It would appear Jessica Alba is a little confused about how much exercise she does.

The 35-year-old actress appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres’ show yesterday and admitted she’s basically allergic to the gym.

“You walk up and down [during Halloween trick or treating with her children] and you’re getting exercise, so I didn’t even need to go to the gym — not like I go to the gym, but I was like, ‘I really don’t need to go to the gym.’”

When Ellen stopped to clarify what she meant by “not like I go to the gym”, given she had just appeared on the October cover of health-focused magazine Shape looking, well, like an exceptionally fit person, Alba’s response was:

“You know how you, like, cover the bits and you know how to do the [pose]. So that’s what I was doing… I should go to the gym.”

Excited for my new @shape_magazine cover! ???? by @adamfranzino ???? @emilyandmeritt ???????? & [email protected]_yepez @rachel_goodwin using @honest_beauty ???????? @ashlie_johnson

A photo posted by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on Sep 7, 2016 at 1:28pm PDT

Maybe the mother-of-two truly never sets foot in a gym. Maybe she’s just supremely talented at pulling flattering poses. It’s certainly possible.

But the founder of The Honest Company has contradicted this view. And she did it all on her own.

She told Shape magazine: “If I work out four times, I consider it a successful week, but it’s typically more like two to three days a week because that’s what I have time for. I take spin or hot yoga classes in the morning, and I sacrifice sleep to fit them in.” (Post continues after gallery.)

Two or so months prior to that interview, she told New York Magazine’s The Cut:

“I don’t work out daily. I don’t have the time. I do feel so much better when I do. I feel more energised when I do get a good workout in the morning. But, especially this summer, it’s really hard to prioritise that time. My kids are home in the morning and I’d rather spend 45 minutes in the morning [with them].

“For me, the benefits of exercise are more mental than physical. Working out takes away that little edge so that I feel happier and more productive and my brain can get kick started.”

We worked it out -my cousin is a dope trainer and kicked my butt @kettlebellexercises ????????????????

A photo posted by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on May 30, 2016 at 10:00am PDT

And a year earlier than that she spoke about her 5:15am alarm that signals it’s time for a workout and a “really strong coffee”.

I’m not setting down these seemingly incongruous cards on the table to shriek “gotcha!” and point a waggling finger.

Nor am I doing it to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Ms Alba does, in fact, exercise despite her recent comments about never going to the gym.

Got it in w @ahines83 @cyclehousela ????????????????

A photo posted by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on May 25, 2016 at 8:06am PDT

Sure, her changing story could be down to a change in exercise patterns over the last couple of months but I suspect it could be something a little more inherent.

Many women feel a need to strive for perfection, but that perfection is somehow only seen as valid if it’s something we achieved without really trying.

As women, we’ve probably either done it ourselves, or know someone who does it. It’s the ‘woke up like this’ mentality that, for the vast majority of us, is impossible at worst and exhausting at best to keep up with. (Post continues after audio.)

It’s a mentality that says a body that’s fit and healthy effortlessly, is better than a body that’s fit and healthy from damn hard work.

It’s the same mentality as that person who’d get 100 per cent in their Biology exam at school, but claim that unlike all the other poor buggers studying their butts off they hadn’t even glanced at a textbook.

Or that friend who eats extremely well, sacrifices treats and makes delicious salads for lunch every day, yet claims that they “eat sooo much junk food”.

We got it in this AM @bquattro @aylaeloy ????????????

A photo posted by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on Apr 15, 2016 at 9:27am PDT

It’s understandable that Jessica Alba may feel the need to project the image that her incredible fitness and physique, likely the result of some of the world’s best personal trainers, is just sheer luck.

As though her tone and fitness isn’t valid unless she claims to have never set foot inside a gym. She’s simply perpetuating the ‘woke up like this’ mentality.

Working really hard for something – fitness, career, study, relationships, a house deposit – is a hugely positive thing. It shows determination, commitment and tenacity. It’s something to be proud of. To show off. But many of us struggle to do just that.

Werking it out in #NYC -excited for my @honest baby spring event @ladureeus later today #honestlovesparis

A photo posted by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on Mar 9, 2016 at 9:37am PST

When quizzed about how she gets in shape for bikini runway appearances recently by News Corp, Australian model and TV presenter Jesinta Franklin replied:

“You don’t get the arse you want by sitting on the couch, unfortunately.”

It’s frank but it’s true. She could’ve regurgitated the old “I’ve just got great genes” response but instead she shared that she works bloody hard to look the way she does.

There’s no shame in that.

Image: Instagram/@jessicaalba.