Editing Richard Simmons (section)

===Fitness career===
[[File:Richard Simmons (1982 Elektra Press photo).jpg|thumb|Simmons in 1982]]
Upon moving to [[Los Angeles]] in the 1970s, Simmons worked as the ''[[maître d'hôtel]]'' at Derek's, a restaurant in [[Beverly Hills, California|Beverly Hills]].<ref name="Still Hungry"/>{{rp|157}} He developed an interest in fitness. Exercise studios of the day favored the already fit customer, so little help was available for those who needed to gain fitness from an otherwise unhealthy state. He established gyms and his interest in fitness helped him lose {{convert|123|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.<ref name="hollywoodreporter24">{{cite web |last1=Barnes |first1=Mike |title=Richard Simmons, Celebrity Fitness Guru, Dies at 76 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/richard-simmons-dead-fitness-guru-1235948038/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=July 13, 2024 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713231440/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/richard-simmons-dead-fitness-guru-1235948038/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Rebecca |title='Missing Richard Simmons' explores how the fitness guru hasn't been seen in public for more than 1,000 days |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/missing-richard-simmons-explores-how-the-fitness-guru-hasnt-been-seen-in-public-for-more-than-1000-days |publisher=Fox News |date=March 3, 2017 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713231440/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/missing-richard-simmons-explores-how-the-fitness-guru-hasnt-been-seen-in-public-for-more-than-1000-days |url-status=live }}</ref>

He opened his own exercise studio, originally called The Anatomy Asylum, where emphasis was placed on healthy eating in proper portions and enjoyable exercise in a supportive atmosphere. The business originally included a [[salad bar]] restaurant called Ruffage, a pun on the word ''[[Dietary fiber|roughage]]'' (dietary fiber); though it was eventually removed as the focus of The Anatomy Asylum shifted solely to exercise.<ref>Simmons, R. (1999) pp. 177–184</ref> Later renamed Slimmons, the establishment continued operations in Beverly Hills and Simmons taught motivational classes and [[aerobics]] throughout the week.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/fashion/24fitness.html|work=The New York Times|title=A Celebrity Sweats: It's Richard!|first=Tricia|last=Romano|date=December 23, 2009|access-date=May 22, 2010|archive-date=March 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110331043650/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/fashion/24fitness.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His success led to a recurring role in ''[[General Hospital]]'' portraying himself over a four-year period and then to his own television series ''The Richard Simmons Show'', which aired from 1980 to 1984 and earned him multiple [[Emmy]] awards.<ref name="nbc2024">{{cite news |title=Richard Simmons, legendary fitness personality, dies at 76 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/richard-simmons-obituary-rcna161728 |publisher=NBC News |date=July 13, 2024 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713225337/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/richard-simmons-obituary-rcna161728 |url-status=live }}</ref> Rising interest in aerobics during the 1980s led to the popularization of Simmons' line of fitness videos, particularly his ''Sweatin' to the Oldies'' series, which became one of the most popular videos during the decade.<ref name="ABC24">{{cite news |last1=Osborne |first1=Mark |last2=Stone |first2=David |title=Fitness guru Richard Simmons dead at 76 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/fitness-guru-richard-simmons-dead-76/story?id=111912398 |work=ABC News |date=July 13, 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Richard talking with a fan April 2009.jpg|thumb|Simmons in 2009]]
In 2010, Simmons stated he had maintained his own 100+ pound (45&nbsp;kg) weight loss for 42 years, had been helping others lose weight for 35 years, and that in the course of his fitness career, had helped humanity lose approximately 12 million pounds (5.5 million kg).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/richard-simmons-personal-story-pt-2 |title=Richard Simmons' Story, Pt. 2 &#124; The Dr. Oz Show |publisher=Doctoroz.com |date=February 15, 2010 |access-date=May 2, 2013 |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213035454/http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/richard-simmons-personal-story-pt-2 |url-status=dead}}</ref>