Lauren's 7 TIPS TO LOOKING & FEELING CONFIDENT IN YOUR SWIMSUIT
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!
SLB EXTRA GREEN SOUP
I’ve been making this soup for years and it began as a means of using up collards, celery, and other greens that were in my fridge, and it’s become a recipe that feels new with each change of the season and is especially a great transitional recipe between winter and spring.
It’s easy to make, good hot or cold, and the flavors are mellow. If you’re looking for an easy, healthy way to eat more greens–one that’s neither a smoothie nor a salad–this soup is the answer.
This soup is light so if you’re looking for more heft you can top it with rice, quinoa, legumes, or pepita as a means of adding texture and weight.
Ingredients
4 cups vegetable stock
1-2 cups escarole (chopped)
1-2 cups broccoli florets (chopped)
2 large handfuls of spinach
1 onion (diced)
1 large handful of collard greens or kale, (chopped & stems removed)
3 celery stalks (diced)
1/4 cup parsley or cilantro (chopped)
2 Tbsp of olive oil
1-2 lemon or lime (squeezed)
1-2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp Bragg liquid aminos or sea salt
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 3-5 min until it begins to golden. Add the celery and saute for 1-2 more min. Add the broccoli, salt and pepper and sauté for 1-2 more min. Add the vegetable stock and simmer for about 10 min, until the broccoli is tender. Add the escarole, spinach and kale and simmer for 2-5 more min, then remove from the heat. Stir in the chopped parsley or cilantro and transfer to your high speed blender or use an immersion blender. You may need to blend in two batches depending on the size of your blender. Add more vegetable broth, salt and pepper as needed to reach desired consistency and seasoning.
SLB Spring Wellness Staples
We’re tilting towards the sun and I’m sharing a few of my favorite hero products, superfoods, beauty and wellness staples that help me stay healthy (and feel pretty) now and throughout the pandemic.
What does “superfood” mean to you? The word itself may invoke imagery of kale and flax, but I like to think of it on a more personal level. Eating healthy is all about self-discovery and what works for you individually. There is no magic food that will keep you 100% healthy but some are really next level. Hero products are those that have changed my life, and that I can’t live without.
Olive Oil - I love olive oil and being Italian it’s the one food that I’ve grown up enjoying everyday. I’d bathe in it if I could! Just as olives are a superfood, high-quality olive oils are as well. Wonder Valley and Flamingo Estate are my favorites.
Alkaline Water - I drink alkaline water everyday but I always struggle getting enough water in everyday. The Bodum Water Kettle changed that. It’s my secret to drinking more water daily. The sleek modern design looks great in any kitchen and you can’t beat hot water in less than one minute.
Stress Management Supplement - Moon Juice SuperYou is an adoptogen that I take every morning and it just makes me feel great and takes the edge off. I’m more focused and a better human and mom.
CBD Skincare - Happy Dance™ is a line of premium CBD products by Kristin Bell made with moms in mind and I swear the bath bomb has helped get me through the pandemic. I love it so much that I’m on the subscription. It’s next level moisturizing and knocks you out cold and I use the coconut melt and body butter everyday.
Mask - I’ve been using Adipeau as a sleeping mask religiously since September and it keeps my face as fit as my body. It is an anti-inflammatory and prevents skin atrophy (thinning of skin cells), wrinkling of the skin, and loss of elasticity.
SLB SHAMROCK SHAKE
This week I’m sharing my healthy Shamrock Shake recipe. It’s simple, dairy-free, vegan, and St. Patty’s appropriate but this delicious minty smoothie can be enjoyed anytime of the year. I make this for Mars a few times a month and he prefers oat milk and no cashews (photo above), but if you add cashews the consistency is thicker like a shake and it will keep you full, longer.
Ingredients
1 large handful of spinach
1 handful of fresh mint (approx 6-8 leaves)
1/4 avocado
1 cup of oat milk (or milk of your choice)
1/4 cup raw cashews (optional)
1/2 banana
Ice
Directions
Put everything except the water into a food processor or high speed blender for approx 1 min. until desired creaminess is reached.
*Tip: Use pre-cut frozen banana if you’d like the smoothie will be thicker like a shake. If you do add cashews you might have to increase the amount of milk, or add water.
PUSHING YOUR LIMITS
Think you’ve hit your ceiling? You haven’t, I promise. I know that many of you are completing the January Program this week...congrats! Have you noticed that you've pushed yourself and have become stronger, or maybe you're still modifying and doing your push-ups on your knees after 3-4 reps? If you have pushed, have you noticed that your body has changed?
Most women come to SLB with the desire to change their body and become the best version of themselves. When developing new workouts, my main goal is to increase your lean muscle mass, keep you interested and make you happy so that you can push yourself to become your most powerful.
We focus on increasing your lean muscle mass because that is a major catalyst in decreasing overall fat. We achieve this through cardiovascular resistance training via Cardio-Cheer-Sculpting. And boy, does it hurt at times. Have you ever heard the saying, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger?” At SLB, most of you learn how to push through your (good) pain and allow it to help you gain strength and earn the physical and mental results that you're striving for.
Many of you become frustrated, or stop when an exercise becomes painful – not injury pain, but the burn that occurs when you are fatiguing your muscles. Tbh, you can’t find your limits without testing them, and you can’t test them unless you’re willing to push through the good pain. If you can breathe and you’re not injured, then you’re absolutely fine to keep going. Don’t have heart rate anxiety. Breathe through the uncomfortable, because it's at that exact moment when you're creating changes in your body.
If you never change your diet for the better and do the same workout everyday (with the same modifications) and never push through the burn or leave your “comfort zone," you will never see change. So, in light of completing the January Program this week, make it your goal to channel that pain and strive to get in that near perfect breakdown, one more set, OR - hold that half plank for one more rep.
Here are some simple mental tips that work help you push through your workout:
Break it up. Think about tackling the workout in smaller increments. Cutting the full length into two, 25-minute halves is a lot less daunting and you won’t have that pit of dread that usually starts brewing long before you press play.
Stop watching the numbers Be present! It isn’t all about the numbers. Just like a watched pot never boils, staying fixated on reps, how many minutes you have left or how many calories your burning will only make the time pass more slowly, and will keep you from ever getting fully mentally “in the zone.” If it’s a hard habit to break, put a piece of tape over the time counter on your screen or your HR monitor.
Go beyond aesthetics Sure, having a killer bod is an incredible side effect of SLB, but for a lot people, “wanting to look amazing” isn’t something that they’re actually emotionally connected to. I’ve found that thinking about strength is more powerful when you’re trying to power through a plateau.
Know your why I say it all the time, but it’s so important to know and connect with your true north and set goals.
Really feel it Find something you enjoy about what you’re doing. I always like to feel like I’m punching above my weight. You’re doing SLB because on some (sick, masochistic) level, you enjoy it, right? Remember what you “like” about it so you enjoy the sensation of building muscle rather than just thinking of it as just a painful experience.
Be grateful for the body and mind that allows you to move When I teach live and our hearts are in our throats I always remind people what a privilege it is that they can move. It’s easy to forget that working out is a gift. Some people have physical limitations that prevent them from being able to move so be mindful that you are lucky you get to do 100 squats and lunges today!
WORKING ON OUR EMOTIONAL HEALTH
It’s time to work on our core and I’m not talking about our abs. Many of us spend so much money and time working on our bodies through via fitness and organic, whole foods because we know how important it is to stay physically healthy, but when it comes to what we put into our non-physical, inner core (our mind and soul), we have a tough time keeping the toxic crap out (hello, social media). One of my most favorite Ted Talks is by psychologist Guy Winch called “Why We All Need to Practice Emotional First Aid”. In it, he talks about how we value physical health over our mental health.
Most of us have no idea how to deal and treat day-to-day emotional injuries while also being kind to ourselves and not letting that negative inner voice get the better of us. When we're feeling negative or down, certain tasks seem impossible, right? We tend to put things off (unloading the dishwasher, a 50-min. workout), but if we just get started by taking that first step, it will have a snowball effect.
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.
For example, how many times have you gotten up in the morning, sat up in bed and decided right then and there that you were in a bad mood, were totally unmotivated to do anything, or go anywhere, let alone workout. It happens to all of us. Last month I had the worst PMS and I was procrastinating and angry at the world. I don't think that I moved much for two days straight and then I went for a short walk, and momentum took over. Later that same day we filmed a full length SLB workout and I felt 100% better.
Beyond movement, creating a daily mantra to remind yourself that you’re a badass and deserving of love is really powerful. Look at yourself in the mirror before going to bed and repeat your mantra out loud ten times. Eventually, you’ll start believing the words. I have a hard time with this one and sometimes can’t think of a solid mantra, so lately I’ve found myself using Lizzo lyrics. Some good ones are “Put me on a pedestal, bet on me, bet I will.” “No I’m not a snack at all. Look, I’m the whole damn meal.” “I’ve been lifting heavy metal. See this ass? Ain’t no rental.” If nothing else, saying the lyrics as kind of spoken word poetry makes me laugh and feel happier afterward.
So work on the core and also your soul. I think if we spent as much time caring for the mental as we do the physical, we’d be more positive, have less anxiety and be happier and healthier overall.
SLB INSTANT MATCHA MILK
This week I'm sharing my instant matcha milk - a quick and easy, dairy-free cashew milk matcha that's made in the blender. I love matcha. It provides a delicious nutrient-rich energy boost pre and post-SLB. And it has so many amazing benefits. It gives you the zip of coffee without raising your heart rate. It also keeps you satiated and works as a fat blocker by blocking the ability of digestive enzymes to break down fat, a step necessary for fat to enter our cells. So instead of absorbing and storing the fat, it gets passed through the body. Matcha is also rich in chlorophyll, which alkalizes and detoxifes the blood. By increasing its pH, the body has a better chance of getting more oxygen and nutrients to cells for healing. I notice that my skin looks more radiant and I feel revitalized when I drink it regularly.
THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR MORNING ROUTINE
The January Program begins tomorrow and I’ve been prepping for the first Monday of the new year. I recently looked back at my morning routine post from Jan 2020 and was floored at how much my mornings have changed. Have you thought about yours? Morning routines are more important than ever, especially since we’re multi-tasking and juggling so much right now. We thrive from the consistency and efficiency of routines; they allow us to have more control of our day, reduce stress, keep us grounded and on top of our game. When our world gets knocked off it’s axis, having a morning routine that we can count on makes us feel motivated and much more in control of our lives.
There’s real power in a morning routine because it’s comforting – Particularly when the routine involves good healthy habits like movement, whole foods, water, and self-care rituals like mindfulness. My morning routine is a big emotional motivator for me and it plays a huge part in my life. Committing to my best habits, especially during the past few months has been so vital.
Time is our most valuable standard and each piece of our morning routine should add value, joy, and productivity to our stressful, high-octane days. The goal is to build us up without burning out and we are naturally more productive in the AM. A solid morning routine is a lot like Newton’s Law of Motion. That AM routine IS the inertia that will snowball into your most important tasks – The ones that drive the most business, and bring you the most joy.
Morning routines really help us keep our eye on the prize and our mindset strong. Moving your body everyday especially in the morning is an amazing productivity hack that helps us stay powerful, innovative, and forward-focused. Listen to your body and it will tell you what it needs. Maybe you need cardio or sculpt, or you might need to freestyle in your kitchen to some trap music. Seriously! Whatever movement will make you feel good should hold a sacred space in your daily routine.
SIMPLIFYING HYDRATION
Two Glasses of Water, Irving Penn (1970)
If there is one health myth that will not die, it is this: You should drink eight glasses of water a day. Guess what? There is no science behind it. Personally, I’ve always had hydration guilt because I’ve never in my life drank eight a day, every single day. And that’s something to feel good about. As with everything, is not always about the numbers. I’ve always tried to keep go by how my body feels and not complicate hydration.
According to most doctors, we should listen to our bodies and shouldn't drink more than our body wants. Similar to when we eat, the body tells us when we’re full by taking that exhale. The discomfort we feel when we drink too much water is a protective mechanism to prevent over-hydration. Water intoxication is a real but rare phenomenon that occurs due to an excessive intake of water (usually during exercise), when the amount of water intake exceeds that of water excretion by the kidneys. As a result, the sodium concentration in the blood is diluted, and hyponatremia develops. When this happens, your body's water levels rise, and your cells begin to swell.
Working out aside, how much water should we aim for day-to-day? It’s really all about your lifestyle. Going off our own thirst is the best way to judge how much we need. Just like diet, it’s an individual thing and it all comes down to water in, water out. If you’re doing an intense SLB Cardio + Sculpt workout for example, you’re going to want more water and your body will tell you that. Those who break a sweat will crave more water and the same rule goes with food. By eating a balanced diet high in water-dense fruits and veggies, we’ll achieve about 20-40% of our daily water needs through food. Yet another reason to eat those collard wraps!
JANUARY PROGRAM: COMING IN HOT
2021 coming in hot! Feel that good energy? I’ve followed so many of your personal journeys this year in regards to health and wellness. For some, healthy habits took a back seat to new responsibilities that came with the pandemic while others used the extra time to at home to create new healthy habits. Regardless of how you’re feeling today, it’s time to get into a new mindset and start 2021 on the right foot.
You know how you accomplish more of your health goals during a week if you get your workouts in early in the week and meal prep over the weekend? The same is true for the year. Starting the year off on the right foot, will set you up for success all year long.
So many of us need a catalyst to stay committed to fitness. Every year, I hear from many of you that your goals include looking and feeling your best for a certain event, or in a bikini, or your favorite pair of shorts, etc. With herd immunity or getting round one of the vaccine still a ways away, you may feel like you’re lacking motivation rn.
It’s time to change your motivation mindset. Yes, fitness gives you confidence, but it also gives you so much more than that. It gives you energy, it boosts your mood, it helps you sleep better, helps you control your weight, it helps you age well, and reduces your risk of chronic disease.
It’s time to turn Netflix off, and SLB On. Throw the sugar and processed foods out and stock up on whole foods. We’re starting this year right. Make yourself feel good now, and your future self will thank you for years to come.
The SLB Jan Program begins on Monday. Sign up and commit by texting us on the SLB Connect hotline: 424-327-5470. Plant some seeds today for what you want to be, what you want to see, and where you want to be in the near future. Do it with intention and love and believe that it’s all coming together, because it is!
LB'S GLOW
BTS of me tapping in-between shots. You guys ask me all the time how I get a lit from within glow. I work from the inside out by sweating everyday with SLB and I follow a low glycemic, whole foods diet but I also take my skincare really seriously. A few key products that I swear by:
Shani Darden Retinol Reform is key to keeping my skin glowing and exfoliated without irritation or dryness.
Adipeau Fat Balance Activator plumps. I use it as a sleeping mask nightly.
Deesse Pro Mask Next Generation (via Shani Darden) - I rely on red + blue light therapy daily for anti-aging and treating acne rosacea.
Lauren’s results after 3 months of Adipeau
Lauren using the Deesse Pro Next Generation
BETSY'S ACTIVATION RESULTS
SEVEN DAYS to vertical, musculoskeletal balance, -12.08”, and a healthier 🌱 diet. Meet @bootsycollins810 from Philly. This was B’s 9th Activation with me and she is always my favorite postural analysis/people to “fix”...I swear that I do not make anyone stand wonky on day one!
We work from the inside out and my goal is always to balance her muscularly and take the edge off the bulk/mass. This lighting is not ideal but check out the space between her arms and her bikini bottoms. And her back! 🤯 Betsy has a stunning body and builds muscle easily. She works really hard, and is always up for HH & another workout. Betsy began her fitness journey with me back at Lithe. She currently takes group classes at @rippedphl, does personal training and also fits in Studio LB. Tbh, I can’t imagine a retreat without her. Swipe on IG for her results last year 12 wks post labral hip repair and us three years ago in Little Corn, Nicaragua.
Betsy is strong, very fit, and loves to be challenged on the beach and in-studio. Her challenges are relaxing her traps and balancing her back and hip mobility during core/floor work. Betsy lost 12.08 inches and I love that her entire body is much more balanced on day seven. I cant say that we always see eye to eye on rest days, but I get her type of ‘crazy’ and we have a great working relationship. I adore you, B! Can’t wait for the next one.
FRIDAY RITUALS
TGIF! The last day of the workweek still hasn’t lost its charm. I always look at Friday as the day to set the tone to bring more joy to the weekend. Pre-March, dressing up and heading to happy hour with my girlfriends was a rite of passage (and I miss it!) but these days I blow off steam in my skates and make pizza with my neighbors.
If Sunday is the day to reflect and prepare for the week ahead, Friday’s are for celebrating what you’ve accomplished during the week and kicking-off the weekend. I thought sharing my Friday practice would be a great way to inspire ideas on how we can start the weekend right! Here’s my Friday Practice:
Coffee Out. I start my day getting out of the house with coffee at Alfred. It’s such a treat.
SLB Quick Burn, post-coffee. I have to get moving but with homeschooling my mornings are insane and most days I don’t have time for a full length.
Lunch / Work Outside. Vitamin D and some fresh air is everything.
Sk8! My mom owned Laundromats and growing up I would roll around all day long. Picking them up again during the pandemic has been so much fun and also really great cross-training.
Pizza Friday. We started a tradition of making pizza with our neighbors and it’s so much fun.
Movie Night. Friday is the perfect time for authorized screen time with family and friends. I love watching and introducing Mars to older movies like Little Shop of Horrors.
Sunset & Wine. Fall means the days are shorter, and sunsets come earlier so there's plenty of time to catch one with a glass of wine before bed.
SLB KITCHEN
Welcome to the SLB kitchen! You guys know that I’ve been preaching for years that nutrition is 90%, and for the longest time I’ve been wanting to incorporate food into the mix in a bigger way. In addition to your weekly workouts, SLB members will now receive recipes each week that will live in-studio. Some will be my own and some will be from nutritionists, chefs and food partnerships. I’m so excited to help you guys reach your goals!.
Lauren Boggi's 10 Steps To Pivoting
Tighten your ponytails…
Guys, have we been going through it or what? This pandemic (and election, climate change, economy, homeschooling and… I could go on) has made me realize that there are many things I’ve been keeping in, that I should share. Personal things I’ve learned through mistakes made, lessons learned, and challenges overcome that may be valuable in some way to those that feel they could use it.
Several years ago my business encountered some serious challenges (for a whole other blog post, or more like a book!). It all could seem rather unremarkable for those not deeply in the trenches and drama — Breaking News: Small Business Closes! — But over the past six months many people have asked for my advice on how I pivoted quickly, kept my chin up, and returned with confidence, celebrating what I can uniquely offer this world.
For the most part I’d say I’m pretty resilient and I’ve bounced forward quickly. Maybe it’s because I’m not risk-averse and I don’t like to do anything small. Omg, I even fail big! I can assure you that it looks a lot more elegant than it was, and is. There are days I feel like a rockstar, and some days that I question my worth. But one constant is that I’ve learned that failing is not only inevitable in some capacity, it creates progress. I believe failure creates knowledge. Knowledge creates vision. Vision creates change. And change is what we need.
As you read my perspective it’s important to know where I’m coming from: As a life-long athlete and a huge believer in fate, I’m a shameless optimist. Forward, for me, is the only direction I go. The rotator cuff injury that forced me into retirement as a D-1 SEC cheerleader led me to rehab my shoulder through Pilates, which led to creating my own fitness method, Cardio-Cheer-Sculpting. A real estate transaction and seven-year long lawsuit (that ultimately ended my company) led me to believe that there was a better way to expand CCS online in 2015. Talk about learning the hard way.
I see what the pandemic is doing to many industries, especially the fitness industry. Most businesses small and large were turned on their heads overnight, forcing many to learn the art of adaptation immediately, or else. It saddens me to watch many scramble to go online so fast. My digital transformation didn’t come from a pandemic and wasn’t forced to happen in the blink of an eye. For years I wanted to find a way to bring my method to the masses without opening an army of brick and mortar studios, dealing with complex operations and the risk of even greater fixed costs. I wanted to use my energy, sweat and unique talents in a different way. That was late 2015.
There was a time in 2017-2018 after I lost my business and went bankrupt that I thought my professional life was over. Every day I would wake up and recite my mantra: Laur, just keep going. Be in the moment, even if it’s an awful dumpster fire moment. Be flexible. Keep moving forward. I could have easily broken down but I chose not to. Okay so I did once on the kitchen floor but who’s counting.
Here are my ten tips on how to phoenix the sh*t out of 2020:
1. Identify your passion. What are you fighting for? Purpose crushes obstacles.
2. Be forward focused. Use every bit of your energy to build the new. You will constantly be reminded of the old. Put it behind you. With that said, allow yourself to grieve. It’s okay to keep the parts of your brand that you loved to keep the spirit alive as long as you need to.
3. Be optimistic. Be your own cheerleader. Believe that your better days are ahead. Believe in YOU.
4. Connect with your angels who believe in you and lean on your network.
5. Protect your energy and give yourself the time you need to recover. I didn’t blog or write for years and I also didn’t read things that were written about me.
6. Make space for your transformation. Get ready to hustle and set goals that match the moment of time you’re in.
7. Focus on staying healthy and strong. Your mind and spirit are just as important as your body. Keep your spirit alive. People will try and break you down - Do not make yourself small for anyone and do not allow others to break your spirit.
8. Embrace uncertainty. Lean into it and grow with it. You don’t have to have all the answers right now.
9. Take things day by day. Everything is temporary. My lowest days set me up for the most growth. They broke me down and ultimately really fired me up.
10. Get Excited! Shake the Etch A Sketch! Big things are happening, the sky is the limit, and there’s nothing like a clean slate.
💭 this week
Happy Monday > 💭 this week:
1. Modification is not failure.
2. Don’t be too uptight— Move your hips.
3. Work your edge but don’t leap over it.
4. You CAN.
5. Every minute counts.
6. You’re ready right now.
UP CLOSE WITH LB
I sat with Katie and answered some of your more recent, most-asked beauty, wellness, business and daily routine questions…
01
WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL MOST CONFIDENT FOR THE CAMERA?
Good light, good hair, a spray tan, and body oil, definitely.
02
WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL MOST CONFIDENT IN REAL LIFE?
I barely ever wear makeup when I’m not on camera, but mascara makes me feel really good.
03
THE LAST THING YOU DO BEFORE GOING ON SET?
Take a deep breath and shake my hips.
04
YOUR SIGNATURE GOING OUT BEAUTY LOOK?
I haven’t been out much since March but I love a smoky eye, a nude lip and waves.
05
YOUR BEAUTY ICONS?
The effortlessly sexy Brigitte Bardot, Shakira, Halle Berry and Margot Robbie.
06
WHERE DO YOU FEEL MOST BEAUTIFUL?
Sailing with wet hair, all tanned or on Activation after day three.
07
BEST WAY TO START THE DAY?
Water with lemon, espresso and a breakfast salad —I have to have them everyday.
08
TIME SPENT ON BEAUTY IN THE A.M.?
If I’m not working and don’t really have anywhere special to go I literally take five minutes. Just wash my face, put on moisturizer and sunscreen.
09
THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE CCS MOVE YOU'VE CREATED?
I can’t say there’s one particular move but our Cardio-Cheer-Sculpting technique - Resistance training (weight training) and cardio works better and faster than anything out there.
10
FAVORITE GETTING-READY SOUNDTRACK?
Well right now that means getting ready for a meal or work but there’s this playlist on Spotify I love called Feel Good Dinner that I’ve been playing a lot recently.
11
AN EXPENSIVE-BUT-WORTH-IT PRODUCT OR TREATMENT?
Microcurrent facials —they are amazing!
12
LAST THING YOU DO BEFORE BED?
Brush my teeth, floss and check my phone one last time.
13
SCARIEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE?
A tie between swimming with a school of Caribbean reef sharks at “The Wall” in the Bahamas and pivoting from a studio-based business to a completely digital one during a time when not many existed.
14
BEST HIDDEN TALENT?
I can roll my tongue in like, ten different ways.
15
BACKUP CAREER?
I truly can’t imagine doing anything else but I’d probably be happy being a collegiate cheer coach.
ALKALINE WATER LOVE
One thing that has changed my life since moving to LA three years ago is changing my water system to purely alkaline water (Thank you, SoCal Water!). My entire life I’ve been a terrible water drinker. We know that we should drink at least 8 cups daily, more if we work out. You’ve probably heard that you should have water 30 minutes before you eat to promote weight loss. Skip room temperature water (you can burn more calories by drinking cold water). Is it just me or does the simplest thing you can do for your health feel so complicated? It’s enough to make your head spin!
You may have heard various health claims about alkaline water. Some say it can help slow the aging process, regulate your body’s pH level, and prevent chronic diseases like cancer. But what exactly is alkaline water, and why all the hype?
The “alkaline” in alkaline water refers to its pH level. The pH level is a number that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale of 0 to 14. For example, something with a pH of 1 would be very acidic and something with a pH of 13 would be very alkaline. Normal drinking water typically has a neutral pH of 7. Alkaline water typically has a pH of 8 or 9. Alkaline water must also contain alkaline minerals and negative oxidation reduction potential (ORP). ORP is the ability of water to act as a pro- or anti-oxidant. The more negative the ORP value, the more anti-oxidizing it is.
As someone who takes her health and nutrition seriously - I choose the best possible quality foods like sustainable fish and organic produce; why wouldn’t I do the same with water? So when I moved I did, and here's what I’ve noticed:
Healthier Looking Skin
My skin is on the drier side and I cook and wash my hands lot – so they tend to get really dry. Even during the summertime when it’s hot I rely on heavy moisturizers on my face and body. My hands and cuticles are far less dry than usual. After two weeks of strictly alkaline I was using hand lotion about once a day and I rarely use it now.
And, not only has my skin become way more hydrated, my complexion has become clearer (and glow-ier). I swear this stuff is like the fountain of youth. I have less fine lines around my eyes, I rarely have any issues with rosacea anymore and I tend to break out along my chin once a month without fail but nowadays it’s really minimal.
Better Digestion
I have far less digestive symptoms: very little bloating; no acid…nothing.
Quicker Recovery Time
There isn’t scientific proof to support the health claims around alkaline water and faster recovery time post-workout – but that doesn’t mean those claims have been disproved. I know, first-hand, that more research is needed to fully understand what happens, physiologically, when we drink alkaline water but I will tell you that for the past three years, I’ve never recovered faster, post-workout.
6 TIPS TO LOOKING & FEELING CONFIDENT IN YOUR SWIMSUIT
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.
LB'S CHOCOLATE CASSAVA PANCAKES
If you love these cassava pancakes, the addition of 1-2 tablespoons of cacao makes them even better.