‘Women Who 2018’ celebrates women who LEAD, INSPIRE, FIGHT AND CARE. These visionaries from the worlds of entertainment, media, science and politics—among others—challenge the status quo by empowering others through their stellar achievements. In the first of our groundbreaking four-part initiative in conjunction with Holden, we honour author and trainer Michelle Bridges for her lifelong commitment to helping millions transform their bodies and lives.
The former Biggest Loser trainer is passionate about helping people transform their lives through fitness and nutrition. Since having son Axel, 2, her quest to lead the next generation to healthier lives has become distinctly personal, as she tells WHO.
Michelle Bridges was only 14 years old when she began encouraging others to lead healthier lives. “I pitched my business idea to the school mistress to take the kids who weren’t participating in sport on a Wednesday afternoon, and teach them fitness classes,” says Bridges, 47, who already understood the benefits of exercise and was keen to pass those onto her classmates. “It was something really burning inside of me. I loved it! It just grew from there.”
Today, through her 15 books and 12 Week Body Transformation program, Bridges has helped Australians lose more than 1.5 million kilos. Those numbers are “a bit overwhelming,” Bridges concedes. “I don’t get up in the morning and go, ‘Right, Michelle, you’re about to lead Australia!’ [laughs]. Half the time I’m trying to get the sleep out of my eyes and get Axel fed!”
Having Axel, her 2-year-old-son with fellow trainer Steve “Commando” Willis, has definitely “shifted” the focus for Bridges, who’s working on a program that will demonstrate the link between physical activity and academic performance in primary-school children. “I feel a responsibility for the next generation and what I’m going to offer. There’s a lot of work to be done, but it’s exciting work and it’s work worth doing.”
For more on Michelle Bridges and why she’s committed to lead the next generations to better health, pick up this week’s issue of WHO, on sale now.
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