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Friday, Aug 17, 2012 6:45 PM UTC

For Ryan, physical fitness a lifelong endeavor

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For Ryan, physical fitness a lifelong endeavorFILE In this June 1, 2012 file photo, Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington. Paul Ryan's fastidious commitment to fitness and healthy living can be traced to 1986. That's when he found his father dead of a heart attack in the family's Wisconsin home, becoming the latest in a long line of men in the family to die prematurely. Today, Ryan is 42. He boasts of body fat between just 6 and 8 percent. He doesn't eat sweets _ even on his birthday. He holds early morning work outs in the House gym for colleagues. And he favors a high-intensity workout called P90X. The youthful Ryan's intensity _ and the story behind it _ has been in the spotlight since Romney announced his running-mate selection last weekend. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)(Credit: AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Paul Ryan’s fastidious commitment to fitness and healthy living can be traced to 1986.

That’s when Ryan found his 55-year-old father dead of a heart attack in the family’s Wisconsin home.

The 42-year-old congressman today boasts of body fat between just 6 and 8 percent and he shuns sweets — even on his birthday.

Ryan holds early-morning workouts for colleagues in the House gym and favors a high-intensity routine called P90X.

The youthful Ryan’s intensity — and the story behind it — has been in the spotlight since Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced last weekend that Ryan would be his running mate.

More By Josh Lederman.

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