Al Sharpton Workout and Diet

Activist

Born: 1954

Alfred Sharpton Jr. was born in Brooklyn, NY. He grew up in poverty and in 1969, Reverend Jesse Jackson appointed him as youth director to Operation Breadbasket, a group that promoted better jobs for African-Americans in NYC. In 1971, Sharpton founded the National Youth Movement, aimed at developing resources for impoverished young people. In 1972, he worked as youth director for Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s presidential campaign. Sharpton attended college for 2 years, dropping out in 1975. From 1973-1980, he was tour manager for musician James Brown. In 1991, Sharpton founded the civil rights organization, the National Action Network. He ran for president in 2004. Sharpton is a Baptist minster, civil rights activist, TV personality, and radio talk show host. He has millions of followers on social media. He has 2 children with ex-wife Cathy Jordan and is currently married to Marsha Tinsley. Sharpton is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs about 130 lbs.

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Al Sharpton’s Diet

Diet Summary

Sharpton is almost as famous for his 176-lb. weight loss as he is for his political activism. He executed his incredible body transformation with a total change in his eating habits. Where he once lived on fried chicken, he now eats mostly vegetables. He avoids animal products with the exception of eggs and a piece of fish per his doctor’s suggestion. He avoids all processed and refined foods, including the fried chicken he once lived on. He also engages in intermittent fasting, and does not eat after 6 pm. He drinks several cups of tea a day as well as a couple of green juices.

Estimated Macros

Medium Fat

 Medium Carb

Low-Medium Protein

Diet Details

Try, Try Again

This is not Sharpton’s first weight loss rodeo. In 2001, he lost 30 lbs. during a 43-day hunger strike while in jail, but he regained that weight during his 2004 presidential run. His daughter calling him fat was his impetus to get serious about losing weight.

Gradual Process

Sharpton said he didn’t go cold turkey with the diet, but rather cut back gradually, replacing junk food with healthier choices. He says after a few weeks, he ceased to miss the fried chicken he once ate daily.

Juice for Health

Sharpton usually has 2 Juice Press juices a day, one with breakfast and one with dinner. He is partial to Juice Press’s ‘Doctor Earth’ and watermelon.

Almost Vegan

Sharpton completely cut out animal products and even carbs for a time, but at his doctor’s suggestion, he added back in eggs, fish once a week, and whole wheat bread daily to cover his nutritional needs.

What to Eat

  • 7-grain bread
  • Eggs
  • Green juice
  • Veggies
  • Bananas
  • Apples
  • Beans
  • Nuts
  • Avocados
  • Tea
  • Stevia
  • Fish (once/week)
  • Water

What to Avoid

  • Meat
  • Dairy
  • Chemicals
  • Processed foods
  • Fast food
  • Junk food
  • Added sugar
  • Refined carbs
  • Trans fats
  • Saturated fats

Sharpton on his old diet

‘I was a fried chicken junkie. I used to eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but after about 3 or 4 weeks, I didn’t have a longing for that either.’

Sharpton on his motivation to lose weight

‘Around 2006, my youngest daughter Ashley poked me in the stomach and said, “Dad, why are you so fat?” That kind of hurt my feelings.’

Sharpton on getting protein with a vegetarian diet

‘My doctor said to me, “You’ve got to have some carbs and you need protein,” so he put me on whole wheat toast.’

Sharpton on changing his diet

‘I think the first week, maybe week and a half, I would get hungry every now and then. But the key to it is determination.’

Al Sharpton’s Workout Routine

Workout Routine

From Fat to Fit

In 2014, Sharpton totally revamped his diet and committed to a daily exercise routine. He dropped 176 lbs., more than half his weight and is now a svelte 129 lbs.

Diabetes Cure

Sharpton was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but through a combination of weight loss and exercise, he was able to eliminate the problem and no longer has the condition.

Stay Active

Sharpton works out daily because it gives him energy, keeps the blood pumping, and helped him tone up after dropping all that weight.

No Excuses

When Sharpton travels, he always makes sure his hotel has a 24-hour gym so he can get in his workout.

Daily Dose

Even at 70, Sharpton still exercises daily, first thing. He does some kind of cardio every day, and also does strength training and yoga.

L.I.S.S. for Health

Sharpton walks every day for 20-30 minutes on a treadmill. Low-intensity steady-state (L.I.S.S.) exercise like walking provides substantial health benefits: it burns fat, is easy to recover from, and is appropriate for all fitness levels.

Strength Training

Sharpton does a variety of weight resistance exercises, including lifting weights and using bodyweight. Maintaining muscle is important to staying healthy with age.

Yoga for Balance

Sharpton also does yoga which provides multiple benefits, including strength, flexibility, and stress relief.

Exercise Style

An Al Sharpton Routine

Exercise first thing every day.

Cardio: daily, 20-30 min

  • Treadmill
  • Elliptical
  • Bicycle etc.

Strength training:

  • Lift weights – do a variety of push/pull exercises  
  • Calisthenics – push-ups, sit-ups, squats, etc.

Yoga

Sharpton on his fitness routine

‘I’m not trying to run the marathon, just tone up.’

Sharpton on his motivation to work out

‘I didn’t want to be flabby since I lost a lot of weight.’

Sharpton on his fitness goal

‘[I work out] just to keep my blood flowing and stay active.’

Sharpton on why he works out at 4 am

‘I like to go to the gym when I can be in there alone…I want to use this as my time to meditate and deal with my stress.’

Al Sharpton’s Supplements

Protein Powder

Protein Powder

Because Sharpton avoids meat, he uses protein powder to up his protein intake. There are many vegan and vegetarian options available made from pea, beans and seeds.

stevia

Stevia

Sharpton avoids all added sugars, so he uses stevia to sweeten his tea. Stevia can help with weight loss, control blood sugar, regulate cholesterol, and it’s good for your teeth and skin too.

green

Green Juice

Sharpton has a green juice first thing, every day. Greens are full of vitamins and cancer-fighting antioxidants. If you don’t get as many vegetable as you should, consider adding a greens supplement as an easy way to get your veg.

Al Sharpton’s Lifestyle

Rise & Shine

Sharpton is up every day at 4 am to fit in his workout before his day gets too busy. And yes, he works out even on weekends.

How to Be a Man

Sharpton’s parents separated when he was a baby. He says he learned about being a man from musician James Brown.

Brawley Scandal

Sharpton became (in)famous for supporting Tawana Brawley who accused 6 men including police officers of assaulting her. The accusation was determined to be fabricated, and Sharpton and 2 others were sued for defamation and ordered to pay $345,000. Sharpton refused; Johnnie Cochran and others eventually picked up the tab.

Stay Active

Sharpton has a syndicated daily radio show and a weekly show on MSNBC in addition to running his National Action Network which supports equal opportunity for all.

Memorable Meal

Sharpton says that one of his most memorable meals was with Barak Obama shortly after he had started his diet. While Obama was digging into the fried chicken and mac ’n’ cheese, Sharpton wouldn’t touch it.

The Many Benefits of Weight Loss

Sharpton says the best thing about losing weight, besides not being poked in the gut by his daughter, is having energy and being able to focus. He’s also thrilled to get to wear some sharp-looking new duds.

Fighting Words

Sharpton has some sharp words for his Saturday Night Live impersonator Kenan Thompson: lose weight. He says Thompson is doing an ‘outdated’ Sharpton version, and he also threatens to crash the show and impersonate Thompson.

Sharpton on exercising first thing

‘It’s my morning therapy, and it gets me in shape at the same time.’

Sharpton on being overweight

‘I grew up in civil rights and politics, so I’m pretty thick-skinned, but when your daughter says [you’re fat], I started being conscious.’

Sharpton on yet another reason to exercise

‘The more I did [exercise]…the more I found that it was a calming thing.’

Sharpton on a benefit of losing weight

‘The best part is the energy and the focus. I feel like I’m totally in charge of myself.’

Sharpton on a second benefit of weight loss

‘I’ve been able to get a very nice new wardrobe! I can wear a lot of stuff that I couldn’t wear before.’

Sharpton on his Saturday Night Live impersonator

‘Kenan [Thompson] needs to lose weight, or they need to get somebody in shape to do me…I might break into the studio one night and do Kenan.’

Sharpton on the Brawley verdict

‘I have as much a right to question a jury as [anyone else].’

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