Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 09:34 PM Mar 2013

Michelle Obama: ‘I Don’t Want My Daughters To Be Weight-Obsessed’

I thought this was a Great Interview with Michelle...and she really gets into what we hope and want for our kids to be healthy and sports conscious and just for them to "Get Up and Move" no matter if it's sports or play because it's all important.

This seems to be the complete version of her interview..unlike the short versions that are out there. She did an excellent job with the questioners about it's NOT.. HOW YOU LOOK or Your Body Type...but, that you want to have More Energy to use. (She takes emphasis off looks and weight and puts it on ENERGY from Food you Eat. And that is a very good thing she's saying. A nice Personal Forum for our First Lady to express herself here:


Michelle Obama: ‘I Don’t Want My Daughters To Be Weight-Obsessed’
Mar 5, 2013
11
By Ruth Manuel-Logan

First Lady Michelle Obama (pictured), who is in the third year of her Let’s Move! exercise initiative, revealed during her very first “Let’s Move!” Google Plus fireside hangout on Monday that she does not want her daughters to be “weight-obsessed.” The chat, which was attended by more than 3,500 viewers, was moderated by “Live with Kelly & Michael” talk show co-host Kelly Ripa. Mrs. Obama fielded questions from select participants, who submitted health and weight loss stories on Google Plus and YouTube and a third grade class from Brewer, Maine, reports

Mrs. Obama joined Google Plus to discuss the importance of exercise particularly among young people, and as a bonus, attendees of the chat received a glimpse inside her household to see how she manages to implement healthful living for daughters Malia, 14 (pictured right) and Sasha, 11 (pictured left).

In the Obama household, the First Lady decided to make healthier choices, starting with adding more exercise to their daily regimen and making smart dietary changes like drinking less juice and adding more fruits and vegetables.

When the First Lady was asked what advice she would offer young people struggling with weight, she responded that the topic is one that has been discussed in her home.

“You know, when I talk to my kids…we were going through some of these similar challenges,” Mrs. Obama said, addressing a young man who said he had once weighed 400 pounds as a 19-year-old. “Obviously, when my kids were little, they weren’t faced with the huge challenges you were faced with. But I never talked about weight in the household. We just started making changes and we made changes in a way that didn’t…make them feel badly about themselves, said the First Lady.

Mrs. Obama contends that the oneness of weight and portion control should be placed on the adult in a young child’s life. ”Truly kids that age can’t control what they eat,” she said. “So as the Mom, I took it upon myself to make sure that we just surrounded them with foods that were healthy and that they could eat whenever they wanted to.”

What was stressed overall during the chat by Mrs. Obama was that someone’s overall wellness lifestyle dictates health in the long run and that obsessing on the numbers on a scale is not what’s important, rather being active and eating right are the crucial factors.

“I have two young daughters. We never talk about weight,” she said. “I make it a point… I don’t want our children to be weight-obsessed I want them to be focused on, ‘What do I have to do in this body?’ Because every body is different. Every person’s body is different.”

Watch Mrs. Obama’s Google Plus chat here:
frame width="640" height="360" src="

?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


She mentioned that her girls get plenty of exercise by doing such things as playing sports and walking their dog, Bo, every night after dinner. She also admitted to turning on the radio and busting a few moves with her girls for a good 30 to 40 minutes until they work up a good sweat, “They laugh at me; they have a good time, but at the same time they’re moving,” she said.

http://newsone.com/2264398/michelle-obama-google-plus-chat/
3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Michelle Obama: ‘I Don’t Want My Daughters To Be Weight-Obsessed’ (Original Post) KoKo Mar 2013 OP
BTW...this video is an excellent watch. While I've had differences KoKo Mar 2013 #1
Wonder if Kelly Ripa will get the hint..... llmart Mar 2013 #2
I love how she has promoted dancing as excercise. enough Mar 2013 #3

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
1. BTW...this video is an excellent watch. While I've had differences
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 10:19 PM
Mar 2013

with her Husband on his policies and appointments...I have always praised Michelle for her smarts and her savvy and I think she is doing a good thing in this video chat explaining why she feels that School Lunches that are nutritional and just "Moving" for all kids is a good thing.

I think her heart and mind are in the place where all of us can support her on better nutrition for our children and for all of us is where we need to go.

I liked that she answered the questions and that she held firm to what she was saying.

While I realize that she is living in a Bubble and so are her Kids...it doesn't take away from what her basic beliefs are even though she doesn't lead a "normal life" she is doing the best with the life that was given to her and that she cares about kids and their health is important given the Corporate Junk Food Empire she's dealing with.

I think it's important she did this and has put an emphasis on the school lunch programs around the USA that had drifted off into danger territory with rise of Diabetes and Cholesterol problems in younger and younger folks in our society.

llmart

(15,552 posts)
2. Wonder if Kelly Ripa will get the hint.....
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 10:28 PM
Mar 2013

she's ridiculous trying to weigh what the average 3rd grader weighs. She probably eats three pieces of lettuce for dinner every night.

I just can't look at her.

enough

(13,262 posts)
3. I love how she has promoted dancing as excercise.
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 10:40 PM
Mar 2013

This is something so many people love to do, and it's associated with happiness and fun, even for people who wouldn't be comfortable with regimented calisthenics, running or spinning, etc.

It's also something people with very different body types can do together and have a great time. I've noticed in the Zumba classes I go to, there is a much greater variety of body types (also ethnic, age and "racial" mix) than any other gym or yoga classes. It seems like everybody loves to dance to great music.

And bless you Michelle for not focusing your family discussions on weight, but on HEALTH, and "What do I have to do in this body."


Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Michelle Obama: ‘I Don’t ...