VENTURA : Fitness Guru Raises Pulses of Adoring Fans

As the tanned guy in the worn red tank top and skimpy nylon shorts padded up to the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Friday, the more than 1,000 senior citizens jamming the auditorium began to point and squawk.

The big sensation? Fitness maven Richard Simmons.

“I love everything about Richard,” said 62-year-old Oxnard resident Donis Reed, who came dressed to sweat with the tummy-crunch king in fuchsia stretch pants and a pink top. “He’s been there with us because he’s been fat, too. He doesn’t put us down because we may be older or fat.”

A longtime TV personality and star of several exercise videos, Simmons bounced into Ventura to shimmy and shake with seniors as part of the “SeniorFit Festival” sponsored by Secure Horizons, an Orange County-based health maintenance organization for Medicare recipients.

Part health guru, part motivational speaker, Simmons is notorious for practicing random acts of affection.

“I’ve come to . . . sweat to the oldies with my silver foxes,” said Simmons, as he roped in several gray-haired devotees for an impromptu group hug.

After meeting and greeting his fawning fans, Simmons, who once weighed more than 268 pounds before he downsized, jogged onto the stage for 30 minutes of aerobics to the beat of Steve Winwood, the Beach Boys and Sister Sledge.

First he started a round of “Simmons Says” with a food motif, instructing members of the audience to touch their “buns,” their calves, and their “honey-baked” hamstrings.

“Touch me in the morning,” Simmons crooned as he glided his hand up and down his leg.

Then it was time to get serious.

“Are you ready to sweat?” Simmons said, barking into the wireless mike as his image was projected onto two nine-foot-tall video screens. “Yes,” the crowd roared back.

Instantly, the auditorium became a blur as rows and rows of seniors grooved to pop tunes like “We Are Family.”

Not everyone was converted by Simmons’ showboat answer to losing weight and getting fit.

“It’s full of production,” said 78-year-old Ventura resident Charles Widell, gesturing to the video screens and clusters of teal and white balloons. “This is all exercise and no cool-down period. I’ve done aerobics and there is usually half an hour of cool down.”

Despite Simmons’ tendency to clown around and drop one-liners, many here took his overall message seriously.

“Don’t give up this fight,” said Simmons, as the crowd rose in a standing ovation. “This is a battle. Food will always be there, but remember nothing tastes as good as good health.”