Being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives was great for congressman Matt Salmon’s political career. But it was lousy for his health, not to mention his waistline.
The 41-year-old congressman from Arizona had been active for most of his life. Tennis, racquetball, and basketball were his favorite sports. But once he took office in 1994, his exercise program ground to a halt. Instead, he spent most of his time sitting—on airplanes, on the floor of the House, and in legislative hearings.
His eating habits went downhill, too. All of those political fundraisers and charity events provided ample opportunity for consuming all the wrong kinds of food. Between legislative meetings, he’d nosh on whatever was within reach—usually cookies or a piece of cake. “And I ate more than my share of Big Macs while waiting for flights between Washington, D.C., and Arizona,” he says.
Within 2 years of his election, Congressman Salmon added 70 pounds to his post-high school weight of 165 pounds. But it wasn’t only his waisdine that suffered. He developed back pain, and he had frequent nighttime bouts of heartburn. A visit to the doctor revealed that his cholesterol was too high.
Congressman Salmon hated the way that he felt. And he hated the way that he looked. As much as he loved being a public official, he wasn’t about to let it ruin his health. He committed to changing his lifestyle for the better.
His first step was to make time for exercise in his daily routine. Because his schedule was so hectic, he decided to get up earlier to work out first thing in the morning. He began his days at 6:00 A.M., with a 20-minute walk. Within a month, the walk became a run. Within 2 months, he dropped 40 pounds, and his physical symptoms all but disappeared.
Encouraged, Congressman Salmon looked for ways to improve his eating habits. He found out that he could request low-fat meals at most political dinners and fund-raisers, so he did. He carried an apple or a banana in his briefcase so he wouldn’t binge on junk food between meetings or during long congressional sessions. And if one of his frequent flights included meal service, he ordered a vegetarian or low-fat entree in advance.
Congressman Salmon’s renewed commitment to a healthy lifestyle paid off. Within 12 months, he lost 70 pounds. He decided to celebrate with a victory run in the grueling Marine Corps Marathon. After 7 months of training, he succeeded.
WINNING ACTION
Think in terms of permanent changes, not temporary fixes. Congressman Salmon believes that the key to weight-loss success is to acknowledge that you’re making permanent lifestyle changes. I couldn’t agree more. You can’t go back to your old, unhealthful ways once you achieve your goal weight. Eating healthfully and exercising regularly are for life. That may seem like
a tall order. But keep in mind that over time, the lifestyle changes that you make now will become second nature to you—so much so that you won’t think of them as new anymore.
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