Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017.
My number one daily habit is to give myself permission to be happy. It’s physical and mental; it’s my diet, physical activity, and emotional state. That’s all tied together.
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Michelle Obama’s daily routine starts just like Barack’s daily routine — with exercise. In an interview with NPR, personal trainer Cornell McClellan, who served on the president’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, revealed that despite her busy schedule, Michelle prioritised her training and “found a way to fit it in.”
Michelle started her morning exercise routine when their first daughter, Malia, was 4 months old.
My “aha” moment came when our first daughter, Malia, was 4 months old. My husband’s exercise routine hadn’t changed a bit; he was still getting his workouts in, and I was getting irritated (laughs). Then I realized he was just prioritizing it differently. So I said, “If I get up and out before the first feeding, I will work out.” That will engage my husband to do that first feeding with the baby. So I started getting up at 4:30 in the morning and going to the gym. With exercising, the more you do it, the more you get into it. And the more you see results, the more you’re pushing for the next level. That’s when it just clicked for me.
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In 2014, Michelle explained to People magazine that she shifted her training to more yoga-oriented routines, with a focus on balance and flexibility, “I’m seeing myself shift from weight-bearing stuff – even though that continues to be important – and the heavy cardio and running, to things like yoga that will keep me flexible.”
Despite their busy schedules, the Obamas will always find time to schedule in family time, “at the end of the day, my most important title is still ‘mom-in-chief’. My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world.” On most nights, the Obama family will get together and have dinner as a family.
Most nights, we have dinner together as a family. We’re lucky. It’s a time we all really enjoy, and as parents, it’s a great way to keep tabs on what our kids our eating. But it’s also a chance to talk about the ups and downs of our days — or roses and thorns as we call it — and really connect as a family. So I don’t think it’s a reach to say that dinner time helps us all to be a little bit healthier, both with our eating and as a family.
FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA ON HEALTHY EATING HABITS AND MORE | EVERYDAY HEALTH
In a more recent conversation with former NPR host Michele Norris on the The Michelle Obama Podcast, Michelle described a daily routine in the Obama household during the COVID-19 pandemic:
“Barack’s in his office, making calls, working on his book. I’m in my room. The girls are on their computers. Sometimes we’re outside if the weather permits, but we’ve developed this routine, you know, we don’t really worry about seeing one another in the day.” Once five o’clock hits though, the whole family gathers for a game of puzzles or cards.
Her condensed daily routine according to taikooplace.com:
Rise and shine: 4:30 a.m.
Morning Routine: Works out every day, often alongside her husband, and only after that gets the girls up and packs them off to school. She admits that she had to motivate herself with the reasoning that if she didn’t take time out for herself, who would? And it forced her to get up early to fit in her exercise regime.
Healthy Eating Habits
From an interview with Everydayhealth.com:
EH: You’ve said moderation is the key to maintaining a healthy weight. What are your biggest indulgences, and how do you limit them?
Obama: This is an easy one — it’s French fries. I love them. And I’m not afraid to talk about it because it’s important that we realize that healthy eating doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach.
Choosing a healthy diet isn’t about deprivation, it’s about balance. It’s about moderation. Like I tell my kids, as long as you eat fruits and vegetables at every meal, you’ll be okay if you have pizza or ice cream every once in a while. The problem is when the treats become the habits.
EH: Tell us about a typical Obama family dinner. How often to the four of you get to sit down together? Do you think eating as a family helps encourage healthy eating habits in kids?
Obama: Most nights, we have dinner together as a family. We’re lucky. It’s a time we all really enjoy, and as parents, it’s a great way to keep tabs on what our kids our eating. But it’s also a chance to talk about the ups and downs of our days — or roses and thorns as we call it — and really connect as a family. So I don’t think it’s a reach to say that dinner time helps us all to be a little bit healthier, both with our eating and as a family.
Sources:
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-and-nutrition-pictures/first-lady-michelle-obama-on-healthy-eating-habits-and-more.aspx
- https://www.taikooplace.com/en/whatson/the-mag/morning-ritual
- https://www.balancethegrind.com.au/daily-routines/michelle-obama-daily-routine/