BRENDA LOKE, 33
Marketing communications and public relations manager of skincare label Clarins

Brenda Loke piled on 12kg during her pregnancy. But now, the 1.65m-tall first-time Mum is back to her pre-pregnancy weight of 55kg.

The credit, she says, goes to her job - she returned to work 21/2 months after giving birth.

'Naturally, I did worry about not being able to lose weight quickly enough.

'But I knew at the back of my mind that due to my usual hectic lifestyle, I'd lose the excess weight once I went back to work.'

Baby Olivia is now five months old and never far from Mum's thoughts.

In her office sits a framed picture of Olivia, the wallpaper on her mobile phone is of Olivia and, as her computer goes into screensaver mode, you get an Olivia slideshow on a loop.

In fact, weight loss is the least of her concerns. She admits that because of work, her daughter is more attached to her maid and mother than to her.

Loke wears a shift dress, $799, from BCBG Max Azria, 02-10 Paragon; and heels, $205, from Nine West, 01-07A Wisma Atria

Gravely, she says: 'That's the way it's going to be, but it's my choice to come back to work... I just have to manage my own expectations.'

Work, she adds, has made motherhood 'a lot more challenging'. 'But I just don't see myself as a housewife. I'm just not that kind of woman. I can be nurturing, but that, to me, is an acquired skill.'

A heart- warming moment rolled around when she is asked who played a pivotal role in helping her through the first few months.

Instantly, she replies: 'My mother. No one else.'

Her eyes well up with tears.

'Wah, very sentimental,' she finally musters, adding: 'You'll know how important your own mother is only when you are a mother.'

TIPS FOR LOOKING GOOD

» Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil

It's not just me, I know a lot of women who swear by this. It really helps to prevent stretch marks. I used about seven bottles ($79.50 each) hrough my pregnancy and I have no stretch marks at all.

» Tonic and herbal soup

My confinement nanny and mother prepared them for me. They really help to boost your energy. I took them every single night for three months after giving birth.

» Get busy

After I came back to work and got back into the hectic lifestyle of running around, I just lost the weight like that, even though I still ate three full, hearty meals every day.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on May 8, 2008.