First Lady Michelle Obama spoke with Women's Health Magazine on the importance of healthy living:

In honor of National Women's Health Week, the First Lady of Fitness (and okay, the United States) tells us why we all need to stand up for our well-being.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Presidential Dog "Bo"
(Credit: Women's Health Magazine)

As women, we're used to hearing about fitness in terms of inches and dress sizes. We may know better, but we're up against near-constant reminders and pressures to look good and take shortcuts to get there.

The truth is, being a healthy woman isn't about getting on a scale or measuring your waistline—and we can't afford to think that way. Instead, we need to start focusing on what matters–on how we feel, and how we feel about ourselves.

For me, improving my health started with an eye-opening conversation I had with our family pediatrician when my girls were very young. He asked me, simply, "What are you all eating?" And as I answered his question, I realized our family needed to make some changes–and so we did. We started eating more fruits and vegetables, drinking more water, watching our portions, and eating less takeout. (READ MORE from Taking Control of Our Health)

(Source: Women's Health Magazine)