Top 168 Quotes & Sayings by Richard Simmons - Page 2

I start phone calls at 4 A.M. to cheer people up. The housebound, people in the hospital. People who, after decades, still can't get over what happened 10 or 15 years ago.

Comedy, not screaming at someone, can make someone lift their legs higher. There is a way to do a push-up and a sit-up, and it doesn't have to be so complicated. Everyone is putting a difficult twist to it and making you do way too much.

In high school, I could get beaten up all the time, or I could be something better. I became the court jester.

My father offered me a dollar for every pound I would lose as a kid. It didn't work. And it doesn't really work in the long run. Who are you competing against? It's you. You need to be doing this for you and only you.

When I go to teach, that's not my workout. It's my show. I'm 134 pounds - I'm a teeny thing. I work out 11/2 hours a day and eat 1,600 calories. I can't stray because I have to fit into these Dolfin shorts!

Truthfully, everyone knows how to eat right. They know the difference between oatmeal and a jelly cream doughnut. They know how to walk. Everyone has this in their brain. When I started, we didn't have all this knowledge.

I'm such a huge fan, and I've done classes of all Lady Gaga music. And she's just someone who evokes freedom and love for her fans and passion in what she does. Lady Gaga, I'll take you out for a salad anytime.

How do you get motivated? By knowing your worth. Americans do not know how worthy they are. You deserve to be healthy, but a lot of times, people have, as childs been told - as a children been told that they're no good, that they're never going to be anything else.

We overweight people, we say terrible things to ourselves. Oh, you wouldn't believe it. 'You fat pig. How can you do this? You're a disgusting jerk.' And that gets you nowhere. That gets you right back into a bowl of pasta fregula.

You have to make your own decisions. That's what the freedom in America is all about.

People have been frying foods since Jesus was on this planet, and there is always going to be greasy, fried, salty, sugary food. It is up to the individual to walk in and say, 'I don't want those fries today.'

I have 40 pounds to lose. It is not the fault of the fast food people, and anyone who's trying to sue the fast food places needs a therapist, not an attorney.

Sometimes it's just 'Oh my God, I love the taste of fried oysters on French bread with mayonnaise and an order of French fries.' I'm not going to lie to you - I deal with that temptation every single day, many times.

I'm not into any show that makes people compete when they lose weight.

When I lost my weight, I went and bought about 15 different types of underwear to see what would look good on my new body. It's exciting!

Stop trying to find something in food that will make you feel better. I used to have eating disorders; I'd binge and purge all the time: fried oysters, po' boys, muffulettas, beignets, coffee and doughnuts. I tried to medicate myself with food when people made fun of me or hit me with a bat in school. I'd always turn to food.

I have loved deeply. I have lost intensely. I will never love again. I get that love by people who care for me.

Even though my work is whimsical. I have a very serious job. I cry more than I laugh.

My way is the sensitive, emotional way, because that's who I am. I try to be the clown and court jester and make people laugh. At the same time, you have people in the hospital who have had gastric bypass or lap-band surgery, and they still have to work out. If you don't work out and eat healthy, you'll look like a melted candle.

There are sacrifices you have to make. I don't have a lot to offer one person. I have a lot to offer to a lot of people.

I really created my career out of my own compulsion. Because I knew if I owned an exercise studio and I had to teach my classes there, I wasn't going to gain my weight back.

Therell always be some weird thing about eating four grapes before you go to bed, or drinking a special tea, or buying this little bean from El Salvador.

Singing is good for the soul. It's the first thing I do every morning, after my blessings and my grace. I put music on and I sing.

If you don't love your mother you go straight to hell.

The real pride, the real present, is your health and your longevity.

There is no such thing as sleep deprivation, there is only caffeine deficiency.

I was always into staying busy, into my goals, into making notes and planning. I'm not one who truly lives in the past.

That's what the majority of people in the world do, they walk among the ruins of their life. Things that didn't work out, relationships that went sour, jobs that disappeared. All they can think about is their ruins, and when you focus on that you can't build a new you.

After all the throwing up, I would starve myself. Which meant eating lettuce and water for two and a half months. I almost lost my life.

I'm the clown you take out of the box and wind up when you need a good laugh. And then, when you're done with me, I go back in my box.

I have two rules for living in the world. I never say anything negative about anyone, because that won't get you anywhere. And two, if people confront me with certain questions, if they are not right, I will not answer them.

Being successful is something that's sometimes hard to deal with.

I sort of think of myself as part priest, part clown.

I began reading cook books when I was six, cause my father had hundreds of cook books in the kitchen. I was obsessed with cooking and tasting different recipes. I got lost in being a compulsive eater. It brought me much happiness. Sadness too, sure. But I have to say, and compulsive eaters will agree with me, for that few seconds that you're eating, food tastes just great.

For many years, my formula has been to love yourself, move your body and to watch portion size. But the No. 1 thing is to love and value yourself, no matter what you've been through.

If I have to die, I want to combust in the middle of one of my classes.

If anyone's depressed for any reason, whether a relationship has fallen apart or they're having money problems, wearing feathered wings and a tutu takes you into a whole other world. A whole new woooooorld, a world of bright and shining stars!

Every day you eat is every day you have to work out.

If I've got the right songs, I can weave a spell over everyone.

I just love what I do, and I'm a teacher more than anything.

I'm like a stuffed toy. You've never met me, but if you did, you'd just want to take me home and put me in your child's room.

Sleep is critical to me ... at least eight or nine hours a night. I start to slow down my body and my mind at least 30 minutes before I get into bed. I don't watch any disturbing or invigorating TV at night.

You can say anything you want to say about me. But don't you dare address overweight people with terrible names and ugly remarks. That is what upsets me.

I just strive to do better. Every time I meet somebody, I ask myself, "How can I help this person?"

I am kinder to my body. I don't try to prove anything to myself or others. I keep thinking about the need to go slower, gentler and maintain a sense of humor about it all.

If I don't take care of myself, if I don't feel good about myself, how can I help others?

Everyone's under pressure and you just have to learn how to deal with it. And I deal with it through prayer and staying busy.

My father offered me a dollar for every pound I would lose as a kid. It didn't work. And it doesn't really work in the long run.

All of a sudden, I'm thinking that if I keep eating the way I'm eating, I'm not going to live long and I'm going to die. Having those thoughts as a young person can be very haunting.

I give people permission to be kids again.

My life is just a never-ending work in progress.

When the king gets depressed, he doesn't call for his wife. He doesn't call for the cook. He calls for the court jester.

One day I may be meeting you and hearing how you've changed your life by saying, "Farewell to Fat".

There's a list of foods I can't have in the house. Peanut butter, can't have that in the house. Potato chips, can't have that in the house. Random little small mini candy bars, don't even think about it. I just have to watch everything. I have to stay between 1500 and 1600 calories a day. That's it.

Some people like to look at pictures of themselves before they lost weight. I don't particularly care for that. Whenever I was overweight, it was a very sad time in my life.

I plan for the future, but the only day I really worry about is the day I'm living right now.

I never say anything negative about anyone, because that won't get you anywhere.

Energy is that amazing feeling that comes to life inside of you when you're happy and believe in yourself.

I don't have a lot to offer one person. I have a lot to offer to a lot of people.

I'm not going to be happy until every child in every school is physically active.