The World's Hardest Deliberative Body? (From DC Political Paper Rollcall)

Hear more grunts than usual emanating from the House gym this morning?

Blame fitness guru Tony Horton, who led about 15 Members and staffers in a tough hour-plus workout.

Horton (who’s most famous for his ripped-body-inducing P90X program) told HOH after the session that he was impressed with the level of fitness of his participants, including Reps. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and P90X aficionados Reps. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) and Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

And that’s a good thing, since Horton thinks a buffer Congress might be a better one — and not just aesthetically. Exercise releases chemicals in the brain that lead to clearer thinking and better decision-making, he says. “If you have a fit Congressman, a healthy Congressman, a flexible Congressman — maybe it’s a bit far-fetched, but — maybe we’d have a more efficient Congress.”

Horton visited Washington for “brainstorming sessions” with Members and others about how the military might make use of his products (Horton has a large fan base in the armed services already) and how fitness fits into health-care reform.

He’ll meet with Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) — his home-state Senator who happens to sit on both the Armed Services and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees — Friday afternoon.

****Amazing!!****In Him and Health-Demi XOXO