Chris Christie says it was family rather than presidential politics that convinced him to undergo weight-reduction surgery.
By CNN Political Unit
(CNN) — Gov. Chris Christie, who disclosed last week he underwent weight loss surgery in a bid to prolong his life, is saying more about what prompted his decision to go under the knife.
Speaking at a book signing event in Princeton, Christie said he grew frustrated when his clothes no longer fit his growing frame, according to the Record Newspaper of New Jersey.
“The things that really got me down, the moments where I would say to myself, ‘Why can’t I beat this? Why can’t I do better?’, it would be when I’d be going out with Mary Pat on a Friday night or Saturday night,” Christie said, according to the report. Mary Pat is Christie’s wife.
“I’d be changing out of my professional clothes … and would go to casual clothes that I didn’t wear a lot, and then something wouldn’t fit. That’s when I’d really be angry with myself,” he said.
Christie secretly underwent lap-band surgery in February, a few months after turning 50, though the procedure wasn’t revealed until last week. Christie said then the decision instead was based on his commitment to his family.
“It’s not a career issue for me. It is a long term health issue for me. And that is the basis upon which I made my decision,” Christie said, saying that “the steps I’ve taken are for me, and Mary Pat, and the kids.”
At Tuesday’s book signing, Christie said he often gets comments from constituents who are concerned about his weight – and that he welcomes them.
“Especially older women will say things to me in a motherly way, like, ‘You know, if you lost 30 pounds, you would be so handsome.’ I don’t mind those kinds of conversations where people say, ‘I’m concerned about you; we need you to be governor, we need you to lose weight,'” Christie said.
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