Sweating to the oldies with Hugo Chávez

Posted By Robert Zeliger Monday, August 1, 2011 - 10:59 AM Share

A tracksuit-clad Hugo Chávez is seen doing leg lifts, neck rolls, and some other mild exercises in a video recently released by the Venezuelan government. "Healthy government, healthy body, healthy mind," Chávez says between routines. Other members of his cabinet appear in the workout video as well, though from the snippet we've seen no one really seems to be working up much of a sweat. At one point, the group walks slowly around a circle at a snail's pace, following Chávez. P90X, this is not (in fact, it doesn’t even look as vigorous as Jane Fonda's routine), though, given Chávez's cancer fight, the 57-year-old Venezuelan leader probably needs to take things slowly.

 


Chávez stars in exercise video (by Reuters)

 

Chávez, who celebrated his birthday on July 28, said he completed his first round of chemotherapy last month and will soon begin a second round. He is undergoing cancer treatment in Cuba, where he had a tumor removed on June 20 -- though he has yet to say what kind of cancer he has.

In televised remarks last week, Chávez said: "I'm in the best mood possible.… My mood is unbeatable." Chávez has said he plans on running again for president in 2012. His approval remains at about 50 percent, according to a recent opinion poll -- meaning there has been little negative reaction so far to his cancer. Analysts had said his initially cagey explanations for what he was doing in Cuba were because he feared looking weak and sick -- which may be one reason for the recent exercise video. Chávez also said he had lost 30 pounds recently.

"I was too fat. I'm doing exercise, rehabilitation," he said.

EXPLORE:FLASH POINTS, LATIN AMERICA
 

JAMES CLARK

3:03 AM ET

August 5, 2011

Sweating to the oldies

Healthy government, healthy nation i say. The best way to fight a nations obesity get them exercising and preach the benefits of weight loss is for important people like Hugo Chávez to lead the way. I think the nations leaders from around the world can take a leaf out of this guys book. The health system would be in a much better state and productivity would increase.

 

AXELBROOK

6:49 AM ET

August 19, 2011

Yes. They always do this

Yes. They always do this but, his weak, liberal stance gives them even more opportunity to flex their ever growing muscle. RIO I just hope we do not wait until it is too late for us, or the entire world..

 

ANDY POSSICK

12:29 AM ET

August 20, 2011

"Healthy government, healthy body, healthy mind."

It's the hottest aerobics video starring a communist-sympathizer since The Jane Fonda Workout. It's the craze sweeping hoards of South Americans looking to drop a few kilograms in time for summer. It's the latest sign that Venezuela's president is further sinking into some sort of out-of-touch Kim jenna jameson Il-styled insanity.

"Healthy government, healthy body, healthy mind."

According to Hugo Chavez, that's the message of a newly-released government video that shows the Venezuelan president working out to a thumping soundtrack alongside other members of his cabinet. Displayed are knee lifts, head rolls and stretches -- not to mention the unusual sight of a world leader in a tracksuit.

 

ANTWAN LACERTE

4:40 AM ET

August 30, 2011

Sweating to the oldies with Hugo Chávez

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has released a workout video to demonstrate that he is healthy enough for re-election.Having recently returned from Cuba, where he received chemotherapy for an unspecified type of cancer, Chávez has told state-run media in Venezuela that he has no intention of dropping out of the running in next year's election. Chávez has been president since 1999.In the video, Chávez adopts the dress and demeanor of a typical phys. ed. jenny mccarthy . He leads members of his Cabinet in stretches, some calf raises and a brisk walk while denouncing cholesterol as a poison. Speaking of his chemotherapy in July to VTV, Chávez said, "It was hard, but my soldier's body was able to withstand the small discomforts of this difficult treatment."

 

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