GorillaOffTopic, Everything But Gorilla Trades

 It is no secret that the Gorilla is a big fan of fitness and staying healthy and in shape. It’s certainly a lifestyle, and he believes that a healthy body equals a healthy and happy mind. No one person exemplifies this way of life better than the happy-go-lucky health guru- Richard Simmons. Just when you thought you had heard enough of his seemingly slap-happy banter, he’s back! And this time he’s bending the ears of Congress!  The 60-year-old spoke to Congress in a passionate speech Thursday morning, pleading with them to keep physical fitness in schools and even improve upon current programs. “What have we done to the kids of the United States of America? This is wrong. …I just may run for office to help really get this through.” Simmons said. Richard Simmons in a political position? Please Congress, do something soon!  The Gorilla can just picture Richard Simmons leading those old geezers in Congress in a pre-session cardio warm up! But seriously, the Gorilla believes Mr. Simmons is absolutely justified in his fervency, but with the current state of the economy and school districts’ already waning budgets, how can America afford to keep schools’ phys-ed programs, let alone improve upon them?  Simmon’s speech comes just before some proposed budget cuts for schools will be taking place in Congress. One of those programs proposed to have cuts is physical fitness. Simmons spoke at length on Fox and Friends today about how too much fast food and too little or no exercise has contributed to the obesity epidemic in our country.  He went on to speak about how he was the ”fat kid” in school when he was younger. When he graduated from high school in New Orleans, he weighed a whopping 273 pounds. It was at that point that he adopted a healthy lifestyle of moderate eating and lost the weight. In 1973, he moved to San Diego and became a Hollywood success story. Now, tackling Congress about the physical education program in America’s schools may be the biggest challenge he’s had thus far. “I think if kids move, they learn better because the blood is flowing and they’re happier,” Simmons said on FOX & Friends. “Our kids need to exercise everyday in every school.”