PreventionMagazine-related stories
Michelle Obama in Best Shape Ever at 45
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
 |
| Photo: Kwaku Alston |
"I've had more time [to work out] as my kids have gotten older," Mrs. Obama shares in the November 2009 issue of Prevention magazine. "There was a period, actually right before the campaign started up, that I was really in tip-top shape. I was really there. And then my husband ran for president," she jokes.
Michelle is obviously weathering the presidency quite well, thanks to a smart diet that allows for some wiggle room. "I try to have no absolute no's," she says. "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."
Then there's her 4:30 a.m. exercise routine (she goes to bed by 10 p.m.), which is dedicated to Pilates, cardio, stretching and weights. Her favorite moves? "I enjoy arm exercises because you can see what it's hitting," she says. The girl is not kidding, and a very specific 9-minute arm workout has helped earn her those gorgeous guns. But it's head-to-toe training that does the whole body good. That, plus a healthy diet and lifestyle, of course.
For more on how this busy wife and mom stays in such great shape, click through the gallery below.
To anyone who's seen Michelle Obama in one of her trademark sleeveless dresses one thing is clear: She's in great shape (those arms!).
The new First Lady has earned her fabulous figure by sticking to an impressive exercise routine. Find out what she does to stay fit and how she squeezes workouts into her busy life.
How Michelle Obama Stays In Shape
By Kimberly Papa
To anyone who's seen Michelle Obama in one of her trademark sleeveless dresses one thing is clear: She's in great shape (those arms!).
The new First Lady has earned her fabulous figure by sticking to an impressive exercise routine. Find out what she does to stay fit and how she squeezes workouts into her busy life.
Emmanuel Dunand, AFP / Getty Images
She makes exercise a priority
"A proper diet and regular exercise have always been important to me, for both the physical and mental benefits," Mrs. Obama told Redbook. Speaking about her time on the campaign trail she said, "On the road, I talk to a lot of women about the importance of their well-being; we women often put ourselves last on our 'to do' lists, and we need to take better care of ourselves."
M. Spencer Green, AP
She sticks to a routine
Michelle is devoted to carving out time for exercise. She told MomLogic that she goes to the gym three times a week, where she works out with a trainer for about an hour.
Bauer-Griffin
She's an early bird
It's been reported that when the Obamas lived in Chicago, Michelle would join her friends for 4:30 am workouts at the gym.
EyeWire
She exercises to de-stress
"Exercise is really important to me -- it's therapeutic. So if I'm ever feeling tense or stressed or like I'm about to have a meltdown, I'll put on my iPod and head to the gym," the First Lady told Marie Claire.
Getty Images
She stays focused
Her friend Cheryl Rucker-Whitaker told O, The Oprah Magazine that Obama is "One of the women who leave you in the dust. She's a gladiator. She jumps rope 200 times without messing up. We talk in the beginning, but once the workout gets going, she is all business."
Mark Wilson, Getty Images
She makes exercise a family affair
Mrs. Obama told Redbook magazine that her family spends time together doing outdoor activities, such as riding bikes and swimming. It's also been reported that when she can't get to the gym, she'll go for a run with her daughters, Malia and Sasha.
Alex Brandon, AP
She adds variety
Michelle told USA Today that her workout routine includes a mix of cardio, free weights, hitting the treadmill and stair-walking.
Getty Images
Her hubby is her workout buddy
While the First Family was visiting Hawaii in December, it was reported that Michelle and Barack headed to the Semper Fit Center on Marine Corps Base for a morning workout together.
Getty Images
She has a positive body image
During an interview with People last summer, Michelle said that when she looks in the mirror she says she sees a healthy woman.
Retna
Another one of Mrs. Obama's passions: Locally-grown foods.
Check out more of the First Lady's magazine covers.
Eat your fries, no guilty strings attached
Oh, how I once loved fries. I guess I still love them. I just don't eat them. Fries are one food I gave up cold turkey when revamping my diet more than one year ago. Away they went with sweets, soda, alcohol, and red meat. Ditching these items worked well for me. I'm an all-or-nothing girl, you see. There's no in between. I can't just eat a few fries and be happy -- I have to eat and eat and eat. Bidding a fond farewell to my bad-habit foods was a good choice for me. For you? Maybe you don't need to be so extreme.
The folks at Prevention magazine say even guilty pleasures can be healthful. And according to one Gallup poll, half of American moms think French fries can be part of a well-balanced diet. Potatoes eaten with skin are packed with vitamin C, after all. They are also a great source of potassium and fiber. The key to eating them with good health in mind, though: You must buy them right and cook them right (hint: avoid the deep fryer). Here's what the Prevention people would do.
4 healthy tortilla traits
- Corn tortillas count as a whole grain. Whole corn is an influential member of the whole grain family and reportedly has twice the antioxidant activity of apples.
- Taco-sized tortillas are quick calorie cutters. Two six-inch soft yellow corn tortillas in place of the same sized flour version saves 110 calories and adds an extra gram of fiber to your diet.
- Tortillas can be made from a variety whole grains -- corn, multigrain (mixtures of whole wheat, rye, barley and oats), brown rice, hemp and teff (a whole grain staple in Ethiopia).
- Tortillas are versatile. You can't go wrong if you fill with black or pinto beans, lots of veggies, sliced avocado, guacamole, even nut butter and fruit.
Perhaps I need to rethink my Mexican mindset. Seems I can find some healthy helpings of food at my favorite local hot spot. Just need to make sure to keep the chips and salsa off the table. Well, maybe not the salsa. But the chips, for sure.
13 foods the fuel and heal
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Cactus pear
- Capers
- Cherries
- Citrus fruits
- Cranberries
- Dark green leafy veggies
- Raspberries
- Red grapes
- Red onions
- Tea (black, oolong, green)
Don't take a quercetin supplement, though, says Sass -- we just don't know enough about how much to take, how long to take it, or how side effects might occur. Just harness its power through foods and if you're starting to feel run down, try three per day and aim for three different colors -- green tea, cherries and red onion is one good mix.
Diet Derailers: Sucked in by the scale
My obsession with the scale began four years ago during chemotherapy for breast cancer. You see, in order to receive an infusion of cancer-killing drugs, I had to first step on a scale. Drugs are mixed according to weight, so it was key that nurses, doctors, and pharmacists knew my specific numbers for the 21 doses that set sail through my body. Starting out, my weight was about 142. Then chemo made me sick, landed me in the hospital, and stole a few pounds. My sick weight: 137. Then something expected happened. I gained weight (women often gain up to 30 pounds during breast cancer treatment). Sure enough, my digits started ticking upwards, settling at about 150. No big deal for my medical folks -- they could just bump up my doses. But a big deal for me. I was happy at 142.
Once my treatment ended, I worked like mad to erase what cancer had done to my waistline. I revamped my diet, recharged my workouts, and committed to lifestyle changes for the long haul. Today, I weigh 135. I know this because I step on the scale -- a lot.
Are nutrition articles in popular magazines unbiased?
Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements
Do you trust the nutrition and food articles found in popular nutrition and healthy living magazines you've read in the past? It's pretty well-known that many larger publications have to twist editorials and features to please advertisers, many of whom appear to make healthy food items -- but really don't in many cases.In fact, it's increasingly hard to find unbiased opinion (backed up by verifiable facts) these days on anything without the influence of "paying" advertisers to get in the way. Discriminating minds can spot this pretty easily when paying attention. But that leaves the question -- what can you believe?
The views of vested interests appear so frequently that it's hard to find unbiased suggestions for the best nutrition your body deserves while not breaking the bank. Read this and then you may have some questions to ask and answer yourself the next time you read that article next to a big corporate advertisement in that popular health magazine.
Madison, Wisconsin named most walkable
Healthy Places, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness
The list of 100 (which was drawn from the country's most populated cities) was based on criteria such as access to parks, number of people who walk to work, and crime rates. Madison began developing a "walking attitude" 10 years ago when the city began putting a priority on pedestrian walkways and bike ways. It's also home to the Fit City Initiative, which combines the city's government and over 30 other groups to fight obesity and encourage fitness.
Madison was the only city on the list that wasn't in the South or the West, so I think other Midwest cities should be keeping tabs on Madison and maybe taking a few hints. Winter will only hinder your fitness if you let it, and the citizens of Madison are proof!
