Michelle Bridges tips on how to get yourself into shape 

Popular Australian fitness expert Michelle Bridges has revealed the simple tweaks you can make to your lifestyle to make a difference to your waistline.

Michelle, 46, has said that ‘removing or injecting’ one thing every few weeks from your lifestyle is the easiest way to get your health on track.

‘That one thing might be having less soft drinks, or having no soft drinks,’ she told Newscorp.

Michelle has said that her goal in life is to help people start their fitness journey

‘It might be going for a walk three days a week. It might be not having biscuits and cakes or lollies in the house.’

Michelle explained that often people overwhelm themselves by thinking they have to be perfect from the get go but she said that this isn’t helpful.

She emphasised that it is all about taking small steps in the right direction and believes there is a lot of anxiety around health and fitness.

‘It’s too much that chips away at your self confidence and your self worth because you think “I cant stick to anything”. 

‘I personally don’t want to be putting more pressure on to people [by saying] “You need to do more”, I’d rather just say, “How can I help someone make that first step?”’ 

Michelle explained that often people overwhelm themselves by thinking they have to be perfect from the get go

‘I personally don’t want to be putting more pressure on to people [by saying] “You need to do more”,’ she said

Being a trainer on Australia’s Biggest Loser for 11 years and being involved in fitness events since then, Michelle understands how tricky weight loss may seem.

She has said that it is all about taking the first step and that it is better to stick to one thing at a time to ensure you do it well. 

Speaking to Body+Soul Michelle said that an important aspect of getting fit is making sure you sort out your mental state.

She said that it is all about taking the first step and that it is better to stick to one thing at a time to ensure you do it well

‘Sometimes that choice comes down to the circles you move in, and sometimes you need to cut away from those circles,’ she said.

‘As hard as that may seem if you’re friends are continually pulling you into a place that your gut instinct is telling you this is really not serving me well, then it might be time to reevaluate who you are hanging out with.’

At the end of the day Michelle believes that if you are committed and consistent you should be able to meet your weight loss goals.

‘They’re key to reaping the many health benefits of exercise, but creating consistency is also the greatest hurdle for many people.’

Michelle believes that if you are committed and consistent you should be able to meet your weight loss goals

‘It’s not about the type of exercise. You’ll get results if you run consistently, if you swim, if you go for a walk every morning, even if you meditate. The key is doing it over and over until it becomes habit.’ 

She wants to encourage people to set up a routine that will be easy for them to stick to implement for their whole life.

‘Once you have that habit and routine, it’s about honing it, and then it doesn’t feel like anything other than how you live your life.

Michelle (pictured with her partner Steve Willis) wants to encourage people to set up a routine that will be easy for them to stick to implement for their whole life

‘Like brushing your teeth, every morning you get up and go to the gym, or for a walk, or for a swim. Maybe every second evening – Monday, Wednesday, Friday – you join your run club.’ 

Michelle is now a Medibank Private ambassador where she promotes public health campaigns.

The latest is Medibank’s Free and Active program, which offers free group fitness events across the country.