Michelle Obama Workout and Diet

Former First Lady

Born: 1964

Michelle Obama (née Robinson) grew up in Chicago. An excellent student, she followed her brother to Princeton University in 1983 where she earned a degree in sociology, and then she went on to Harvard Law School in 1988. She met her future husband while working at a law firm. Obama also worked for the University of Chicago and the U of C Medical Center before focusing on her husband’s presidential campaign. While he was in office, she created the Let’s Move! task force to combat childhood obesity. Other social issues Obama tackled while First Lady include poverty and education. After leaving the White House, she appeared on a couple of tv shows including Parks and Recreation and Black-ish. Obama wrote the best-selling memoir Becoming which won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album in 2020, and a follow-up called The Light We Carry. She also has a podcast and a production company. She is a role model for women and took the top spot 3 years running in a Gallup poll for most admired woman in America. The Obamas has been married since 1992 and they have 2 daughters. She has millions of followers on social media. Obama is 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs about 160 lbs.

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Michelle Obama’s Diet

Diet Summary

When it comes to diet and healthy habits, Obama practices what she preaches. She eats clean and makes fruit and veggies a priority every day. She also focuses on protein, sometimes in the form of shakes. She thinks everyone should cook more and the way to do it is by keeping things simple: she can have broiled chicken with broccoli and couscous ready in 15 minutes. To keep her energy levels steady, she aims for 5 smaller meals a day rather than 3 larger ones. One of her favorite indulgences is pizza, but to stay lean, she watches her carb intake. She also drinks plenty of water every day.

Estimated Macros

Medium-High Protein

Medium Fat

Low-Medium Carb

Diet Details

Eat Your Veg

One of Obama’s hard-and-fast rules is that vegetables must be part of her daily intake. This rule applies to everyone in the family, and broccoli is a favorite in the Obama household. Least favorite: beets.

Golden Lunch Hour

Obama has shifted to eating her biggest meal of the day at noon rather than in the evening. If she’s going to eat carbs, it’ll be with lunch.

Everything In Moderation

Obama prioritizes healthy foods, but she doesn’t take it to extremes. While she usually has eggs for breakfast, sometimes she’ll indulge in comfort food, like pizza, grits, or her mom’s mac ’n’ cheese.

Grow Your Own

Obama planted a vegetable garden at the White House, both so her family could enjoy fresh, home-grown produce, and to encourage all Americans and especially children to ‘make friends’ with vegetables.

What to Eat

  • Fresh veggies
  • Fresh fruit
  • Whole, natural foods
  • Eggs
  • Lean meat
  • Poultry
  • Fish
  • Yogurt
  • Water

What to Avoid

  • Overeating
  • Empty-calorie foods
  • Junk food
  • High-carb foods
  • Artificial additives
  • Chemical ingredients

Obama on her eating plan

‘I try to eat — when I’m being good — 5 meals.’

Obama on shifting her calorie intake

‘Lunch is my biggest meal…and if I’m going to have a carb…it’ll be at lunch.’

Obama on veggies

‘As I tell my kids, vegetables are something that have to be a part of your diet…There has to be a vegetable, and you have to finish it.’

Obama on the White House vegetable garden

‘Ultimately, this garden is a way to elevate the conversation about our children’s health.’

Michelle Obama’s Workout Routine

Workout Routine

Competitive Gal

Obama was a great athlete as a child and teen, complete with height advantage, but she tended to shy away from competitive sports because, according to her brother, she ‘hated losing.’

Let’s Move

Obama practices what she preaches when it comes to exercise as well as for diet.

Prioritize Health

When Obama’s girls were young, she rearranged her schedule so that she would get up early (before dawn) to fit in her work out.

Walk Rather than Run

While Obama was once renown for her impressive sculpted arms and intense routines, she has since toned things down. She says it’s a balancing act between being fit and avoiding injury.

Changing Needs

Obama says that menopause has caused her to take things a little slower and gentler as recovery does not happen as quickly with age.

Exercise Style

A Michelle Obama Arm Workout According to Shape

Do the entire sequence twice, with no break between sets. Repeat 3x a week:

  • Sun salutation: 6 reps
  • Shoulder press with dumbbells: 8-12 reps
  • Dumbbell curls: 8-12 reps
  • Triceps dips: 8-12 reps
  • Staggered push-ups: 8-12 reps per side

Obama on exercise

‘It doesn’t always feel good in the moment, but after the fact, I’m always glad I hit the gym.’

Obama on fitness in her 50s

‘I find that I cannot push myself as hard as I used to…that when I tear a muscle or pull something…I’m out.’

Obama on doing a lighter workout

‘Some of it is menopause, some of it is aging.’

Obama on her new fitness goal:

‘I am still physically active, and my goal now, instead of having “Michelle Obama arms,” I just want to keep moving.’

Michelle Obama’s Supplements

Protein Powder

Protein

Obama often has a protein shake mid-morning as a way to feed her muscles, keep her metabolism humming, and stave off hunger pangs.

collagen 1

Collagen

Obama takes a collagen supplement that is good for muscles and joints as well as hair, skin, and nails.

greens supplements 1

Veggie Vites

Obama is all about getting your vitamins in their whole form, aka, vegetables. If you don’t eat as many as you should, consider a greens supplement and a multivitamin. Obama also uses anti-inflammatory vitamins C and A on her skin as it stimulates collagen production and evens out skin tone.

Michelle Obama’s Lifestyle

Early to Bed

When her kids were young, Obama would put the kids to bed and then climb under the covers herself. She’d be in bed by 10 o’clock at the latest so she could get up at 4:30 to work out.

Dutiful Daughter

Obama’s father had multiple sclerosis, which had a serious impact on her emotionally. Her father wanted her to stay out of trouble and do well in school, so that was exactly what she did. He passed away when she was in her 20s.

Piano Preoccupation

Obama played the piano so much when she was young that others would have to tell her to stop.

Serious Vetting Process

Obama met future husband Barack when she acted as his mentor at a law firm. It was not a case of love at first sight. She thought he had a big nose, and she initially turned him down for a date. He had to play basketball with her brother before she finally gave in.

Elite Club

Obama is 1 of only 3 First Ladies to hold an advanced degree. The other 2 are Hilary Clinton and Laura Bush. As far as height, she and Eleanor Roosevelt are tied for the tallest at 5’ 11”.

Higher Ground

The Obamas’ production company Higher Ground signed an exclusive multi-year first-look deal with Amazon’s podcast and audiobook service, Audible.

Obama on the importance of sleep

‘I am a sleeper.’

Obama on success

‘Success isn’t about how much money you make. It’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.’

Obama on achievement

“There is no magic…It’s really about hard work, choices and persistence.’

Obama on friends

‘Do not bring people in you life who weigh you down.’

Obama on beauty

‘No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, you are beautiful.’

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