In a shocking and deeply personal revelation, Australian fitness royalty Michelle Bridges has disclosed a debilitating health battle that brought her world-famous fitness career to a staggering halt.
The Biggest Loser star, known for her iron will and powerhouse physique, was secretly diagnosed with a severe autoimmune thyroid condition that left her grappling with extreme exhaustion, crippling brain fog, and uncontrollable weight gain—a cruel irony for a woman who built an empire on wellness.
A Fitness Icon Brought to Her Knees
Bridges described the onset of her symptoms as a bewildering collapse of her once-boundless energy. The woman who could out-train anyone found herself struggling to get through the day, a shadow of her former self. "I was the fittest I've ever been, and then I got hit by a Mack truck," she confessed, detailing the rapid decline that left doctors baffled for months.
The Diagnosis: Hashimoto's Disease
After an agonising period of uncertainty, Bridges was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks its own thyroid gland. This tiny, butterfly-shaped gland regulates metabolism, energy, and mood, and its malfunction explained her devastating symptoms.
The diagnosis brought a strange sense of relief amidst the turmoil. "Finally, I had a name for it," she stated, acknowledging the mental anguish of not understanding what was happening to her body.
The Road to Recovery and a New Mission
Now on a carefully managed treatment plan and a strict anti-inflammatory diet, Bridges is slowly rebuilding her strength. Her mission has profoundly shifted from sculpting elite athletes to managing her own health and raising awareness for the millions who suffer from similar invisible illnesses.
Her message is now one of empathy and self-compassion, a stark contrast to her previous tough-love television persona. She advocates for listening to one's body and seeking help, proving that even the strongest among us can be vulnerable.
