10 Minutes with Annabel Luke - Nutritionist & Pilates Instructor
If you’ve ever wondered how busy mums manage movement, nourishment, and business life all at once - Auckland Pilates instructor Pilates By Bel & Nutritionist Annabel Luke shares exactly how she makes it work.
From realistic movement routines to how she fuels her family, this Q&A explores what balance truly looks like when you’re raising children and building a business.
About Annabel Luke: Pilates Instructor & Online Studio Owner in Auckland
1. Tell us about who you are, what you offer and where you are based.
I’m Annabel, personal trainer and owner of Pilates By Bel, an online Pilates and movement studio. I’m also a mum of two little gals, Lola and May, and we have recently returned to my hometown of Auckland after living in London for almost 8 years.
Balancing Business & Motherhood: Daily Anchors That Keep Things Moving
2. You’re building a business, teaching Pilates and raising two little humans - what keeps the wheels turning on a busy weekday?
Honestly, I have felt like a headless chicken since arriving back in Auckland and reintegrating our family and work life. So right now I rely more heavily than usual on my weekly anchors:
Good sleep every night – for me, that’s 8-9+ hours
Effective recovery for my mind and body – this includes energising movement in the morning, decompress time in the evening, and a morning or evening walk along the water as a mental reset
Proper nourishment – if I’m not eating and hydrating well, the wheels fall off very quickly
Morning Routine Before 9am: Movement, Clients & Kids
3. What does your morning look like before 9am? Are you up before the kids or in the thick of it with them?
I have to get up before the kids if there’s any hope of a calm day! It gives me mental space and capacity to manage the morning hecticness with genuine enjoyment and without overwhelm.
I wake at 5:45-6am, either to train an early PT client or to get my own movement in. Lola and May then wake around 7am and it’s all go from there – breakfast for all, making lunchboxes, getting dressed, packing bags, daycare drop-off, then straight onto my next PT client or filming classes for my online studio.
How to Stay Energised as a Busy Mum & Pilates Instructor
4. When you are juggling a busy day of work, clients and children, how do you keep yourself energised?
My morning starts with some energising movement, either a waterfront walk or one of my own Pilates classes (or both, ideally!). Then I’ll join the family for a coffee alongside a protein-rich breakie to properly wake up.
On a busy weekday, I am always on-the-go between kids’ drop-offs, pick-ups and extracurriculars; private clients; filming online classes; and general life admin in the gaps. I think this active lifestyle keeps me energised in itself. If I find myself sitting at my computer for long periods of time, that’s when I start feeling sluggish.
Staying hydrated and fuelling consistently is key for keeping up with my job and two little ones. I find protein-rich meals and snacks necessary for keeping my energy stable and not crashing halfway through the day. I love love love having my Betty Bars on-hand at home and in the car for a quick, seriously delicious, filling snack. I drink loads of water, am constantly sipping away. And I rely on another coffee or matcha to keep me going!
Protein for Women: How Much & How to Include It Daily
5. What does protein look like across a normal day for you - roughly how many grams do you aim for and how do you actually get there?
I don’t track protein strictly but I aim to include it at every meal to keep my energy levels stable and recovery effective. That usually looks like a protein-rich breakfast, a protein base for lunch and dinner, and then snacks like Betty Bars and/or yoghurt with fruit to top myself up throughout the day.
For me, it’s more about consistency across the day and week rather than hitting an exact number.
Family Meals & Healthy Eating with Young Kids
6. Do your kids eat differently or do they share what you have?
It’s a mix, but the short answer is we all share!
We always share breakfast – smoothies, porridge, eggs on toast, or Betty Bars broken up and mixed through yoghurt and fruit (an absolute fave for the girls and myself). The kids take a packed lunchbox on their daycare days. For dinner, we usually cook one meal and just adjust the flavours slightly for the kids. This works well for now but it is constantly changing and evolving!
The Biggest Health Struggles for Busy Mums (and How to Support Them)
7. You work with a lot of women - what’s the most common struggle you see in busy mums? How do you best support them? (Any tips or advice)
Yes I do, and I absolutely love it! Every single one of my private clients at the moment is a mum or is pregnant. I think these women come to me because I am going through the same life phase and there is a lot to relate to – an added level of trust and empathy.
I aim to meet women where they are in their current season of life. Time and energy are the biggest barriers. Most mums want to exercise and look after themselves but struggle to find ways to make it fit into already busy and/or tiring days. I focus on making movement realistic and sustainable rather than something that adds more pressure.
For my PT clients, I train them at their home so they can exercise before the kids wake up or during nap time – without having to leave the house. My online classes are also available on-demand and at an accessible price point so more women can fit movement into their routine.
My advice is to start with something manageable – even 20 minutes of movement, three times per week. That might be before the kids wake up if you’ve had enough sleep, during nap time, or when you can hand over childcare for a small window of time. From there, you can gradually build up duration or frequency as it becomes a habit. Always aim for consistency over perfection! And remember some days and weeks are easier than others.
Strength Training for Women: Why Protein Matters More
8. How does strength training and Pilates change the protein conversation for women?
When women introduce strength training into their routine, nutrition shifts from restriction to fuelling. Protein is essential for maintaining and building muscle, supporting energy levels, and helping the body handle the demands of training, work and family life.
Practical Healthy Habits for Busy Families
9. What’s one practical habit you’ve built that makes healthy eating feel easier?
Keeping the house well stocked. If I can’t easily grab healthy snacks and meals, it just doesn’t happen. I do big supermarket shops twice a week to make sure we always have healthy food options for the whole family.
Meal Planning with Kids: Structured but Flexible
10. Do you plan your meals weekly, or are you more intuitive? How do you make it work with two kids?
I plan about 5-6 meals per week and allow for socialising or takeaways 1-2 times.
I aim to cook one dinner each night for the whole family but keep it simple for the kids and feed them earlier, then add flavour and other extras for my husband and I to eat after the kids are in bed. With a 3- and 4-year-old, family dinners can be chaotic, so we’ve found this works best for us in the current phase.
I will also always have the freezer stocked with a kids’ meal that is easy to heat and eat, as well as pesto and pasta (of course!) – if all hell breaks loose and I have no time or will to cook.
What “Well” Means in Motherhood & Business
11. When you zoom out and look at your life - motherhood, business, health - what does “well” mean to you now?
It’s all about balance for me. Being there for my kids and all their “moments”, while still working on growing my business in a way that fits our family life. Balance for me personally is good nutrition, regular movement, family time, a sprinkle of socialising, and plenty of rest. I’m not aiming for perfection across everything (I’ve learnt that leads to burnout!), just consistency across family, work and health.
Find Annabel on instagram here and her website here.
