{"id":42919,"date":"2026-08-13T10:23:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T05:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=42919"},"modified":"2026-08-13T10:23:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T05:23:34","slug":"inside-michelle-obamas-military-workout-she-swore-by-as-first-lady","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=42919","title":{"rendered":"Inside Michelle Obama&#8217;s &#8216;military&#8217; workout she swore by as First Lady"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"eIff03N3h2\" data-wc=\"29\"><a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hellomagazine.com\/tags\/michelle-obama\/\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\">Michelle Obama<\/a> shared insight into <a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hellomagazine.com\/healthandbeauty\/health-and-fitness\/507710\/michelle-obama-9-minute-secret-toned-arms-exercises\/\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\">the workout<\/a> she favored during her time at the White House as First Lady, with the 62-year-old revealing the &#8220;military&#8221; intensity of the exercise.<\/p>\n<p><ev-engagement id=\"horizon_hello\" group-name=\"horizon_hello\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"eqkxpJQnJmI\" data-wc=\"35\">Michelle sat down with rapper Megan Thee Stallion on her podcast, <em><a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CY_i6DxxOX4\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\">IMO<\/a><\/em>, on Wednesday, and shared that her go-to workout was Solidcore, a more intensive version of Pilates that involved high-intensity and low-impact resistance training.<\/p>\n<h2 data-wc=\"3\" id=\"h2-4msr2e3t5\">Michelle&#8217;s workout revealed<\/h2>\n<div class=\"fr-embedded\">\n<div data-wc=\"75\" id=\"e7QGESRGTh\">\n<figure class=\"he-meIm-995f02\">\n<div class=\"he-imCo-14461c5\"><img src=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/cf529d62a539-screenshot-2026-08-13-at-30250-pm.png\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width:1360px) 630px, (min-width:960px) 60vw, (min-width:320px) calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2)), calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2))\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/cf529d62a539-screenshot-2026-08-13-at-30250-pm.png?tx=c_limit,w_960 960w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/cf529d62a539-screenshot-2026-08-13-at-30250-pm.png?tx=c_limit,w_640 640w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/cf529d62a539-screenshot-2026-08-13-at-30250-pm.png?tx=c_limit,w_360 360w\" width=\"1024\" height=\"578\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Michelle obama IMO\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" class=\"image he-image\" data-flatplan=\"fp_photoCaption\"\/><span class=\"he-imCr-1233683\">\u00a9 YouTube\/IMO<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"he-meImCa-17135c3\">Michelle shared that she enjoyed doing Solidcore workouts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"eZMqqrT13AI\" data-wc=\"38\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve been doing a lot of Pilates now. I&#8217;m just now getting hip to this new Pilates, and I&#8217;m like, okay, so I need to go to New York, and I need Solidcore,&#8221; Megan said on the show.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ehpZkqke0d5t\" data-wc=\"53\">&#8220;It&#8217;s a reformer kind of class, but it&#8217;s more intense,&#8221; Michelle then explained. &#8220;You&#8217;re on the Megaformer, and let&#8217;s say you hold a plank, but you&#8217;re gonna hold it for three minutes. And then they&#8217;re gonna have you crunch in from the holding position, and small little movements\u2026and you&#8217;re sweating your butt off.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fr-embedded\">\n<div data-wc=\"75\" id=\"eJ7P8hWCN6\">\n<figure class=\"he-meIm-995f02\">\n<div class=\"he-imCo-14461c5\"><img src=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/bc7f1980815b-gettyimages-499873774.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width:1360px) 630px, (min-width:960px) 60vw, (min-width:320px) calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2)), calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2))\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/bc7f1980815b-gettyimages-499873774.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_960 960w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/bc7f1980815b-gettyimages-499873774.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_640 640w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/bc7f1980815b-gettyimages-499873774.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_360 360w\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"solidcore workout\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" class=\"image he-image\" data-flatplan=\"fp_photoCaption\"\/><span class=\"he-imCr-1233683\">\u00a9 The Washington Post via Getty Im<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"he-meImCa-17135c3\">Solidcore is a high-intensity workout similar to Pilates<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"eixBEzG3uPS7\" data-wc=\"30\">&#8220;When I was doing it, I was First Lady, and it was when the founder of it started it in [Washington] D.C.\u2026it was a military kind of situation,&#8221; she added.<\/p>\n<p id=\"eu7fUCw9Mc1Q\" data-wc=\"21\">Solidcore is done on a reformer machine and is inspired by Pilates, with the aim of strengthening muscles and stabilizing joints.<\/p>\n<h2 data-wc=\"2\" id=\"h2-4msr2e3t6\">Fitness fiend<\/h2>\n<p id=\"eLq0HBYNxgIO\" data-wc=\"58\">Michelle has always loved to work out, and started switching up her routine after leaving the White House in 2017. &#8220;She&#8217;s been able to do some of the classes that weren&#8217;t as convenient when they were in office,&#8221; said her longtime personal trainer, Cornell McClellan, to <em><a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/health\/barack-michelle-obama-workout-regularly-post-white-house-smile-more\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\">People<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>&#8220;She can do sociable things and get outside. She loves SoulCycle.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"e05wSSy4IssE\" data-wc=\"37\">&#8220;With [Michelle] and President Obama, we mix it up a lot,&#8221; he continued, adding that the couple loved boxing. &#8220;We do things with weights, with kettlebells, with bands and tubes and TRXs to keep the body guessing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fr-embedded\">\n<div data-wc=\"75\" id=\"eFe4gDH7-q\">\n<figure class=\"he-meIm-995f02\">\n<div class=\"he-imCo-14461c5\"><img src=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/c8f10a977afb-gettyimages-518126246.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width:1360px) 630px, (min-width:960px) 60vw, (min-width:320px) calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2)), calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2))\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/c8f10a977afb-gettyimages-518126246.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_960 960w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/c8f10a977afb-gettyimages-518126246.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_640 640w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/c8f10a977afb-gettyimages-518126246.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_360 360w\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"michelle obama workout\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" class=\"image he-image\" data-flatplan=\"fp_photoCaption\"\/><span class=\"he-imCr-1233683\">\u00a9 NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"he-meImCa-17135c3\">The former First Lady has always been a fitness fan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 data-wc=\"3\" id=\"h2-4msr2e3t7\">A balanced lifestyle<\/h2>\n<p id=\"e_4_LAg50bx2\" data-wc=\"45\">As for <a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hellomagazine.com\/cuisine\/500353\/michelle-obama-same-breakfast-surprise-diet-comments\/\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\">her diet<\/a>, Michelle told <em><a class=\"hm-link he-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-body-link\">Women&#8217;s Health<\/a><\/em> that moderation was key. &#8220;I do love a good burger and fries. French fries are my favorite food in the whole world. If I could, I&#8217;d eat them at every meal \u2013 but I can&#8217;t,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"eQNgmZGCVfvo\" data-wc=\"47\">&#8220;My whole thing is moderation. If I make good, healthy choices most of the time, then having what I love every once in a while won&#8217;t hurt.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>I have to exercise and eat in a balanced way. If I start ignoring both, I will put on weight.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fr-embedded\">\n<div data-wc=\"75\" id=\"ed8k62TfA-\">\n<figure class=\"he-meIm-995f02\">\n<div class=\"he-imCo-14461c5\"><img src=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/32518c44c042-gettyimages-474913077.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width:1360px) 630px, (min-width:960px) 60vw, (min-width:320px) calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2)), calc(100vw - (var(--page-gutter) * 2))\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/32518c44c042-gettyimages-474913077.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_960 960w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/32518c44c042-gettyimages-474913077.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_640 640w, https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/original_aspect_ratio\/32518c44c042-gettyimages-474913077.jpg?tx=c_limit,w_360 360w\" width=\"1024\" height=\"819\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"michelle obama arms\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" class=\"image he-image\" data-flatplan=\"fp_photoCaption\"\/><span class=\"he-imCr-1233683\">\u00a9 WireImage<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"he-meImCa-17135c3\">She maintains a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and plenty of sleep<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"eOS2Z8061xTD\" data-wc=\"42\">&#8220;I am fortunate in that I&#8217;m 5&#8242; 11&#8242;, so it takes a while for the weight to be seen, but it&#8217;ll come,&#8221; the mother of two added. &#8220;If I didn&#8217;t exercise and eat right, I would be heavier, and I have been.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"ezH2VC8gT54I\" data-wc=\"37\">She explained that sleep was also an integral part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. &#8220;For me, getting enough sleep, eating right, and exercising reduce my stress levels. And a really good workout is a great stress buster.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Michelle Obama shared insight into the workout she favored during her time at the White House as First Lady, with the 62-year-old revealing the &#8220;military&#8221; intensity of the exercise. Michelle sat down with rapper Megan Thee Stallion on her podcast, IMO, on Wednesday, and shared that her go-to workout was Solidcore, a more intensive version&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42920,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/images.hellomagazine.com\/horizon\/landscape\/049a1031fe40-gettyimages-98589942.jpg?tx=c_fill,w_1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42919","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42919"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42919\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}