One fit mommy and her kettlebell: Lauren Brooks

It’s time for another installment of “One Fit Mommy”. This is when we get to learn more about other moms who inspire me to fitness. Hopefully they will inspire you too!

This weeks featured mommy is Lauren Brooks, a personal trainer based out of San Diego, CA. Her favorite workout tool is the kettlebell, which I have recently begun to use myself. (see this post and this one too)

In addition to being a trainer and Clinical Nutritionist, Lauren is also a busy mommy to one little girl and has another baby on the way. As you can see from her picture, she manages to find time for fitness and is definitely “One Fit Mommy”!

Please read on for more about Lauren, including a clip from her brand new DVD.

Q: Have you always been fit? What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?

I have been in to fitness since I was 16 years old. Throughout high school I surfed and enjoyed being in the outdoors. Getting better at surfing is one of the factors that inspired me to have a fit lifestyle. I noticed how much better I felt when I was active. I quickly realized that I would get depressed if I didn’t have some type of outlet of exercise.

Q: What led you to start training with kettlebells?

After doing traditional weight training since I was 16 years old, I wanted to try something different. I was getting really tired of spending so much time on cardio machines. I had done some research about how kettlebell training combined cardio and strength. I took a kettlebell workshop designed for personal trainers and immediately I was hooked. After incorporating kettlebells into my training, my body and strength changed in just weeks.

Q: How are kettlebells different from training with free weights?

Kettlebell are designed very differently from free weights. The weight distribution of a kettlebell is in a form of a ball with a handle on it. The handle allows you to swing it around smoothly through your hands and the ball is able to rest gently on your wrist and forearm. When doing exercises such as Windmills, Turkish Get Ups, Presses, and Snatches, the ball slightly pulls your arm back which allows your shoulder to become more flexible and develops the internal stabilizer muscles. You can swing a dumbbell but it does not feel as natural and powerful as it would when swinging a kettlebell.

Q: What advice do you have for those who claim they do not have time for fitness?

Who has much time these days at all? But we do have 20-30 minutes to dedicate to ourselves. The beauty of kettlebell training is that you don’t need much time at all. You don’t need to spend 2 hours in the gym to get the same results that you would with 20-30 minutes of doing kettlebell and body weight training.

Q: Did your fitness program change during your pregnancy?

I did change my program. During my pregnancy I am always one to err on the side of caution. During the first trimester I did almost everything I normally did, but paid much closer attention to my body. At times, I would use slightly lighter kettlebells on overhead lifts. After 18 weeks, I stopped doing the exercises that required you to be on your back or any type of side bend such as the windmills. By the third trimester I was using a lighter kettlebell and focusing on exercises such as Swings, Squats, Cleans, Push Ups, Snatches, and One Arm Rows.

Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?

My favorite exercise is the Kettlebell Swing. I love this exercise because it gets your heart pumping faster than any exercise I have ever done while strengthening and firming your butt, legs, and core muscles. If there were only one exercise I had to pick to do forever that would be it.

Q: You are also a clinical nutritionist. What services do you offer to those who need help with their diet?

I offer online nutrition consulting and program design. I tailor nutrition programs to fit each person’s lifestyle. I never like to call it a diet because diets are just temporary. My goal is to educate the client, keep them accountable, and help them change their eating habits for the rest of their life. This has worked really well because people learn which foods work best with their bodies. My clients generally find they have much more energy while they’re watching the fat disappear.

Q: Any advice for those of us who are sugar addicts?

Yes. Sugar addicts need to have organic fruits and nuts close by them at all times. One of the reasons why people crave sugar so much is because their blood sugar is constantly spiking up and down. Having healthy snacks with you throughout the day keeps your blood sugar level so you don’t crash and feel that you need to binge on sugar and junk food.

Q: Random question–if you were stranded on an island, what 3 fitness items would you want with you?

Great question and very easy to answer. A Kettlebell, Weighted Vest, and Rings I can hang from a tree branch.

Thank you Lauren for taking the time to answer my questions!

I have recently become a big fan of kettlebell workouts and am excited about the release of her new DVD. Check out the clip!

httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=fnub7Z13nlY

For more about Lauren, please visit her website On the Edge Fitness

Now gang, have you been active today?
Get moving and enjoy your energy!