Speaking of Health: A Q&A With Michelle Obama

WebMD asked the spouses of the leading candidates to answer some questions about personal health. Michelle Obama, wife of Sen. Barack Obama, was the first to respond. Here are her answers.

Your father was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was a young man. What impact did that have on you?
My father taught me so much about work ethic. He was a blue collar city worker -- worked his whole adult life at the water filtration plant on the south side of Chicago. He got up - went to work everyday - never complained - was never late. I knew he must have been frustrated with the physical restraints he had to contend with, as I never knew my father to walk without the assistance of a cane. But he also provided for our family - he did not go to college, but he was able to put two kids through Princeton on a single city worker salary - which is almost impossible today - and leave my mother a pension that now supports her.

How do you manage to work exercise into your busy schedule?
I make it a point to get in a good work out when we're home for a day or two between campaign trips. It's an incredible release and a priority for me.

Is it possible to eat healthy while you are campaigning? If so, how do you so it?
You know, it's tough. Really tough, when you spend a lot of time driving between stops and want to focus on meeting with voters and not sitting down to eat a healthy meal. But I make sure the girls eat right all the time, and I eat healthily when I'm home, so it's ok for a treat when we're working hard on the road.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure food?
French fries. Always.

With all the intense pressure and scrutiny you face during a campaign, not to mention the exhausting pace, how do you and Sen. Obama de-stress your relationship?
We talk all the time - mostly about our girls - they keep us grounded and laughing. When Barack is home and the weather is nice, we take bike rides, we go to the museum, we play games, and we enjoy being around each other. He and I also try to squeeze in a dinner date every now and then.

Tell me about a good experience and a bad experience you had seeking health care.
One bad experience is what we saw with Barack's mother. She was battling cancer and was sadly forced to spend time near the end of her life worrying about health insurance coverage, and whether she'd be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. This is something that has profoundly affected Barack - and it's why he is so committed to enacting universal health care coverage that gives every American the quality of care that he receives as a member of Congress.

What are your best and worst health habits?
I love to work out - it's cathartic for me, and I make it a point to get a good work out in when I'm home from the campaign trail. At the same time, I love French fries. We just got back from South Carolina, and some of my favorite stops on our campaign swing were at some great barbeque and fried chicken spots across the state. You just can't beat a good plate of barbecue.

Do you have a 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.

Name the first time a health condition altered your daily living.
Not sure of the first health condition, but I know one important health issue to impact our daily lives is our oldest daughter's asthma. Malia's asthma has encouraged us to keep stimulants out of our house that could irritate her breathing.

Source: Katie McCormick Lelyveld, Communications Director for Michelle Obama.