Fitness

We watched their workout videos, movies, and shows. We bought their apparel and hoped and prayed that we’d look like them one day. Fitness was a booming industry in the 1980s, and we fell in love with the faces of its stars in the process. So what are they up to now? All these years later, are the fitness icons of the 1980s still rocking great bods and helping us get into shape, or have their careers taken a turn? Scroll through to find the answers, and make sure to SHARE this with some children of the ’80s. 1. Suzanne Somers Getty Images When you think of Suzanne Somers, you think of infomercials. (The Thighmaster, anyone?) She parlayed her role as an aerobics spokeswoman into a successful acting career, with lead roles on TV shows Three’s Company and Step by Step. A renaissance woman of sorts, Somers also is an accomplished businesswoman, author, and singer. 2. Arnold Schwarzenegger pinthisstar.com The myth, the man, the LEGEND! Arnie is widely regarded as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all-time, winning the Mr. Universe title at age 20 and being named Mr. Olympia seven times. The American dream personified, the Austrian-born Schwarzenegger went on to become one of the most famous people in the world. He became a leading man in Hollywood, starring in such blockbuster hits as The Terminator, Terminator 2, Predator, True Lies, Total Recall, Conan the Barbarian, and many, many more. President George H. W. Bush also named him the chair of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in 1990. Adding to his remarkable legacy, Schwarzenegger served as the 38th governor of California from 2003-11. 3. Kathy Smith HyperActivz Personal trainer Kathy Smith was known in the ’80s for her wildly successful workout videos. (She’s reportedly sold more than 16 million copies since her videos hit the market in 1980.) Smith also teamed up with the American Diabetes Association to create Project: You! Type 2, which helps those with diabetes live their lives to the fullest. Workout videos led to books, equipment, and apparel, and by her 30s she was a multimillionaire. In 2002, she wrote Moving Through Menopause and went on to become the spokeswoman of the International Council on Active Aging. All these years later, she remains as fit as ever. 4. Chris Evert Pinterest One of the greatest tennis players to ever pick up a racquet, Evert dominated in both the 1970s and ’80s. An 18-time Grand Slam singles champion — including seven French Open crowns and six U.S. Open titles — she burst onto the scene at the tender age of 16 and quickly became a fan favorite. Evert retired with an unthinkable 189 titles (157 in singles, 32 in doubles) and finished atop the rankings seven times. Unanimously elected into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995, she served as a coach after her playing days and joined ESPN as a match analyst. 5. Lou Ferrigno Getty Images You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry. (Sorry, we just had to.) The Brooklyn-born Ferrigno, like Schwarzenegger, was an accomplished bodybuilder, winning an IFBB Mr. America title and back-to-back IFBB Mr. Universe titles. Also like Schwarzenegger, he transitioned into acting after he stopped competing. Most famous for playing the Hulk on screen, he also had lovable parts in The King of Queens(recurring character) and I Love You, Man. These days, Ferrigno continues to act, train, and consult. 6. Jake Steinfeld actorz.ru Who doesn’t remember Body by Jake? That was Steinfeld’s workout brand in the ’80s, and it made him a household name. Steinfeld, who began as a personal trainer — his clients included Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford — created FitTV, a 24-hour fitness network, and then showed off his business and entrepreneurial chops. He sold FitTV to News Corp and founded Major League Lacrosse in 2001. MLL is still a functioning league, and the championship trophy is, fittingly, called the Steinfeld Cup. Steinfeld remains very much in the fitness game. He started FitOrbit, an online personal training service, and created ExerciseTV, a free on-demand network. If you’re flipping through the channels, you might catch Steinfeld out of the corner of your eye; he’s appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, including Coming to America and Big Brother Jake. 7. Fabio Lanzoni Getty Images Known simply as Fabio — did you even know he had a last name? — this Italian actor/model’s likeness appeared on romance novels and fitness magazines throughout the ’80s. Capitalizing on his look and recognition, he wrote a book about exercise and released a fitness video. As an actor, Lanzoni has been playing himself and making cameos since the early 1990s, as well as appearing in advertisements. He also launched a clothing line at Sam’s Club in 2003 and founded Healthy Planet Vitamins five years later. 8. Denise Austin Pinterest Austin was and continues to be, a woman of many talents. She has an impressive catalog of workout videos dating back to 1988, and as recently as 2014 (Yoga Booty Lift) she was still making content. The former gymnast also received an incredible honor in 2002, when she was selected to be a member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Austin is still a trainer — made abundantly clear by the “now” photo — as well as a writer and columnist. 9. Raquel Welch Getty Images Welch was a movie star throughout the 1960s and ’70s, and the extremely fit and beautiful actress became a fitness sensation when her book, Raquel: The Raquel Welch Total Beauty and Fitness Program, hit the shelves in 1984. Still looking fabulous, Welch continues to act (though not nearly as much as she once did.) A Golden Globe winner and sex symbol, Welch will always be remembered for her roles in The Three Musketeers, The Last of Sheila, Fantastic Voyage, and One Million Years B.C. 10. Heather Locklear Pinterest When you think of Heather Locklear you probably think of television, but the gorgeous cover girl was a fixture in the fitness scene, as well. Her workout videos were a hit, and to this day she continues to share how she maintains her fantastic figure. A six-time Golden Globe nominee — she’s never won — Locklear is best known for her roles in Melrose Place, The Perfect Man, The Return of Swamp Thing, and Looney Tunes: Back in Action. 11. Cher Getty Images What a remarkable and storied career Cher has had. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop by many, the singer/performer’s success didn’t end after her partnership with ex-husband Sonny Bono ended in 1977. She continued to make music and acting, and in the early ’90s, her love of fitness propelled her to write Forever Fit: The Lifetime Plan for Health, Fitness, and Beauty. Cher is older than 70, but that hasn’t slowed her down. At the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, after a stellar performance, she told the crowd, “I can do a five-minute plank, OK? Just saying.” You rock, Cher. 12. Jane Fonda Getty Images What can’t Jane Fonda do? The answer is pretty much … nothing. The model, fitness expert, actress, writer, and activist has been in the spotlight since 1960, and she just continues to shine brightly and amaze. Her first exercise video, Jane Fonda’s Workout (1982), became the highest-selling video ever to that point, and she would go on to release 21 more videos over the next 13 years. Altogether, the 22 videos sold more than 17 million copies. After many years out of the fitness spotlight, Fonda released two new exercise DVDs in 2010. (Has anyone ever looked better at their age?) The two-time Academy Award winner, who has been vocal about politics from the Vietnam War to Donald Trump’s presidency, will always be remembered for her roles in Klute, Barbarella, Youth, and Monster-in-Law. 13. Tony Little NewsDog You can do it! That’s the catchphrase most associated with the man who calls himself America’s Personal Trainer. A former bodybuilding champion, Tony Little was a fixture on fitness infomercials. (His ponytail and booming voice played well on TV.) His most famous product was likely the Gazelle Edgeelliptical machine. Over the years, Little has made many television appearances on such shows as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Celebrity Paranormal Project, The Weird Al Show, and Sunday NFL Countdown, among others. 14. Judi Sheppard Missett Getty Images Judi Sheppard Missett founded Jazzercise, a dance/fitness company, in 1969. Today that company employs nearly 250 people, and in 2015 reported a fiscal revenue of $93 million. Not bad. So where is Missett now? She largely tends to stay out of the spotlight, but she’s certainly stayed in shape judging by the photo on the right (taken in 2007 when she was 63). In June of 2014, at the age of 70, she wrote a piece for the Huffington Post titled “Don’t Act Your Age.” In the column, she wrote that she feels like she’s 30. You go, girl. 15. Richard Simmons People We saved the king for last. No, Richard Simmons didn’t have the body that Lou Ferrigno had, nor the star power that Arnold Schwarzenegger did, but when it came to selling fitness and exercise, there was simply nobody bigger. Simmons was a fascinating figure in his heyday with his odd look, flamboyant outfits, and unique personality. (We’ll never forget the colorful tank tops and short shorts.) He wrote books and made countless tapes and videos, and was also a frequent guest on talk shows. His life has taken a bit of a turn, though, as he hasn’t been seen publicly since February 2014. Despite concerns over his mental health, Simmons and those close to him maintain that he’s doing just fine. Credits: definition.org Share this story on Facebook with your friends.

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