Beachbody on Demand

What is Beachbody on Demand??

Ahh finally!! I have always wished there was some way to upload my workout programs into Itunes so I could access them easily whenever, where ever, without having to screw with the various DVD’s.. And I am thrilled to announce that finally my dreams have come true!! Beachbody On Demand is a new feature of the Team Beachbody Club that provides UNLIMITED access to stream Beachbody’s proven fitness programs This means that paid Team Beachbody Club Members will be able to work out anytime, anywhere to a variety of different programs (over 400 different workouts–whoa!).. This is well over $1,000 in value that has been added to the Team Beachbody Club membership. And the best part.. all of this for the usual membership cost of just $38.87 USD for 90 days (less than $3 a week).

Beachbody on Demand allows you to work out anytime and anywhere– streaming your workouts from your phone, computer, or tablet! (And if you have an apple tv you can airplay the workouts straight to your tv!) This is a great option for when you’re traveling, at the gym, on the run and don’t want to lug around DVD’s with you. It is also great for those who just want to switch up their workout routines and try a new program!

Beachbody On Demand houses a catalog of complete Beachbody programs allowing you access to the nutritional guide, workouts, and workout calendar for each program. Here are the programs now available:

• P90X, P90X2, & P90X3,
• Insanity & Insanity: The Asylum Volume 1
• TurboFire
• Brazil Butt Lift,
• Ten Minute Trainer
• ChaLEAN Extreme
• Tony One-on-One (vol 1)
• Hip Hop Abs

You will also be able to “sample” workouts of some of Beachbody’s newest and bestselling programs to give you a taste of the program before you decide to buy! Sample workouts available to stream under the New & Noteworthy Library currently include:

• 21 Day Fix: Total Body Cardio
• 21 Day Fix Extreme: Plyo
• Body Beast: Chest/Tri
• PiYo: Sweat
• Insanity Max:30: Sweat Intervals
• P90: Sculpt A
• Slim in 6: Start it Up
• Focus T25: Alpha Cardio

Coming later this March, members will also have the option of finding all previously purchased programs available to you on DEMAND! Programs available to stream after purchase currently include: 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, and T25.

How it works

It’s super simple.. You just log into your existing Team Beachbody account, find “Beachbody On Demand” on the top navigation bar, choose any fitness program, and click play! If you do not yet have an account, you can sign up for a free Team Beachbody account here!*

(**The FREE Membership does not include Beachbody on Demand.  Only premium memberships include Beachbody on Demand, as well as other benefits such as recipes, fitness tips, nutrition tips, etc. for just $2.99 a week). 

March special: New Club & Shakeology Challenge Pack

For the first time, Beachbody will be offering a challenge pack combining Shakeology and a Team Beachbody Club Membership featuring Beachbody on Demand! This Challenge pack is a phenomenal deal, saving nearly $30 as opposed to buying these items separately, and giving you access to the top Beachbody programs all for one low price!! With this challenge pack, you will receive:

• A 90-day Premium membership to the Team Beachbody Club with Beachbody On Demand— this means 3 months of 24/7 access to full workout programs & nutritional guides
• 30-day supply of Shakeology
• Plus, anyone who purchases a Challenge pack during march will receive access to my exclusive online fitness challenge group!

The Club & Shakeology Challenge Pack is ideally suited for anyone who’s new to Beachbody, undecided about which fitness program to try, or someone who would love the convenience of accessing Beachbody workouts—anytime, anywhere.

21 Day Fix Extreme Nutrition Plan

The 21 Day Fix Extreme nutrition plan at first glance isn’t too different from the 21 Day Fix (aside from the inclusion of the Countdown to Competition meal plan option) and it’s nice because many of our favorite 21 DF recipes can also be eaten on the 21 DFX. HOWEVER, the big difference lies in that Autumn has removed all the “questionable” unclean, high fat, or high sodium items such as: crackers and cereals, turkey bacon, waffles, english muffins, deli meats, etc. I love this because I know that these foods are typically fairly highly processed and that cutting these foods out is what is needed to seriously dial in on your nutrition and crank up the shredding of your body! Another major difference is that this time, there are no treats or cheats and you will be eating 100% clean.

Nutrition Plan Options:

What I love about this program is it gives you options of different meal plans to follow. You can go REALLY extreme and follow the Countdown to Competition plan, or you can mix the regular Extreme plan with the Countdown to Competition, OR you can just do the regular Extreme meal plan. If you feel you aren’t getting results or you’ve reached a plateau with your weight loss, I would recommend following the Countdown to Competition plan. While it is restrictive and you may find it tough, it is only 21 days, so it IS doable!

Countdown to Competition plan:

This plan is tough and it certainly is not for everyone.  It is very strict and it increases your protein intake while depleting your carbohydrates, designed to get you super cut and shredded. Carb depletion drops carbs in a controlled fashion so that you can still fuel your workouts while leaning out and adding definition to your muscles. You will have 2 days of “Competition” and then a regular “Extreme” day, which if you are familiar with the 21 Day Fix, it is very similar to what you can have with that plan. In my grocery list, the foods with the “+” symbol in front of them signify foods that Autumn eats on this plan and the “X” symbol signifies foods that she avoids.

Ways of using the containers:

• The Energy Balancer– Spread your eating across 3 meals with 2 snacks roughly 2-3 hours apart.
• The Fat Burner– Spread your eating across 6 meals, 2 hours apart, but make sure you have eaten all yellow and purple containers before 6 pm
• Autumn’s Competition Regimen– Spread your eating into 8 small meals (Countdown to Competition Plan)

The main point when it comes to the 21 DFX is there are NO CHEATS when it comes to your eating, but this will help you reach EXTREME results! I know how hard that last 10 lbs can be to lose or trying to unveil those abs under that bit of stubborn belly fat, but by dialing in on your nutrition you CAN ACHIEVE AMAZING RESULTS! This isn’t a forever meal plan.. Once you achieve the results you are wanting you can go into maintenance mode and enjoy the occasional treats and cheats! With the help and support of my groups to hold you accountable, you CAN get through this 21 days. That’s why Beachbody has coaches like myself who are here to help you. My job is to provide you support, guidance, tips, and accountability in this program from start to finish!

I have a new group opening up next Monday 2/23 so if you would like to join me, fill out an application here!

What do you do when life punches you in the face?– Come back swingin’

“Everyone has a plan until I punch them in the face” -Mike Tyson
This is so true not just in boxing but in life.. Especially in fitness. You’re on a roll and on track and something happens– be it something as small as a bad day or as major as the loss of a loved one– LIFE JUST HAPPENS. These punches will knock you off your plan and on your butt and it happens to all of us. So what you need to do now is plan how to overcome these bumps in your path. And remember that these are just bumps, they are not roadblocks.. You CAN and you WILL overcome them.

Set your health and happiness as a priority and don’t allow things to get in your way this week. Grab ahold of this day and punch it in the face! Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst so that you are ready for any temptations or obstacles that you may encounter.
Some suggestions:

1. Write down some of your biggest obstacles and find a solution for them
   •  if a coworker brings donuts to the office, bring a healthy snack that you will enjoy instead
2. Plan out your meals for the week & set aside a time for your daily workout
3. Every morning write down 3 things you are thankful for
   • this will increase your happiness and help you to focus on all of the good in your life
4. Find support
   • I find accountability in my online fitness groups that help me stay ON TRACK

So my challenge to you is this, embrace the day and take control of your life.. Show today what you are made of!!

February Indubitable Fitness Challenge Groups

Have you ever wanted to lose weight or get healthier, but things came up or went wrong and you just couldn’t seem to do it? Decide today to COMMIT TO MAKING A CHANGE. There is no reason that you shouldn’t live your healthiest, happiest life. My groups combine the secrets to success (FITNESS, NUTRITION, & SUPPORT) to help you achieve your goals! These are the groups that I will be running during February and I would love to have you join us!

21 Day Fix EXTREME Challenge group 2/9:

• This program is perfect for you if you have a baseline of fitness or are a 21 Day Fix Graduate.. It will get you SHREDDED through combining simple nutrition & extreme 30 minute workouts. Preseason begins 2/9 where we will begin taking measurements, creating meal plans, setting goals, etc. to put you on the path to success. That said, you still have time to order your program and begin workouts with us 2/16! MORE INFO & JOIN HERE

7 Day FREE Clean Eating Challenge 2/9:

• What is clean eating??  These days everyone says “Eat Clean”, but do we all actually know what this means? Clean eating is about eating foods in their most natural state.  This means saying goodbye to the processed foods, foods with loads of preservatives, foods with lots of added sugar, and foods with high levels of bad fats.  So you will be avoiding the foods that are stripped of their nutritional value and/or have been injected with mass amounts of six-syllable chemicals. Basically, you’re eating whole, unrefined foods. Since you’re avoiding anything that has been altered in any way, your diet will be filled with whole grains, fruits, veggies and other wholesome, nutritious foods. Keep in mind that 80% of your fitness results come from what you eat, so this is very crucial to your success. In a time when so many of us are overweight or dying of diseases, yet simultaneously starving to death due to high fat foods with zero nutrition, clean eating is very important and necessary for us to understand. MORE INFO & SIGNUP HERE

ALL PROGRAM 6-week Challenge Group 2/23:

• In this group, my group of coaches and I will provide a daily assignment to help keep you motivated and on track.  We will discuss topics like emotional eating, eating out, menu plans, temptations, late-night snacking and whatever the group decides is relevant to them in their goals. I will give you the tools and knowledge that you need to stay on track to reaching your goals.  If you’re interested in participating in the 6-Week Challenge, please fill out this application so I can learn more about you and find a program that fits your needs.

21 Day Fix Extreme FAQ & Enter to win a free copy!!

EXTREME FITNESS– SIMPLE NUTRITION– SERIOUS RESULTS

The 21 Day Fix was designed to make losing weight so simple that you never had to diet again.. and dangggg did it work!! It became America’s #1 home fitness and nutrition program!! I seriously am so in LOVE with the 21 day fix.. I lost 6 stubborn lbs in just 21 days on the 21 DF and many of my clients have lost many pounds and pantsizes and regained their happiness and health thanks to Autumn! But there comes a time where we all have to graduate (insert tear) and continue to challenge and change our bodies.. that said, I am SO excited to announce the release of celebrity trainer Autumn Calabrese’s 21 Day Fix Extreme coming FEBRUARY 2nd!! This program is aimed at getting you SERIOUSLY SHREDDED in the shortest time possible (still just 30 minutes a day for 21 days!!) Autumn has cranked up the level of intensity with both the 21 Day Fix Extreme workouts and the nutrition plan to get you EXTREME results!!

What is the 21 day fix extreme??

This breakthrough 21-day fitness and nutrition program combines simple portion control, clean eating, and extreme 30-minute workouts to help you finally get the lean, defined hardbody you’ve always wanted!! The level of intensity in the 21 day fix extreme workouts and nutrition plan is pretty hard-core… but it will get you that SHREDDED, CHISELED body of your dreams!

Who is this for?

Graduates of the 21 day fix, Insanity, P90X, T25, or anyone who has been exercising regularly and has a good baseline fitness level! You don’t have to be at peak performance, that’s what 21 Day Fix Extreme is for, but you do need a solid baseline fitness level. This is not a program for beginners.. it’s for people who don’t have a ton of weight to lose, but are ready to get RIPPED!

What makes 21 Day Fix Extreme so EFFECTIVE & UNIQUE?

• FITNESS: You get seven EXTREME 30-minute workouts, one for each day of the week— so you’re sure to never get bored and your body won’t adapt to one repetitive routine! The workouts feature a unique blend of steady-state aerobics, resistance training, and explosive power moves that target every muscle in the body! Most of the workouts involve weights to increase that lean muscle mass and shred fat! 21 Day Fix Extreme does include some high-impact moves, but also comes with a modifier for those who can’t do jumping!
• NUTRITION: You’ll not only be practicing portion control—you’ll be eating ONLY clean foods. No treats. No cheats. No excuses. Autumn means business with this program!! Plus, you’ll get Autumn’s all-new 21 Day Fix EXTREME recipes to help you achieve your very best results.

No other program has you eating this well and working this hard. But if you want a lean six-pack, cut arms, ripped shoulders, and toned legs . . . you have to take it up a notch. It’s going to take GUTS, INTENSITY, and DRIVE. But, it’s only 21 days. I KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO THIS!

Enter to Win 21 Day Fix Extreme

• Enter to WIN a copy of 21 day fix extreme here

Apply for my 21 Day Fix Extreme Challenge Group

Sign up for a FREE Team Beachbody account here so you will be notified as soon as it comes out!!!  I will be hosting a 21 Day Fix Extreme Challenge Group that open on 2/16.  Or fill out my application form here to be included in the group!

Simple eating leads to success

I have found that CONSISTENCY is the absolute key to success and to seeing fast results. So many of us are okay with doing our workouts, but struggle with our nutrition habits. Because let’s face it.. You can’t outwork bad nutrition. I want to share with you a simple tip that can really help you stay consistent with your diet.. Plan and eat the same breakfast and lunch for 7 days. Yes, maybe this sounds bland. But keep it a simple meal and vary your dinner a little and it is 100% doable. Multiple research studies have found that making the same food choices on a regular basis can help you eat less without even trying! I would recommend something simple like eggs for breakfast and then get some greens and proteins in for lunch. If you are a snacker like me, you can check out my “Chew On This” post to get a few healthy snack ideas for in between. The power of this is not in the food choices, but in the simplicity of eating the same meals every day, It requires no thinking or planning and requires very little grocery expenses. With it being so simple and easy, you will find consistency. Consistency is what will get you RESULTS. Seeing results will keep you motivated in the long run and that is crucial in the beginning stages of your weight loss journey. I’m not saying eat the same meal each week forever (unless you just want to), but try it for 7 days and see how much easier it becomes to stay on track.

Here is a simple daily example meal plan:

Breakfast: 1 egg, 2 egg whites, scrambled with sauteed spinach & light sprinkle of cheese w/ 1 piece of toasted zekiel bread OR 1/4 cup oatmeal

Snack: 1/2 banana & 1 tbsp. almond butter

Lunch: A salad w/ grilled chicken

Snack: 1 cup greek plain greek yogurt w/fruit

Dinner: lean protein (lean ground turkey, fish, chicken) & veggies

Dessert (if you have a sweet tooth): 1/2 cup or 1 cup berries

Push back the Food-Pressers

Food pushers… You know the ones I’m talking about. Those family members/ friends that seem to come on full force during the holidays literally pushing food down your throat. The “Try this pie it’s amaaazing!” “You have to try this, I spent so long making it!” “Oh come on, it’s only once a year you can have some!” No. No. NO. Not this holiday season. Let me suggest some combat methods to push away these pushers..

1. Push: “You have to try some of this! It’s my special recipe!” Response: “Oh that looks delicious! I would love to have some, but I’m absolutely stuffed! Maybe I will try some in a little while”
   • This method works because we all know how it feels to be uncomfortably full, and the pusher can’t keep pushing you when there’s no more room in your stomach. Then we follow up the stuffed technique with the stalling technique to seal the deal of warding off the pusher. They will move onto their next victim and you can move onto whatever else you want to do. If you decide to come back later for a small portion of the treat, go for it! But once you have gotten past the initial push, it is much easier to walk away from the food temptations
2. Push: “This [insert name of high-calorie dish] is my favorite. You’ll love it!” Response: “Oh I already had some! Wow it is so fabulous!” 
   • OK I know lying is bad… but when it comes to food, I’m all for it. This little white lie method works because the food pusher will feel complimented and satisfied that you’ve eaten their dish and that you “liked” it!
3. Push: “You are so obsessed with dieting, just take a break for one day!” Throw back at this push with: “Thank you for noticing the healthy lifestyle I have been living! It’s something I work hard at and am proud of staying on track with my goals!”
   • First off, it’s not a diet, it’s a healthy lifestyle. Sometimes I tend to feel some passive-aggressive vibes coming with this statement, because to those who do not eat healthy, healthy eating can be intimidating. So go easy on them and thank them for their support. Your strong will, healthiness, and happiness may even influence them! Positive changes inspire positive changes 🙂
4. Push: “If you don’t try my dish, I’m just going to have to force you to eat it!” Response: “I’m so sorry, but I dislike/ am allergic to [insert main believable ingredient here]”
   • If they come on aggressive like that they’re going to force feed me, I send the aggression right back with this tactic. Nobody can make you eat something that you don’t like or are allergic to! You can get pretty creative with this response to make it truly believable. This is especially valuable if you’re at a boy/girlfriend’s family’s event, by embellishing about a time that you got sick from said ingredient, no one will be offended that you didn’t eat their food!
5. Push: “One bite won’t kill you!” Response: “True.. but I can’t have just one bite of your [insert recipe name]! It is so delicious that once I start I would never stop!”
   • This light hearted method works well because you’ve complimented their food as well as politely declining their offer.
6. Push: “This is my dish I only make once a year… you have to eat it!!” Response: “Wow that looks amazing and I know how delicious it is, but I think I’ll skip it this year so that I can live to see many more holidays with you!” 
   • Hopefully this will throw some humor in the situation and they will laugh it off understandingly. You are eating healthier to ensure the longest, healthiest life possible! No one can shoot that response down!

So now that I’ve fully exposed my food-pusher combating methods and my secrets have been revealed to my family, I may have a tougher time fighting the food battlers.. But I never want someone else to decide what I’m going to eat for me. I can honestly say that I never regret turning down a food that I know is terrible for me or that I’m not truly hungry for.. But when I accept food that I don’t have room for I always end up left regretting it and feeling sick later.

I hope that you can use these methods to help get you through the holiday festivities having consumed less calories and decreasing the hit that your waist line would’ve taken! Remember that food choices as well as exercise are so important to a healthy, fit body. Take control of your body this month and avoid the typical Holiday weight gains!

How to Eat Lean

Nearly everyone who reaches out to me about eating wants to know how to lose weight and increase muscle, but not be huge. This is no foreign concept. Everyone wants this!! This can be done by gaining lean muscle, those compact firm looking muscles that will burn calories, and in turn fry off your body fat. Exercises like HIIT training and weight training are very important in achieving these looks, but eating lean is an even more important method in obtaining and maintaining a healthy, toned body. Here are my simple rules of how to eat lean..

1. Track your nutrition & accept your failures- I’m not huge on tracking exact calories.. I have seen too many girls wind up with eating disorders from calorie counting apps who overdo it and restrict their calories to nearly nothing. DO NOT restrict your calories– it’s terrible for your body, it is completely unsustainable, and it will lead to your metabolism shutting down and your body storing up fat like crazy. However, I do think it is important to have a basic HEALTHY range of calories that you remain within, and it is very important to monitor what you are eating. Accept your failures along the way. When reviewing your day or week, see where you slipped up and try to decide what factors led you to do that, and how you could prevent such a slip up in the future.
2. Space meals apart– I aim for 3 main meals (I’m especially in love with breakfast) and 2 snacks per day. It is SO MUCH better to eat every few hours and keep your metabolism revved up than eating 1-2 massive meals per day.
3. Choose your carbs wisely- Reducing carbs like bread is very important for weight loss. It reduces water retention (you’ll lose some bloat) and optimizes fat burning hormones! Use the list of carbs below as your guide, cutting the bottom 2 out of your diet, allowing 90% of your carbs to come from the first 3, and only occasionally eat the whole grains and starches (I am a big fan of Ezekiel bread for my whole grains)
   1. The hierarchy is as follows:
      1. Green veggies
      2. Non-green veggies
      3. Fruit
      4. Whole grains & starches
      5. Refined grains
      6. Foods with added sugars
4. Protein at each meal– It is important to have a lean protein with each meal to feed your muscles, fuel your body, and fulfill your appetite. Lean proteins such as chicken breast, fish, lean turkey or beef, buffalo, eggs, and healthy protein shakes (for me– Shakeology) are all great ideas.
5. Eat your greens & veggies first– Although it’s tempting to dig into the most unhealthy, carb-filled portion of our plates first.. Eat your greens first to fill up your stomach with these dense, lower calorie foods before tackling the more fattening portions of your meal. The more veggies you eat at a given meal, the less total calories you will consume. Plus your body will be thanking you for filling it with nutrients and vitamins!
6. Avoid the processed crap– All the prepackaged, processed foods are just that.. crap. Food completely lacking in nutrients and instead injected with all sorts of sugar, additives, sodium, fat, fillers, etc. that are engineered to addict you. Break the addiction and let’s show the food industry what’s up! Feed your body right with whole, organic, clean foods and you’ll be amazed at how much better you look and feel. The periphery of the grocery store is your habitat, shop there!
7. Follow the fit, not society- Our world is becoming increasingly obese at an alarming rate. Yes there are many of us out there fighting it, but still the overwhelming majority of society is still continuing to tip the scales. So one easy thing to do is to NOT do what you see others doing around you. When you go to the gym and every single cardio machine is full (hello 24 hour fitness, been there..) OK well cardio alone is NOT gonna get you that lean body so hit the weights with the other fit people! See the line wrapped around the fast food joint during your lunch break? Easy, pack your lunch of lean protein & veggies ahead of time and avoid that line completely! In a world where everyone is getting alarmingly overweight, be the change. Follow the fit, not the majority.
8. Just say NO to liquid calories- Don’t drive through that Starbucks line for a “peppermint mocha”, put that beer down now, and absolutely not to sugar-laden sodas.. no excuse here– just cut them out. Replace them with water & unsweetened tea. Aim to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water each day! Hydrated muscles grow and operate at a higher level than muscles that are not!
9. Focus on nutrients, not calories– Everyone only seems to care about calories in vs. calories out, but this view is so skewed! The difference in eating 100 calories worth of broccoli vs. eating a 100 calorie bite of a cookie is pretty incredible. This approach could make you thin, but it will not make you healthy. Focusing on calories can leave you ravenous, grumpy, and unfulfilled. Focusing on nutrients will leave you feeling more energetic, having a stabilized blood sugar level & mood, feeling healthier, and having a satisfied appetite!

Take Your Passion And Make It Happen

My passion radiates from me like beams of sunlight. It reaches everyone that I know and it is so clearly a part of who I am. My passion is what will make me successful— and I do not say that in a cocky manner, I say that in a confident manner because I know that this fire burning inside of me will take me far. There is a huge difference in putting in work for something that we have to do and putting in work for something that we love. When we have to do it, that is stress. When we love to do it, that is passion. I believe that love is one of the strongest elements that exist in the world because it is strong and enduring; no matter what trials may come love will always remain.

I encourage you to follow your passion and love what you do. If you are PASSIONATE about what you do this passion will affect all of those around you and they will FEEL the heat of the fire that is burning inside of you. The fire of love is the strongest kind and it will never burn out. So love God, love yourself, love others and let your passion SHINE. In a world full of so many people, make yourself stand out. Go the extra mile to be your best self and to be EXTRAORDINARY not just average. Never settle for anything less than you deserve and never go down a path of something that doesn’t make you happy.

My passion for wellness is inspired by the magnitude of how deeply my life was changed through becoming healthy and it is the reason that I love spreading this passion to others. I feel that I can never do enough and I know that I will never stop growing. I will never stop working and trying and reaching out to as many people who will listen. I go the extra mile every day in efforts to promote anyone else to at least take a step. I will carry whoever I can with me just to help them achieve their goals.. And I know that if I have to carry them for awhile they will eventually stand on their own two feet and they too will hold this passion for wellness.

Be bold, be ambitious, be strong, and follow your heart. You are going to do great things! God’s got his hand on you, so never live life in fear. If you do what you love and you pour all you have into it and then just a little bit more, no one can stop you.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” -Steve Jobs

A Glimpse Into Who I Was, Am, And Will Become

Everyone has a story. And I think that in order to fully understand a person’s purpose and the reasons that they do the things they do is to understand their story. Anyone who comes into my life can’t help but to be influenced in health and fitness because it is such a HUGE part of my daily existence. Even on vacation I am running down the beach every morning while my friends are laying in bed. Years ago I left behind a sad, lazy unproductive, unhealthy version of myself and today I choose to live each day fully and to LOVE LIFE. There is no reason to spend even half the day in bed, you will only be losing some of your time here on this beautiful Earth.

Everyone always says “You’re tiny” and “You could never be fat”, but ehh that’s wrong. Many people struggling with their weight probably think that I don’t understand their struggles. So let me clarify, I understand. I was called “fat” by a close friend behind my back, I was teased by boys for being pudgy, I felt inadequate next to my super skinny friends, and I understand how much that hurts. But I did nothing to stop the pain, I just continued down a nasty health path. I’m pretty sure there was a period of time that my mom was chasing me around the kitchen saying “Lauren put down the cheetohs!” But because I can be hard-headed, just to spite her, I refused.. low moments lol. I’m pretty sure that once on a trip back from Houston with some horses I also downed something like 9 krispy kremes? So there’s that for what my thoughts on nutrition used to be, you get the picture.

I was going through old word documents tonight and found a letter from my past personal trainer Dustin Thibodeaux, and when I read it I couldn’t help but to tear up. Becoming healthy and fit CHANGED my life. THIS is why I do what I do. I think it always helps to see our story through the eyes of someone that we so greatly respect; someone who has played a huge role in shaping who and what we become. Here is a glimpse into my story:

“The first time I met Lauren she was 16 and the typical high school sophomore. She was a little soft in the belly and nothing but skin and bones everywhere else. Although, she was active in riding equestrian the idea of being on a diet or being involved in a regular exercise program was the last thing on her mind. After 2 months of summer workouts she stopped working with me and I thought that would be the last I saw of her. A little less than a year later Lauren again walked in to my office; this time she was in serious need of my help. But, her willingness to change her nutrition and exercise routine was completely different. Over the next six months I watched as Lauren took control over her health and her life. She was always on time and willing to take on any challenge I threw at her. Taking accountability for her nutrition and lifestyle choices she was able to find a level of health I had not seen before. And, although I heard complaints of soreness, her new found stretch gave her confidence and increased self-esteem most women only dream of. Lauren changed everything from the friendships she maintained to activities she involved herself in. In those few months I watched her transform from a little girl with no direction into a woman with drive and a passion for herself and her future. I have a letter from her saved on my office desk “Thank you to the trainer who changed my life. Because of you I have decided to pursue an education and career in health and wellness. I know how much it has changed my life; hopefully I can do the same for others”…. She thinks I changed her life. The truth is she has changed mine.”

I went from sedentary, unhealthy, and miserable to active nonstop, loving life, confident, and extremely healthy. So don’t think that you can’t do this, because you can. And that letter.. I must have written it about 4 years ago? And look at where I am now. Kinesiology-Health & Fitness major at TCU, reaching out to anyone who will listen, trying to spread my passion to others. I want to CHANGE lives for the better. I want to INSPIRE. I want to HELP others and SUPPORT them every step of the way on their journey to wellness. Life is too short to look in the mirror and be ashamed, or not to live every day to the fullest. CONSISTENCY is the key I have found to success. There is no quick fix to achieve long term results in a lifestyle that pays endless rewards to those willing to put in the time and effort. I used to wake up to gloomy days filled with lounging and ice cream. I now see that there is so much more to life; every day can be a bright day if I allow it to be!

What if I had never gone back after quitting training that first time? Who knows what would have happened to me or what I would be doing with my life. A life without fitness?! Well that just wouldn’t be Lauren Williams. Point being, don’t be afraid to try again due to past failures, you will get there when you commit!

My personal experiences have shown me that no matter how difficult of a task you are facing, push through the pain because the feeling of personal achievement pays greatly to those who achieve it. Since I have begun living a life geared towards health and fitness, I have gained a desire within me to learn all that I can about our food’s nutrition and how to maximize fitness results. I want to support others and instruct them how to care for themselves until they can grow to love themselves. There are numerous people who affect us along the journey known as life, but there are not many who impact us enough to change our lives. I hope to be remembered as a person who changed lives when my legacy is complete.