Who says that mums can’t do it all? Kareen Lai has no place for that notion. Mums, just like every other human being, have every right to feel fit, sexy, and powerful despite the busy schedules between work and children.

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She is the director and head coach of Mums In Sync, a company dedicated to new and existing mums alike, targeted towards their fitness and overall well-being even after childbirth. She believes in instilling the right mindset for mums to be able to inspire their kids to live a good and healthy life as well. Kareen is a fitness presenter, a women’s fitness specialist consultant, and the winner of Singapore Mumpreneur Award 2014.

We now focus the spotlight on Kareen Lai: fitness enthusiast, guru, and (literally) certified mumpreneur.

Introducing Mums In Sync

I founded Mums In Sync in May 2013, with the purpose of providing a platform that allows mums to come together to support each other in the areas of health and fitness.

As a Women’s Fitness Specialist who specialises in helping postnatal mummies start feeling comfortable wearing their bikinis again, I developed the Core Connection™ framework, an essential evidence-based postnatal healing program which teaches women how to safely and effectively restore a strong core and strengthen your pelvic floor (bye-bye incontinence).

Our bespoke program is a comprehensive 16-week ‘Sexy Fit Again’ program that gets women in top shape by making sure they eat right, move right and think right. Ladies who work with us on this program allow us to take charge of their meals, movement plans and lifestyle. A glamour photoshoot at the end of the 16 weeks marks their transformation. It’s a really comprehensive program, so we work with only six mummies at a time.

Inspired By Personal Experience

Why mums? What made you decide to focus on women?

I was first inspired by my own transformation journey and would like to use my story to reach out to other mums to let them know that they can regain their identities and get into tip top shape even after having children! If celebrities and athletes’ stories are too unrealistic, listen to mine. I’m just like any other mum, with a pair of twins, a family to care for and work to see to. And it can be done our way!

I am passionate about the intersection between motherhood and the health of the nation. That a mum who is empowered with the right knowledge will naturally apply the same with her children. But first thing’s first – Mum needs to feel good! Then can she translate the same energy and positive vibes to her children and love ones around her.

And together, we inevitably nurture the next generation of healthy eaters and active individuals! Working towards “Shaping Up the Nation One Mother At A Time!”

What It’s Like Being a Mumpreneur Awardee

Congratulations on being a mumpreneur awardee! What exactly does a mumpreneur entail? What do you think surrounds this kind of award?

The definition of a mumpreneur in the dictionary says that a woman who sets up and runs her own business in addition to caring for her young child or children. I was chatting with a few really experienced mumpreneurs who started their businesses more than 10 years ago. And they said they definitely did not have the kind of supportive environment we have today. There were no awards of any sort, no mumpreneur community, and not even the entrepreneurial community was not as supportive towards women as they are today.

So I am definitely appreciative of what women like Sher-li Torrey, founder of  Mums At Work and Gina Romero, founder of The Athena Network, are doing for the women community here! Their work in supporting women, and of course Sher-li founding The Singapore Mumpreneur Award, definitely helps to raise the recognition towards women who are doing their best to juggle both businesses and children (and other roles of course). Inevitably, this also encourages more mums to consider and take that step to explore doing what they love while creating more flexible time for their families.

New Opportunities As A Mum

What do you love about being a mum? What inspires you and forces you to move forward each day?

Although motherhood has stripped some freedom to pursue stuff I love (e.g. mountaineering, travel, parties and hanging out with friends), it has given me amazing opportunities that I would never have had if I were not a mother. The best thing about being a Mumpreneur is having the flexibility to schedule my time and work around my kids. People totally get it when I say “sorry, I gotta go pick up the kids.”  On the flip side, kids can also be the factor that hinders my progress, and I can’t go full throttle like I used to. But I really wouldn’t have it any other way because I choose to live a full, balanced and purposeful life.

I will confess that I am not “the mum who jumps out of bed for her children.” No, I am not that model mum, haha! What keeps me going and moving forward every day is doing anything that helps to feed my bigger purpose in life, to inspire people around me to lead healthier, more active and purposeful lives. As parents, we are natural role models for our kids. So I believe my actions, energy and purpose will naturally be transferred to my kids and I hope they get inspired similarly.

Challenges Of Mums In Sync

Were there any struggles along the way? Anything you had to overcome? How did you resolve these?

It’s certainly no walk in the park starting a business from scratch. First of all, I had to get clear in my mind what I wanted Mums In Sync to be – as it’s not just a simple fitness business model. The first year was particularly challenging and I spent loads of time talking to people and fine-tuning my business plan. In the second year, I concentrated on branding, nailing my services and programs and sharing my story. That change in focus helped me gain attention during the Singapore Mumpreneur Award 2014. This year I published my first book, ‘18 Again – Bringing Out the Sexy Fit Mummy iIn You,’ went on live TV and was featured in several magazines to share my work.

A big part of it also revolves around getting clear on the big ‘why’ behind the business and getting precision-clear about my customers. And I am happy to have met a few great mentors who have helped me along the way.

The Core Of Working Out

What is your core belief when it comes to fitness that can be applied to everyone – men, women, and children alike?

To anyone and everyone, fitness is all about having the freedom of movement to do anything that you desire, without being limited by your physical abilities.

People have the tendency to associate fitness to just ‘working out.’ It’s really not just about working hard and sweating it out hard. It’s all about balancing it out by eating right, moving right and thinking right, to achieve fitness in mind and body.

Let’s just talk about the simple example of exercising. People always associate fitness to six-pack abs, bikini bodies, pumping iron, looking skinny, etc. They forget about the fundamental benefits of exercise. They forget that exercises contribute to better bone density, which is exceptionally important to women who are more prone to getting osteoporosis; exercise improves heart health, and elevates moods. In fact, the only cell in your body that breaks down fat thrives and grow on movement. So the more you move/exercise, the easier you turn your body into a fat-burning furnace by itself.

So whether you are a mum, dad, kid or a grandma, moving right will only do you good and will naturally help you lead a fit lifestyle – which is freedom of movement to do anything you wish at any stage of your life.

New Partnership

I am very excited that we have teamed up with one of the top maternity photographers in Singapore to create something really beautiful for our mummies in our 16-week ‘Sexy Fit Mummy’ transformation program. We are really excited to have Hart Tan, founder of Tomato Photo and Bambini Photography, work with us to capture the physical potential of our mummies in the glamour photoshoot that we plan for them at the end of 16 weeks. 

To kickstart this special collaboration, we are co-sponsoring part of the 16-week program for a limited number of mummies for the rest of 2015. Drop me an email if you want to be part of this special program!

_{Image Credit: Kareen Lai}

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