How busy moms stay fit and motivated without burning out

Fit moms (from top, clockwise) Diane Leyva, Dhi-dhi Eugenio, and Camille Alipio-Luzande

Moms, we understand that you love your kids so much you willingly put their needs way above yours.

But you can’t pour from an empty cup. You also need to pay attention to your wellbeing to effectively care for others.

Fitness, for instance, means loving yourself and your loved ones (read here).

You may give many excuses not to exercise—no time, low energy, limited resources, the list goes on. One thing’s for sure, though: it’s doable.

Find out how busy moms stay fit and motivated without burning out from Camille Alipio-Luzande, Diane Leyva, and Dhi-dhi Eugenio.

Camille Alipio-Luzande

“Grind now, shine later"

Being slim all her life, Camille Alipio-Luzande admits she hasn’t always been into fitness. She loves to dance, though, and, in the past, tried sports like running, volleyball, and badminton.

The 36-year-old professional, who works in the digital media industry, then decided do a weight gain program with a coach at the start of 2026.

Henceforth, she’s been following the program that consists of full-body workouts and a meal plan updated every month. Aside from working out four times a week, she also does brisk walking every chance she gets.

“To be honest, it's not that I want to be fit,” says Camz, who’s also called by her other nickname, Elli. “I'd rather say that I wanna be strong...well, stronger.”

She goes on explaining to The Fitness Advocate, “As a mom of two boys with lotsa energy, I have to keep up with them like always, especially with my youngest who's sporty and likes hanging onto you like a monkey.” Her bunso is 3 years old and her panganay, 9.

Fitness and motherhood can go together. (Photos courtesy of Camille Alipio-Luzande)

Camz shares three main tips “like for reals” for fellow moms who want to start their own fitness journey: consistency is the key, discipline over motivation, and progress over perfection.

“You ask me why I'm doing this, while I'm also busy being a full-time WFH momma? Simple, I wanted to be stronger and healthier for my kids and tbh, for myself,” she points out.

“I guess this is what self-love in action looks like, focusing on intrinsic motivation and treating your body as a temple.”

She adds, “The harder I train every day...the more trust I gain in myself. It may sore today, strong tomorrow. It may be strong today, stronger tomorrow.

“Every meal, every rep, just a step closer to the best version of me! Definitely my strong girl era—the era of weight gain, muscle toning, effort, hard work, consistency, change, discipline=#PayatButStrong.

“Indeed, a woman with a strong mind and a determined spirit is a force to be reckoned with! Remember SMALL WINS are really BIG GAINS & SHOWING UP for YOURSELF AGAIN and AGAIN! Definitely GRIND NOW, SHINE LATER!”

Diane Leyva

“Find an activity that sparks your soul”

Diane Leyva proves that moms can be fit and fun, too.

As a dancer in her college years, Diane Leyva didn’t have to do anything else outside her regular training to stay fit.

But when she became a mom for the first time in her early 30s, she had to start working out to lose the pregnancy weight. She did cardio exercises with resistance training.

Today, the freelance virtual assistant is “proud to be 43” with four sons aged 19, 12, 10, and 6, while “still able to learn” pole dancing and aerial arts.

In between attending classes in the sultry type of pole dancing and aerial hoop or hammock, she does mobility drills and resistance training.

Diane in a recital performing aerial hoop

“As a mom who is always on the go and keeps a night shift work schedule, I have to make sure that I am healthy and fit, most specially now at my age with perimenopausal symptoms,” she points out.

Diane understands why many fellow working moms may not find the time or the motivation to squeeze fitness into their hectic schedule.

“My tip is to find an activity that sparks your soul,” she says, on how busy moms can stay fit and motivated without burning out. “Might sound corny but that's the core kasi you will only find and carve time for something you absolutely love.”

She adds, “And to find this, explore, explore, explore. Schedule it as your me time. It can start with as simple as walking around for thirty minutes.” 

Sultry pole melds passionate dancing and impressive athleticism. (Photos courtesy of Diane Leyva)

Dhi-dhi Eugenio

“Showing support to a sporty child can lead to your own fitness journey”

Active mom on the move (Photos courtesy of Dhi-dhi Eugenio )

Since picking up pickleball as a sport in 2025, Dhi-dhi Eugenio has been able to hit two birds with one stone.

The 54-year-old businesswoman gets to be physically active while actively supporting one of her two daughters, aged 31 and 29. Nicole Eugenio is a professional pickleball player in the United States and the number one in the Philippine ranking.

Dhi-dhi, whose business is into making one-stop shop gymnasiums, makes it a point to engage in fitness activities twice a week. So, if she’s not playing pickleball, she does yoga.

“We should always support our daughter's journey,” the active mom says. It may lead to your own fitness journey, too, and another way busy moms can stay fit and motivated without burning out.