8 quotes from Michelle Obama on why fitness is all about you

She’s the First Lady of the United States with stress potential that you could not even fathom. Yet, Michelle Obama not only manages a workout every day, but actively enjoys it, waking up at 4.30 every morning to make sure she has at least an hour of exercise time, and keeping an eye on her diet and that of her family.

For most women, maintaining a work-life balance between a career and the home is so tough, that chasing fitness – in other words, ‘me-time’ ­– seems out of the question.

Perhaps FLOTUS can show you how important it is. Here’s Michelle Obama on being fit.

-“Being a healthy woman isn’t about getting on a scale or measuring your waistline. We need to start focusing on what matters – on how we feel and how we feel about ourselves.”

-“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.”

-"Dessert in our household went from being a basic human right every night to being a special treat for weekends.”

Also read: The world’s successful women like to sweat it out!

The fitness promoter: Michelle Obama ( Picture Credit: Washingtonpost.com)

-"...When I don’t exercise a lot, I start feeling sluggish and more tired. And I don’t know about you, but I want to live a long time, okay? I want to be ... a 90-year-old lady that’s really fly."

-“I try to have no absolute nos. 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. I also don't want my girls to be obsessed about food. We don't have a "no junk food" rule – I just want them to think about their choices.”

-"I always want to be on the cusp of being in the best shape that I can be. What I'm discovering is that the older you get, the more work you have to do to stay there. When I was younger, I could eat whatever I wanted, as long as I exercised; or if I didn't exercise and just watched what I ate, I'd maintain. Well, now I have to do both … I try to tell young people to get in shape now, because it's easier. If you're 30 and want to drop 10 pounds, all you have to do is just walk.”

Also read: I’m with her: Michelle Obama’s passionate speech in support of Hillary Clinton

-“My goal is to be a great-looking 70-year-old! I won't mind being 70, but I want people to say, ‘You're 70?’"

-"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."

Feature image credit: huffingtonpost.com