Scott Morrison’s weight-loss journey revealed after Anthony Albanese sledge
Scott Morrison’s sledge at Anthony Albanese’s shrinking waistline has been undermined by the PM’s own weight-loss bid and “man shake” diet.
National
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Scott Morrison’s makeover sledge directed at the shrinking waistline of Anthony Albanese has been undermined after it emerged the Prime Minister recently turned to “man shakes” to drop kilos and revelations that his office previously discussed his “dramatic slim down” with media outlets.
The Prime Minister’s proud dad bod has emerged as an election issue after he chose to raise the Labor leader’s 18kg weight loss on national television to suggest he was a fraud.
“I’m not pretending to be anyone else. I’m still wearing the same sunglasses,’’ Mr Morrison told Paul Murray Live.
“Sadly, the same suits. I weigh about the same size and I don’t mind a bit of Italian cake. I’m not pretending to be anyone else.”
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The bizarre sledge followed a question about Labor’s economic policies and Mr Albanese’s suggestion he would model himself on the Hawke government.
However, less than a year ago The Australian newspaper reported: “Scott Morrison celebrated his 53rd birthday not with cake but with a Man Shake meal-replacement drink in a bid to slim down.”
The Man Shakes are billed as the “fastest and easiest way” for men to “lose the beer gut without losing all the beers”, and cost $44.95 for a bag of 15 shakes.
In October 2018, shortly after he was elevated to the top job, there were multiple reports about Scott Morrison’s “dramatic slim down” with the Prime Minister’s office confirming that he had changed his diet and exercise habits.
A Daily Mail story titled, “Scott Morrison’s ‘dramatic’ slim-down in just THREE weeks: How the Prime Minister has lost kilos by changing his diet since winning the top job”, claimed he had dropped some serious weight and that the Prime Minister’s office had confirmed it.
At the time, the Prime Minister was grilled by Sunrise’s David Koch over his slim-down, joking that he didn’t know how it happened.
“I’ve got no idea. I still enjoy a beer. I’m still doing all the things I used to do. Maybe it’s just the frenetic energy and pace I’m setting, Kochie,” he told the Seven Network
“I don’t know I’ve lost any, Kochie. This came as quite a surprise to me when someone mentioned it,” he said.
The Prime Minister claimed his wife Jenny had laughed when she read about his alleged weight loss.
“She did actually. I suppose it’s just hard work, Kochie,” he said.
Media outlets at the time reported: “The Prime Minister’s office has confirmed Mr Morrison has changed his diet but they declined to elaborate or confirm how much weight he had lost.”
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull lost 14kg through a radical Chinese herbal tea diet in 2011 and former Treasurer Joe Hockey underwent gastric sleeve surgery for health reasons.
The Prime Minister is no stranger to being the target of cruel jibes over his physical appearance.
After returning home from his controversial trip to Hawaii in 2019, he was spotted enjoying a day out at Sydney’s Bronte Beach with his family wearing budgie smugglers.
The images of his day out at the beach prompted vicious attacks online with one commenter on a story telling the PM: “Go and fight some fires you useless slob.”
It was also reported that the Prime Minister has an exercise bike in The Lodge. In 2019, Mr Morrison regularly discussed his daily swims to keep fit on Instagram.
“Great day for a quick swim in Sydney! Twenty laps always clears the head. I try to find time for a swim most days, wherever I am around the country,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten said that the Prime Minister was having an attack of the “little green monster”.
“As for makeovers, I remember Mr Morrison before the last federal election. You know what, he seemed to get a new pair of glasses and did his best at a makeover,” he told Today.
“I think the little green monster is sitting on Mr Morrison‘s shoulder and he is jealous of Albo.”
Nine news political reporter Chris O’Keefe accused Mr Morrison of bullying the Labor leader over his weight loss.
“That was a low go from the Prime Minister,” O’Keefe said on Today. “Australians won’t cop that. That’s bullying.
“Albo has lost 14kg because he went on a health kick. Good luck to him. It’s called discipline. Isn’t that what you want in a prime minister?”
How Albo lost the weight
Mr Albanese has previously revealed he cut down on carbs and stopped drinking alcohol to drop weight. He also got a treadmill in his office in Canberra and takes his dog for longer walks.
Recently, he boasted he was down to his goal weight which was just under 80kg.
“Absolutely no bread,” Mr Albanese said.
“Pasta is the hardest with a name like Albanese; it is mainly your go-to food.
“My son is not completely wrapped in my change of diet because we used to have pizza once a week.
“But fish with a few veggies or salad is really easy, too.”
He said a motivating factor was his near-death experience in a car accident.
“I went alcohol-free for three months and cut down on carbs – potato, bread, pasta, and just increased my exercise as well,’’ he said.
“But I haven’t tried to do anything too dramatic other than giving up alcohol. I don’t drink during the week and have some wine on the weekends and the occasional beer, but I’ve just been cutting back.”
Originally published as Scott Morrison’s weight-loss journey revealed after Anthony Albanese sledge
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