I just want to take a moment to comment about Richard Simmons.

Growing up in the 80’s and being an overweight teen, he was a staple in my house. I remember many summers being spent watching his morning talk show, which always ended with a round of exercise. For me he was truly the first inspiration I ever had to lose weight.

I owned the vinyl exercise record “Reach” and would exercise to it every day. I remember there was one song on there (he sang on all the songs) where you had to do leg lifts. So you’d be doing the lifts with one leg and when those repetitions were done, he would say “now we have to do the other leg or you’ll walk funny all day”.

I know many people on social media that knew him mention how much he cared about people. You didn’t have to know him to realize that. Only a caring person would dedicate his life to helping others lose weight. And he did.

Richard knew what anyone who watched or listened to him was going through because he had been through it himself. That made him even more inspirational. To me if he could do it, so could I.

He truly was a beautiful soul.