MEN’S HEALTH: Exclusive Barack Obama Interview
Senator Barack Obama opens up in an exclusive interview in the November issue of Men’s Health magazine, on newsstands October 21, 2008, about how health and fitness has driven his success in life, love and leadership.
On Why He Works Out:
“My blood pressure is pretty low, and I tend to be a healthy eater. So I probably could get away with cutting [my workouts] back a little bit. The main reason I do it is just to clear my head and relieve me of stress. It’s a great way to stay focused.”
On Staying Healthy On The Campaign Trail:
“I wish I was getting a 90-minute workout. Most of my workouts have to come before my day starts. There’s always a tradeoff between sleep and working out. Usually I get in about 45 minutes, 6 days a week. I’ll lift one day do cardio the next.”
On Trying To Quit Smoking:
“There have been a couple of times during the campaign when I fell off the wagon and bummed one, and I had to kick it again. But I figure, seeing as I’m running for president, I need to cut myself a little slack.”
“There wasn’t some dramatic moment. Michelle had been putting pressure on me for a while. I was never really a heavy smoker. Probably at my peak I was smoking seven or eight a day. More typical was three. So it wasn’t a huge challenge with huge withdrawal symptoms.”
“Eliminate certain key connections–that first cigarette in the morning, or after a meal, or with a drink. If you can eliminate those triggers, that should help.”
On What He Would Change In The White House:
