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Michelle Bridges talks ‘exercising your mood’ and the future of Biggest Loser

Michelle Bridges has opened up about THOSE break-up rumours surrounding her and fellow Biggest Loser trainer Steve ‘Commando’ Willis.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly, Michelle addressed recent reports that she had split from her partner Steve Willis aka The Commando.

“People just love to throw those hand grenades up,” she said.

Michelle confirmed she was dating Steve in May last year saying: “We’ve always been great mates, he’s a great guy.”

In the interview, Michelle also talked about the importance of exercise, not just for weight-loss and physical fitness but also for mental health.

“Everybody is always like, ‘Oh I want to get skinny’ or ‘I want to lose weight’ or, ‘I want to get into my jeans,’ blah-dee-blah,'” Michelle told The Weekly. “But no one really talks much about how good [exercise] is for you mentally.”

In the wake of the tragic death of beloved actor Robin Williams last week, Michelle says that it’s more important than ever to focus on healthy habits for your mind as well as for your body. As the official ambassador for the Black Dog Institute’s ‘Exercise your Mood’ campaign this September, she is encouraging all Australians to get active and improve our national mental health.

Related: Celebrities pay tribute to Robin Williams

“There’s just so much research out here, on depression, exercise and mental health, and how good it is for you,” says Bridges.  “You don’t have to have any specific condition to not feel the amazing and wonderful benefits of exercise and how it can really elevate your mood.”

Michelle says that carving out 20 minutes a day to get active is crucial to this, regardless of how busy you are. “I know of so many people who have extraordinarily large diaries, like myself, who are advocates for exercise because they literally say, ‘If I didn’t exercise I wouldn’t be able to do everything that I can,'” says the 43-year-old.

Michelle also referenced reports that she would be walking away from The Biggest Loser and not would not participating be participating in the upcoming eighth season. “The conversations about the show haven’t really even started rolling,” she told The Weekly. “The truth is no one is 100 per cent green lit with the show yet.”

Related: Michelle Bridges to quit the Biggest Loser

With Michelle’s hectic schedule and the international success of her “12 Week Body Transformation” program, reports had been circulating that she had gotten “too expensive” for the show that made her a star.

According to Michelle though, she is still just as passionate about The Biggest Loseras ever: “I love that show. It’s something that I have always loved doing and I think it’s one of the most inspirational shows on TV.”

Read more of this story in the September issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.

To find out more about Black Dog Institute’s Exercise Your Mood campaign visit the website here.

If you or anyone else you know is struggling with mental illness or depression, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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