Here, we hit up the Keep it Cleaner co-founder and business mogul to find out how she maintains her healthy habits, her secret for staying motivated and how she's learning to manage her anxiety.
Do you have a life philosophy you live by?
To never underestimate the power of hard work.
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What does your average day on a plate look like?
Breakfast: Green protein smoothie and an almond coffee
Lunch: A big leafy salad with a lean source of protein and some healthy fats
Snacks: I snack on fresh fruit, yoghurt, nuts and if I am craving something chocolatey and delicious I will have one of our Keep it Cleaner choc cherry protein bars.
Dinner: Something from our KIC planner. I love having lots of variation with dinner!
Dessert: I always crave chocolate or something sweet after dinner, so I will have some dark chocolate, Greek yoghurt and berries or some homemade healthy chocolate ice cream.
Cheat meal of choice?
Hot chips with chicken salt. Is there anything better than a hot chip!?
Do you have a morning routine?
Not really. My days change so I don’t like to put too much pressure on myself to get through a specific routine each morning. I do have a few non-negotiable and they are getting my workout done to start my day with lots of energy and coffee of course!
Talk us through your approach to fitness…
I exercise for the amazing energy it gives me. My days are quite busy, and I can always think so much clearer when I have got my workout done in the morning. I love running and run about 4-5 times a week but also love adding in HIIT/Boxing and strength training.
I love following our Keep it Cleaner program because it’s a new workout every day, which means I don’t get bored. I really believe variation is key to keeping your sessions fun and also making sure you continue to improve your fitness.
Fave pre and post-workout snacks?
I will have a banana or one of our Keep it Cleaner protein bars or bliss balls pre-training and post-training I love a big protein smoothie.
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Thanks to KIC you’re always travelling - how do you sustain your healthy habits when you’re out of routine?
I do try to as much as I can. I tend to relax my diet when I go away, as healthy options aren’t always available (and that’s ok) and try to keep up my training.
You can do our workouts from the Keep it Cleaner program in a hotel room so that has been super handy for travel, and of course, I can usually always run no matter where I am! If I do have a supermarket nearby I will stock up, so I have healthy snack options available throughout my travel. It’s all about doing the best with what’s available to you at the time
What’s your secret to maintaining work/life balance?
Not putting too much pressure on yourself and for me, accepting there is no perfect work/life balance. Sometimes work is super busy and it’s hard to balance, but I love what I do so much and find it so rewarding I don’t mind. I have accepted I can’t do it all and am completely ok with that.
How do you keep motivated when you’re feeling anything but?
I don’t think about it. I used to think I had to be motivated to get through every session, but I have now learnt routine is key, and motivation will come.
I definitely don’t wake up every day and think ‘OMG I want to workout right now and get out of bed’ (LOL) but I just get up and get it done because I know it’s the best thing to do for my mental and physical health. You never regret a workout!
You’ve been open about your struggles with anxiety. What do you do to keep the pressure down?
Yes, that’s right. I have only just started struggling with it over the past year or so, and I am slowly working out what triggers it and how to help manage it. Exercise really helps me, switching off from work at a reasonable time (when I can), talking through things with my partner, and guided meditations.
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?
Something that has stuck with me came from Janine Ellis and that is to choose your partner wisely. I don’t know what I would do without the support of Steph in our business and without my partner Dalton. Having people around you there to help you, and who understand what you are going through and back you in, is crucial.
What’s been the biggest career challenge you’ve faced to date and how did you overcome this?
The biggest career challenge I have had so far is being taken seriously as an entrepreneur, instead of an ‘Instagram Model’. It’s something that Steph and I face quite often but have been able to overcome this by not worrying about what others think and focusing on staying in our own lane. We both know how hard we work, and that is all that matters to us.
Any tips for those looking to go into business with a friend?
Make sure you have complete and utter respect for each other, are ready and able to have difficult conversations, and have the same goal for your business. These are all essential, but having the same goal is something that you have to be SO sure of, as it can lead to big issues down the track.
When do you feel most empowered?
When I am running. I feel strong, calm and like I can do anything when I run.
Find more about Laura – including her experience with anxiety and Insta authenticity – in this month's Women's Health magazine, on sale Monday October 1.
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