MANILA – This beauty queen is proof that a mom can stay fit while attending to the needs of her family.

Carlene Aguilar-Ocampo has three sons but this does not stop her from getting into triathlon, which involves swimming, cycling and running.

The winner of the Binibining Pilipinas World 2005 and Miss Philippines Earth 2001 titles strongly believes that it is never too late for moms to achieve their fitness goals.

“I started the sport in 2016 with losing weight as the ultimate reason in mind,” said Aguilar-Ocampo, who has been tapped to endorse the sanitary napkin brand Jeunesse. “But as time passed by, I realized that this is something I wanted to be seriously part of, so I joined an aquathlon and unexpectedly bagged third place. As they say, the rest is history!”

“My point is it’s never too late to achieve your dreams in life as long as you’re ready to tackle them with determination.”

Aguilar-Ocampo went on to share tips for moms who want to kick-start their fitness routine.

The first step, she said, is by making it a family affair.

“My three boys and I love spending time together in action… Activities like wall climbing, swimming, and fun runs are just some of the things we love to do as a family,” she said. “This way, they can take their eyes off their gadgets and look forward to doing engaging activities that make us closer than ever.”

The former beauty queen also advised moms to find something that motivates them, set a goal, and stick to it as much as they can.

“Do you want to think why you don’t have time to get moving, or are you going to shift your focus on how you can get up 30 minutes early so you can set yourself toward your goal?” she asked.

“There was a time that my weight went on a plateau and I wanted to shed those extra pounds. But then, hitting the gym wasn’t for me, because I’m the type who wants to do something different every day,” she added. “Triathlon brings out the best in me and I’m pretty jazzed about the challenge of becoming better every race.”

To those who could not commit to waking up early every day to exercise, Aguilar-Ocampo suggested: “I’ve discovered that being a morning person starts at night, in your bedroom. Set boundaries with work, social media, and other areas of your life that may cause restlessness, and have a consistent bedtime. It has tons of benefits – more time to prepare for the day, increased productivity, and better performance at work.”

“Exercise is an instant energy boost and is a great way for the body to release happy hormones… Whether it’s a run, swim, bike, yoga, or gym, it’s a sure fire way to get pumped for the day ahead.”

For Aguilar-Ocampo, getting into fitness is a way of taking care of herself.

She encouraged her fellow moms to do the same: “Looking good and feeling better is just the beginning. I know that my choice of keeping myself in excellent shape allows me to be an effective conduit of love and strength for other people.”