Former First Lady Michelle Obama humorously recounted her famous 2012 push-up challenge against Ellen DeGeneres during a candid appearance on Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast.
At a Glance
- Michelle Obama recalled her 2012 push-up competition with Ellen DeGeneres during an appearance on Amy Poehler’s podcast
- Obama completed 25 push-ups during the challenge, besting Ellen while jokingly reminding her “I’m the first lady”
- The former First Lady revealed she now does modified push-ups on her knees as she adapts to aging
- Ellen humorously commented on Obama’s form, attributing it to her long arms
- DeGeneres joked after the challenge that she “thought it wouldn’t be good to show off the first lady”
The Famous Push-Up Challenge Revisited
Michelle Obama recently made an appearance on Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast where she reminisced about a memorable moment from her time as First Lady. During a conversation about aging and shoulder pain, Obama brought up her famous push-up challenge with Ellen DeGeneres that took place on “The Ellen Show” in 2012. The challenge became an iconic moment that highlighted Obama’s commitment to fitness and her playful personality while promoting her “Let’s Move!” initiative aimed at combating childhood obesity.
During the podcast, Obama recounted how Ellen had commented on her push-up form, attributing it to her long arms. Despite this critique, Obama impressively completed 25 push-ups during the televised challenge, demonstrating her physical fitness while maintaining her sense of humor. The former First Lady recalled how she good-naturedly teased DeGeneres about possible back issues during the challenge, which seemingly motivated the talk show host to push herself harder in the friendly competition.
Ellen’s Humorous Response
While Obama clearly won the challenge with her 25 push-ups, she revealed to Poehler that she could have continued but chose to stop there. Ellen, known for her quick wit, responded to her defeat with characteristic humor. Rather than admitting defeat outright, DeGeneres joked that she deliberately held back, not wanting to outshine the First Lady on national television. This lighthearted exchange highlighted the friendly rapport between the two women and became a memorable moment for viewers.
Embracing Age and Adaptation
During her conversation with Poehler, Obama offered a refreshingly honest perspective on aging and fitness. She shared that these days, she performs push-ups on her knees as a modification to accommodate her changing physical capabilities. This admission reflects her pragmatic approach to fitness as she ages, acknowledging that adaptations are natural and necessary. Obama emphasized that she now feels she has nothing to prove, embracing this new chapter of her fitness journey with the same confidence she displayed during her White House years.
The former First Lady’s willingness to discuss these adaptations sends a positive message about maintaining physical activity throughout life’s changes. Her candid remarks about modified exercises demonstrate that fitness can remain a priority even as methods evolve with age. This perspective aligns with her longstanding advocacy for health and wellness, showing that physical activity should be sustainable and appropriate for one’s current capabilities rather than focused on competitive achievements.
