Richard Simmons

Can Richard Simmons get you off the couch and lose weight by laughing it off? Will this long-time weight loss celebrity’s food exchange mail order diet plan work for you? Take our Top 60 Diet Quiz to find out whether or not Richard Simmons is the best diet plan for you. Our comprehensive diet analysis examines your lifestyle and dieting preferences, and reviews your needs versus the Richard Simmons Deal-A-Meal program, as well as other popular diets. Then BestDietForMe.com gives you a list of your best diet program “matches" and unbiased reports describing each company’s diet program, complete with reviews of diets like Richard Simmons, so you can choose the right one…

Richard Simmons

(Deal-A-Meal program)

Type of Counseling: no counselors, some interactive and support features on his website

Typical Cost: under $250

Type Program: do-it-yourself, food exchange plan

Type of Foods Used: grocery store food

At-Home or Direct Mail Plan Available? Yes

Headquarters

Richard Simmons Customer Service

12 Commercial St.

Hicksville, NY 11801

Customer Service: 800-982-1616

To Order: 1-800-522-7444 (allow 4-6 weeks delivery)

Website: www.richardsimmons.com

How The Program Works - "Deal-A-Meal"

Richard Simmons, the popular and comical exercise and health nut personality, who has shed many pounds himself, operates the "Deal-A-Meal" diet and exercise card game program, sold mainly via TV infomercials/mail order. This food program is based on the American Diabetic Association’s exchange list, and categorizes foods into various classes. The dieter moves cards within a wallet, from one side to another, during the day as meals are eaten. When you run out of cards, that’s all the food you’re allowed for the day. The Deal-a-Meal card game was specifically designed to help obese dieters obtain fast weight loss.

Basically, the Richard Simmons Deal-a-Meal card game is a reduced calorie diet program. To attain fast weight loss dieters are doing nothing more than consuming less food in a controlled way, by playing the card game. The plan is in line with the food pyramid guidelines and Richard uses exchanges such as protein, breads, dairy, etc. The plan does provide for a variety of choices, plus at least 7 servings daily of fruits and vegetables and 2 servings of low-fat dairy foods. The breakdown of his diet is 60% carbohydrates/20% protein/20% fat. The recommended daily caloric intake is 1,200+ calories.

Simmons generates publicity for his program via infomercials, TV talk shows, mail order catalogs, radio DJ shows, and a great deal of personal travel around the nation to shopping malls and customers’ houses. He provides phone support and motivation to many obese people nationwide.

Based on past research, BestDietForMe.com analysts know that about 90% of Simmons’ customers are women, average age 35.

The Slim Away Everyday™ Program gives you 30 days of delicious meals and recipes and fun exercises. The program includes:

Success Guide with 30 days of meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinner and snacks), plus Tips, Motivation, Maintenance, Restaurant Guides, Exchange Lists, Shopping Lists and dozens of secret tips from Richard Simmons.

Foodmover, New and improved based on USDA Food Pyramid, it teaches you healthy choices and portion control to guarantee success.

12 recipe Cards: Meals designed so you know exactly which FoodMover windows to close.

60’s Blast-Off: exercise video that is fun and features hits from the 1960’s.

80’s Blast-Off: exercise video that is fun and features dances to tunes of the 1980’s.

Bonus: New Blast and Tone Video…. toning and aerobic exercise, to help you burn fat up to 3 times faster.

Bonus: 7 day supply of Energy Builder Four Vitamins gives you energy, essential vitamins, bone building minerals and cardio enhancing nutrients.

The price for the Slim Away Everyday Program is a very affordable $39.95. It is available in VHS videotape or DVD formats.

Richard Simmons Clubhouse Program includes bulletin boards, chat rooms, and food plans to help you. Menus are also provided based on your Free Weight Loss Profile. The menus are constructed around any nutritional restrictions you checked in your profile. A menu is each provided each week with a shopping list that can be printed out.

The price for the Clubhouse program is 3 months for $29.95, which can be canceled after 3 months. Each additional month is automatically billed at $9.95 until you cancel.

Deal-A-Meal Anniversary Plan.... Several years ago, Simmons' Deal-A-Meal Corp. began airing a teary-eyed, testimonial-packed infomercial, with Sally Jesse Raphael as interviewer. It touted his new "Anniversary Life Plan". The parent company owner was American Telecast in Pennsylvania. However, this firm has no current ties to Simmons and no longer sells his products.

The package, priced in 3 installments of $29.95, contains: Deal-A-Meal exchange cards and instruction booklet, a golden edition cookbook (low-cal, low-fat, low-cholesterol recipes), audio-cassettes explaining the program, a 1 hr. walking exercise audio tape, a "day by day" 30-day motivational videotape, "Sweatin' To The Oldies 4" video, and a "Stretching to the Classics" video.

The program came with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and could be ordered by credit card. A special club membership was also offered for 3 payments of $24.95, wherein one automatically receives day-by-day tapes monthly, with the ability to cancel at any time. The company claims to have sold 2+ million of the original program over the past 5 years.

Richard Simmons Food Mover program includes Calorie Cards, Instruction Booklet, Cookbook, Food Exchange & Meal Plan, and a Restaurant and International Food Exchange Booklet.

Comment

Richard’s program does address nutrition basics, portion control, exercise and motivation, as well as psychological aspects of weight control. It is based on sound food recommendations and is less restrictive and more flexible than Atkins or other low-carb programs. As a do-it-yourself program, you can’t buy a program much more affordable than this. Richard does, in the opinion of BestDietForMe.com analysts, give you a great value for the money. Probably the strongest part of the program is the motivational component. Richard is funny, high energy, and offers you exercise videos and cassettes that may just get you motivated. He has struggled with his personal weight for most of his life, so he understands weight management. He is genuinely concerned. In addition, he has been helping the overweight for a long time, and has a very good track record. The fact that he now has an online club with even more support is another plus. If anyone can put fun in the weight loss equation, it’s Richard Simmons. You may just laugh the pounds off.

Try our Top 60 Diet Quiz to find out which diet programs are best suited to your specific needs, and which ones will help you keep the weight off.

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The information on this web site is intended for information purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Before starting any weight loss program, it is recommended that you consult your physician or other health care professional.