She’s one of Australia’s top health gurus – and now Michelle Bridges has shared a rather unusual tip for those hoping to lose weight.
Speaking to Women’s Health, the mum and Biggest Loser trainer revealed the simple tricks that could see you shaping up for Christmas and beyond.
‘Nutrition by far plays the biggest role in weight loss,’ Michelle told the publication.
‘I always say it’s about 80 per cent nutrition and 20 per cent exercise. Suitable nutrition fuels your body without stoking your fat stores and, if you’re [kilojoule] restricting (a common method for those who need to lose weight), you’ll still lose weight even if you don’t do any exercise because your body is in [kilojoule] deficit.
‘Want to add exercise into the mix? You’ll be strengthening your soft tissues, building your bones and getting the feel-good factor mentally – the whole package! People can often overlook how much exercise positively impacts your mental state.’
While Michelle said the first thing she’d advise to anyone wanting to lose weight would be to cut out all soft drinks, she also had a rather unusual tip for anyone wanting to start their health and fitness journey from scratch.
‘At some point each morning, you’re going to need to get up to go for a wee so when you do, work out!’ Michelle told the publication.
‘Lunge from your bed to the loo – that’s your first exercise. While washing your hands, squat – boom, that’s your second exercise.
‘Skip to the kitchen for your third. Push-ups against the bench top – there’s a fourth.
‘If you’re done after that, all good. You worked out, and now have a big glass of water, breakfast and get into your day. If you’re feeling charged up and ready to go longer, grab my book and hit one of the workouts in there.’
It’s not the first time the fitness star has shared her tips. Speaking previously to New Idea, Michelle revealed some simple ways to stay motivated on your fitness journey.
Find your WHY!
‘Visualise what the best version of yourself looks and feels like.,’ Michelle said. ‘Remember, it’s about who you want to become, not what someone else expects you to be. Relying too heavily on expectations is a recipe for disaster.
Make sure your goal is a positive one. To set a goal with a negative connotation to it is like asking the universe for that exact thing to happen! Turn your negative into excitement and instead of saying “I hate this 20 kilos of extra weight”, try, “I’m going to look even better when I wear my new dress to show off my hard work and I’m excited!”
Set SMART goals
‘It means your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based,’ Michelle advised.
‘For example, how much weight do you want to lose and by when? That last point is crucial: setting a timeframe around your goal means you’re more likely to stick to it. Also, have regular checkpoints, so you can kick your own booty if you’re not meeting your targets!’
Plan, plan, PLAN when it comes to food!
‘I always say that to seize back control of your life, first take control of your kitchen,’ Michelle said.
‘Start by cleaning out the pantry, fridge and freezer. Be ruthless – toss out anything out of date or overly processed and restock with plenty of healthy foods that you know you will actually eat. At the end of a busy day no one likes a last-minute dash to the supermarket, so make time each week to plan out your meals.
‘Replace soft drinks, cordials and juices with water. Have an emergency food drawer at work or home with tinned tuna, four bean mix, popping corn, corn/rice thins so you are never caught short and turning to unhealthy snacks.’
Schedule those workouts – and do them!
‘Add your workout sessions into your diary and stick to them. It’s no good promising to get to the gym, then making excuses as to why you can’t go,’ the expert added. ‘If it’s a time thing, get up an hour early to workout, or take 30 minutes before lunch for an express workout.
‘Aim for 20 to 30 minutes, six days a week. If you’re after maximum results in less time, focus on a mix of cardio and strength training, which has been proven to boost your metabolism.
Take time to reassess and work on your mindset
‘I believe that if you change your mindset, your body will follow,’ Michelle said.
‘Regularly re-visit your motivation – your WHY. Has it changed? Are you still aiming for the same outcome, or have you changed your ‘why’ during the journey? It’s important to hold yourself accountable, but also be open to new ways of thinking.
‘Printing out your goal and sticking it on your fridge is a great way of reminding yourself on a day-today basis.
‘Lastly, remember to say one positive thing to yourself every day. It could be as simple as “I really like these shoes today” or “I handled that meeting so well!” Positive affirmations have been proven to help foster long-term happiness.’
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