Where do I even start with this one?! I have known Elena for YEARS from back when she and her bestie (who you’ll be hearing from soon!) too my group exercise classes at the YMCA. I had no idea she would turn into one of my strongest, most determined, motivated and successful clients years down the line.
When we first started working together, I remember Elena saying “what other kind of goals is there if someone isn’t trying to lose fat?” And I get it. We’re told to workout, eat less, restrict, overexercise and count every bite, lick and taste all in the name of losing weight. It’s fat loss at all costs out there.
Luckily, Elena was (and is) SUPER coach-able and was able to pretty quickly change her tune from fat-loss-at-all-costs to being patient, putting in the work and reaping not just the physical benefits of getting stronger and losing body fat BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY she’s a happier, more confident version of herself, which, in my opinion, is the real prize.
How long have you been working with Lauren? What programs have you done? I had been following Lauren for years and piecing her tips together from social media on my own (#waterbeforecoffee) but after feeling very miserable and like there was nothing left I could do to change my body, I decided to jump in to the Fueled Up Reset in April 2021. Since then, I’ve been a member of the Wicked Fueled Coaching Club where we’ve done programs like Aim to Maintain and my personal favorite, the Fit Summer Challenge.
What did your fitness & nutrition habits look like before working with Lauren? I’ve always been really in to group fitness, which is where I originally met Lauren. I enjoy being active and feeling strong in my body so movement has been a part of my life for a while but nothing compares to focusing on strength training vs. big HIIT workouts in Lauren’s programs.
Nutrition, on the other hand was very contentious. I swore by WW and was on the MyFitnessPal train before working with Lauren. I had labeled foods good/bad and was drinking a lot or alcohol, which would lead to binge eating. I often felt like I was working really hard but getting nowhere, which was frustrating.
What are some of the most impactful changes you’ve made since you started working with her? What are you most proud of? One of the first things Lauren taught me was putting down my fork and chewing my food in between bites. This sounds so simple but Lauren helped me make that small change, which lead to enjoying meals (instead of inhaling them), not belching after eating, and learning my fullness cues.
As we worked together more, I learned how to put together meals that will be filling, easy, and help me feel better on the inside. I’m vegetarian so it takes a little extra thought to make sure that I’m getting enough protein to give my meals staying power and I think Lauren took it as a personal challenge to make sure that her veggie clients had it just as easy as carnivores when crafting our PFF meals.
What would you say to someone who is hesitant to join the Total Transformation Mentorship or is intimidated by the time/financial commitment? Not to sound like cliché but this program has changed my life. If you’re willing to try new ways of thinking that break the diet culture cycle in your mind, jump in! It’s a commitment and is not always easy but nothing that brings you these kind of results ever is. Thankfully, there is a group of supportive women, who have been in your shoes, willing to walk beside you through the process.
What are you excited to keep working on in your health journey? I’m in the middle of some transitions at the moment so I’m proud that I’ve been able to maintain good habits during challenging times. I’m most excited to settle a bit more and make some tweaks to focus on building muscle so that I can continue kayaking, hiking, skiing, and doing other things that fill my cup for many years!