It's no secret that Michelle and President Obama are one fit couple. If you're wondering how they stay in shape with such a demanding lifestyle and with a personal pastry chef living under the same roof, the first lady has offered some tips in a recent issue of Prevention magazine.
- Include exercises in your routine that offer immediate results. Michelle says, "I enjoy arm exercises because you can see what it's hitting." So make sure your workouts target a specific area every time you work out, and the consistency will pay off. Now we have more information on her famous arms.
- Don't skip out on workouts. If the wife of the president of the United States can make time to work out, so can you. She wakes up at 4:30 every morning so she has time to fit it in.
- Cross train and mix up your routine. Doing the same types of workouts over and over again is boring and a great way to injure yourself. So Mrs. Obama varies her workouts with Pilates, cardio, stretching, and weights.
To see the rest of Michelle's advice read more.
- Have no absolute "nos." The first lady admits, "I love French fries, I like a good burger, and I like pie. And that's okay. I would be depressed if I felt I could never eat the things that I love."
- Practice moderation. The presidential couple encourages their daughters to make healthy choices when it comes to not-so-healthy foods, and to not be obsessed. So if one asks, "Can I have pie?" Michelle will answer, "Did you have pie last night?" It's all about making healthy choices and finding the balance between indulging in what you love and not overdoing it.
At my house, the girls are always asking for ice cream; I'm going to try the first lady's answer.
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Some very sound advice!
1She's such a great fitness role model.
2I like "did you have pie last night?" - I've found mixing it up with my exercise and food choices keeps me interested, varied, and healthy
3Excellent advice.
4Is it just me or what is the deal with all these people that say they wake up at 4:30am to work out? When do they go to bed at night? I think exercise is important but if you are only getting 5 or 6 hours of sleep every night is it really the healthiest example?
5Funny to prop up the Obamas as examples for healthy lifestyles. As long as he smokes, no go for me. Plus "PhotoShopped" Michelle don't cut it either.
6I love Michelle and I think she is a great role model.I wake up at 5:15 every morning(except weekends) so I can work out. It give me energy and in general I feel great throughout my day.Plus my work is very demanding and very often I'm working late so the last thing I feel like doing after long day at work is going for a run:)Great tips from Mrs. Obama as well-always try to mix it up and have fun with your workouts.
7Michelle Obama is definitely not photo-shopped. I saw her speak during the campaign and she is truly that fit and statuesque.
8I'm sorry, I admire her for getting up at 4:30 to work out, but Michelle Obama is rather big--particularly lower body area. Maybe it's the clothing she wears, but she always looks like she has a thick middle and a huge rear-end. Not something I'd aspire to. And yeah, till Barack quits smoking, associating him with anything healthy isn't going to happen.
9some women have larger hips and thighs anonymous...didn't you read the fit article a few weeks ago that stated how having larger thighs will probably reduce your risk of heart disease...clearly she is a runner and she has curves. Nothing wrong with that...I don't know what YOU'RE aspiring to..but Michelle Obama has a pretty kick-ass body and for you to say she is big is false.
And yeah, Barack smokes which is awful...but he's still living a more healthy life than many presidents before him.
10I think she's really quite hefty too, but yes she has great arms.
11I wouldn't aspire to her shape either but she is fit.
I think she is fit and I am glad she is sharing some of her tips. I appreciate it and I know others as well and some with children do to.
12She appears to have a healthy attitude towards fitness. It must be very difficult for her (and other women in the public eye) when they are judged so harshly. Seems a woman can only be labelled these days as too skinny, too fat or pregnant.
13I think Michelle looks great. She's pear-shaped, and she's healthy and fit for her body type.
Personally, I do relate to her getting up at 4:30a to exercise. I presume she is very busy during the day, and she can only find time to exercise in the wee hours of the morning (when most of the world is still sleeping). I've done this during a certain chapter in my life. Exercise was (and is) a priority, and that's only way it would fit into my life.
Also, I agree with her about moderation. I happen to practice that, too.
14Always the anonymous people making fat comments! I think she looks healthy,and she has a pear shaped body. As for the wake-up thing, I notice women who have kids and a job can only fit in a work out if they wake up super early. That's just the way it is.
15"And yeah, Barack smokes which is awful...but he's still living a more healthy life than many presidents before him."
Says who? Just because you voted for the guy doesn't all of the sudden make smoking okay. He, of course, can smoke all he wants, but the press (and his supporters) should stop using him as a "health" prop. And really, get a grip, major Photo Shop on Michelle.
16I think she looks awesome, especially for being in her 40s and having had 2 kids!
LOL, there was a time not too long ago when I couldn't have imagined getting up at 4:30 am to work out. (Sigh) It's called being a grown up.
17A 7:30 AM run is early enough for me. I can't believe she's working out 3 hours earlier! That's discipline right there.
18Um, the woman is 5'11", she's in her 40's, she's had TWO children, and she's arguably busier than a lot of people. She looks fantastic for her age and her height, not everyone has to be a stick thin runway model. In fact, that's less healthy than she is. And the president might still smoke but SHE is trying to make a good impression on her kids and on the rest of America, because it's quite obvious that with the obesity epidemic (now THOSE are some asses) that we need the help.
19"If the wife of the president of the United States can make time to work out, so can you." That is so true. I'm glad the Obamas are setting that example.
20Most presidents made the time to work out.
21(recent)
22I can relate to having to work out super early. When I have to go to work really early, I have to get up at 3am to work out so I have time to shower and drive 30 minutes to get in on time. And yeah, I go to bed early if I have to get up that early; I'm sure Michelle does the same thing.
Also, I think it's incredibly rude to be commenting on her pear-shaped body and calling her "fat" or whatever. So she isn't a twig; that doesn't mean she's unhealthy. I would say that she's a lot healthier than a woman who stays super skinny by smoking and starving herself...thinness doesn't always equate health. I am, however, sick of hearing about how fantastic her arms are. They're good arms, but not anything that special.
23I like morning workout also. I have 2 kids - exercise in the evening is not an option for me, I need to take care of their dinner / homework ... etc.
24I wake up at 4:15 most of the day - I need time to eat before working out (2 hours per day at the Gym).
Also, morning workout allow me to run before getting too hot. [PS: I've finished my 20 mile run before 8:30am last Sat while most of my friends are still in bed]
She looks great! 5'11 like and hippy like me!
25I think she's in great shape. Who says a woman has to look thin like a model? She clearly has different priorities from someone like Carla Bruni. Seems like Michelle is more concerned with being healthy, fit, and strong than being "thin" and "youthful." Sounds about right to me considering all that her life entails!
26I agree with her on the arms thing mainly because I've changed it up (not just push ups anymore) and I've totally seen results after a couple weeks.
27i think she looks "big" b/c honestly, she dresses very badly, particularly for her shape. i admire her greatly, but she needs another stylist badly...
28Wow, I definitely respect her choosing to wake up so early to work out! Every single morning too? I wonder if she ever sleeps in?
29At what time she goes to sleep, if she wakes up so early?
30ok, i am a pear-shaped too, and when u see me ull think M O is great
31and honestly i think she looks fit and great, for her shape
i am proude of my pear-shape too, so feminine.
I'm from Chicago, and we have a local magazine here TCW (Today's Chicago Woman). I believe it might've been an article/interview from that magazine before Barack was elected when I first noted how early Michelle Obama typically wakes up to get in her workouts. I was inspired to say the least.
However, she also noted that her typical (I'm sure not now they are in the White House and hosting various events) bedtime was 8:30 pm. So she isn't shorting herself on sleep for the most part.
To those being super critical because of some political viewpoint, preconception or downright ignorance, it really must be hard being so judgemental.
This woman planted a White House garden and supported the creation of a farmers marker next to the White House within 8 months of moving to a new city; she brings local children to the White House to reinforce healthy lifestyle choices, and is currently campaigning in Copenhagen to bring the Olympics to Chicago in 2016 with a major focus on bringing activity back to children's life, as well as inspiring kids to have a better life through sport, competition and exercise.
So that maybe, children aren't bringing guns to schools and using them on each other. Or maybe, they aren't going to beat each other to death with a 2x4 after school as they have no way in life.
But yeah, instead you can judge her, her figure, or her husband's occassional cigarette and feel better about yourself......be my guest.
32Wow--why was this discussion political at ALL? I wanted to check back on this out of curiosity. I was the "anonymous" that made the comment that maybe it was her clothing choices that made her look, and I quote, "rather big". Not once did I call her "fat" (I am not a rude person). I simply stated that her figure is not what I personally would aspire to. I also had praised her for getting up at 4:30 a.m., something I know I probably couldn't do. But the thing that bothers me the most is that in recent years smokers have been treated somewhere on a par with drunk drivers...yet when I mentioned that Barack had the unhealthy habit...people leapt to his defense. I could've said this about anyone who smoked--any celebrity or any regular guy on the street. But this discussion turned political. How very disappointed I am in FitSugar readers.
33By the way, I simply usually don't take the time to log-in to my Sugar account, but my name is Megan. There was no fear in posting my original comment--it was honest, and in no way defamatory.
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