Michelle Obama Prevention Magazine November 2009

Michelle Obama graces the November issue of Prevention magazine - on newsstands Oct. 6.

"Throughout my life, I've learned to make choices that make me happy and make sense for me. Even my husband is happier when I'm happy," says the First Lady in an interview with the magazine. "So I have freed myself to put me on the priority list and say, yes, I can make choices that make me happy, and it will ripple and benefit my kids, my husband and my physical health."

Mrs. Obama also dishes on how she keeps her famously toned arms in shape. The First Lady, who is 45 said she has no fear about getting old.

"To me, with age, everything has gotten better," says Mrs O.

"I try to have no absolute no's, 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."

"So for me, it's about setting up new boundaries. I had some challenges with that, but I'm balancing out."

A big part of that, Mrs O says, is her early-morning exercise regime. She varies her 4:30 am workouts with Pilates, cardio, stretching, and weights. "I enjoy arm exercises because you can see what it's hitting," she says.

She says she's been in the best shape during her 40s. "I've had more time [to work out] as my kids have gotten older. There was a period, actually right before the campaign started up, that I was really in tip-top shape. I was really there. And then my husband ran for president," she jokes.

Via: People