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George Washington -

George Washington wasn't the kind of president who'd travel in a carriage. Instead he'd ride his horse for hours. While many of us can't relate in terms of how physically demanding that is, we can assure you it's pretty strenuous stuff. 

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George Washington -

Historian David McCullough described the president in a 1776 book as "a strapping man of commanding presence, he stood six feet two inches tall and weighed perhaps 190 pounds. You could distinguish him to be a general and a soldier from among 10,000 people. There is not a king in Europe that would not look like a valet… by his side."

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Thomas Jefferson -

The third US president was also into horseback riding, and apparently preferred to exercise in the afternoons. Thomas Jefferson liked to keep his life balanced. He's quoted as saying "leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading." 

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John Quincy Adams -

John Quincy Adams liked his walks. So much so that he is said to have walked between 3 to 6 km (2 to 6 mi) every single morning. He also liked to swim. In fact, Adams went skinny-dipping in the Potomac River.

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John Quincy Adams -

The sixth president made a note of his routine in a July 1818 diary entry: "I rise usually between four and five—walk two miles, bathe in Potomac River, and walk home, which occupies two hours." In another diary entry, Adams wrote: "I follow this practice for exercise, for health, for cleanliness and for pleasure."

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Theodore Roosevelt -

President Theodore Roosevelt was a real fitness aficionado. He had an impressive muscular frame, which was a result of his daily workout regime that included horseback riding. According to reports at the time, Roosevelt once rode 158 km (98 mi) on horseback in one day, from the White House into northern Virginia and back, during the winter.

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Theodore Roosevelt -

Teddy Roosevelt also engaged in a number of sports. He had a tennis court installed at the White House, trained in judo and jiu-jitsu, was into boxing, and played polo.

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William Howard Taft -

President Taft was undoubtedly overweight, but apparently did exercise. Dr. Charles E. Barker was the president's physical instructor. Baker compiled a workout routine of 15 exercises for Taft to follow. 

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William Howard Taft -

One exercise was described as follows: "Lie flat on the back. Raise chin to chest and then back to floor pushing the arms along the side of the body as you raise the chin. 8 to 15 times." Taft also occasionally played golf. 

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Calvin Coolidge -

President Coolidge was actually allergic to horses, but that didn't deter him from shaping up in the saddle. He's said to have rode a mechanical horse instead (pictured). In fact, "Silent Cal" acquired an electronic mount in 1925, similar to a modern bull-riding machine, and rode it in the White House.

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Herbert Hoover -

President Hoover not only was into exercise, he actually had his own customized game. Hoover and his physician, Joel T. Boone, invented the Hooverball, a sport that was like a tennis/volleyball hybrid.

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Herbert Hoover -

The game consisted of throwing a 2. 7-kg (6 lb) medicine ball. One of Hoover's friends described it as "more strenuous than either boxing, wrestling, or football. It has the virtue of getting at nearly every muscle in the body."

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Franklin D. Roosevelt -

FDR had his legs crippled by polio, so he went swimming three times a week to stay fit and healthy.

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Franklin D. Roosevelt -

Roosevelt's fitness routine helped keep him in shape. In 1924, the president told a reporter "I [can] walk around in water 4 feet deep without braces or crutches almost as well as if I had nothing the matter with my legs."

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Harry S. Truman -

President Truman had a bowling alley installed in the White House, but his rigorous diet also helped him stay in shape. "I eat no bread, but one piece of toast at breakfast, no butter, no sugar, no sweets," Truman revealed in a 1952 diary entry.

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Dwight D. Eisenhower -

President Eisenhower had a heart attack in 1955, but he had the help of a popular sport to help in his recovery—golf.

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Dwight D. Eisenhower -

Golf is popular among presidents, and Eisenhower is credited for getting his fellow Commander-in-Chiefs into the game. Ike played 800 rounds of golf during his eight-year administration.

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John F. Kennedy -

JFK played football when he was younger, but as president he was more into sailing. He did so mostly at the family's summer residence on Cape Cod.

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Gerald Ford -

President Ford also made his contribution to the sport and leisure facilities at the White House by getting a swimming pool installed. So it's safe to say Ford liked to go for a swim!

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Jimmy Carter -

President Jimmy Carter was into running and did so until he was 80, when he required knee replacement surgery.

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Jimmy Carter -

Carter stayed active after the surgery. "I have two new knees and those have worked well. Now I swim regularly at home and when I travel. I'm active around the house and with painting and woodworking," Carter told CNN in 2013, aged 88.

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Ronald Reagan -

Reagan played football and was captain of the swim team in college, but even later in life he took his fitness regime very seriously. So much so that in 1983, Parade magazine published 'How to Stay Fit: The President's Personal Exercise Program,' written by Reagan himself.

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Ronald Reagan -

The "Gipper" really got into working out following the assassination attempt on his life in 1981. "My callisthenic and gym routine actually started as therapy after the shooting, but doctors say I am now in better shape than when I came to the White House," he said.

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George H.W. Bush -

George H.W. Bush was into speed golf, which is a more fast-paced version of the sport where the time taken to complete the round is also scored.

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George H.W. Bush -

President Bush was also a running enthusiast, and was spotted jogging on multiple occasions.

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Bill Clinton -

Speaking of jogging, Bill Clinton was also very fond of it. He did so up to three days per week.

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Bill Clinton -

In 1993, Clinton had a quarter-mile (402-m) jogging track installed around the White House's South Drive.

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George W. Bush -

Like his father, George W. Bush was also into running, but went one step further by competing in marathons. "Running helps me set goals and push myself towards those goals. In essence, it keeps me young. Plus, I just look and feel better," Bush once declared.

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George W. Bush -

In 2003 knee pain forced Bush to stop running and find another way to stay fit—so he got into biking. Nowadays, the former president's workout routine includes using machines, weights, playing golf, and mountain biking.

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Barack Obama -

President Obama started his mornings with 45 minutes of either weight training or cardio. Obama is also a huge basketball fan, and plays it regularly.

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Barack Obama -

In addition to shooting hoops, Obama was also into golf. "You'll have to exercise or at some point you'll just break down," he said.

Sources: (Self) (Mental Floss) (CNN) (Insider) (Men's Health) (BarBend) 

See also: How to train (and look) like Rocky

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