Laurent Joy Benig manages two brands—Laurent Cosmetics and Laurent Active, her activewear line that she started in the early days of the pandemic.

This busy mom is also active on social media, posting videos regularly on TikTok, where she gets most of her customers for her activewear.

Benig is also an ambassador of Rush Athletics and one of the founders of jump rope community Jump Pampanga.

In this week’s Fitness Diaries, she tell us all about her secrets to staying healthy.

What inspired my fitness journey: As I grew older, I realized that health is indeed wealth. It sounds clichéd, but it’s one of the best lines that we have to remember.

As a mom, I also realized the importance of fitness as we grow older. I immersed myself in the jump rope community because I was eager to learn and expand my knowledge. This passion opened so many doors and opportunities for me, aside from meeting a lot of passionate athletes. I was able to build and create a brand that caters to people like us who are passionate about fitness and health, and are living a very active lifestyle. My fitness routine: I don’t really follow a strict routine but I make sure that I am consistent, motivated and driven. I go to the gym at least four times a week. Sometimes I use my free time to jump rope because it gives me the muscle memory to improve and strengthen my core. I also use my weekends to coach newbies.

Favorite forms of exercise: Aside from jump rope, I am also diving into weightlifting right now because I am trying to strengthen and develop muscles.

Where I work out: During the early stages of the pandemic, I worked out at home because jumping doesn’t require a lot of equipment and gear. But I also enrolled in a gym for the necessary equipment for my other exercises.

My fitness essentials: My ever-reliable jump ropes and activewear from my brand.

My workout playlist: In the gym, I rely on their playlist, but at home, I listen to a lot of Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande—it keeps me feeling young—and those self-empowerment anthems keep me going!

My diet: I follow a very disciplined diet. Since I am trying to bulk up right now, calorie deficit is a no-no, but I really try my best to avoid sweets. It’s very hard since I am a chocolate and dessert person, but it’s doable. I allow myself some treats once in a while and I still eat rice. Proportion is the key, since I need to consume more protein for my muscles. I stopped eating pork, but I still eat beef, fish, chicken and veggies on the side.

What’s off-limits: I try my best to avoid sugar-loaded food to help in eliminating and burning all the unnecessary fats in my body. You can be skinny and still have unhealthy fats, and that’s because of the excessive amount of sugar that you consume.

Do you have cheat days?

Yes, and I enjoy them a lot! Depriving yourself of a cheat day or even a bite of your favorite dessert is unnecessary. But I make sure not to overindulge.

What do you eat on your cheat days?

A serving of my favorite Korean barbecue, so that will be beef, or even a slice of my favorite dessert. Again, proportion is key.

What keeps me motivated: I am very business-minded, so my businesses keep me motivated. I get 70 percent of my customers from the jump rope community and about 30 percent from my TikTok audience, because they see me wearing my own brand. By doing this, I am able to provide an affordable yet high-quality option to those who want to dip their toes into this sport and lifestyle.

How the pandemic affected my fitness routine: It did affect me, but in a very positive way. It made me push myself to be healthier and more active. It also opened a lot of opportunities for me. It’s when I joined the jump rope community and built my brand. I acknowledge that this is owing to my privileges, but I just like to see the possibilities, not the problems.

Other fitness secrets: I surround myself with people who share the same passion—be it in business or lifestyle. Seeing their progress and even the struggles inspires me to keep going, to keep expanding, and to keep exploring.

Tips for people who want to get healthier: Do what inspires you. Do not force yourself into getting into a specific type of workout routine or an exercise. Do what you think is best for you. Does it make you happy, does it spark joy in you? Your own happiness comes first. When you are happy and inspired, a routine becomes a habit, and a habit becomes a lifestyle.