Let’s face it. If you’re a working mom, finding time to exercise and take care of yourself can be a challenge. But what do you do when you’re a working mom and possibly the next First Lady?

Michelle Obama, the wife of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, has a career of her own. A Harvard law school graduate and vice president of community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Michelle plans to remain “mom-in-chief” to her two daughters should the family make it to the White House.

Often referred to as “the closer”—Michelle, 44, has a way of connecting with audiences that can turn skeptics into believers. But how does she squeeze in a workout or quiet time between campaigning? Well, that’s the question many have been asking. Every woman needs time for herself and her health, so I culled the web for Michelle Obama’s answers on how she stays healthy, finds balance and stays grounded amidst the whirlwind campaign season.

On Her Personal Health Philosophy
“I talk a lot on the campaign trail about the importance of mental, physical and spiritual health. We as women have a lot on our plates - we’re always juggling. Every woman I know, regardless of race, education, income, background, is struggling every day to keep her head above water. We’ve been told we can have it all, but lose ourselves in the process. We need to put ourselves higher on our own to do lists. I know that’s hard for so many, so we also need to ensure we give women and families the resources they need to not only survive, but thrive.” WebMD, February 2008

On Setting Priorities
“My first job in all honesty is going to continue to be mom-in-chief,” Michelle Obama said in the September edition of Ebony magazine, hitting the newsstands on August 12. “Making sure that in this transition, which will be even more of a transition for the girls… that they are settled and that they know they will continue to be the center of our universe.” In the interview, Michelle talks about work-life balance, being married to Barack Obama, her workout routine, and the fashion sense that landed her on the top of Vanity Fair’s best-dressed list.

On Working Out
Momlogic asked Michelle Obama about her toned arms and workout routine. “I go to the gym three times a week — as often as I can, really. I work with a fabulous trainer for about an hour each session. We do a lot of cardio and weight training. For me, exercise is more than just physical — it’s therapeutic.”

On Finding Help and Support
Speaking to a group of Women for Obama in Chicago, Michelle Obama spoke about the demands of motherhood. “I joke about our challenges. But Barack and I know that we are lucky. We are some of the lucky ones because we have resources and support to help us get through. And I am particularly lucky because I have my mom. This is the woman who keeps me grounded, who stays at home with my girls and make sure that they’re okay.”

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On Relaxing and Having Fun
“We have just some of the most wonderful times when we visit Barack’s grandmother in Hawaii. Those are always wonderful times, warm weather, a time to be together and laugh, when everybody’s relaxed, no schedules, no nothing, just a lot of good fun together,” she said in a February U.S. News and World Reports interview.

On Black Women’s Health
In a July interview with the St. Louis American, Michelle Obama touched on black women’s increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke. “Usually, we as black women deal with our issues when they are at a crisis point. So we need to move beyond that way of thinking about our health. But you can’t do it, if you don’t have access to health care.”

image: Getty Images