14 DAY TRIAL // As much as the media criticized First Lady Michelle Obama for some of her fashion choices in the past, the one thing everyone seems to agree upon is that she has wonderfully toned arms. Guesses have been made and they have all summed up to taking shots in the dark about what she does to maintain them in such great shape. Those who have wondered on the topic might stop their enquiries, because it’s Michelle’s personal trainer himself, Cornell McClellan, who’s now dishing out on the “secret” in a new interview with Women’s Health.
Mrs. Obama is very dedicated to staying healthy and in top shape, so it’s no wonder she works out almost every day, most of the time with sessions scheduled to start at 5.30 in the morning, the trainer reveals. As research has also shown, working out in the morning is recommended, because it helps boost the mood and leads to an increased productivity – Mrs. Obama certainly knows that.
“She’s truly committed herself to the importance of health and fitness. I believe the purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit. To do that, we take a holistic approach that includes strength, cardiovascular, and flexibility training.” McClellan explains. He’s known Mrs. Obama since 1997, which is when she first came to his Naturally Fit Chicago fitness studio. Since then, McClellan put Mrs. Obama through no less than 1,872 workouts, the magazine writes.
The First Lady’s routine is as varied as it is engaging, the trainer explains. In order for the whole “holistic approach” to work, they try to focus on exercises that work all muscle groups, with little time of breathing in between. McClellan also uses interval training with Mrs. Obama, meaning exercises that alternate with more intense bouts of cardio, in order to burn more calories. The result, as Women’s Health magazine points out, is the body of a woman who has earned the right to be considered a health role model by other women, not only in the US, but across the globe.
“The foundation of McClellan’s plan is an intense weight-training routine made up of compound movements that work multiple muscle groups. In one workout, Mrs. Obama might do one set of 15 to 20 reps each of lunges, bench presses, hip raises, and rows, all without resting – and with short bouts of intense cardio mixed in. For an even greater total-body challenge, the workouts also feature rope-jumping, kickboxing, and body-weight calisthenics, all done at a heart – and lung busting pace that skyrockets fitness levels and burns tons of calories.” Women’s Health explains.
For specifics on how Mrs. Obama got those enviable arms and how she keeps them looking so great, please refer here (subscription is required but it’s free).