The truth about Obama's three hours in the gym

Last Modified: 18 Jul 2008
By: Felicity Spector

When he gets back from his foreign travels, perhaps Obama should give the gym a miss, kick back and relax.

Now the fuss about Hillary Clinton's new hair parting has died down, here's what everyone's really talking about on the campaign trail: why, exactly, did Barack Obama spend a total of 188 minutes in the gym on Wednesday, with not one, not two, but three separate visits?

Twice in the morning, near his Chicago home, then an hour at the East Bank Club in the evening. The Democratic hopeful is well known for his daily fitness sessions - but Wednesday surely set a record.

Apparently, said staffers, his first workout had been interrupted by a phonecall, so he went back later for a second go.

And the last trip, at nine o clock at night, was to sort out a 'sore hip'. Must be all that running on the treadmill. Not to mention that uber-healthy diet of salmon and broccoli. Although has he really kept that promise to quit smoking?

And amid all that constant campaigning, the speeches, the travel, the endless fundraising - where on earth does he find time for the gym? There is such a thing as too clean living. When he gets back from his foreign travels, perhaps Obama should give himself a break - and take a few hours, at least, to just kick back and relax.