Apparantly I'm the only one craving a "BIG SALAD" today!

I've never seen him look so good, and he obviously showered after
sweatin' to the oldies! Is that a carrot, or is he just...
Who knew?? (From Wikipedia.com)
Early life
Richard Simmons was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Simmons was raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, and attended Cor Jesu High School (now Brother Martin High School). He was an obese child, weighing 268 pounds at the time of his high school graduation.
His first job, in New Orleans, was selling pralines. Simmons also briefly considered becoming a priest. After starting college at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he transferred to Florida State University. While enrolled there, he studied as an exchange student in Florence, Italy. He graduated with a BA in Art. With his Art degree, Simmons worked in advertising in New York City and also for Coty Cosmetics and Revlon. During his time in New York he also worked as a waiter.
~I never woulda guessed he was from nawlins, and I found out last month that I don't care much for pralines.~
Fitness career
Upon moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s, Simmons worked as the Maître d' at a restaurant in Beverly Hills. He became interested in fitness, but was dissatisfied with the unhealthy fad diet methods and established gyms and exercise studios of the day which favored the already fit customer.
Although he was overweight in his younger days, after becoming interested in fitness, Simmons eventually lost 123 lb (56 kg/8.8 st).
He later opened his own exercise studio, originally called The Anatomy Asylum, where the emphasis was placed on providing encouragement on healthy eating in proper portions and enjoyable exercise. The business originally included a salad bar restaurant called "Ruffage," (a pun on the word Roughage) that he eventually removed in favor of focusing on exercise. The establishment, now called Slimmons, continues to operate in Beverly Hills, California, and Simmons teaches motivational classes and aerobics throughout the week.
~Obviously what that photo shoot was advertisement for!!~
Recently, Simmons has begun a push to get physical education incorporated into the No Child Left Behind Act. He reports having met with U.S. Representative George Miller, the chairman of the House education committee, in hope of winning the Democrat's support for a plan to have elementary schools provide 150 minutes of PE each week.