Former health minister Chen shares workout routine

Former health minister Chen shares workout routine

2025-02-05

Chen Shih-chung was the intrepid leader of Taiwan’s COVID go-team and now serves as a minister without portfolio. But he’s also responding personally to President Lai Ching-te’s vision of a "healthy Taiwan" by revealing that he’s been hitting the gym for eight months now. Squats, bench presses, and more are part of his regimen. Whereas before he couldn’t do a single push-up, now he can do over 10 in a row.

With guidance from his trainer, Minister Without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung perfectly executes a barbell squat.

Even at 72 years old, he can do a dozen push-ups at a time no problem. But eight months ago, it was a different story.

Chen Shih-chung
Minister without portfolio
At first, my trainer said let’s do some push-ups. I figured it would be no problem, but I couldn’t do a single one. I have a busy schedule for my job. Sometimes I couldn’t schedule a time, so I just gradually let it slide. Now I’m of a certain age. If I don’t take care of my fitness, I’m afraid it’ll be hard to achieve a “healthy Taiwan.”

Chen sets an example by working hard on his fitness, reducing the burden on the National Health Insurance, and quitting smoking for many years now. He hopes to reduce the chances that chronic disease will come knocking.

Chen Shih-chung
Minister without portfolio
It’s been two-and-a-half years since I’ve quit smoking. The biggest effect is that I don’t get out of breath. My lung capacity is especially good. So whenever I sing, I can hold the high notes better.

Singer extraordinaire Chen couldn’t hide his excitement at the physical changes he was seeing. But his trainer says he can still do better.

Huang Li-chi
Personal trainer
If you want your appearance to be fitter again, you need to watch what you eat and drink, like your protein intake and distribution of carbohydrates. If you do, it’ll change your appearance a lot. The minister looks like he’s 30 or 40 years younger.

The trainer reminded Chen to train his flexibility more and eat healthy. It looks like it’s fitness over fun for Chen this year.

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響應健康台灣! 陳時中曝光健身房日常

2025-02-05

過去是防疫五月天之首，現在是行政院政委的陳時中，為了響應總統賴清德健康台灣的願景，爆料自己跑健身房已經8個月，深蹲仰臥推舉樣樣來，連過去做不到一下的伏地挺身，現在能一口氣做10幾下。

在教練指導下，行政院政委陳時中先來個仰臥推舉。

儘管已經72歲，連做10幾下伏地挺身都沒問題，但8個月前，可不是這樣。

[[行政院政委陳時中]]
“剛開始教練說，來做個伏地挺身好了，我覺得沒有問題，結果連一下都做不起來。公職裡面時間繁忙，有時候時間也沒有辦法約好，然後慢慢就忽略掉了，身體到了一個年紀，如果沒有好好把體適能恢復的話，恐怕就沒有辦法，達到健康台灣的效果”

陳時中以身作則，努力強身健體，減輕健保負擔，戒掉多年菸癮，更是希望能預防慢性病找上門。

[[行政院政委陳時中]]
“我現在大概已經戒了大概兩年半，那影響最大就是比較不會喘，肺活量尤其是變得很好，所以有時候如果要高歌一曲的話，高音就比較撐得住”

愛唱歌的陳時中，面對身體的轉變，難掩興奮之情，但教練顯然覺得還可以更好。

[[健身教練黃理騏]]
“如果外觀要再看起來比較結實的話，飲食上面也是需要注意一下，蛋白質的攝取，跟碳水(化合物)的分配，如果有注意到的話，外觀會差很多，部長應該看起來就是，會再年輕個30~40歲吧”

教練提醒陳時中，增加柔軟度訓練，也要吃的健康，看來陳時中2025年的聚會，要少跑一點。

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As a long-term defender of children’s rights, I urge everyone to support the children of Tibet so that they can grow up and thrive.

DPP lawmakers also attended the event, rallying support for the civic groups, calling for unity in face of Chinese hegemony.

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Ambassador promotes Taiwan’s global participation with nail art

There’s a nail salon in Kaohsiung that recently drew attention for sharing nail art promoting Taiwan’s participation in the WHO. The manicurist’s daughter, Huang En-ching, is a youth ambassador for the Taiwan-UN Alliance. Last May she went to Switzerland to show her support, followed by a trip to New York in September. Before leaving, she and her mother came up with a nail design portraying elements of Taiwan. It’s not only an expression of her mother’s love, but it has also come to define her after their appearance in an interview on YouTube.

More than 500 people march on the streets of New York, chanting to support Taiwan’s inclusion in the UN. Huang En-ching is a youth ambassador with the Taiwan-UN Alliance. Last September, she went to New York to show her support, and brought a special prop with her.

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Also delicately painted on her nails are the logo for the Taiwan-UN Alliance, Taiwanese products, local landmarks, and more. They were highlighted in a YouTube video, and have become her specialty.

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I use my nails to promote Taiwan. I introduce some of the things we have here, like Taipei 101 for example. Then I also did Taiwanese food, and painted bubble tea and dumplings.

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I encourage my daughter to participate in things that help Taiwan and help the world to understand Taiwan. People abroad who see her nails may stop and say, “Wow, what is this?” And through that you can start a discussion. It’s a way to more naturally and directly introduce Taiwan.

The mother uses her skill as a manicurist to help her daughter find a unique way to support Taiwan. Huang’s belief in backing Taiwan and her mother’s love shine brightly under the foreign sun.

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Children in Tainan headed back to school on Wednesday for the first time after the Lunar New Year break. But for many students, the return to class was quite different this year. An earthquake on Jan. 21 dealt heavy damage to many schools in the southern city, meaning special arrangements have had to be made to keep classes running.

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The nearby Nansi Junior High School suffered great damage during a strong earthquake on Jan. 21. The tremor left cracks on the walls, deformed doors and windows, and exposed the steel rods inside reinforced concrete beams. In the assembly hall, the panels of the drop ceiling came crashing down too. The damage was so severe that several areas of the school were cordoned off, leaving students with nowhere to attend class.

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Many of the students at Nansi Junior High graduated from Nansi Elementary, so it wasn’t too troublesome for parents dropping their kids at school. But they still hope that the students will soon return to having their own schools.

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But while brandishing a gun can scare the monkeys off for a moment, it doesn’t have any lasting effect. The bigger question is how local residents and government find a way for people and monkeys to live in harmony in the long term.

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