Michelle Obama Promotes Fitness: First Lady Hosts Wellness Demonstrations For Military Families

WASHINGTON -- Joined by standout athletes, from tennis great Billie Jean King to basketball's Grant Hill, first lady Michelle Obama on Monday announced three new physical fitness opportunities for military families.

Mrs. Obama said the International Health, Racquet and Sports Club Association would offer free memberships to immediate family members of actively deployed reservists. She said the American Council on Exercise would provide at least 1 million hours of free personal training. The President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition – composed of athletes, nutritionists, pediatricians, trainers and educators – will hold a series of events with military families.

She said fighting the epidemic of childhood obesity has to be a family effort and "it doesn't take money," suggesting long walks after dinner or dancing in the living room.

"This isn't about physical prowess," she said. "It's about movement. And we have to go from sitting to standing to walking to moving."

Mrs. Obama was joined by council co-chair gymnast Dominique Dawes, and council members including figure skater Michelle Kwan and Hill of the Phoenix Suns and Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets as they led demonstrations at activity stations on the South Lawn. About 80 children and their parents participated in the activities included dancing, ball tossing and a three-part obstacle course.

Comments

[Angelle Solomon]

12:30 PM on 05/25/2011

MY First Lady can kick YOUR First Lady's BUTT!!! Let's Move People!!!!

[CATNIP1]

11:56 PM on 05/16/2011

School need to bring back Physical Education. I'm almost 60 and had 12 years of Phys Ed.. I could tumble, stand on my head, roll back flips, cart wheel and do just about everything. Dancin, too. I've was never overweight and have been able to controll my weight all my life, so far. I see so many children that can't do any of this stuff.

[MrCool]

05:19 PM on 05/11/2011

Fitness and military familes; Michelle call that young man who gave up his job to bicycle across America to raise funds for the children of our lost and wounded troops, as well as all other miltary families.
His goal was to give these children new bicycles. I understand that www.Bikefree.org is still on going. Bikes have already been given to children in San Diego and Chicago.
This lad, Paul LaBel, I feel, is a good American who is doing good things. To me these bicycles represent happiness, freedom, and to the point; good exercise and a healthy life style.
We do necessarily need stars to get this done, when good young men are stepping up to the cause in the true American way.

[socialtalker]

11:51 AM on 05/12/2011

nice organization, but you need to write to the white house, whitehouse.gov not on huffpost.

[JessiChamberlin]

02:57 PM on 05/10/2011

Great gift for military families! And I like that she mentioned it doesn't have to cost anything, which is so true. Government guidelines for kids say to aim for 60 minutes of activity every day. A game outside, a bike ride, hike, or some yard work could get an hour to fly by. If there is time for TV, the internet or video games, there is time for exercise. Oh, you should get about an hour of movement a day too. Make it a family activity. http://blog.mydiscoverhealth.com/

[Ranveig Elvebakk]

01:55 PM on 05/10/2011

Great role modeling. We need more of this kind of commitment.

[fendergr]

08:41 AM on 05/10/2011

I need to dust off my exerise bike, and take the clothes off my ab-lounge and eat a salad once in a while.

Hey republicans people working out as a group in a yard just like they do in Red Square, if this kepts up socialism is going to take over right. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Stephen Stafford]

12:35 AM on 05/10/2011

She has been bringing some exceptional programming to her initiatives. We have never seen anything quite like it.

I would like to see this featured on the front page. We can bump one of the somebody said something nasty or foolish articles and use this one. I am sure many would be interested in it.

What wonderful gifts to the military families. Free memberships, personal trainers, really great ideas. And she is so hands on.

Mrs. Obama, you keep on keeping on. I love you and all your tireless efforts for all our people.

The American People appreciate all you do, First Lady Michelle Obama.

[POIIUIYT]

10:10 PM on 05/09/2011

michelle obama gives ample proof that our president makes wise choices.

[Dee Dee Russell]

09:49 PM on 05/09/2011

She practices what she preaches and I love her for it.

[Callyson]

07:17 PM on 05/09/2011

Since he started it with his catty comment comparing FLOTUS to a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model...I'd like to see Rushbo try to keep up with Michelle Obama...

[stape45]

09:42 PM on 05/09/2011

After all the jaw-jacking he's done his jaws are even fat. That pretty much, says it all.

[onionboy]

07:00 PM on 05/09/2011

I'm sorry, but regardless of political persuasion...how can anyone not love the current FLOTUS?

[SoCalGrandma]

07:41 PM on 05/09/2011

There are some out there, believe me, but who cares? She is the best one in my long lifetime, and I love her.

[onionboy]

12:54 AM on 05/10/2011

What I love about her is that she really seems to get her job. She's a representative of the administration. No political power, but can get media attention. To me, it really shows a good sense of teamwork with the POTUS...and that's important in a marriage.

And she seems completely willing to embarrass herself, without degrading herself, to get the message across. That dancing last week, camera phones everywhere. How many adults her age would have been doing that, in front of all the kids, and with millions likely to watch? I'm not raising my hand.

[nicothebaker]

02:10 PM on 05/10/2011

I agree. And I am a strong critic of her husband and his policies. But I love the FLOTUS, especially when she starts dancing.