Anthony Albanese has lost 15kgs by overhauling his diet and exercise regime in preparation for a gruelling election fight against Scott Morrison, Daily Mail Australia can reveal.
The Labor leader, 58, dramatically transformed his physique by giving up alcohol for three months, cutting out carbs and installing a treadmill in his Canberra office.
Mr Albanese decided he wanted to slim down last year in preparation for the Three Capes walk, a three-day, 48km trek in south-east Tasmania, which he completed in January.
A slimmed-down Mr Albanese (right) is pictured at the Newtown Jets footy stadium in June this year after his dramatic weight loss
The Labor leader is pictured in April 2020 before he decided to lose weight. His staff affectionately refer to this period of his life as 'jolly Anthony' in reference to his larger physique
But he also wanted to lose weight so he could would be fit for the upcoming election campaign against Mr Morrison which is expected in March or April.
In the latest Newspoll Mr Albanese trails with a 37 per cent approval rating compared to Mr Morrison's 46 per cent - but Labor is ahead of the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis by 38 points to 37.
'I was going on a walk at the end of last year, the Three Capes walk in Tasmania so I decided to get fit for that and also just to get fit for the campaign,' Mr Albanese told Daily Mail Australia on Monday.
The father-of-one, who split from ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt in January 2019, continued his healthier diet and exercise regime after completing the walk and has lost 15kgs in less than a year.
'Since then I've been doing things in moderation and been careful about what I eat and doing the right amount of exercise,' he said.
The Labor leader has largely cut out carbs and unhealthy snacks. He has eggs instead of cereal for breakfast, salad for lunch and meat and two veg for dinner instead of pasta or potatoes. Pictured: His meal one night in Canberra in August
Mr Albanese sports a fuller figure during an announcement in April 2020, before his weight loss
The fitter 58-year-old poses outside the Hawke's Brewing Company in Marrickville, Sydney last week
Mr Albanese, who likes red wine and beer, said the most dramatic change he made was to give up alcohol completely in the first three months of this year.
'I went alcohol-free for three months and cut down on carbs - potato, bread, pasta, and just increased my exercise as well.
'But I haven't tried to do anything too dramatic other than giving up alcohol,' he said.
The Labor leader now drinks again but consumes a lot less alcohol than he used to.
'I don't drink during the week and have some wine on the weekends and the occasional beer, but I've just been cutting back,' he said.
Previously Mr Albanese would eat cereal for breakfast and pasta and potatoes with lunch and dinner - but now he's largely carb-free.
'Now I have eggs from breakfast rather than cereal and will typically eat meat and couple of veg for dinner,' he said.
The 58-year-old - who was brought up by a single mother in housing commission in Camperdown in Sydney's inner west - has also cut out snacking on fatty and sugary foods in between meals.
'I'll have a salad for lunch and have cut out chips and biscuits and try to eat healthily between meals as well,' he said.
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