The former U.S. secretary of state and former head of the CIA shed 40 pounds in six months, becoming a new person, “I started exercising, not every day, but almost every day, and eating right and the weight just started to drop.”
Mike Pompeo, 58, who was secretary of state under the US president, and one of Israel’s biggest supporters shed 40 pounds in six months, becoming a new person.
Pompeo said he invested in a home gym in his basement with some weights and an elliptical machine, where he was also interviewed by the New York Post, “I tried to go down there five, six times a week and stay there for about half an hour. And it was nothing scientific. There was no coach, “I was not a dietitian. It was just me.”
His weight began to accumulate when he was first elected to Congress as a Kansas representative in 2010, Pompeo said. “The truth is that my struggle to lose weight, has been all my life.”
To be healthy at last, Pompeo said, he had to be in the right mood. The carbs and sweet treats at his computer as he worked hard into the night – were gone.
The change in diet has not changed the traditions of family restaurants, but instead of ordering piles of pancakes in syrup, the former secretary is now opting for a much healthier meal. “We’re still going to a restaurant as a family, it’s important not to undo these traditions. Now we get protein,” he said, “to do it right and be disciplined enough,” he said.
EXCLUSIVE: Mike Pompeo: How I lost nearly 100 pounds in 6 months https://t.co/wwZXFPKwGg pic.twitter.com/gMBwOGqwty
— New York Post (@nypost) January 7, 2022
“For our family, food is where we gather, we’re Italian and we like to meet around a good meal of pasta and bread and cheeses and dessert. We’re still going to enjoy these great meals with family and friends, except I’m going to be the guy to say, yeah, I’m eating salad “.
His weight loss came with a lot of speculation on social media, Pompeo said none of the comments were particularly flattering. “The posts were pretty disgusting or just inaccurate, assuming I have neck health problems, or I have cancer,” he said. “No one called me and really asked, ‘Hey, what happened?'”
Pompeo said he hopes his journey will inspire others struggling with obesity to lose weight. The support of his wife, son Nick, and future bride-in-law, Rachel, certainly helped. “The biggest benefit I had on this trip was a very supportive wife and family,” he said. “Everyone supported my effort to be healthy, and that was the real focus.”
Another rumor on social media is that Pompeo dropped the pounds to prepare for the presidential run in 2024. He laughed about it in an interview with the New York Post, “The truth is, I’m really getting ready for 2044 and hope to be around by 2054.” Why these specific years? Grandchildren, he says hopefully. “I want to be there for my family and hopefully for a lot of grandchildren.”