First lady answers challenge, shows in new video 5 exercises she does to stay healthy

WASHINGTON – Michelle Obama has finally revealed some of her workout secrets.

The first lady skips rope, does abdominal crunches with a weighted ball and jumps on and off a bench in a White House video released as part of the fifth anniversary celebration of her “Let’s Move” initiative against childhood obesity.

She also chest presses 35-pound dumbbells and kick-boxes with a heavy bag in the brief video, which was recorded in the gym in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next door to the White House and blasted out late Tuesday on the first lady’s Twitter feed.

Mrs. Obama, 51, has been asking the public to use social media to tell her what five things they do to stay healthy.

Celebrities are helping the first lady promote her “GimmeFive” challenge and, this week, she began responding on Twitter to challenges from the public to reveal her five favourite workout songs, ways her family stays active and strategies to minimize stress. She said meditation is one stress reducer.

The video was Mrs. Obama’s answer to President Barack Obama’s video of his five healthy things — and his challenge to her to do the same.

In his video, the president and Vice-President Joe Biden jog along the White House colonnade. The president is also shown jogging up the stairs to Air Force One and holding walking meetings.

“So that’s me. What about you? Give me five FLOTUS-style,” Obama says, using the acronym for “first lady of the United States.”

At the end of her video, Mrs. Obama plugs a related initiative designed to encourage people to drink more water.

“Don’t forget. Always drink up,” she says, before sipping from a glass.

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