WHEN Julia Gillard the Prime Minister of Australia asked Bob Carr to join her Cabinet she could expect a respected statesman to take charge of the nation’s foreign affairs.

She probably didn’t realise she was also getting Australia’s closest thing to Barack Obama: a politician who goes home from a long day straight to a brutal, torso-shredding Pilates work-outs.

Senator Carr has boasted on twitter he was ripping up his “abs of steel” with a two-hour Pilates class.

At 6.38pm yesterday he tweeted: “A few very crowded days and now the perfect antidote: nearly two hours of Pilates. Go for it folks – abs of steel!”

Senator Carr joins an esteemed list of global leaders and their spouses who work hard on their appearance. Tony Abbott, Gordon Brown, Obama’s…

But who could blame the minister for engaging his core like never before. Core and Cardio exercises are an important part of a well-rounded fitness program.

via MINISTER FOR ABS: Meet Bob J Carr, man of steel | Herald Sun.