Richard Simmons anyone? no negativity please.

eliseshute
eliseshute Posts: 18 Member
edited November 18 in Fitness and Exercise
Okay, so I remember my mother having a Richard Simmons VHS when I was a kid. I know he's corny and crazy, but I remember it being a fun time. While I'm only 28, my weight kills my joints. My knees and ankles kill me. It's a low impact cardio workout that is pretty fun at the same time. I just ordered a DVD so that I can start it once I'm able to start exercising regularly.

So basically I'm just wondering if anyone has done/is doing Richard Simmons?

Again, no negativity please. I know he's corny and outdated.
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Replies

  • alyhuggan
    alyhuggan Posts: 717 Member
    edited May 2015
    eliseshute wrote: »
    So basically I'm just wondering if anyone has done/is doing Richard Simmons?

    Word choice could have been better here hahaha

    As for the DVD, I've never done it but any form of cardio is good, whether it's low impact or not. Do what you can, maintain a calorie deficit and hopefully some time in the future your weight will not affect your joints in anyway! :)

  • nicola8989
    nicola8989 Posts: 381 Member
    I think you should do whatever exercise you enjoy :) especially when you are just starting. Tae bo is a nice low-impact exercise, Rosemary Conley and Joanna Hall do low-impact exercises as well (if I'm remembering rightly it's a while ago I did them).

    I have always had ankle pain even when I was younger and slim, recently my knees started to hurt - I found cycling helped a lot.
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
    I always liked Sweatin' to the Oldies. Richard Simmons is OK. I like him better than super hot models. :)
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,251 Member
    Hey, he's corny as hell. He's probably outdated? but he makes you move and that's the important thing!! I have a Bollywood dance exercise video, it's funny as hell! Do I sweat, hell yes!! Abs hurt after it too! I have a Hip Hop exercise video too, not the recent hip-hop abs, and that's a blast.

    If you move, and sweat, and enjoy, then the only reason it could be bad is if it actually did something that could physically hurt you. So go for it!
  • jamielynnmobile
    jamielynnmobile Posts: 68 Member
    Whatever gets you moving! You could also try some of the Biggest Loser workout DVDs. Those are pretty low-impact cardio, and looking at Bob Harper always makes for a good time ;)!
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    I worked out with him when he was on tv in the 80s. I liked him for his happiness and up-beat attitude and that he didn't make anyone feel like shite. I say go for it. Whatever gets you moving and will keep you moving.
  • GraemeMcC
    GraemeMcC Posts: 44 Member
    A friend used to say the following about training:
    Keep it fun or it won't get done.

    Do whatever you enjoy.
  • eliseshute
    eliseshute Posts: 18 Member
    edited May 2015
    alyhuggan wrote: »
    eliseshute wrote: »
    So basically I'm just wondering if anyone has done/is doing Richard Simmons?

    Word choice could have been better here hahah


    Oh my..lol. Can you tell I didn't proof read?
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
    One of the most important pieces to getting in shape is tracking your performance and progressively improving it. The problem with all those DVD's is that they make it practically impossible to objectively measure your performance. A lot of people who use those DVD's end up doing sort of the same thing every time and never make much real progress.

    Why not walk either outside or with a treadmill? You can track your speed, distance, and incline (GPS watches are a lot of fun). You can monitor your performance and increase the difficulty level incrementally.
  • beemerphile1
    beemerphile1 Posts: 1,710 Member
    He is a strange character but I'm in favor of whatever it takes to get one off the couch and start moving.
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    what ever motivates you is a positive..
  • isulo_kura
    isulo_kura Posts: 818 Member
    ahamm002 wrote: »

    Why not walk either outside or with a treadmill? You can track your speed, distance, and incline (GPS watches are a lot of fun). You can monitor your performance and increase the difficulty level incrementally.

    I'm guessing she doesn't want to do that because it's not fun. No point tracking progress if you find what your doing boring because you wont keep it up. The key to any thing is to do something you enjoy. The OP enjoys this so all power to her
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    wizzybeth wrote: »
    I always liked Sweatin' to the Oldies. Richard Simmons is OK. I like him better than super hot models. :)

    I have the DVD set. haha.

    I've used it a couple times. It's good for when you're stuck indoors.

    Really, it's not that much different from Zumba. Zumba is just more modern music and flamboyent (not really quite the word I'm looking for) movements.

    Seriously, whatever is fun for you and gets you moving, do it. Especially if it's something you can stick with.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Richard Simmons has led a ton of people to get into fitness. If you like his videos, go for it :)
  • beemerphile1
    beemerphile1 Posts: 1,710 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Richard Simmons has led a ton of people to get into fitness. If you like his videos, go for it :)

    A ton of people. Kind of humorous if your think about it!
  • Oldbitcollector
    Oldbitcollector Posts: 229 Member
    I'd always thought he was just a little goofy, but here he is speaking on Capital Hill about childhood obesity. His heart and head are in the right place.
  • curlytoes79
    curlytoes79 Posts: 95 Member
    Used to do Richard Simmons workouts when I was a kid, back in the late 80s/early 90s. My mom liked him. I feel like everyone's mom probably has at least one dusty VHS copy of Sweatin to the Oldies somewhere :)
  • jennay2525
    jennay2525 Posts: 1 Member
    I used to work out to the video "dance your pants off" it had great 80's music! When I first started I was only able to get through a couple songs but the more I did it I was able to get through the whole tape.

    Good luck!
  • eliseshute
    eliseshute Posts: 18 Member
    Thanks everyone! I'm excited to get moving.
    isulo_kura wrote: »
    ahamm002 wrote: »

    Why not walk either outside or with a treadmill? You can track your speed, distance, and incline (GPS watches are a lot of fun). You can monitor your performance and increase the difficulty level incrementally.

    I'm guessing she doesn't want to do that because it's not fun. No point tracking progress if you find what your doing boring because you wont keep it up. The key to any thing is to do something you enjoy. The OP enjoys this so all power to her

    This. I am actually purchasing a treadmill as soon as I'm healed. However, endless hours on a treadmill just don't do it for me all the time. I plan on alternating. I need something fun to keep me interested.

    Also, I'm not so concerned with everything being measured. I'm fully focused on health and not pounds. I know they are linked, but the real test for me will be my energy and stamina levels.


  • EEF8
    EEF8 Posts: 123 Member
    We used to do Sweating to the Oldies. It was fun. If you're having fun while moving you are more likely to keep moving. Go for it and then progress to more difficult workouts when you feel ready.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I got partway through one of his videos once. I found him upbeat and intuitive. He knew exactly when I was going to start flagging. I think following his video would be fun.
  • YosemiteSquat
    YosemiteSquat Posts: 2 Member
    I LOVE my Richard Simmons videos!
    I use the Disco Sweat video almost everyday. It's a super effective cardio workout. I do Sweatin To The Oldies when I don't have much time to fit a workout in. I have a Fitbit HR and my average calorie burn with the Disco sweat workout is 526 calories. Calorie burn with Sweatin To The Oldies is 302. I've lost 17lbs. In 5 weeks doing this!
    I'm 43, 5'0" and 195lbs.
    I like the music and the encouragement!
    Hope this helps and hope you enjoy the videos!
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I did them with my mom when I was a kid. He is a hoot. "Sweatin' to the Oldies", anyone?

    Now I kind of want to do a Richard Simmons work out.
  • seachelle76
    seachelle76 Posts: 27 Member
    curlytoes79 wrote: »
    Used to do Richard Simmons workouts when I was a kid, back in the late 80s/early 90s. My mom liked him. I feel like everyone's mom probably has at least one dusty VHS copy of Sweatin to the Oldies somewhere :)

    Ha, ha! That's probably true. My mom did. Between Jane Fonda, Richard Simmons, and Billy Blanks- that was variety back in the day when she wasn't at Jazzercise.

    OP- if you like it and it motivates you- then go for it.

  • spartan_d
    spartan_d Posts: 727 Member
    With all due respect, I don't think we can expect entirely honest feedback if we also tack on a rule like "No negativity, please." Such a restriction pretty much guarantees that only positive opinions are welcome.

    Anyway, I'll offer both positive and negative opinions, and I apologize if this offends anyone. Richard Simmons will get people moving, and that's a good thing. He will doubtlessly help a significant number of people lose weight.

    In terms of building a decent amount of functional strength and endurance, though? I don't see it happening with his methods. There's most certainly a place for fitness routines like his, but they're pretty limited in their scope.
  • chilliman64
    chilliman64 Posts: 13 Member
    he made exercise fun, something which it often isn't
  • Guineagirl913
    Guineagirl913 Posts: 77 Member
    I just found his Disco Sweat on YouTube! It was cheesy and corny but I had a great time doing it! Do whatever is going to make you want to move. It's fun cardio!!!
  • elizabeth50inCalifornia
    elizabeth50inCalifornia Posts: 14 Member
    edited June 2015
    alyhuggan wrote: »
    eliseshute wrote: »
    So basically I'm just wondering if anyone has done/is doing Richard Simmons?

    Word choice could have been better here hahaha

    pretty funny
  • elizabeth50inCalifornia
    elizabeth50inCalifornia Posts: 14 Member
    I remember sweatin to the oldies in VHS days. Kool, fun and it works. Enjoy it!
  • rachael00679
    rachael00679 Posts: 186 Member
    I love him. I think he is kinda groovy in an 80s fun kinda way and quite frankly if you can have a giggle whilst you get moving then that's awesome. Exercise is meant to be fun right!
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