Lauren Brooks Fitness

Chloe is now 7 months and getting close to crawling. She is giggling all the time, singing, laughing, and having fun with her big sister. I am still exclusively breast feeding Chloe, which as you can see by her pictures, she is well fed! Lyla is surprising me everyday with her new words. It's unbelievable watching these 2 girls grow up. Nothing is more fascinating to me then to see my own children grow and become little people. Chloe is finally sleeping through the night, although I'm afraid to say this because as soon as I tell someone that, the next night she wakes up! But it might be safe to say it. With getting a little more sleep things are starting to look clearer to me. It's amazing how just a couple nights of sleep can actually give you a whole new outlook on life. My energy is so much better all around. Which is perfect timing since I have a very important project I am working on. As far as my postpartum recovery goes, I would say I'm feeling awesome...

Lauren with her 2nd baby Chloe, at 6 months old. I'm sure many of you, this probably seems very young, and some of you very old. In fact for the last several years I have been thinking about this day. I had many goals set in my mind that I wanted accomplished before the age of 30. I don't know why it feels like such a big number to me. Anyway the way I pictured celebrating my birthday turned out completely different than I had ever expected. I figured I'd go to Vegas with a bunch of girlfriends and party it up, but in fact I ended up doing the exact opposite. During my college years I had ample time and opportunities to surf, snowboard, skateboard, and wakeboard. It has been over 7 years since graduating college. Once I established my career all my leisure activities took a back seat. But the good news is I found kettlebells. Since graduating college I have only gone snowboarding a handful of times and had the opportunity to wakeboard once or twice. I pretty mu...

Little Miss Chloe exactly 6 months here Lyla wanting to be close to her sister Now this here it true love.  Lyla LOVES being a big sister. (tears)  Okay 6 months!!!!  It sounds like such a long time but it feels like yesterday. There is no wasting time these days. I'm constantly on the move now juggling 2 kids, my business, and of course my hubby.  There is never a dull moment in my house.  I'm still adjusting to two little ones.   As far as my fitness and health goes I would say I'm on a slightly slower road than last time. Finding the time with two kids is much more of a challenge. But I have dropped a couple pounds this month since introducing foods to Chloe. Even though I'm making tons of milk now, it's crazy! I'm at a weight and body fat that I am enjoying. My clients and I all took our body fat percentage with hydrostatic weighing (the gold standard, getting dunked in a tank).  At 2 months postpartum I was 117lb with a 19.7% body fat. ...

I am so excited, it's taken me so long to like a logo.  It's only taken 5 years!   I welcome your honest opinion. Now I can represent the kettlebell community in style and so can YOU. Many clothing items and accessories to choose from here at Cafe Press On The Edge Fitness  store. Right now both colors are available. Email me with questions. You better believe Chloe will be sporting one of these! 8-)

Well here I am again!  It's now been 5 wonderful months with my new baby.  I will admit that getting back in shape this time around is MUCH harder than it was with the first one.  In addition finding the time and energy to do everything with 2 kids has been more of a challenge.  I keep looking ahead and know that I will get to my goals, but have to accept that it's just taking a little longer this time.  Having the second C-section in 2 years does not help either! Since I am constantly hungry, due to the nursing, it's important to have healthy snacks on hand at all times to keep me from gaining weight.  If I don't eat often I get very low blood sugar and even shaky.  I will not be sad this time when its time to stop nursing Chloe, since I'm ready to have a normal appetite again.  I have been asked by many to post what I am eating. Here is a sample of what I eat. It changes daily. There are several extra snacks than normal for me in addit...

(Just updated below on 6/3/2012) Do you ever just stop and think?  We, as a society, are constantly in a rush, stressed out, and have no time for anything. Everyone is chasing their dreams and going full force. I need to make more money, I need to lose weight, I need to do this and that..... It really never ends. One of the main problems our society is dealing with is over doing it, which causes adrenal burn out.  More and more people are suffering from insomnia and chronic health problems just from the burden they put on themselves. You have to ask yourself, why are you doing all of this?  Why do you need to work 60 hours a week?  Why do you need to kill yourself and exercise 2-3 hours a day? All of that puts too much stress on your body in conjunction with all the other demands life has to offer.  Isn't the point of life to take a minute and enjoy the people you love and things you love to do?  If I die extremely rich, but didn't make time for my f...

This is the perfect fall treat around halloween and Thanksgiving.  In fact, I love pumpkin all year around!  With kids around it's essential to have some healthy goodies available. I also like to reward myself from time to time with a good muffin. The beauty of this muffin is it's made of almond flour and uses a little honey for the sweetener.  I don't feel so guilty after having one of these low carb muffins. With no refined flours, low sugar, and being Paleo friendly, it's hard to resist. Lyla and I made these together yesterday. I did one of my best workouts in a long time after having one of these dense muffins. No bloating or tiredness afterwards! I took this recipe from the Specific Carbohydrate Diet website. I made some slight changes below. View the recipe here   Pumpkin Muffins - made with Almond Flour You can substitute honey with agave syrup to lower the GI even more.  I left out the raisins and walnuts as well to lower the sugar a bit and ...

Here is Chloe at 4 months old. Things are going great! Nursing is going well, although I find when my weight falls under 115, my milk supply drops dramatically! It's strange that as long as I am between 115-117 I am able to keep up a healthy supply. I would love to be able to drop about 5 more pounds, but I will have to hold off until it's time to introduce solid foods to Chloe. Which will be 2 more months. In the meantime I am really enjoying getting my strength back.  Yesterday I picked up a bell to do some snatches thinking it was the 16kg (35lb) and realized that I had by accidently snatched the 20kg (44 lb)! Successfully achieved it but definitely felt HEAVY!  Oh well, glad I can do it, but my joints are not ready for it for at least several more weeks.  8-) My friend and client, Robin Duncan (in my first DVD), has really inspired me to try some hot yoga.  I have been meaning to give it a try after I was done with the pregnancy, but like ...

I don't think so!  I have seen and heard great success with people training with kettlebells anywhere between the ages of 11-90 years old.  I have had several emails in the last couple months from people in their 60's, 70's, and 80's enjoying the benefits of kettlebell training.  As we all know, when learned properly, the benefits are endless.  Many people past the age of 50, that I have spoken to, tend to be intimidated with kettlebell swings.  The first thing I hear from them is, "I don't think my back can handle that" or "My back is not strong enough to do that type of movement."  It's very sad when I hear these statements only because I try to explain to them that when eased in to a kettlebell program their weak back will get stronger, which will help avoid injury in the long run.  My own mother has had back problems for years!!  She hurt her back 35 years ago from lifting people out of wheelchairs.  Since then she has always been ext...

Baby Chloe is 6 Week s Six weeks means I get the clearance to start exercising again!!! Wooooo hoooooo!!!! This seems all too familiar. It was just 2 years ago that I was recovering from my last pregnancy and C-section with Lyla. I have to admit it feels a little more challenging this time around trying to figure out how I'm going to prioritize my life to make sure I actually have the time and energy to workout. I guess now that I look back I had it pretty easy with 1 kid.  I do feel that using kettlebells and remaining strong during both pregnancies, using pregnancy workouts , allowed me to recover in record time. While waiting to get the green light to use my kettlebells , I used walking as my outlet. I was given permission to start walking (for exercise) 2 weeks after surgery. Walking and the right nutrition has helped me over the past several weeks shrink down to a comfortable size. However, I am hungry around the clock from nursing, so I'm probably eating bet...

I am so proud to introduce Lindsey Bellomy   Here is a little bit about Lindsey  Lindsey Bellomy has the desire to offer FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, & FLEXIBILITY.  As an Officer in the United States Marine Corps she has had a close affinity to physical training emplacing and ensuring the highest physical fitness standards upon her Marines and Sailors.  Lindsey has been training with Lauren Brooks since July 2008. As Lauren neared the end of her pregnancy, Lindsey has enjoyed  instructing her classes. This February, Lindsey became an RKC certified instructor. Her passion is to help both men and women transform their bodies into lean, powerhouse machines as nature always intended.  My students and I have been so lucky to watch her amazing athletic abilities blow us all away. Anyone who trains with Lindsey will see what a strong powerful girl she is. Not to mention her fun and captivating personality. She makes training very enjoyable, yet intense. I was so lucky to have Lindsey...

Chloe Rebekah Miller  born safe and sound on Feb 17th. Chloe was a healthy bouncing baby at 8lb 6oz and 21 inches long!!!! I couldn't have been happier to finally have my baby on me! Went through a  35 hour labor  and did everything in my power for a VBAC . Doctors said they have never seen such a thing. Finally had to stop laboring to get her out and unfortunately ended up with another C-section. The good thing and most important thing of course is she is very healthy and it was over. She was so big for my small frame that they had to vacuum her out of my stomach. (Will blame her size on my husbands side!!) Either way, there is a nice story behind the whole thing which I will touch upon later while my disappointment and anger towards this Doctor settles down. So more details in the near future.  Chloe's big sister, Lyla, welcoming her in to this world This photo was taken 6 days before Chloe arrived. As you can tell she was a bi...

This review was written by Erin Weiss-Trainor, mother of 3 boys, Director of Precision Nutrition Community Activity. Erin holds a Degree in Kinesiology and has a Masters Degree in Biomechanics. Baby Bells Review Having experienced the joys of being pregnant three times over for a total of 839 days (who’s counting), it’s clear just from watching Lauren Brooks’ latest DVD, Baby Bells: Fit Pregnancy Workout With (Optional) Kettlebells that it would have been a great addition to my training regimen as I aimed to stay fit and strong as each of my babies grew. Similar in training structure and instruction to Brooks’ first DVD, Baby Bells offers a variety of lower intensity and equipment options, along with modified positions to accommodate a wide range of abilities and the changes in a woman’s body as pregnancy progresses. For those who have used kettlebells in the past, and are looking to continue training during their pregnancy, this DVD is a great follow-up to Brooks’ first DVD, Th...

Now on Sale for pre-order. Be the first to order your copy of the only pregnancy DVD that gives you the option to use a kettlebell. Check out the trailer below. VIEW IN HIGHER QUALITY HERE The first workout DVD designed specifically for pregnant women that incorporates kettlebells! This DVD will help you to stay fit and healthy throughout your pregnancy. All exercises on this DVD provide you with the option to utilize kettlebells, dumbbells, or your body weight depending upon your level of comfort. DVD Features - 3 Section Follow Along workout including modifications for all levels and stages of pregnancy -Warm Up with Joint Mobility exercises - Cool Down section with safe stabilizing and stretching exercises - Easy navigation features throughout the DVD Running time 42 minutes You can order your copy right here

Just want to wish everyone a very happy New Year!  I know it's been quite awhile since I've posted anything on this blog. I am currently almost 35 weeks pregnant and overall feeling good. Still teaching kettlebell classes but not demonstrating ALL the exercises anymore!  My belly is quite large so mentally I am done with this pregnancy. I am very anxious to meet this baby and of course have my body back to myself.  8-)  Not that I don't enjoy being up all night feeling her play football with my stomach, I feel as if I have been pregnant long enough.   Ben has been in the emergency room twice this month with his unbearable stomach cramps and pain, so life is still challenging with him. He knows it's time to get on an extremely strict diet, since all the specialists we have seen haven't been able to prevent this. We are currently in phase 1 of his "detox type diet"  More info to come on that.  This will be a challenge for him and me, but in the long run, wil...

I want to make an announcement about our friend John Brookfield who will be setting a World Record. Those who don't know who he is, he is an extraordinarily strong guy, who is the founder of the battlingropes system. Check out his website for more info at Powerropes.com If you aren't training with ropes you should start! It's awesome. On Saturday November 1st in Fairmont North Carolina at 2:00 in the afternoon John Brookfield and Jon Bruney are going to set a World Record by pulling a semi-truck a distance of one mile plus using only their physical strength and mental discipline. John Brookfield and Jon Bruney have done this record on several occasions, however, this time they will be upping the weight load to over thirty thousand pounds and pushing themselves to the limit to pull the mile distance as fast as possible. Many are saying that this feat of strength and endurance may be the greatest physical accomplishment ever. Come out and witness this event and walk alon...

Hi Lauren, I wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed the KB workshop led by you & Lisa. It was an awesome, motivating experience because it was really informative and fun. I really felt that you & Lisa were very professional and encouraging (I was amazed at both of your physical strength/power in your super lean bodies) by taking the time to address questions and concerns regarding correct form, KB info., etc. I left the workshop feeling great; I could now do KB exercises at home w/ proper form and know the modifications or alternative moves to bump up the intensity. I liked that you both generously shared your knowledge w/out criticizing other methods of exercising, and you didn't mind demonstrating moves/explaining technique repeatedly. Thank you for a truly awesome experience, it was worth every penny, and I have been telling everyone I know about it. :) I have been using your video, alternating the short and longer segments throughout the week, I love it! ...