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Power Crunch gets expert feedback on a different workout routine every week. This week, Health Minister Tony Clement shares his exercise regimen.
Tony Clement, Conservative Member of Parliament for Parry Sound-Muskoka, has been Minister of Health since 2006.
My goal
"I always try to get back to the weight I was after the last election, because that's when I'm the most fit."
Health Minister Tony Clement should limber up more before he plays squash. (Bill Grimshaw for The Globe and Mail)
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Recently, the chocoholic shed 10 pounds. He gave up sweets for Lent.
My workout
Works out at the gym two to three days per week: 25 minutes on the StairMaster; 10 weight exercises for the chest, legs, biceps, triceps and shoulders; five minutes of stretching; and one set of 125 crunches.
Plays squash about once per week.
Wears a pedometer and walks 4,000 to 7,000 steps a day when he's in Ottawa, and 8,000 to 10,000 steps when he is back in "the real world."
My lifestyle
"The common thing to say to me when I'm at the gym is, 'It's good to see the Health Minister at the gym.' There is a certain added responsibility, but I would work out even if I wasn't Health Minister. I'm not saying that I'm in perfect physical shape, but I want to keep as fit as I can, and treat my body with the respect that it deserves.
"I've played squash for 20 years. It's a fun game - you can take all of your frustrations out on the ball. I challenged [NDP Leader] Jack Layton to a match. He'd like to do it, but Olivia [Chow] was worried about his knees, so we haven't organized it yet. I think I'd win; he's probably a bit rusty.
"I only have a gym membership in Ottawa. When I'm in my riding, I'm either walking my dog or door-knocking 2 ½ hours up and down hills. I tend to use the stairs rather than elevators whenever I can. This job is brutal if you don't have a routine. The bad habits - like the food and sedentary lifestyle - will take over."
My motivation
"I treat my exercise as an unbreakable appointment, otherwise it never gets done. I feel a lot better if I've had the exercise, so it helps sharpen my mind as well as my body."
My workout anthem
"At the gym the TV is always on, but to me it's a distraction. And I use my iPod for entertainment - not for distraction while I'm working out. I mostly just zone in on what I'm doing."
My challenges
"Every minute of every day is in demand, so I'm constantly fighting with my schedules to make sure my gym time is not eaten up with more meetings. In this job you don't have regular meal times, so I constantly have to be aware of what I'm eating. Otherwise it runs away from you."
The Critique
Loosen Up
"Mr. Clement's routine and mindset is very sound - as it should be for the Minister of Health," says Blair Larsen, director of personal training at Toronto's Adelaide Club. But the Conservative MP's stretching routine is inadequate. "Five minutes is not enough, seeing as he's playing a ballistic, fast-paced game such as squash," Mr. Larsen says. "This sport requires a great deal of lunging," so it's important for Mr. Clement to maintain elasticity in his tissues, particularly in his lower body.
Watch Your Back
Mr. Clement's needs to add back exercises into his routine. "When one part is over-emphasized - chest, in this case - the body gets pulled out of alignment," which can lead to injury.
Break with Core Tradition
Mr. Clement's 125 consecutive abdominal crunches are no mean feat, but he is overlooking three of four ab muscle groups. "The traditional crunch only really targets the upper rectus abdominis," Mr. Larsen says. Adding an exercise that involves rotation would help Mr. Clement target the rest of his abs and strengthen his lower back - muscles particularly susceptible to injury for a squash player.
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