The Richard Simmons Diet

After thirty years in the health and fitness business, Richard Simmons is still going strong with his signature books, exercise programs, and his newest addition, an online diet. The Richard Simmons Diet plan offers meal and exercise guidance, motivational tools, and access to online journals and chat rooms, in order provide dieters with support from Richard and fellow plan members.

Meal plans are organized by the "Food Mover" program, a food exchange system to help you organize balanced diets based on USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and American Dietetic Association recommendations. This system provides a way for both males and females to keep track of how much they eat throughout the day, while limiting calories and monitoring fat intake.

What makes the Richard Simmons Diet plan different?

This program takes an "old school approach" to diet and exercise. Overall, it is similar to Simmon's previous "Deal-A-Meal" program, but with some new additions and an online format. The Richard Simmons Diet plan attempts to make you feel as though you are receiving personal support and motivation from Richard Simmons himself, and let's face it - some people absolutely love the guy!

What is the Richard Simmons Diet plan?

Dieters log on the website to create an account and sign up for access to the members-only "Clubhouse," where dieters can load their personal profiles, track progress, and gain access to daily tips, seminars and other nutritional resources. Subscription fees are $19.95 for the first month and $9.95 for each additional month. Cancellations require a few days notice, so read the disclaimer on website for details. All clubhouse members receive a 10% discount on all products sold in the online store, such as videos, CDs, DVDs, and "motivational items" like hats, key chains and t-shirts

On the Richard Simmons Diet plan, dieters are set up on an initial four week plan that includes meal plans and exercise schedules. Week one is entitled the "Blast off Week," and contains meals with fewer calories than can be found in future weeks. The remaining weeks' meal plans are based on goals and needs established when the initial profile is created.

The Richard Simmons Diet plan encourages dieters to become familiar with the Food Mover system. Based on needs, this system allows a certain number of servings (or "exchanges") from specific groups of foods. For example, a regiment of 1400 calories per day allows 5 protein exchanges, 5 starch exchanges, 2 dairy exchanges, 5 vegetables exchanges, 3 fruit exchanges, 3 fat exchanges, and 1 extra exchange each day. Once all the exchanges are used up or "moved," you have met your daily calorie needs. This tool allows you to control portion sizes and make healthier choices when eating out. Your participation in the online Food Mover program can also be made easier via paper copies that can be ordered for an additional fee.

Meal plans include three meals and three snacks daily, and links to recipes are included in every day's meal plan. A typical day, on the Richard Simmons Diet plan, would resemble the foods below (the first week follows a similar pattern, but with fewer calories):

Breakfast: Whole wheat French toast with low calorie syrup.

Snack: Half a medium banana.

Lunch: Spinach Salad with feta cheese and Melba toast.

Snack: 1 cup of plain yogurt with a half-cup of unsweetened apple sauce.

Dinner: Oven "fried" fish with vegetables and a side salad with 2 tablespoons of light dressing.

Snack/Dessert: 1 cup of air-popped popcorn (no butter).

In addition to the meal plans, 8-12 glasses of water (8 ounces) are encouraged daily while on the Richard Simmons Diet plan. Various resources are available to help with estimating portion sizes using household items, eating out at restaurants and discovering how to best tackle those cravings for sweets. Dieters can read daily tips on health related topics, keep track of dietary intake and daily exercise, and document their experiences in online journals and group chat rooms.

Recipes provide a variety of dishes featuring meats, fish, grains, fruits and vegetables. Though small amounts of beer and wine are included in a few recipes (Beer Batter Shrimp or Flounder Florentine), there is no additional mention of alcohol consumption on the Richard Simmons Diet plan.

What are the weight loss expectations?

Simmons urges dieters not to rush weight loss. He stresses that the best way to lose weight is to do so slowly. He also reminds dieters about the importance of exercise to assist and maintain weight loss. According to one of Richard's daily tips, it is realistic to expect to lose fifteen to twenty pounds over a twelve week period.

Is exercise promoted?

Exercise is a large component of the Richard Simmons Diet program. Clubhouse members have access to tools and guidelines to customize their own workout or to select one of the established programs. Dieters are encouraged to exercise regularly, participating in aerobic, resistance, and flexibility training. The "Sweatin" section of the Clubhouse site provides visual descriptions for properly performing the recommended exercises (and feature Richard in spandex!).

In addition to the exercise resources on the website, dieters have a discount in ordering any of the numerous work out videos and DVDs, for which Richard Simmons is famous. "Sweatin' to the Oldies" is just the tip of the iceberg.

Are supplements recommended?

There are no recommendations for supplements on the Richard Simmons Diet plan.