COVID-19

Lauren's 7 TIPS TO LOOKING & FEELING CONFIDENT IN YOUR SWIMSUIT

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Happy Spring Break! It’s time to shed the layers. Whether you’ve been homeschooling and haven’t moved much in the past year or you’re in the best shape of your life, SLB is here to help you move, eat with think with intention.

I’ve been in the fitness industry and have worked with (mostly) women for almost two decades. Each year as winter turns to spring women call on me when they want to feel their best and level up. As I learn about what they want to change about their physical bodies, I also help them do the mental work and identify what they love about themselves. More than the results they achieve with SLB, I love to help women build confidence and realize that their body is the most uniquely beautiful and the most amazing thing that they will ever own.

I’m a pro at making myself look larger and longer both on and off camera. If you’ve only seen me on camera and have never met me in person, I’m shockingly petite (5’0 tall and under 110 lbs.) but I’ve always been incredibly curvy. I’ve gone through stages where I didn’t love my curves and wished I was like, AT LEAST 5’2”, but over the years I’ve learned to really appreciate and truly love my body. I’m here to tell you that loving your body takes time but it’s not difficult to do.

Here are my seven tips to looking and feeling comfortable and confident in your swimsuit in 2021.

Identify and Own your Strengths

Instead of picking yourself apart or comparing yourself to someone else, focus on your what makes you uniquely beautiful. I promise that you can identify one thing you love about yourself and that will turn into ten.

Drop into the Physical

I like to use movement to break negative patterns and shift my mindset. The quickest and easiest way to upgrade your mood is to move. You can literally move the negative out of your mind and body, because movement can chemically change how you feel. Emotion is enhanced by motion, and movement can make you feel good, sexy, strong, beautiful and empowered. I’m biased but there is nothing out there that will tone and shape your body as quickly as Studio LB. Combining cardio and resistance training is key and even if you’re just doing our Quick Burn workouts, you are guaranteed results in as little as ten workouts. It’s as instant gratification as it gets.

Self-Care

Take a bath, apply a mask or a spray tan, and just flirt with life a little bit more. Love and the libido is a vital sign in your well-being and your body’s eco-system. I’m not just talking about sex. Everything in life is connected to the heart, desire and feeling alive. I’ve learned that love really starts at home – within ourselves. Feeling sexy (for myself) allows me to tap into my creativity, confidence, all that is feminine and ultimately - loving my body.

Wear what feels good

Forget about what’s trendy and stick to what you feel the most confident and comfortable in…and smile. Nobody will notice your insecurities if you feel good and look authentically happy.

Eat with LB

A few days before you’re planning on being in a bikini, drink plenty of water and decrease sodium and foods that cause bloating. It's not a case of healthy vs. unhealthy – choose still over sparkling water and stay away from raw veggies like cabbage or broccoli and beans which can cause bloating. I always choose anti-bloat options like sauteed greens and grilled chicken before I show major skin.

Posture Perfect

Stand up straight with your shoulders pulled back and down and with as much confidence as you can gather. Lengthening your spine out through the crown of your head is literally the quickest and most effective change you can make.

High Pony

Volume or “big hair” draws attention to the upper half of your body, balancing your silhouette and providing a distraction from any parts you're not in love with at the current moment. A high pony adds two inches in height and stretches you out. Even a sun hat will do the trick!

6 TIPS TO LOOKING & FEELING CONFIDENT IN YOUR SWIMSUIT

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Having a beach bod is easy, you just take your body to the beach, right? It feels a bit different this year. At 5’ nothing I’m a pro at making myself look larger and longer both on and off camera. And guess what? I’m not always super confident (my first pic from any shoot looks very stiff ). Here are my six tips to looking and feeling great in your swimsuit.

Wear What You Feel Best In

Forget about what’s trendy and wear what you feel the most confident and comfortable in…and smile. Nobody will notice your insecurities if you feel good and look authentically happy.

Eat With LB

A few days before you’re planning on being in a bikini, drink plenty of water and decrease sodium and foods that cause bloating. It's not a case of healthy vs. unhealthy – choose still over sparkling water and stay away from veggies like cabbage or broccoli and beans which can cause bloating. I always choose anti-bloat options like sauteed greens and grilled chicken before I show major skin.

STUDIO LB

I know that I’m biased but seriously there is nothing out there that will tone and shape your body fast like Cardio-Cheer-Sculpting. Combining cardio and resistance training is key and even if you’re just doing our Quick Burn workouts, you are guaranteed results in as little as seven days. It’s as instant gratification as it gets.

Spray Tan

A spray tan can make you appear more toned and improve the appearance of cellulite in less than 30 minutes. It’s the ultimate confidence booster. I love St. Tropez.

Posture Perfect

Stand up straight with your shoulders pulled back and down and with as much confidence as you can gather. Lengthening your spine out through the crown of your head is literally the quickest and most effective change you can make.

High Pony

Volume or “big hair” draws attention to the upper half of your body, balancing your silhouette and providing a distraction from any parts you're not in love with at the current moment. A high pony adds two inches in height and stretches you out. Even a sun hat will do the trick!

Wear A Wedge

I’m talking about a flip flop with a heel (Haviana’s makes a great one) or a wedge - It will make your entire body appear longer and leaner.

MOM SO HARD

Source: @elarroyo_atx

If you’re reading this and you’re also a mom by any definition, I want to start by giving every single one of you a giant standing ovation. Seriously, stand up, take a bow, pat yourself on the back, then get in your car and drive far away for the day (I’m half kidding).

As if being a mom wasn’t challenging enough pre-pandemic, now some of us are also teachers! If I’m being completely honest with you, I’m struggling and I can’t figure out third grade math (never mind TEACH IT). Why am I struggling? I’m blaming it on being cooped up and I apologize to everyone for my quarantine-induced red flag behavior.

In all seriousness, I’m currently not totally doing all the things I KNOW I need to do to take care of myself. I’m not having much fun. I’m mothering 24/7. I’ve been going to bed at an ungodly hour. My AM routine has gone to shit. And most importantly, I haven’t slowed down because I’m overwhelmed and am just doing too much. Jill of all trades over here! And Jordan and I went from spending three days a week together for the past three years to being together all day, everyday. Like so many of you, all this togetherness is just not our norm. Some days I feel like I need to go outside and let out a giant cathartic scream at the top of my lungs, and I know the feeling is mutual. We all could really use some alone time. Some time off. Can you relate?

But with all that said, I’m counting my blessings. Everyone I care about is healthy and safe. In a perfect world, spas and salons would be open today, but I know we'll all get a Rain Check for that kind of treatment in the coming months! My Mother’s Day was supposed to be spent on the beaches of Sayulita, Mexico training a group of twenty amazing women, giving us all a much needed reset. Obviously, Activation has been postponed until November so we’ll have to wait another 187 days.

So how can we celebrate ourselves today as we spend even more time with our families? I think that the greatest gift is to just be present. And then get out of the house or do whatever you need and want to do to honor yourself with some much needed alone time. A few fun things I plan to do:

  • Take a drive, roll my windows down, feel the breeze in my hair, blast music that makes me want to sing and dance and let myself feel totally free for a moment. 

  • Take a bath with a glass of champagne.

  • A pedicure while catching up on my fave podcasts.

  • Talk to my mom and my girlfriends.

  • SUGARFISH (take out) al fresco because I miss sushi and I will NOT be cooking tonight.

And lastly, I plan to give my family a giant hug. As difficult as the days have been, I’m grateful to have this time with them. When Mars was younger, I was not able to work from home and I missed out on so much time that I’ll never be able to get back. These past eight weeks I’ve been able to watch him grow and change right before my very eyes.  

So keep going Mama’s. Because life is amazing. And then it is awful. And then it’s amazing again. And in between the amazing and the awful it’s ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it’s breathtakingly beautiful. ― L.R. Knost

How to survive (& thrive in) Quarantine

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I’m on day nine of quarantine here in LA and omg I’ve had my moments but overall I’m still smiling. I wanted to wait at least a full week before I gave you some tips on how to survive (and thrive in) this state. I’m keeping this short and sweet and I’ll be updating as time goes on.

Shower - Just do it everyday. Oh, and shave. The mental and physical reset is key.

Wear real clothes - Get out of the sweats…I promise you’ll feel so much better. Time has lost all meaning —Don’t lose yourself!

Go outside - Fresh vibes and fresh air feel so good. I’ve been taking two-three walks daily and also working outdoors whenever possible. I’m in So Cal so this is easy for me but do whatever you can to get outdoors.

Exercise - How lucky are we that we have Studio LB? The weekly Program and the fact that the technique is rooted in cheer makes it so empowering and perfect for right now. So many people are new and struggling with at-home fitness. I’m getting the vibe that many feel like working out from home is subpar but honestly it just takes some getting used to.

Find the humor - These are some serious times so all smiles on deck. Memes, laughing with friends, making people smile…it all helps.

Meal Plan - Quarantine isn’t free reign to eat (and drink) whatever you want whenever you want and I can promise you that you will really regret it if you do. Make sure you’re drinking water, eating meals and not just snacking.

Support local restaurants - If you’re able to order healthy take-out, please do! Help support small local businesses who are really suffering. It’ll make you feel a sense of normalcy, as well.

Clean & clear your space - Do a deep spring clean get everyone in your home on the same page.

Make a to-do list - It’ll help give you a sense of purpose and really get things done.

Music - Turn off the news and turn on the music. I’m working on a playlist for you!

Get creative - A couple of days ago I picked up a taco kit from Guerrilla Tacos here in LA and within 30 minutes I named all 3/23/20 Studio LB workouts AND came up with so much content. It’s easy to forget how much our everyday life fuels our creativity. Do whatever you can from art to music —It’ll also inspire the little ones in your life to get off the screens and play.

Dance - Morning and night I blast music and freestyle. Get your crew involved. Energy OUT, guys!

Reach out and talk - I don’t mean small talk. Tell your friends WHY you’re angry, why you have a tattoo shaped like Europe, and why you don’t like his/her ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. Go on for hours about things that might not seem all that important. It’s cathartic.

Video chat - Take a break from texting and go face-to-face whenever you can. It’s SO helpful and it’ll strengthen your bonds and make you feel good.

Make peace - This is the ultimate reset, right? Let whatever it is go between you and your ex or your family and friends. Who cares about the past at this point?

Stay positive - Protect your mental health. Out with the negativity, in with the positivity.  Being positive and having positive thoughts will definitely attract everything good.

Enjoy this pause - There is a lot of hardship with our current situation but there is a special freedom here that we’ve been granted. This will not last forever. Try and find the positive in it!