Anthony Albanese has lost even more weight ahead of the upcoming federal election after eliminating carbohydrates from his diet and reducing his alcohol consumption.
In September, Daily Mail Australia revealed Mr Albanese had lost 15kg – and has since lost a further 3kg.
The Labor leader now weighs less than 80kg, which was the target he set himself when he began his fitness quest.
He spoke about his weight loss in Perth on Friday after posing next to a communal battery that was supposed to have been shut down due to noise complaints.
Anthony Albanese has lost 40lbs since cutting carbs and reducing alcohol consumption a little over a year ago. He is pictured with a community battery in Perth on Thursday
Speaking about his fitness at Triple M Perth on Friday, Mr Albanese said he has given up alcohol after a serious car accident last year.
His Toyota was rammed by a Range Rover and he was taken to hospital for X-rays but was seriously injured.
“In January last year, I had a near-death experience in the car,” Mr Albanese said.
“I had a car wreck with my head, and that really makes you sit back and think about things. I was on pretty strong painkillers so I didn’t have to have alcohol.
“And I just thought, I’ll see how long I last. I went five months. So now I drink beer every now and then. I had a nice Little Creatures last night.’
Mr Albanese, who is seeking three Liberal seats in WA, flew to Perth on Thursday morning on the first flight since the state border opened.
He gave several radio interviews on Friday morning to connect with voters and was asked about his girlfriend of two years, Jodie Haydon, after posing next to her for photos in this month’s Women’s Weekly.
Asked on Nova if he had any plans to propose, Mr Albanese said: “Ask me on the air… I’m not going there.”
Anthony Albanese is pictured with partner Jodie Haydon after speaking at the National Press Club on January 25
But he said he was “happy” and didn’t see being unmarried as a disadvantage.
“Australia is made up of all sorts of different people. Not everyone is a mother, father and 2.2 kids,” he said.
It comes as Mr Albanese was left red-faced on Thursday after visiting a Tesla community battery in Ellenbrook, north-east Perth, to flaunt his climate change policies.
The battery is designed to store solar power and distribute it to homes at night, but had been shut down for six months due to noise complaints from local residents.
Energy Secretary Angus Taylor said this shows Labor does not understand “the fundamentals of affordable, reliable energy”. Labor declined to comment.
A slimmed down Mr. Albanese (right) is pictured at the Newtown Jets football stadium in June 2021 following his dramatic weight loss
The Labor leader is pictured in April 2020 before deciding to lose weight. His associates affectionately refer to this period of his life as “jolly Anthony” in reference to his more powerful physique
Mr Albanese decided he wanted to lose weight last year in preparation for the Three Capes Walk, a three-day, 48km trek in south-east Tasmania which he completed in January.
“I did a walk late last year, the Three Capes Walk in Tasmania, so I decided to get fit for that and just get fit for the campaign,” Mr Albanese told Daily Mail Australia.
The father-of-one, who split from ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt in January 2019, continued his healthier eating and exercise regimen after completing the walk.
“Since then, I’ve been doing things in moderation and watching what I’m eating and getting the right amount of exercise,” he said.
The Labor leader has largely cut back on carbs and unhealthy snacking. He has eggs instead of cereal for breakfast, salad for lunch, and meat and two veggies for dinner instead of pasta or potatoes. Pictured: His meal on a night out in Canberra in August
Mr. Albanese has a fuller figure during an April 2020 announcement ahead of his weight loss
Mr Albanese, who likes red wine and craft beer, said the most dramatic change he’s made was to phase out alcohol entirely three months of this year.
“I’ve given up alcohol for three months and reduced carbs – potatoes, bread, pasta – and also increased my exercise.
“But I haven’t tried to do anything too dramatic, other than abstaining from alcohol,” he said.
The Labor leader is now drinking again but consuming much less alcohol than he used to.
“I don’t drink during the week and I do have some wine and the occasional beer on the weekends, but I’ve just cut back,” he said.
Mr Albanese used to eat cereal for breakfast and pasta and potatoes for lunch and dinner – but he’s now largely carb-free.
“Now I eat eggs for breakfast instead of cereal, and I usually eat meat and some veggies for dinner,” he said.
The 59-year-old, who was raised by a single mother in the housing commission in Camperdown, in western Sydney, has also refrained from eating greasy and sugary foods between meals.
“I’ll have a salad for lunch and cut out fries and cookies and try to eat healthy in between meals, too,” he said.
In addition to improving his diet, Mr. Albanese is exercising more regularly than last year.
“I have a treadmill in the Canberra office, but I also walk my dog and walk longer than I used to and try to play tennis when I can,” he said.
“Tennis is my main exercise, my main sport and I try to play twice a week.”
The Labor leader, who represents Grayndler in Sydney’s inner west, also goes on bike rides around the city.
Mr Albanese said that since losing weight he has been sleeping better and generally feeling more mentally fit.
“We work long hours and if you’re physically fit I think it helps your mental performance as well,” he said.
The fitter, 58, poses outside Hawke’s Brewing Company in Marrickville, Sydney
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