. There was no discovering him. When I was growing up in the ’90s, he’d already become an icon. The fusilli hair, the oiled skin (subject of familiar jabs about the source of his signature glisten…Pam?), the spangle, the voice. The voice! Gleeful, giddy, earnest and encouraging, adamant yet never authoritarian. It was a voice apart from others, flouting the dire, eroticized militancy of gyms like those then-ubiquitous ads for Bally Total Fitness (“Firm arms, rock hard abs, for less than a $1 a day”).  

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Richard’s voice was a reprieve from my dour, cynical toxic self-talk.

Simmons was a tonic to those who found those creatine temples intimidating or inaccessible. Who found that rhetoric overbearing or off-putting. Who didn’t want to build muscles while being belittled. Watch any of Simmons’ videos — and I watched all of them, borrowing them from the library again and again, pledging my allegiance to “Sweatin’ to the Oldies Vol. 2” (“Windy”!) over Vol. 1 (too slow) — and you’ll see a cast of real-life folks, people who’ve lost weight with Richard. At the end of “Disco Sweat,” those backup dancers run toward the screen, accomplishment quantified on screen: “David Jacobs, 107 pounds.”

As a teenager, anxious about three or five pounds, I jogged in place during those last minutes, sometimes tearing up, sometimes clapping. I never found these numbers triggering, never left “Disco Sweat” determined to outpace another’s loss. Instead, I left hopeful; someday, I might be as embracing, as joyous, as a light-hearted as Richard.

Perhaps because I was in the grips of my own eating disorder, I understood that that sunny affect must’ve been hard-won. It was. After spending approximately two hundred hours Disco Sweating, I read Simmons’ memoir, “Still Hungry—After All These Years.” Unlike the subjects of most eating disorder memoirs I devoured, Simmons had lived a varied, wanderlusty life. He was a musical theater nerd, an actor, a makeup rep and the most charismatic waiter in LA before becoming an entrepreneurial smash: actor, author, studio owner, teacher, infomercial sensation with products like Deal-a-Meal. But catch his cameo in “Satyricon”; you’ll see the haunted gauntness in his eyes and know that, for two decades, he was also killing himself with food.

What stuck with me was his recounting of the period he spent in Italy in his 20s. While working as a commercial actor, he receives an anonymous note (“RICHARD—YOU’RE VERY FUNNY BUT FAT PEOPLE DIE YOUNG. PLEASE DON’T DIE”) stuck to the windshield of his Fiat. He feeds lire into a public scale and, shocked by the number, embarks on a starvation diet so extreme he winds up passing out near the Uffizi Gallery. He wakes up in Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, having lost 112 pounds in less than three months. His organs were failing.

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Who would want to be uptight when you could be irrepressible?

“I had been on both sides of the ruler,” Simmons writes. “I had been on the overweight, obese side, and then I had quickly seesawed to the very, very thin side—too thin. At this point in my life I was no better off, no more intelligent, and had no more knowledge than I did when I took that first diet pill in the sixth grade. Now it was time for me to try to find some balance, some middle ground, for the first time in my life.”

Balance. You couldn’t have said a nastier word to teenage anorexic me. Balance was for the undriven and the ordinary, people too weak to sacrifice everything in pursuit of their goal. Balance didn’t promise flat abs or jutting ribs. And yet, reading Richard, I wept. I couldn’t admit it yet, but I recognized it: my bleak, stupid mission.

I wish I could say that Richard Simmons fast-tracked my recovery from anorexia, but then that would be as cliché and saccharine as one of the skits in his workout videos, minus the camp. (And he was campy from the get-go, goofing and jestering: his first book titled, “Never-Say-Diet.”) Instead, Richard’s voice was a reprieve from my dour, cynical, toxic self-talk. Richard’s voice—so puckish and irreverent, singing “burn baby burn,” even talking about burning calories—was so unserious that it was infectious. Who would want to be uptight when you could be irrepressible? He was a cross between Puck and the Energizer Bunny, and yet he was an utter original. That’s the sort of thing David Letterman would say to him, when he made a late-night appearance, always using his name with that parental admix of bafflement and fatigue: “Richard.”

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His voice didn’t proselytize, either, and so I’m grateful that Richard was in the back of my mind, when the body positivity movement swept and seemed a new kind of dogma. I was grateful for Richard when I began doing another exercise video on repeat, one led by a frigid ballerina who never flubbed or joked. Yes, the Simmons oeuvre prizes weight loss but not at the cost of self-judgment.

In the last decade, Simmons retreated. He stopped leading classes at the Richard Simmons Slimmons Studio. He wanted to live a quiet life. There was speculation—was he being held prisoner, was he dying—but I prefer to imagine he had simply relaxed into existence, a state of satiation. Not worried about worrying about his fans (he was a compulsive fan-mail responder), not worried about numbers: likes, follows, revenue, pounds.

In the years I did “Disco Sweat,” I often forgot I was working out. Sometimes, babysitting my little sister, I roped her into doing the video, too. We laughed a lot: Richard’s cherubic smile, his costumes, his charms and puns. Unlike running or my herky-jerky stints on the Nordic Machine strider in the basement, there was no specter of calories. Who could know how many calories I burnt during those 72 minutes? Sweaty, happy, I’d rewind the tape.

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Fitness

Enter 2026 stronger than ever with these expert-approved fitness tips

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9 hours ago

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January 4, 2026

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Enter 2026 stronger than ever with these expert-approved fitness tips
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Whether you’re focused on building muscle, improving your balance or working on your ability to complete longer, sustained workouts, one thing’s for sure: you’ll need to take small, actionable steps to reach your fitness goals.

Remember, you don’t need to drastically overhaul your life on January 1. In fact, before making any major changes to your dietary pattern and exercise routine, it’s best to have a conversation with your doctor first, especially if you live with any chronic conditions. In the long run, you’ll most benefit from taking small, actionable steps to help achieve your fitness and nutrition goals, the experts say.

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We asked fitness experts to break down their top tips to help you kick off 2026 stronger than ever.

How to fit exercise into a busy schedule

If you’re hitting the reset button on your fitness routine, start small and choose an exercise you enjoy, says Dr. Kimberly Burbank, a primary care sports medicine fellow and team physician at UCLA Athletics. You don’t necessarily need to do the movements traditionally associated with exercise to get a good workout in, either. “I really encourage people to choose (a movement) they actually enjoy doing, because they will probably stick with it more,” she says.

To help set attainable fitness goals, one route is to use the SMART framework of goal setting, recommends Dr. Brandee L. Waite, a professor and vice chair of Wellness & Community Engagement Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at UC Davis School of Medicine, the medical director of the UC Davis Health Sports Medicine Clinic and the director of Lifestyle & Longevity Medicine Innovation.

The SMART acronym stands for goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound, and what’s great about using this framework in an exercise context is that you’re able to approach fitness as you would any other appointment — if it’s scheduled on your calendar, there’s a greater likelihood you’ll honor it, Waite says.

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We all know physical fitness is crucial. But how many days weekly should you work out?

When it comes to fitting exercise into a busy schedule, “I try to encourage consistency over perfection,” Burbank says. Often, her patients will express frustration that they’ve missed a week of exercise — and therefore their entire workout schedule has been thrown off. While it’s important to “be as consistent as you can, (understand) that you don’t have to be perfect to still make a meaningful difference,” she says.

If you’re someone who prefers to exercise in the morning, try to make it easy for yourself when you wake up. “It’s so easy when that alarm goes off to just ignore it and move on. But if you have laid out your clothes the night before, have your coffee prepped (and) have your bag packed, then there’s so many (fewer) variables and barriers,” Burbank says.

How often should you exercise?

There’s no perfect cadence as to how often you should exercise. “What works really well for one person, will not work at all for another person. So, it does need to be personalized and realistic,” says Waite. However, there is something to be said about shorter, more frequent workouts. There’s a lower risk of injury, and they’re faster to complete and generally easier to stay consistent with, Burbank says.

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Ultimately, what’s most important is to meet a certain number of goal minutes every week, says Dr. Julia L. Iafrate, a sports medicine physician at NYU Langone Health and a team physician for the U.S. Ski Team. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend adults participate in 150-to-300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week. While this might sound intimidating, that breaks down to only 30 minutes of exercise a day over the course of five days, and could consist of a mix of pilates, yoga or brisk walking.

More: What were the popular workout classes of 2025? See ClassPass report

If you prefer vigorous-intensity aerobic exercises (like HIIT or running), it’s recommended you complete at least 75 minutes a week, which evens out to a little more than 20 minutes of exercise a day over the course of three days. On top of these exercises, the organizations suggest adults should partake in muscle-strengthening workouts at least two days a week.

What are the most beginner-friendly exercises?

There are a few forms of exercise that should be a central focus of your workouts: cardio, muscle strengthening and balance work. Practicing each type of exercise can help improve your ability to do the others and also reduce your risk of injury, Iafrate says.

  • Cardio. Incorporating aerobic exercises that get your heart rate up (such as running, swimming or cycling) is key to improving endurance, supports heart and lung health, and lowers your risk for a number of chronic diseases, Iafrate says. 
  • Muscle strengthening. Resistance training with weights stimulates two types of muscle contractions: eccentric loading and concentric loading. When you perform a bicep curl with a dumbbell in hand, that’s considered a concentric motion. As you lower the dumbbell and your arm straightens, that is an eccentric motion, Iafrate says. Both movements are important for strength building, tendon health and bone mineral density, she explains. 
  • Balance work. Functional movement training, including tai chi and yoga, is especially beneficial for maintaining flexibility, stabilizing your body and limiting the likelihood of falls down the line, Iafrate says. 
  • Weight-bearing exercise. “Walking, especially for beginners, is super underrated,” Burbank says. Getting your step count up to 7,000 steps a day offers immense benefits for health, including lowering your risk for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, according to a 2025 study published in Lancet Public Health.

If you’re relatively new to exercise and don’t know what is helpful or harmful, Waite recommends having at least two-to-three sessions with a physical therapist to develop the right type of exercise program. For instance, if someone has a medical condition like hip arthritis, a professional can provide “modifications for a regular fitness training program that won’t further exacerbate the problem that is currently bothering them,” Waite says.

How can nutrition support fitness goals? 

“Nutrition and exercise have such a symbiotic relationship,” Burbank says. Throughout your week, prioritize whole, fiber-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Americans aren’t consuming nearly enough protein, which is essential to muscle building, muscle recovery and satiety, Burbank notes. Your minimum daily intake of protein should hover between 0.8 grams to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. To increase your protein intake, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 recommends incorporating more lean meats, poultry, eggs, seafood, legumes, nuts, seeds and soy into your diet.

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More: Functional strength training provides many health benefits. But you need to be careful.

Hydration is particularly important, especially prior to working out. “When you’re dehydrated, (it will) increase your likelihood for fatigue and poor peak performance,” Iafrate says. Ideally, we should be drinking between 2.5 to 3 liters of water a day, Burbank says. 

More: Consider these 4 doctor-approved tips to help maintain strong, healthy bones

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Fitness

New Year’s Fitness Goals: Avoid These Common Mistakes

Published

6 days ago

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December 29, 2025

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New Year’s Fitness Goals: Avoid These Common Mistakes

A new year usually brings new fitness goals, fueling spikes in gym memberships and social media feeds filled with workout selfies. Yet, just as quickly as this wave of motivation appears, it usually recedes.

Why does this cycle repeat itself year after year? Well-meaning individuals often start with intense, all-or-nothing approaches that are difficult to sustain, fitness experts say. Life gets in the way, motivation wanes, and the pressure to see immediate results leads to burnout.

A commitment to fitness is a common challenge, and finding a solution is crucial for long-term success, according to Steven Hale, M.D., a primary care sports medicine physician with Baptist Health Orthopedic Care. To get expert advice on this topic, award-winning journalist Johanna Gomez hosted a new Baptist Healthtalk podcast featuring Dr. Hale.

He emphasizes that the most effective plan is one that fits into one’s life seamlessly.

“If it’s in your schedule every day, then you’re going to have to do something active,” Dr. Hale explains. “Whether that’s mobility, maybe you only have 20 or 15 minutes to stretch. Maybe you have an hour this one day because you got off work early. Now you can do some more strength training and maybe some increased cardio.”

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This approach shifts the focus from overwhelming daily workouts to simply incorporating movement into your daily schedule. Building on this foundation of practical advice, Dr. Hale answered some of the most common questions about starting a new fitness routine.

I haven’t worked out in a long time. What’s a good way to start without getting overwhelmed or injured?

Dr. Hale: It really depends on your previous activity level and experience with exercise. Someone who was a college athlete or has a lot of experience can probably go back to the gym, start with lighter weights, and build from there. For someone who is less experienced or doesn’t enjoy the gym environment, I often recommend starting at home. You can look up fun follow-along exercise videos on platforms like YouTube.

Classes can also be a great option for those new to exercise, as they provide guidance from instructors. Personal trainers are another fantastic resource if they fit your budget. The key is to start slow to minimize your risk of injury. Don’t go too hard in the beginning. The first few workouts might not feel great as you get back in shape, so making it fun and enjoyable will help you stick with it longer.

Diet and exercise are both important, but which one should I focus on more if I want to see results?

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Dr. Hale: As a doctor, I have to say they go hand-in-hand; I can’t recommend one without the other. Diet is just as important, if not more important, than exercise when it comes to seeing results quickly. In the short term, diet probably has a slight edge. We often talk about creating a calorie deficit for weight loss, which means the calories you consume should be less than the calories you burn.

It’s much easier to consume calories than it is to burn them. A single high-calorie meal can easily undo the effort of an hour-long workout. However, for long-term health, diet and exercise are equally important. What you put into your body for nutrients is just as vital as staying active. Instead of overhauling your entire diet at once, which is hard to stick to, try making one small, manageable change each week. For example, cut out one specific snack food or fast-food meal. This slow progression helps you build sustainable habits.

How do I know the difference between normal muscle soreness and an actual injury?

Dr. Hale: It’s a great question because many people enjoy the feeling of being sore after a good workout — it’s like a victory. Soreness is typically a dull ache that you feel after exercise, and it usually goes away within a few days. Pain that should concern you is more severe. On a pain scale of one to ten, anything greater than a three is something to pay attention to.

Concerning pain might also be sharp, or you might have felt a ‘popping’ sensation during your workout. Other warning signs include mechanical symptoms like a joint feeling unstable or locking up. These are more serious symptoms that indicate you should probably see an orthopedic specialist. It’s important to listen to your body and not push through sharp or worsening pain.

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The phrase “no pain, no gain” is very popular. Is it true that I need to push through pain to make progress?

Dr. Hale: That is one of the first myths I address in my practice. The “no pain, no gain” philosophy is not a good approach for orthopedic health. If you feel pain, it’s a sign that there is inflammation in that area. Pushing through that pain will only worsen the inflammation and delay your recovery.

Instead of pushing through it, pain is a signal from your body to rest or modify your activities. Give the affected area time to heal and for the inflammation to calm down before you return to that specific exercise. If you continue to push through pain, you risk causing the issue to last longer or become more severe. You can likely push through discomfort that is less than a three out of ten on the pain scale, but anything more than that requires attention.

I want to stay consistent, but I’ve heard working out every day is bad. How often should I be exercising?

Dr. Hale: This depends on how you define ‘workout.’ If you’re doing intense strength training where you are really stressing your muscles, those muscles need time to recover. Overtraining can lead to inflammation, pain, and a higher risk of injury. In that case, you need to build recovery days into your schedule.

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However, you can and should do something active every day. I recommend having something in your schedule daily because it makes it harder to use excuses and push it off. We can think of these as ‘mobility days’ versus ‘strength days.’ A mobility day could be stretching, yoga, or going for a walk. A strength day involves more intense activity like lifting weights or jogging. For example, a good plan could be three or four strength training days per week with active recovery like walking on the other days. This way, you are moving your body every day while still giving your muscles time to recover. Any activity is beneficial.

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Fitness

Here’s how strong your grip should be in each decade of your life

Published

7 days ago

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December 28, 2025

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Here’s how strong your grip should be in each decade of your life

I recently took a longevity fitness test, an element of which included a grip strength assessment with a hand dynamometer. Research links grip strength to longevity, as it is considered a good indicator of overall physical strength and risk of frailty, as well as neuromuscular function (or the connection between brain and muscle).

How is grip strength linked to longevity?

“Handgrip strength is measured with a handheld dynamometer as the peak force produced by a maximal isometric contraction of the forearm muscles. From research, it is proven to give a quick, reliable snapshot of global muscle strength and is considered a biomarker for physiological reserve, rather than just hand function,” explains Athanasios Tzoumaris, strength and conditioning coach at London-based gym and health clinic Hooke Fitness, where I took my test.

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