Politicians who WORKOUT

“Oh great. Another story about politicians.”

Beyond the annoying and persistent campaigns by 2016 presidential candidates, I recently was skimming the news and found an article from the Associated Press about busy politicians making time to exercise. Unless you have run for some kind of competitive position before, it is hard to understand the rigors of the campaign trail. I imagine endless nights watching the news, researching and long mornings filled with caffeine and a steady flow of incoming information.

Regardless of whether these busy politicians are looking out for their constituents, it is admirable that a large number of them are making time to stay fit and active. Does it matter if our leaders are in shape and practice healthy habits? I think that I could find people to argue both sides. I believe it is important that our leaders represent a lifestyle that prioritizes well-being. According to the CDC, $315 billion dollars were spent on care for heart disease and stroke patients, $147 billion for obesity-related health problems, and $402 billion for diabetes and cancer patients.

I was shocked when I read the CDCs records of healthcare costs of chronic disease.

Here are some of the featured politicians in the AP article:

Hillary Clinton avoids unhealthy foods, works out, and enjoys occasional yoga.
Martin O’Malley insists on eating vegetables on the road.
Scott Walker uses the FitBit to count steps.
Jeb Bush follows the Paleo diet.
Bobby Jindl is a “gym rat”.
Marco Rubio uses hotel gyms to workout in the morning.
Ted Cruz walks and talks each day.
Rick Santorum does 50 pushups a day.
Carly Fiorina spends her time on the elliptical.
Rick Perry sticks to core workouts after having back surgery.
Rand Paul focuses on portion control when confronted with unhealthy options.
Chris Christie avoided unhealthy foods at the greasy Iowa State Fair.
Mike Huckabee wrote a book about eating healthy.

(**Huckabee and Christie have also notably lost 100+ lbs during their career.)

Much like politicians, we are not perfect. We must remain conscious of making good decisions in days packed with adventure. And avoiding running for President may also add a few years onto your life....

---