Obama Flexes Both Political and Real Muscles

Nine a.m. strikes and our new president strolls into the oval office sans jacket, sleeves rolled up, having just taken Malia and Natasha to school. Perhaps he's just finished a 90-minute grueling workout, which he does six days each week. His workouts, unlike that of any other president, are less about preventative health than they are about the body sculpting prowess one would expect of a cover model of Men's Health. Nonetheless, his faith in his fitness has not been shaken by the weight of the responsibility this man must now carry on his shoulders every day, each waking(and sleeping) hour of his life.

According the to the Washington Post, during the election - sometimes on primary nights - Obama's team would call ahead to a gym in the area to ask if the could either open or close early to accommodate the then presidential-candidate's schedule. Occasionally, Obama's team managed to fly in some of his closest friends for a game or two of pick-up basketball.

Even after the election, Obama managed to stay on target with his fitness routine. Each morning he would travel by motorcade at 7:30 am and meet some buddies of his at an exclusive health club overlooking Lake Michigan. Obama's workout is half weights and half a cardiovascular circuit consisting of stationary bicycle, elliptical machine and treadmill. He also completes about a dozen exercises in the hour as well, sandwiched in between a warm-up and a cool-down.

For all the working out Obama does, he still has one vice - the occasional cigarette. According to the same article from the Post, Obama has cut back from three or four to having one every once in awhile.

Obama's plans for making the White House fitness-friendly include building a full-basketball court at the White House.

However, Obama was not the only president to pursue physical fitness. Stay tuned for a special posting on President's Day about the fitness endeavors of past presidents, dating back to John Quincy Adams.

On Friday, we'll discuss the popular television show, "The Biggest Loser" and I'll unveil why the show is a big loser as well.