The First Lady recommends a balanced approach to exercise, eating, and staying in shape.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—As far as sexy arms are concerned, Michelle Obama sets the tone for the nation. Sinewy and defined, her lean arms are all over the news this week because Women's Health magazine scored an exclusive interview with her trainer, who revealed the coveted Michelle Obama arm workout. While the whole Obama workout will appear in the magazine this month, Rodale.com is bringing you a sneak peek so you can start sculpting a First Lady bod with the Michelle Obama arm workout now.

Here's how you can get started, with lifestyle advice and exercise moves straight from the First Lady's workout plan.

• Make time. Mrs. Obama's longtime personal trainer, Cornell McClellan, has put her through more than 1,800 workouts, most of them taking place at 5:30 a.m. If you tend to gravitate toward the couch after a long day at work, try slipping a few morning workouts into your week. If you're still having trouble, learn to create an exercise plan you'll stick to. Like Mrs. Obama's workouts, make sure they include components of strength, cardiovascular, and flexibility training. Toss in a few minutes of jumping rope to really give your heart a workout.

• Don't try to be perfect. The Michelle Obama diet includes plenty of salads and tasty soups, but every once in awhile, for a special treat, she'll sneak in some french fries, her favorite food. "I have to exercise and eat in a balanced way. If I start ignoring both, I will put on weight," she told Women's Health.

•  Get those awesome Michelle Obama arms. At the end of a full-body workout, McClellan will finish with an arm-shaping superset to focus even more on Michelle Obama's biceps and triceps. Here's Part I of the two-phase, nine-minute workout.

1: Triceps Pushdown with Grip Flip

Attach a straight bar to the high pulley of a cable station and grab the bar with an overhand grip, hands shoulder-width apart. Tuck your upper arms next to your sides and bend your elbows more than 90 degrees. Without moving your upper arms, push the bar down until your arms are straight. Pause, then return to the starting position. That's 1 rep. Do 15 reps, then reverse your grip so that you're grasping the bar underhand, and immediately do another 15 reps.

For the complete Michelle Obama exercise plan, including Part II of the arm workout, visit Women's Health magazine online, and pick up a copy of the October issue (available next week).