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Rob Ford Weight: Toronto Mayor Gains Pounds This Week

Rob Ford Can't Lose Weight
CP

Rob Ford can't seem to keep his weight below 310 pounds.

After skipping last week's weigh-in, Toronto's mayor stepped on the scales Monday to find he had gained 3 lbs. in two weeks. The Mayor now weighs 311 lbs., exactly where he was at the beginning of March.

TWITTER REACTS TO ROB FORD'S WEIGHT

Ford refused to take question after his appearance. The mayor's brother, Councillor Doug Ford, said Rob needs to "get back on board and start working out,” according to the Toronto Sun.

Doug weighed in at 248 lbs., down from 249 lbs. two weeks ago.

The mayor started the Cut The Waist Challenge at 330 pounds. Doug started at 275 pounds.

At the outset of the challenge, Stefanie Senior, a registered dietitian at Athletic Edge Sports Management, told HuffPost not to be fooled by the Ford brothers' early diet success. "As you lose weight, your metabolism slows down," making it more difficult to shed pounds, she said.

Looks like Rob Ford has hit his metabolic wall, at least for the time being.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW GAME

Toronto's two political heavyweights have a good reason for going on a diet. "Rob has two young kids and I have four girls. We want to be around to watch them get married and be grandparents. If you're carrying this extra weight...it's not healthy. And we know that," said Doug.

Ford has faced plenty of ridicule in the press for his waistline. In March of last year, NOW Magazine caused an uproar when it printed a photoshopped photo on its cover prominently featuring the mayor's naked belly.

Even the Globe ran a piece with the headline "Rob Ford's not popular despite being fat. He's popular because of it," although the piece was subsequently pulled from the web after widespread criticism.

HuffPost Canada blogger Ben Johnson has argued Ford's weight is a valid political issue, both because the mayor may face serious health problems while in office and because it indicates an irresponsible and short-sighted attitude.

Former mayor David Miller made headlines by dropping approximately 50 pounds while in office. If Ford can match that accomplishment he'll be well on his way to putting the gravy train jokes behind him once and for all.

He'll have his brother to lend him encouragement along the way. Doug told the Globe he's also aiming to also lose 50 to 60 pounds and recapture the fitness of his younger days, when he worked out regularly and could bench press 350 pounds.

The mayor says eventually he would like to make it down to 225 pounds.

With files from The Canadian Press

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