Michelle Obama has been making headlines in major magazines and TV shows in recent months (like Oprah and Vogue) not only for her intelligence, empowered stance on motherhood but also her rockstar body, sleeveless dresses and her strong, sexy & toned arms!

I was recently interviewed by RTL Dutch TV and I shared my comments on Michelle Obama’a arms and on the criticism that some overweight, unhealthy politicians have made about Michelle Obama going sleeveless in Washington DC…

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In one of my favorite editorial pieces, Sally Quinn of the Washington Post said ‘Michelle Obama happens to be physically beautiful. She is tall, regal, elegant and statuesque, and her power has been enhanced by that attractiveness.’ Couldn’t have said it better myself.

It’s about femininity and strength….not quick fixes or dieting.

Are you impressed with Michelle Obama’s arms? Then you might be missing the point .

Michelle Obama’s arms are impressive, more importantly she is an empowered woman who is setting a powerful example for all women all over the world, not just America.

She is smart, successful, professional, knows her prioritizes, loves and respects her family, works out consistently and takes charge of her health and that of her children. The fact that she is rockin’ sleeveless dresses and showing off her toned arms in the White House and are simply a result of her level of personal responsibility.

If you want to get arms like Michelle Obama, then simply follow her lead.

On Her Personal Health Philosophy

“I talk a lot on the campaign trail about the importance of mental, physical and spiritual health. We as women have a lot on our plates – we’re always juggling. Every woman I know, regardless of race, education, income, background, is struggling every day to keep her head above water. We’ve been told we can have it all, but lose ourselves in the process. We need to put ourselves higher on our own to do lists. (webmd.com)

Exercise to Manage 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 or out on a bike ride along Lake Michigan with the girls.’ (marieclaire.com)

It’s a Family Affair

Mrs. Obama told Redbook magazine that her family spends time together doing outdoor activities, such as riding bikes and swimming.

Cross Training Rules
USA Today and Oprah.com reported that her workouts include a mix of cardio, free weights, hitting the treadmill, stair-walking, jump rope and kickboxing.

Positive Body Image & Strong Sense of Self
Last year, in an interview with People, Michelle said that when she looks in the mirror she sees a healthy woman.

Priorities
In Redbook, Michelle said “A proper diet and regular exercise have always been important to me, for both the physical and mental benefits.’ www.redbookmag.com

Leads by Example
Also in Redbook, she states ‘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.”

Manages Stress
Everyone notices your toned arms. What’s your workout regimen?
‘That’s so flattering! I go to the gym three times a week, as often as
I can really. I work with a fabulous trainer for about an hour each
session. We do a lot of cardio and weight training. For me, exercise is
more than just physical — it’s therapeutic.’ (momlogic.com)

Committed & Consistent
Michelle told Oprah that she goes to the gym four or five times a week, where she works out with a trainer for about an hour. Michelle is committed and consistent.

Michelle Obama interviewd by Oprah (www.oprah.com)

…did you change your diet during the campaign?

Michelle Obama: When we first started running, my big concern was making sure we ate well on the road. So we started looking at our diet, trying to eliminate junk, getting seasonal fruits and vegetables that were grown locally. We walked the kids through reading labels. We talked about why one juice might be better than another.

Oprah: What foods did you give up?

Michelle Obama: Things with artificial ingredients. That’s a tough change for a lot of families, though, because so many foods aren’t real anymore. But lots of people don’t have access to a farmers’ market, or can’t afford to shop at one, so this is a bigger issue. It’s really big, because changing your diet makes such a difference. I’ve seen it in my own family. We have more energy. And I caught only one cold during the last year of the campaign, even after shaking millions of hands!

Oprah: On the campaign trail, weren’t people offering you every kind of food imaginable?

Michelle Obama: Yes, and a lot of times, I’d eat it. Hey, I love pie. I love a good candy bar. And sometimes when you’re working so hard, the only thing you have is that candy bar and those potato chips. But if I went home to a balanced diet, then those days wouldn’t kill me. I feel the same about the girls. If they’re eating healthy most times, I don’t panic when they get popcorn at the movies. I don’t want them freaking out about food.

Oprah: That’s right. In addition to eating well, do you work out?

Michelle Obama: Yes. There’s a small gym here that has everything we need. I work out about four or five days a week—and Barack does six. He’s a workout zealot.

Oprah: Well, you look better than ever—despite the rumors that you’ve got a baby bump.

Michelle Obama: [Laughter.] I know—I was like, “Baby bump? As hard as I work on my abs?!”

Oprah: By the way, nobody would be happier if you were pregnant than Gayle King. Out of nowhere, she’ll tell me, “Oh God, I really hope Michelle gets pregnant—and that it’s a boy!”

Michelle Obama: [More laughter.] Here’s the scoop: Not pregnant. And not planning on it.

Oprah: Not pregnant.

Michelle Obama: Not pregnant.

Oprah: Okay, so that’s settled. Back to exercise. You do treadmill?

Michelle Obama: I do treadmill, I do weights—

Oprah: I think anyone who saw you on the cover of Vogue knows you do weights. Those arms!

Michelle Obama: I also do some jump rope, some kickboxing—and I’d like to take up Pilates, if I could figure out whether there’s time. After I had Malia, I began to prioritize exercise because I realized that my happiness is tied to how I feel about myself. I want my girls to see a mother who takes care of herself, even if that means I have to get up at 4:30 so I can do a workout.

Oprah: When you first told me that a few years ago, I was like, “You get up at 4:30 to work out?”

Michelle Obama: Well, I just started thinking, if I had to get up to go to work, I’d get up and go to work. If I had to get up to take care of my kids, I’d get up to do that. But when it comes to yourself, then it’s suddenly, “Oh, I can’t get up at 4:30.” So I had to change that. If I don’t exercise, I won’t feel good. I’ll get depressed. Of course, it’s easier to do it here, because I have much more support now. But I always think about women who don’t have support. That’s why work-family balance isn’t just a policy conversation; it’s about changing the expectations of who we have to be as women and parents.

Oprah: What you mentioned earlier is key: We have to ask for help. You can’t do it all. It’s impossible.

Michelle Obama is equally devoted to her fitness routine, telling People magazine this summer that she manages a 90-minute workout three times a week. Friend Sandy Matthews, who used to work out with her at 4:30 a.m., said the future first lady is a fan of cross-training, a mix of strength and cardio exercises usually involving weights, the treadmill, the stair-stepper or a spin bike. Obama is competitive in her workouts, pushing herself to get the most out of her time in the gym, Matthews said. But it’s not only about keeping in shape. “It’s your time. I think every woman has to find their space and their time during the course of a day, especially a working mom,” Matthews said.
(www.msnbc.msn.com)

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Do you want strong, sexy & toned arms like Michelle Obama?

I was recently interviewed by European TV about Michelle Obama’s arms. I am going to share a few exercise tips that will help you get nice arms like Michelle Obama. Below is a link to the interview where I take my client through some of the many exercises that will help tone your arms…

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#1 Secret to Toned Arms – If you have flabby arms, a.k.a. ‘Bat Wings’- then you need to stop eating the way you have been because its your diet that’s making your arms fat. No exercise can erase poor food
choices or skipping meals. So my first secret to getting arms like Michelle Obama is to change your diet.

#2 Secret to Toned Arms – Train your entire body, not just the arms. Also, don’t waste your time with long drawn out cardio sessions. When you do your strength training, you absolutely must include total body pushing and pulling exercises like push ups and pull ups. Now, there are ways to modify these exercises for beginners and if you really want to see nice definition in your arms, and look and feel fabulous like the First Lady, first change your diet and then train like you mean it
- learn how to do push ups and pull ups.

Exercises to get Michelle Obama’s Arms

1 – Push Ups on Knees - These can be done on your knees so you can maintain PERFECT posture while performing the exercise.

2 – Push Ups on Feet – regular push ups should ONLY be performed once you have mastered at least 3 sets of 10 perfect push ups on your knees. Posture is key to getting results in push ups.Keep your abs drawn in and breathe throughout the entire movement. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR HEAD TO DROP DOWN TOWARDS THE FLOOR!!!!! This is a big and common mistake. keep your head directly over your neck and shoulders as it is when you are standing up straight.

You don’t need to do a lot of reps to get results, you only need to do as many reps as you can do perfectly. Whether that’s 2 or 8 doesn’t matter as how well you perform the movement.

3 – Chaturanga
Keeping your arms close to your sides like Chaturanga in yoga is IDEAL for developing nice triceps and shoulders and not developing your chest….this is a key exercises for developing a sexy and fit figure.
If you don’t know what I am talking about, go take a real yoga class.

4 – Cable Pull
You can stand facing a cable pulley and make sure the cable is shoulder height. Pull until your wrist is about the same level as your chest (Watch the interview where my client demonstrates proper cable pulling) . Keep your wrist straight and in line with your elbow and shoulder.

5 – Swiss Ball Exercises
including push ups on the ball, pike and jackknife. I can’t accurately explain these exercises in a blog post, but I will be launching a women’s fitness blog soon so stay tuned…In the meanwhile, do yourself
a favor and get Paul Chek’s book ‘How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy’ as it contains these awesome exercises.

6 – Keep your workouts 30 – 45 minutes total.

7 – Learn the right way to do interval training and do this 2 x week.

8 – If you really want to do cardio or you enjoy running, separate your strength and cardio days.

9 – Did I mention changing your diet and stop eating the things that gave you Bat Wings to begin with? Not sure what to eat? Get this now: Healthy Urban Kitchen

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