Personal trainer Sally Brouwer says mums need put their own health first and make time to exercise

SHE’S the “Tough Mother” who copped Facebook flak for flaunting her fitness. Now she has a message that’s sure to inflame further outrage.

SALLY Brouwer wants mothers to put their health and fitness above all else – including their children.

The police sergeant and personal trainer is mum to five-year-old triplets and has been criticised by other women for being a bad mother after she has posted a picture on her business’ Facebook page comparing her pregnant stomach to her current six pack.

“People think that because they can’t do it then no one else can do it as well,” Ms Brouwer said.

“People don’t prioritise exercise enough. I think mums in particular just feel guilty 100 per cent of the time.”

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Ms Brouwer continued her fitness regime even while daughter Abby was undergoing 30 hours a week of intensive therapy for autism as a toddler.

“My theory is too you need to look after yourself first before you can look after anyone else. I always made sure, even though I sacrificed my sleep and probably my sanity for it, I always trained every single day. Sometimes it was 2 o’clock in the morning,” she said.

Ms Brouwer said she lost the 17kg she gained during pregnancy in a week, with her body back in shape in 12 months.

An international study of Australian mothers found 44 per cent of mothers retained 5kg or more of pregnancy weight nine months after birth.

The authors, from Deakin University’s School of Psychology, also found 21 per cent of mothers were obese and 38 per cent were overweight nine months after giving birth.

But lead researcher Joanne Phillips said “mum shaming” of overweight or healthy mums was “absolutely terrible”.

“You’ve just got to go easy on yourself,” she said.

Originally published as Personal trainer Sally Brouwer says mums need put their own health first and make time to exercise