The world of social media fitspo (fit-inspiration) is one of permanently flexed abs, Fitbit PB screenshots and glowing post-marathon faces, so it's refreshing to see Michelle Bridges keeping things real.
The 45-year-old Biggest Loser trainer gave the genre an oft-needed touch of realness, sharing a candid account of one of her training sessions, squeezed in between her business commitments and looking after her six-month-old baby.
"Today I hurt. Today my head almost got to me. Today I started doubting myself. Doubting my fitness. Doubting wether [sic] I can pull myself back," the new mum wrote.
Alongside a video of herself seeming to struggle through a punishing workout, Bridges told her 189,000 Facebook fans and 206,000 Instagram followers that, although she knew she was not at the level she had been in the past her fitness is "perfect" and she "cannot expect any more of [herself]".
"My fitness and strength is exactly where it should be given what I have and haven't been doing," she wrote. "My training has been inconsistent. Period. And that's ok. I'm here. I'm pushing. It might not be pretty, but that's ok too!"
Bridges gave birth to her son Axel on December 19, 2015.
The baby is the first for Bridges and her partner, Steve "The Commando" Willis, who Bridges thanked for "picking up the pieces" after the workout in her post.
The Michelle Bridges brand has gone from strength to strength over the past few years.
In addition to her reality television gig, Bridges has released 14 books (her latest, Make It Happen, is part-memoir, part-self help for women who want to grow their own business), an active wear collection for Big W, a frozen meal line for Woolworths and continues to promote her 12-Week Body Transformation program.
The personal trainer appeared on the BRW Rich Women list for the first time in 2015, with an estimated net wealth of $53 million.
Fairfax Media
