Richard Simmons' secret turmoil: Mysterious note sparked former 'fat model' to spiral into eating disorder - before reinvention into body positive fitness guru

Richard Simmons was known to millions for his fittingness routines and infectious characteristic - but his way to worldwide fame was sparked by concealed turmoil.

Simmons - who died aged 76 connected July 13 - had struggled pinch his weight since childhood. Growing up successful New Orleans, Louisiana, nan prima - calved Milton Teagle Simmons - began overeating and was overweight by nan property of four.

Aged 15 his weight had soared to 182lbs and he would yet scope a highest weight of 268lbs astatine 5ft 7.

In 1999 memoir Still Hungry After All These Years Simmons revealed he first realized he was bigger than different kids his property erstwhile his mom took him apparel shopping.

A salesman pointed him to nan husky-sized apparel which confused Simmons into reasoning he was getting a dog.

He wrote: 'The salesman overheard maine and laughed... "You don't understand; husky is simply a size successful clothing for boys who are bigger than average".

Simmons besides revealed he was bullied astatine school, pinch his friend Antoinette DiPiazza telling People: 'You could ever show sometimes astatine schoolhouse erstwhile he was younger he would effort to clasp backmost tears. I felt for him, nan boys would conscionable prime up connected him because of his weight and during gym people and stuff.'

Images of nan early prima earlier his 100lb+ weight loss are scarce  - but arsenic an big creation student he appeared almost unrecognizable connected surface among nan freak show characters successful Fellini films Satyricon (1968) and The Clowns (1970).

He was said to person destroyed each different photos of himself erstwhile he was obese.

After graduating from Florida State University, Simmons - who had changed his first sanction to Richard aged 11 - travelled to Italy to study art. 

There came nan pivotal infinitesimal that propelled Simmons into wholly overhauling his manner while he was moving arsenic a 'fat model' successful Europe per nan New York Times.

In 1968 aged 20 he recovered a mysterious, anonymous statement connected nan windshield of his car - which read: 'Dear Richard: Fat group dice young. Please don’t die.'

Stunned by nan statement Simmons began clang dieting and developed an eating upset - surviving connected h2o and lettuce for much than 2 months, popping fare pills, trying hypnosis and exercising obsessively.

Two and a half months later he had mislaid a mammoth 112lbs - but was battling galore aesculapian issues, including hairsbreadth loss, foul activity and drooping skin.

He said: 'I ended up looking for illustration a bladed Glad bag.'

He antecedently told Oprah: 'At a definite point, I was very acrophobic to eat because I was very acrophobic to dice and truthful I stopped eating and I sewage to 119 pounds and I ended up successful nan hospital.'

'Like, erstwhile I saw spaghetti, I saw worms. I mean, I started picturing nutrient arsenic an enemy.'

The prima returned to Los Angeles successful 1971 wherever he worked arsenic a maître d’ astatine a edifice - earlier quitting successful 1975.

Having developed a keen liking successful fittingness and seeing a spread successful nan marketplace owed to workout studios only catering to already in-shape customers - he opened his ain workplace - named The Anatomy Asylum. 

Through nan workplace he promoted his ain inspirational ethos of patient eating successful correct portions arsenic good arsenic nosy workouts. 

His mantra was: 'Love yourself, move your assemblage and watch your portions.'

The workplace - later renamed Slimmons - was wherever Simmons began school his famed aerobics classes successful his signature sequins and dolphin shorts. 

The Anatomy Asylum began attracting personage clients pinch Simmons' outrageous characteristic landing him his ain Emmy Award-winning tv bid The Richard Simmons Show, which aired from 1980 to 1984.

He besides released book Never-Say-Diet.

He besides opened workout studios and starred successful workout videos, including nan wildly successful 'Sweatin' to nan Oldies' line, which became a taste phenomenon. 

Simmons' daytime show was seen connected 200 stations successful America, arsenic good arsenic successful Australia, New Zealand, nan Philippines, Japan and South America. His first book, 'Never Say Diet', was a smash best-seller.

He was known to counsel nan severely obese, including Rosalie Bradford, who held records for being nan world's heaviest woman, and Michael Hebranko, who credited Simmons for helping him suffer 700 pounds. 

After winning a legion of fans pinch his infectious enthusiasm and positivity, Simmons stepped distant from nan limelight successful 2014. 

Simmons revealed he was diagnosed pinch tegument crab successful an affectional Facebook station successful March aft discovering a 'strange looking bump' nether his correct eye. 

After calling a dermatologist, nan fittingness trailblazer recalled emotion 'a small spot nervous' aft nan expert looked astatine his mysterious bump 'through a magnifying mirror.'

'He told maine he would person to scrape it and put it nether nan microscope,' nan New Orleans autochthonal told his fans. 'He comes backmost astir 20 minutes later and says nan C word.'

He continued: 'I asked him what benignant of crab and he said. Basel Cell Carcinoma. I told him to extremity calling maine soiled names. He laughed.'

Simmons was past told he had to spell to 'a crab expert correct away.'

To dainty nan cancer, he said his expert explained that he needed 'to burn' his 'skin to region nan crab cells.'

'There was nary numbing it conscionable had to beryllium done pinch a mini instrument,' nan character detailed. 'As he started burning my tegument a tear dropped down my cheek. You can't outcry during this and he wiped my tear. The burning really wounded my skin. It lasted astir 30 minutes.'

Following nan procedure, he was told to return successful an hr and a half to spot if they 'got it each out.'

'After driving astir nan city, I went backmost to immoderate sad news,' he noted. 'I didn't get it each out. He burned my look again. This clip was worse than before...It was deeper. I did not outcry this clip but I did grit my teeth.'

Simmons went connected to uncover successful a 2nd station that nan 'third clip was a charm' and they removed 'all nan crab cells out.'

'Before I left, he checked my arms, my back, my thorax and my legs. I had a small Frankenstein nether my correct oculus for a while,' he continued. 'He gave maine immoderate pick to put connected it which I did religiously. Because of his good activity I don't person a scar.'

The tegument crab announcement came conscionable days aft nan reclusive prima sparked fears he was dying pinch a worrying societal media post.

He posted connected X and Facebook: 'I person immoderate news to show you. Please don't beryllium sad. I americium …. dying. The truth is we each are dying. Every time we unrecorded we are getting person to our death.

'Why americium I telling you this? Because I want you to bask your life to nan fullest each azygous day. Get up successful nan greeting and look astatine nan sky… count your blessings and enjoy.'

In a later post, Simmons apologized and said he was 'sorry for nan confusion'.

'Sorry galore of you person gotten upset astir my connection today. Even nan property has gotten successful touch pinch me,' nan fittingness personage wrote connected a station connected X. 'I americium not dying.'

The media figure, who was known for his formerly outgoing personality, abruptly stopped making nationalist appearances successful 2014, and galore of his fans voiced their concerns astir his well-being complete nan pursuing years.

However Simmons' spokesperson Tom Estey provided a connection to nan New York Post successful 2022 and expressed that he was 'happy, patient and surviving nan life he has chosen to live.'

The prima posted his last Facebook connection to fans a time earlier his decease - which read: 'Thank you...I ne'er sewage truthful galore messages astir my day successful my life! I americium sitting present penning emails. Have a astir beautiful remainder of your Friday. Love, Richard'.