UPFRONT
WEIGHT-LOSS SECRETS OF THE POLITICAL STARS How three New York political heavyweights got a little lighter It’s holiday time again, which for many of us means family feasts, office parties and expanding waistlines. We asked three pols who have lost weight—and kept it off—how to make it through the season. NAME: Sen. Gustavo Rivera NAME: Sen. Shirley Huntley
LOST: 22 pounds
LOST: 18 pounds
HOW: “Moderation. You can’t change your dietary habits from one day to the next and expect to be able to maintain it. The important thing is to make small changes that incrementally will have a good impact. Smaller portions, less fat, less sugar, less salt, lots of water, regular exercise and long-term goals—that’s how I did it.”
HOW: “When my clothes started getting tight, that was my first warning. I can’t afford to buy more, so you gotta stop eating. I walk five miles a day. I don’t eat any sweets anymore at all. I drink diet drinks. I use no sugar. I eat small portions.” HOLIDAY EATING ADVICE: “I just follow the rules. If I know the holiday is coming, I’ll have my regular coffee, juice, slice of wheat toast; lunch; maybe a piece of fruit; and then save up room for dinner.”
HOLIDAY EATING ADVICE: “There’s always times, particularly with family, when you’re not able to not eat the things that are just high in calories and not that healthy for you. As long as you don’t do it every day, it’s all right. But I would say, just don’t overeat. Moderation—you can’t say that enough. Moderation, moderation, moderation.”
NAME: Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson LOST: 25 pounds HOW: “No sort of crazy crash-diet. A mixture of increased exercise, eating less and eating better—cutting down on starches, dramatically on fried foods. Biking, spin classes, running; you’ve got to keep up your exercise. Try to find the time to do it.” HOLIDAY EATING ADVICE: “Try to avoid the grazing. It’s hard. And alcohol is all empty calories. I’m very sympathetic to people who struggle with this.”
TWITTER’S ODD COUPLE Craig Johnson and Carl Marcellino bro down online They are the Statler and Waldorf of Long Island politics: Former Democratic State Sen. Craig Johnson (@ HonCraigJohnson) and Republican Sen. Carl Marcellino (@Senator98), former adversaries who have found common ground teasing each other on Twitter. One day a few years ago in the Senate Chamber, Johnson learned Marcellino’s Twitter handle during a session lull in, and “immediately friended him,” he said. “He started leaving messages on Twitter,” Marcellino recalled. “I wasn’t into it all that much then.” Marcellino has since picked up the habit. Like Johnson, he writes his own tweets. He likes the feedback. “You get an email, or someone retweets you. Sometimes someone stops you in the street, and says ‘I saw your picture. You look younger in your picture,’ ” Marcellino said. And while Johnson’s 1,160 followers number almost twice as many as Marcellino’s 513, the two regularly engage in a spirited back-and-forth on Twitter—
over politics, sports or even just to wish each other a happy holiday. After Johnson was defeated in a narrow race in 2010, Marcellino began to miss his former colleague’s willingness to engage in a little postpartisan banter. “When [Johnson] left the Senate, I was pleased that Jack Martins coming on board put us in the majority,” Marcellino said, with a hint of dolor. “But I was sorry to see a person of quality leave.” They take aim at any number of targets on Twitter, but their pointed criticisms of each other are never ad hominem. They both say they yearn for the bygone days when a Republican and a Democrat could have a fun conversation. “We had some good debates,” Marcellino said. “I found his arguments intelligent, on point. It was never nasty.” Apropos of nothing, Johnson ventured, “Would I vote for Carl?” “Now I’m out of office, I would think long and hard about voting for him as a member of the Senate,” he went on. “Our relationship based on
mutual respect has grown since I’ve been out of office.” Marcellino guffawed. “He’s not in my district! He’d have to move!” He paused a second and decided, “I
have to tweet him that I have a house for sale in my district. That would make Jack Martins very happy.” —Laura Nahmias lnahmias@cityandstateny.com
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DECEMBER 5, 2011
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