Barack Obama On Unplugging, Recharging, And How To Quit Smoking

The newest issue of Men's Health has what is sure to be an illuminating exclusive interview with Barack Obama. Since the issue isn't on newsstands until October 21, they were kind enough to share some of his choice quotes with us.

It turns out Obama has his own way to Unplug and Recharge...

On Unplugging:

"Eliminating TV has been helpful-- I'm still a sucker for Sports Center...The most difficult thing is to carve out time to think, which is probably the most important time for somebody who's trying to shift an organization, or in this case, the country, as opposed to doing the same things that have been done before. And I find that time slips away."

On Recharging:

"My blood pressure is pretty low, and I tend to be a healthy eater. So I probably could get away with cutting [my workouts] back a little bit. The main reason I do it is just to clear my head and relieve me of stress. It's a great way to stay focused."

On making time for his family:

"I don't miss the important things. I haven't missed a dance recital. I haven't missed a parent-teacher conference. But there are some things I do miss, and those are some of the tradeoffs you make.

"But, look, there's no question there are sacrifices involved here. I'd like to say that quality time replaces quantity, but sometimes it doesn't. You know, a lot of the best moments of family life happen spontaneously. If you have less time to devote to them, there are fewer of those moments."

On how to quit smoking:

"Eliminate certain key connections--that first cigarette in the morning, or after a meal, or with a drink. If you can eliminate those triggers, that should help."

And on meeting expectations:

I always try to make sure that my expectations are higher than those of the people around me...I never want people to feel as if I've overpromised to them. I try to explain in a real honest way how difficult some of the changes I'm talking about will be. But I never want the effect to be that I'm not working as hard as I can on their behalf...that I'm not continually trying to improve. I'm actually glad for the high expectations."

Comments

[moda31]

11:04 PM on 10/11/2008

his answers seem very thoughtful, especially when it comes to his family & the sacrifices he's had to make in that realm, that's the one "small" reservation i have about his becoming president; the effect on his family and his ability to be an active presence in his girls' lives, obviously he tries very hard but there are only so many hours in a day. glad he cares so much about taking the time to just think, it's invaluable to anyone & especially a leader.

[TheAlchemist]

12:29 PM on 10/11/2008

There's a book I can't find in the US:

Allen Carr's

Easy Way to Stop Smoking

Recommended for smokers who are ready to liberate themselves.

[ajax88]

12:57 AM on 10/11/2008

Hello to all commentators,

All the commercials, pundits, gaffes, personal attacks, and the MSM will not dictate the outcome of this election. THE GROUND GAME IS WHERE ELECTIONS ARE WON, AND LOST!

Before you go to the next left leaning article to comment on, or right leaning article to start an argument with a repug (which will no doubt end with them calling you an unpatriotic socialist wimp) I suggest that you get in the game.

Please visit my personal fundraising page below:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/craigcubberly

If you cannot afford to donate money there are many other ways to help below :

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/statepages

Take a look. It is a lot of fun, and very satisfying to get involved. You will really feel as though you are making a difference.

Thanks Craig

[schatsie]

08:40 AM on 10/11/2008

absolutely... if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem....
All is takes for evil to win is for good people to do nothing!!!

[spillersgirl]

09:51 PM on 10/10/2008

Can't wait to read the article! Obama is an amazing man! America is fortunate and blessed that he will be our 44th President! I am so proud and honored to be voting for Obama-Biden in 2008. I'm 50 years old -- what a great way to remember my 50th year on the earth!

[auramac]

02:16 PM on 10/10/2008

"Even hippies?!?" I strongly resemble that remark!

[spillersgirl]

10:24 PM on 10/10/2008

Cute! lol

[crazyworldwelivein]

01:22 PM on 10/10/2008

I found this quiz about Barack, though it was kind of interesting to take, since I thought I knew just straight facts about him better than I really did. http://www.mydailymoment.com/app/quiz/userquiz/takequiz/234

[schatsie]

08:46 AM on 10/11/2008

great little quiz!!!, straightened me out on a few questions, like the hybrid cars and his standing on healthcare...

[thesummerone]

09:57 PM on 10/09/2008

I have so much respect for Obama and will be devestated if he doesn't win the Presidency. He has more class in his little finger than McCain has in his whole body.

[ENOS]

05:34 PM on 10/10/2008

agreed

[spillersgirl]

09:53 PM on 10/10/2008

I will be devastated too Summer One. We'll have to start support groups all across the country if he loses. Let's keep the faith my friend!

[VJSleight]

07:09 PM on 10/09/2008

I hope that with the stress of being President that Obama doesn't slip back into smoking. Hopefully he has seen first hand how difficult it is to quit and will require insurance companies to cover nicotine addiction, just like they cover alcohol and drug addiction. If everyone on medicaid quit smoking, after 5 years, we would save $9.3 Billion in health care costs every year. While I believe that health care is the right of every American, health is also the responsibility of the individual.
VJ Sleight, a former smoker, cancer thrivor and tobacco treatment specialist

[AnotherToerag]

01:34 PM on 10/10/2008

Great point VJ! I had quit for a year, but the stress of work got to me: one bad day, one slip up, one moment of weakness and now I need to go through the whole quitting process again. A year after smoking after quitting and my cholesterol is worse, my BMI is worse, my immune system is weaker, and my workouts are nowhere near as productive as they were just a year ago... not to mention the psychological shame of re-igniting the addiction.
That said, I'm pretty sure Obama knows what's at stake and knows what his public perception would be if he got busted smoking. I think he has better sense than me when it comes to that. How eletist of him ;).

[VJSleight]

01:22 PM on 10/11/2008

What most people don't know is that Laura Bush is a smoker too. it is well hidden from the public.
If you quit for a year--then try again and again. Quitting is a process, not a one time event. If you needed to drop 50 pounds, no one would think that you could do that in one day but that's what we expect from smokers-just put it down and walk away. Instead, quitting is a process of learning how each smoker is individually connected to their cigarettes. The key is finding the right combination of behavior modification, medicinal support, and emotional and stress coping strategies that work for the individual, along with assessing individual desires, beliefs and fears. I have posted free quitting tips on my blogspot at Stop Smoking Stay Quit but Huffpo won't let me post the link. Good luck on trying again.

[walk0nwalls]

05:59 PM on 10/10/2008

I heard something about him bumming smokes on the trail, it might be back.

Stress can do that to ya.

[Carsy]

06:21 PM on 10/08/2008

He was a smoker?

[Geodesic17]

08:31 PM on 10/08/2008

Yeah. Letterman was giving him a hard time about it. If you look on Youtube, you can probably find a clip.

[OsamaBushLadin]

02:48 PM on 10/08/2008

Someone needs a manssiere (also known as a "bro").

[Sadducee]

01:43 PM on 10/08/2008

Fortunately for Obama, he has no money worries, no job worries, has access to the best medical care, and need not worry about his children's future or his own. That's relief many of us would love to have.

[mia8485]

02:12 PM on 10/08/2008

Yes, now, but that wasn't always true.

[necer65]

02:12 PM on 10/08/2008

We will too when Obama is elected President!!!

[kimbari]

02:57 PM on 10/08/2008

Thank you for saying that. :)

[IForgotMyName]

01:42 PM on 10/08/2008

Well, I am not too interested in this interview but I can hardly wait for the Men's Health interview with John McCain. Will he be on the cover?

[ccmd]

03:41 PM on 10/08/2008

Lmao

[Levittown]

09:31 PM on 10/08/2008

John McCain may make the cover-up but not the cover. His resume dictates this. Maybe they can get pictures of John throwing the dice at a casino his lobbyist work for. Does he pay taxes on his winnings ? Or is it not reportable because it is on a Indian reservation ? Its good to be a Senator.

[Diogenis]

01:15 PM on 10/08/2008

It is refreshing to read this today, and I hope more people will read this and get to know the real Obama.

[Ed Shapiro]

01:15 PM on 10/08/2008

Deb and I have worked with CEO's, athletes and celebrities internationally. We have seen firsthand how It is very stressful and challenging to be in the spotlight, have demands on you, yet be required to have a clear and focused mind. We all need time out. We all need inner resources to keep us mentally and physically fit. Breath is one of the best keys to keep you balanced whatever your choice of physical and mental fitness. The mind and the breath are connected in such a way that you can regulate and control how you function in an optimum way.

Another invaluable tool we use is called, 'silent space'. We have used it with CEO's in major corporations. It is a method of creating time to introspect, even meditate and enter into quiet time. In is nourishing, invigorating and let's you see yourself and what is going on in your life. It is invaluable. It is an opportunity to see your own thoughts and how you are dealing with life more objectively.

[starkdoulos]

03:01 PM on 10/08/2008

Hippies

[Ed Shapiro]

03:50 PM on 10/08/2008

We all breathe. We all want to be happy. All beings yuppies, fools, politicians, all people even hippies deserve to have a good life. It is our birthright to feel good be happy and enjoy life. When you point a finger at others there is 4 fingers pointing back to yourself.
May you be happy and free from suffering. May all things go well for you.