Fitness expert Tony Horton says a hectic, nomadic life on the campaign trail is no excuse for slacking on diet and exercise for the 2016 presidential candidates.
The face of the P90X workout regimen — who has plenty of fans in Congress, including Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) — tells ITK that even when you’re on the grind, keeping up a healthy lifestyle is doable.
{mosads}“I always say, look down at your plate and see if your great-great-great grandparents would recognize what you’re eating. And if any of the [White House contenders] ever did that, they’d probably be fine,” the guru said.
And when it comes to exercise, Horton says, “You don’t need a 60-minute P90X routine. It’s certainly great if you have the time, but you can get a whole lot done in 20 minutes.”
Horton recommends three rounds of basic pullups, pushups, marching or running in place for a minute, followed by 30 crunches and lunges.
“You just need Mother Earth and gravity,” he said.
Horton is hosting a P90X boot camp on Thursday at the National Press Club, ahead of the organization’s annual “Beat the Deadline 5K.” The race benefits the National Press Club Journalism Institute.
We asked him to weigh in on the reported calorie-burning routines of some of the White House hopefuls.
Jeb Bush
Florida’s Republican former governor, 62, recently said he lost 40 pounds by sticking to the meat-and-veg-heavy paleo diet.
Horton’s take: “I know a lot of good friends who are on paleo. There’s been a lot of good research. As long as you’re not eating too much saturated fats, and you’ve got plenty of lean proteins, and healthy vegetables and salads attached to that equation, then you’ll be just fine.”
Donald Trump
The real estate mogul and Republican front-runner called staying in shape “very important” in a 2013 interview with Men’s Health magazine.
Trump, 69, said while “some people might not consider” golfing to be exercise, he finds he drops the pounds after playing a few rounds. Hitting the links also has an added bonus, according to Trump: “It keeps you away from the refrigerator because you’re out on the course.”
Horton’s take: “If you’ve got a hilly course and you’re walking it, yeah, that’s tremendous. But if you’re in that golf cart. … I’ve got to think that haircut alone has got to be at least a 20-minute workout in the morning. It’s got to be a shoulder and tricep workout like no other.”
Scott Walker
The 47-year-old Wisconsin governor and GOP White House contender wears a Fitbit that he received as a Christmas present last year.
Horton’s take: “I think a lot of people are completely unaware of how inactive they are, or if they’re overtraining, or what their body fat [percentage] is, or what the quality of their muscle is, or whatever it is. And once they learn the numbers, it can be very motivating. … I think it’s a great device, and I know a lot of people who are using them.”
Hillary Clinton
The Democratic front-runner, 67, told People magazine last year that she’s a yoga devotee and does water aerobics at her home.
Horton’s take: “I’m a big fan of yoga. I think it’s the fountain of youth. … You’ve also got to have a certain amount of patience to be in those incredibly uncomfortable positions for inordinate periods of time. So I’m proud of her for doing that. I think if more of the candidates did a little bit more yoga, there would be a little less conflict between them.”
Mike Huckabee
The Republican former Arkansas governor, 60, penned a weight-loss book, “Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork,” after losing about 100 pounds by banning sugar and fried foods from his plate.
Horton’s take: “I’m aware that he had a real weight issue back in the day. I know it’s not an easy issue for him at all, and I know that he still kind of struggles. But at least he’s in the game. And the fact that he’s cut out some pretty awful foods is going to be very helpful for his future because a lot of the foods that he’s cut out caused most of the problems in the first place.”
Martin O’Malley
An aide to the 52-year-old Democratic former Maryland governor told USA Today that her boss switches up his exercise routines — which include cardio and weightlifting — “often.”
Horton’s take: “I think that’s very smart. That’s basically how I train. You don’t want to get in a rut and keep doing the same things. To keep doing the same things and expect different results is insanity, so he’s a wise man.”