michelle bridges you can be a celebrity personal trainer with a decades-long career in fitness.
But even she is not immune to the struggle of finding time to healthy nutrition and exercise, particularly during COVID-19 pandemic.
previous the biggest loser The fitness trainer and single mom spoke to 9Honey about including exercise in her daily regimen and the best way to start her health journey for 2022.
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home fitness
While Michelle says she has been lucky to avoid the virus so far, the lockdowns meant she and her clients needed to cobble together their exercise routines with household items.
Michelle reveals that it’s possible to find ways to exercise in the living room or bedroom; you just need to be creative.
“In my MB sportswear range, I have a 10kg weight vest. I often wear it and just do housework,” explains Michelle.
“It’s like double your money, it’s not even a formal workout, but I end up breaking a sweat. You’ve got your training done and your chores done.”
For those without equipment at home, Michelle recalls seeing clients using weighted backpacks or laundry detergent bottles for their indoor workouts.
“I’ve worked with many people online who filled laundry water bottles and used them as hand weights or walked around with a backpack full of heavy books,” he laughs.
“Sometimes all you need is 20 minutes out of your day, make a plan, and figure out how you’re going to move your body that day. I’ve found that people who walk into the gym, living room, or backyard with a plan , they are the ones who check the boxes and do it”.
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Take control of your day
Michelle is a single mother to her six-year-old son, Axel, and knows how difficult it can be to juggle parenthood and health.
The author and 12 week body transformation The trainer says that since she had a son, even she has noticed that her exercise regimen has cut back a bit.
“I’m going to put my hand here and be very honest, ever since I had a kid, my exercise regimen hasn’t been as routine and rigid as it used to be for me. It just happens,” she explains.
“There are many reasons for that, one is that you need to spend time with your child, or suddenly something goes wrong and you get kicked out of the gym because they need you.
“Going from a woman with a career and no children, to a woman with a career Y Girl, it’s a big change and I have to figure it out.”
For her, Michelle finds time between dismissal and dismissal for exercise, such as morning boxing classes or lunchtime gym sessions.
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She says organization is key to keeping her routine in check, and that may mean planning her day together with her partner or a family member who can help care for the kids.
“Time isn’t just going to fall into your lap, you have to plan a journal, set a schedule, and be realistic,” advises Michelle.
“Be realistic about what’s going to work in your environment, it could be getting up half an hour earlier to do a quick workout or maybe your partner can take care of dinner while you go to a Pilates class or take a long walk.”
With the kids restarting school in February, Michelle says it’s time to re-find routine and structure in her health journey.
“It’s time to get back to bedtime routines, morning routines and lunchbox preparation, the perfect time to start fresh.”
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Change of kilos of COVID
Since the pandemic began, the term “COVID kilos” has become popular.
It’s easy to gain weight while sitting at home eating junk food, and Michelle says there are simple ways to combat these bad habits.
“We have to be kind to ourselves, but we also have to be honest and realistic,” explains Michelle.
“Keep it simple: You could start with a walk every morning or rid your pantry and fridge of bad food and soda.
“We all became gourmet chefs during lockdown, so instead of an expensive takeaway, think of a healthy meal you can make.”
Michelle, who will begin her 12-Week Body Makeover for clients in early February, says taking control of your fitness and health is “a marathon, not a sprint.”
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It can be a difficult task to change your ingrained habits, but it is always worth it.
“It’s not going to be perfect, there will always be lessons to come out of it and opportunities to improve next week,” she says.
“The only reason I built that program 11 years ago and have had the huge success that we’ve had is because I’ve been in there with so many clients and I know where their head space is. I know where the moments are when you start to get a little wobbly. .
Michelle adds, “It builds gradually and feels stress-free for whatever fitness level you’re at. All you have to do is follow it and stop thinking.”
The next round of 12WBT starts on February 7, 2022. Go to www.12wbt.com link.
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