ScoMo and Albo’s battle of the bulge is good for the heart

PM Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese are both racing to increase their popularity while reducing their waistlines.

Forget the battle of the booths, the upcoming federal election is fast becoming a battle of the bulge, with PM Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese both racing to increase their popularity while reducing their waistlines ahead of this year’s polling day.

And while both sides of politics can’t help but take pot-belly shots at each other, there’s no escaping the fact that the real winners here will be both candidates.

Sure, only one will be Prime Minister, but both will finish the campaign race far fitter and healthier than they began.

This is something to be celebrated, not mocked. The fact that two Australian men, both in their 50s, are taking their health and fitness so seriously, and taking the steps needed to make changes, is a very good thing — especially if it inspires others to do the same.

Heart disease is the among the biggest causes of deaths in Australia every year, with men — and especially older men — most impacted, accounting for more than 60 per cent of the 16,587 heart-related deaths in 2020.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. Picture: Tim Hunter

But reducing your risk factors is surprisingly easy. According to Hopkins Medicine, fattening foods, unhealthy weight, inactivity and high levels of stress all contribute to heart disease, and while ScoMo and Albo will both be feeling plenty of stress, they’re clearly taking big strides towards addressing the other risk factors.

For ScoMo, that means replacing unhealthy meals with healthier options, including the Man Shake. For Albo, it was upping the exercise, cutting out alcohol and installing a treadmill in his office.

The result is that both men are now putting the ‘fit’ in fit for office. And that’s something we can all be inspired by. Want to make changes in your own life? Here’s how:

Three steps to better heart health

Don’t skip meals

It’s a common misconception that losing weight is about reducing how much you eat, but that’s rarely the case. It’s not how much you eat, but what you eat that matters.

We know that weight loss is made in the kitchen, not the gym, but skipping meals will only leave you craving sugary sweets and fats. A breakfast of fruits, whole grains and vegetables — or a healthy shake — is proven to help protect your heart, and to help you to lose weight.

Exercise in increments

You really don’t have to find hours to spend in the gym. Exercise comes in all shapes and sizes, and at any time of the day. Walking to the train station, kicking a footy with the kids, or opting for the stairs over the elevator all counts, and it all adds up.

Soothing stress

Stress puts your body in an elevated and agitated state, but even worse is the ways we try to soothe it. So don’t reach for the chocolate or that bottle of wine, instead take a walk, learn some simple breathing exercises or invest in a boxing bag.

GET FIT AND HEALTHY WITH ADAM MACDOUGALL

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