Michelle Bridges freely admits she hasn’t always been the clean eating fitness fiend we know her to be today.
The 47-year-old mother, like many Australians of her era, has eaten her fair share of snacks and calorie-laden treats dolled out in the average schoolyard canteen.
‘When we were kids we would be given white bread sandwiches with devon and tomato sauce,’ she told FEMAIL.
Michelle Bridges (pictured) freely admits she hasn’t always been the clean eating fitness fiend we know her to be today
‘We’d come home from school and Mum would have a Sara Lee cake and soft drinks. We only knew what we knew.’
But she admits ‘we know better now’ about the role these sweets play on our health and bodies, and she’s been making up for it ever since.
Posting a photo of her fridge to Instagram, Michelle showcased a range of green vegetables – including capsicum, broccoli, spinach and asparagus – as well as fruits like berries, dairy products like butter and cheese, and eggs.
While there wasn’t a block of chocolate in sight it did show her 273,000 followers that being healthy didn’t require a lot of leg work – only a bit of knowledge about which fuel helps your body to run.
She has the same moderated approach to exercise.
‘I try not to think of exercise as an isolated activity in my day, but a way of approaching simple, everyday tasks,’ she said
Posting a photo of her fridge to Instagram, Michelle showcased a range of green vegetables as well as fruits like berries, dairy products like butter and cheese, and eggs
‘I try not to think of exercise as an isolated activity in my day, but a way of approaching simple, everyday tasks,’ she said.
‘Rather than doing everything I can to make it to the gym, I try to think more efficiently about what needs doing, and how I can get my heart rate up while doing it.
‘For instance, if I am playing on the carpet with my son Axel, I might throw in some lunges and push-ups at the same time.
‘Whilst you are waiting for something to cook on the stove there is no reason why you can’t do a few squats in the kitchen… Not only does this allow you to get your exercise in, you accomplish something as well.’
Rather than pressuring herself to work out for a certain amount of time, Michelle instead prefers to exercise consistently.
‘I’ll give myself five minutes to do some moderate physical activity – crunches, tuck-jumps, and high-kicks – then that’s five minutes done,’ she explained.
Rather than pressuring herself to work out for a certain amount of time, Michelle instead prefers to exercise consistently
If Michelle can’t find time away from her two-year-old son, she will simply incorporate him into the exercise
‘I’ll then do the same somewhere later in the day and that’s another five minutes in the bag. By the end of the day I’ll have done 10 sets of five minutes.
‘It’s also about looking at the wider picture, if you commit to doing these short bursts everyday, by the end of the week the sum of your efforts is much larger.
‘The most successful fitness people are the ones that have a rhythm – “On Wednesday I’m going to spend 15 mins doing some upper body strength, on Thursday I’ll do cardio…” – it’s not so much what you’re doing, it’s the regularity.
If Michelle can’t find time away from her two-year-old son, she will simply incorporate him into the exercise.
‘I can’t tell you how many times I’ve held my little boy in plank or while doing squats – and I’m not the only one who enjoys it,’ she said
‘If you’re looking for a free exercise event near you, check out Medibank Free + Active , which has helped 250,000 Aussies get fit for free in the last year,’ she said
‘I can’t tell you how many times I’ve held my little boy in plank or while doing squats – and I’m not the only one who enjoys it,’ she said.
‘We don’t need to spend money to exercise. It’s a roadblock to many people – “Got to get those new trainers, a better gym membership” – but you don’t always need those things.
‘You can go do a parkrun for free, you can go for a swim, you can take your kids for a game of soccer in the park. This requires a mindset shift and some getting used to, yet it’s an important one and the benefits are far-reaching.
‘If you’re looking for a free exercise event near you, check out Medibank Free + Active, which has helped 250,000 Aussies get fit for free in the last year.’