With the COVID-19 outbreak, I read multiple articles that stated the need for blood donations right now. I made the decision to donate because I know I’m healthy and a good candidate for donation. My dad has donated every month since I was younger, and I wanted to contribute where I could. We have all heard the saying that donating blood saves lives. According to the Community Blood Center, one in seven patients entering a hospital needs blood, and moreover, blood is needed every two seconds in the medical field. Blood is something that cannot, in any way, be manufactured. One donation can be ..read more

No one saw this coming. No one could have possibly anticipated the changes to our world that this virus brought with it. No one knew that they’d be out of work, without access to restaurants or bars, and without access to places part of our normal day to day lives, like gyms. For me, I anticipate being without work for the next month MINIMUM. It’s terrifying, and I know I’m not the only one who’s scared. Finances are stretched to their absolute extent for many people during these trying times, including myself. However, I do know I’m fortunate in knowing that I have plenty of food for the tim ..read more

Flu season is underway. I’m personally on round two for the season despite even getting a flu shot. It happens, it’s inevitable, and you too will likely get sick at some point this year. It seems easy to use sickness as an excuse to skip the gym, but is that really what you should be doing? While there is no doubt that exercise plays an important role in health, many people wonder if working out while sick will help or hinder their recovery. It essentially comes down to your symptoms and where they are. Exercise has been proven time and time again to help boost the immune system, but once ..read more

By 2026, it is expected that there will be over 330,000 personal trainers in the United States. With so many people coming into the field, there is only one way to build a substantial rapport, and that is with some sort of specialty. By having a specific specialty, you can target a specific niche of people looking for a personal trainer. At this point in the fitness industry, I have learned that you simply can’t just be a certified personal trainer, you must have a specific specialty to build your clientele. During my time spent working alongside with Joshua Conn of Solid Fitness, I learned t ..read more

Oh boy… with 2020 somehow here already, I can’t help myself but reflect on the past ten years. I look through the last decade of photos and while I can visually see my growth, it doesn’t do anything else justice. I am so grateful for every person I’ve met along the way and I’m especially grateful to see who I’ve become. I think 2009 Lauren would be very proud. Seeing this very photo from 2009, I’m giggling. Not because of my awkwardness or my greasy hair, partially because of the ice cream earrings, but mostly because I se ..read more

As a personal trainer and self-proclaimed gym junkie, I am ALWAYS buying new leggings. Some are great, some not so much. I feel obligated to say that this is not any kind of ad or promotion for these brands, just my own personal opinions to hopefully help you find your new workout wardrobe. Before reading ahead, I would like it to be known that I typically wear a size small or medium depending on fit, and I almost always try to wear high waisted leggings to keep my tummy hidden. That is just my personal preference. Lululemon Athletica Align Pant II ..read more

In all of my blogs, I do my best to be as brutally honest as I can with those who read them. I think especially in the fitness industry, I see so many people with some sort of facade of perfection that they never skip a workout, always eat clean, and are completely happy. This is not me and I will never pretend it is, which brings me to the topic of this blog: exercise and mental health. We live in a day where one in ten adults struggles with depression and anxiety. I have been open and honest about my personal struggles with mental health in previous blogs, so it’s no stranger to me. While m ..read more

It started with Fitbits, then we got our Apple Watches, and now even our smart phones track our physical activity. Step counting has taken the world by storm. People who count their steps can absolutely be more active as it encourages more physical activity! Getting into competitions with our friends via the devices strapped to our wrists can encourage us to keep moving and set realistic goals from our baseline activity. Our pedometers are a great motivational tool and can get the ball rolling on healthy habits, and hopefully be encouraging in doing other physical activities in our lives. On ..read more

Tequila probably won’t fix your problems but it’s worth a shot … or is it? Honestly, I enjoy a drink here and there just like the next person! I don’t drink a lot, but I do drink. Drinking is such a huge part of our social lives that it is unrealistic to expect it not to be part of your life, that is until it becomes an actual problem. Before reading on, I want it to be clear that I am not trying to discourage anyone from drinking! I just want you to consider maybe a glass of water in between every drink, a lesser calorie alcohol, or maybe even just one day less of drinking every week ..read more