Lauren Brooks Fitness

"They have no idea the struggles I’ve gone through with my self-image and I’m so careful not to discuss weight or anything like that in front of them.   I want them to love the body God gave them and be comfortable with who they are and not let society or anyone else change that for them."   Kimberly Baker I'm always blown away when I learn more about my students, especially Kimberly, full time working mother of 3! K nowing Kimberly now for 7 years I had no idea she went  through the self image struggles she has shared with all of you below. Kimberly has chosen to open up because she wants you to know that you're not alone! I can't tell you how many of my students have suffered from these exact battles with body image. Whether we are too thin, too big, too weak, not good enough, too this, too that... Kimberly has put this all in to perspective which is extremely inspiring. With Kimberly's full schedule she seems to still make time to show up for her s...

A video posted by Lauren Brooks (@laurenbrooks819) on Apr 14, 2015 at 3:53pm PDT Listen to the entire podcast right here on Strength Matters

Did you know workouts lasting under six minutes can benefit you in more ways than one?  Many of you may already know how fabulous snagging a short session can be for not only your mind, but also for the physical body. If you are bogged down at work all day with hardly a moment to breathe, then  having the opportunity to sneak away for six minutes is much more likely than finding an hour or two. What the Research Says Research has found that just a few short sessions throughout the day can improve overall stress, blood pressure, and weight control.  Shorter intense training sessions can be even more effective in boosting your metabolism than a long drawn-out session. And this research doesn’t just stop at adults.  One study in PLos One  showed that exercise sessions of as little as five minutes improved adolescents and children's overall health. Pretty amazing, don’t you think? KEEP READING AND watch the 4 FREE 6 minutes WORKOUT VIDEOS I made jus...

Quadruped Rock - Ab Exercise by Lauren Brooks My new favorite ab exercise Here is an exercise that completely fires up your abs and quadriceps. I was crawling around in my backyard one day and paused for a brief moment to begin rocking. I began rocking back and forth. I tucked my pelvis towards my rib cage to see how my abs would feel as I was hovering in the crawl position. Quads were already on fire. Now my pelvic floor muscles along with my Rectus and Transverse abdominus began to shake. As a woman who’s experienced a couple C-sections and helps others with core dysfunction, I’m always looking for great ways to fire up the deep core muscles. I loved it so much I called it the Quad Rock. I now use the Quad Rock with my students as part of a warm up or followed by a few strength exercises within a set. They claim this is one of the exercises they feel their abs and quads the most. It's also been quite cool because no one feels any lower back pain.  I made a qu...

I've had many inquiries about different kettlebell certifications and testing protocols. Through out the years the certification standards have changed. Sometimes the changes are minor such as adding a high bridge to the Turkish Get Up and then deciding to do away with it.  Other changes have been a bit more drastic such as testing a specific rep range of snatches the first day, without a time limit, a one hand switch rule versus testing the last day of the grueling 3 day weekend, with a requirement of getting 100 snatches in under 5 minutes. Preparing people for both RKC (Russian Kettlebell Challenge) and SFG (StrongFirst) certifications for the last 10 years has been rewarding and I will continue to help people do this. Training program development continues to adjust accordingly to the ever evolving changes with each certification. RKC and SFG certifications are generally known for the snatch test. The new Kettlebell certification being created by Strength Matters has dec...

Six years ago I was blessed with my second baby girl.  She didn't make her way in to this world easily, despite how great my pregnancy was. (Birth story here ) My life has not been the same since, as most parents can imagine. I truly didn't realized after being head over heels in love with my first child, that feeling the same about my second was possible. She has definitely proved me wrong. The connection I have with both of my girls are so different, yet very strong on many levels. The individuality of character they both portray astounds me.         Happy 6th Birthday to my precious Chloe. Chloe has learned to read this year in her Kindergarten class and is very motivated to read every book she has to me.  She has learned to use her scooter this year, earned her yellow belt in karate, and enjoys performing with singing and dancing routines with her sisters. Chloe 6 weeks old with her 2  yr old sister Chloe is a witty, swe...

Several years ago someone told me about the show the Biggest Loser.  Reluctantly I turned on the TV, since I don't really watch TV, and began watching the show in the middle of the season. The name of the show bothered me right away, but like most of America, I became intrigued.  The title of the show bothered me tremendously.  I interpreted "The Biggest Loser" as them referring to the contestants as big losers.  Tuning in to the middle of the season, the show would consist of displaying videos/ photos of how they looked at their heaviest, side by side with how they currently looked from all their "hard" work.  There would be long winded workouts with yelling, screaming, passing out, and emotional breakdowns. The inspiring weight loss images along with the confidence level was displayed very well.  I was pleased to see how happy these contestants looked. They showed them crying for joy on how they're getting their life back with all the hard work and ...

Beginning STRENGTH and Fat Loss WORKSHOP with KETTLEBELLS and more... Beginner focused: All levels are welcomed. AUSTIN, TEXAS at the Onnit Academy Move better and Feel Better learning how to use your body weight and kettlebells to achieve the strong and lean body you've always strived for. Quick and efficient workouts will get you there without the long drawn out boring cardio sessions that run your muscle off and cause overuse injuries. Be ready to change your life! Instructed by Lauren Brooks   Feb 7th Saturday Time: 12-4 p.m. Details below! ONLY $149 Who will benefit from these Fat loss and Strength workshops: - Busy people who struggle to find the time to work out; such as moms, dads, and all working professionals who still want to feel and look amazing! - People who despise exercise and need something that is fun and motivating. - Beginning exercisers that want to learn a  fun  and  ...

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” -  Paulo Coelho It’s a bloody shame that in today’s world so many dreams stay just that - a dream.  Ideas and hopes are born in a person’s mind, yet don’t have the chance to actually live. How will you know if you can ever accomplish something if you don’t take a risk and put yourself out there?  What Gets in the Way of Our Dreams? So what is it that stops people from taking the risk and pursuing their dreams?  Is it the fear of failure? The fear of being judged? The negative self-talk telling you to just settle and keep your aspirations as a distant unrealistic thought? Keep reading on the Breaking Muscle site here

Several months ago I was in a car accident. I've kept it quiet because the line of work I'm in requires a healthy and strong able body. It's time to come out and share that I was rear ended by an SUV while accelerating in my little sports car.  With over $11,000 worth of damage to my vehicle, my body was left full of injuries. Luckily, it's the first car accident I've experienced. I came home shaking explaining to everyone what happened.  Like the tough girl I think I am at times, I thought I was just fine. Other than being a bit shaky I felt fine at the time. Those who saw my car warned me that I may not feel the after effects right away.  I didn't want to believe it. I knew I was hit with enough force to cause my body harm. I reminded myself how strong I am, so chances are I won't feel it.  The next morning after the car accident my entire body was very sore. I was more angry than focused on being in pain. I knew that I had no business lifting or perf...