After TV Fat Jokes, Gov. Christie Gives More Details on Weight Struggle

Ramin Talaie/Bloomberg via Getty Images(NEW YORK) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie revealed more about coping with his weight Tuesday, after he joined in on the fat jokes Monday night during an appearance on Late Show with David Letterman.

The governor told constituents and reporters he has “a plan,” but like other Americans who struggle with obesity it doesn’t mean he’s always successful or that he doesn’t care about his weight problem.

At a press conference Tuesday he was asked if, despite the jokes on his Late Show debut, he had a plan to lose weight.

“If you talk to anybody in this room who has struggled with their weight what they will tell you is that every month, every year there’s a plan, there’s a plan and so the idea that somehow I don’t care about this, of course I care about it and I’m making the best effort I can and sometimes I’m successful and other times I’m not and sometimes periods of great success are followed by periods of great failure,” Christie answered at a firehouse Tuesday in Union Beach, N.J.

The usually tough-talking 50-year-old Republican governor openly acknowledged that he may have good health right now, but his “doctor continues to warn me that my luck is going to run out relatively soon, so believe me it’s something I’m very conscious of.”

During the answer, he interspersed some of his self-deprecating humor, which was on display Monday night, but he was serious when he said if the people of New Jersey are “concerned about whether or not it prevents me from being able to do my job effectively I think they’ve seen the results of that,” noting that he is “significantly” less stressed than when superstorm Sandy slammed into the state in October.

“So be assured, be assured there is a plan so whether it will be successful or not you will all be able to notice, but there is a plan,” Christie said, adding that he “appreciates” people who are concerned about his weight and health.

The YouTube clip was tweeted out from his official Twitter account, something his communications office regularly does when they want a specific answer or event to get notice, possibly acknowledging the need to address the issue.

“I have every intention of following through with every plan I have and anyone who has struggled with their weight over time in this state or in this country will tell you that when they begin the plan they have every intention of fulfilling the plan and so the plan, which I begin today, I have every intention of fulfilling,” Christie said with a smile, before making another joke. “I hope I can fulfill it by tonight and then if I can tomorrow I’ll start it and we’ll go again.”

Christie, who is thought to be a possible 2016 presidential candidate, added that he’s “not going to be overly self-consumed about this.”

Monday night the segment focused on the GOP star’s girth and the comedian’s tendency to poke fun at him on his show.

Christie tried to give as good as he got from Letterman, taking out a doughnut and starting to eat it during the segment.

“I didn’t know this was going to be this long,” Christie deadpanned.

Christie said he thought about “40 percent” of Letterman’s jokes about his weight were funny.

“And this one I thought, I don’t know if it’s one of your best ones, but I think it’s very topical given what went on yesterday,” Christie said, reciting one of Letterman’s fat jokes.  “A billion dollars will be spent on potato chips for Super Bowl Sunday, and that’s just at Gov. Christie’s house.”

Letterman paused, then took his own bite out of Christie’s doughnut.

The host asked Christie if the fat jokes were an “issue or is it not an issue,” and Christie responded that from his “perspective, if the joke is funny, I laugh, even if it’s about me.”

“If it’s not funny, I don’t laugh,” Christie said. “But I’ve never felt like it was, you know, anything that really bugged me all that much, no.”

This is far from the first time Christie has addressed the issue.

In December for her “10 Most Fascinating People of 2012″ ABC News’ Barbara Walters asked Christie what he would say to people “who say that you couldn’t be president because you’re so heavy.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Christie told Walters. “I mean, that’s ridiculous. I mean I don’t know what the basis for that is.”

“I think they’re worried about your health,” Walters responded.

“Well, I’ve done this job pretty well and I think people watched me for the last couple weeks and during Hurricane Sandy doing 18-hour days and getting right back up the next day and still being just as effective so I don’t really think that would be a problem,” Christie said.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio