We recently connected with Lauren Shaffer and have shared our conversation below.
Lauren, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I’m a women’s fitness and nutrition coach, and I’m grateful to be living my life’s purpose helping other women lose weight and keep it off without obsessing over calories or spending long precious hours in the gym.
Finding my purpose in this rewarding coaching field didn’t come easily.
I started dieting and obsessing about my weight when I was a mere 8 years old. And when I was 10, I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa and Major Depression. I spent the majority of my teenage years in and out of hospitals struggling for my life. What once was an attempt to lose weight became a disorder that completely consumed me.
As I was recovering, I knew in the back of my mind that one day I was going to use my story to help women learn how to lose weight without sacrificing their health and mental wellbeing. I just needed to become healthy enough myself to do just that.
And that’s exactly what I did.
There’s so much toxicity in the diet culture that makes millions of dollars every year by providing women with solutions that cause harm to their bodies. Whether it’s the restrictive dieting, the carb-cutting, or the juice cleanses, I know there is a better way. I know this because I coach women every single day on how to build the lifelong skills required to sustainably lose weight and build confidence in themselves.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m an online women’s fitness and nutrition coach catering to schedule-packed professional women through my LEVEL UP program. I teach women how to gracefully let go of the yo-yo dieting lifestyle and help them create a personal weight loss plan that fits their busy lives. With my unique background, education, and coaching methods, my clients never have to worry about dieting again, because they learn the real deal about what it takes to lose the weight and keep it off. All without sacrificing or depriving themselves.
The most exciting thing about my LEVEL UP program is witnessing women make huge wins they’ve never experienced with other weight loss methods. They reach these wins without doing what most other programs make them do. There’s no counting calories, cutting carbs, or doing extensive amounts of cardio. My clients accomplish their goals with evidence-based fat loss nutrition, a “growing-forward” mindset, and short yet effective workouts that fit easily into their busy schedules.
It is beyond rewarding when I see the confidence they build in themselves when they realize they’ve finally found something sustainable that gives them real lasting results. At the end of their time with me, their lives are truly transformed.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I’ve gained so many new skills and qualities as I’ve grown into the coach I am now. I’d say the most impactful personal quality is perseverance. I’ve taken all my difficult past lessons and have turned them into immense growth that I now use to help other women discover confidence and strength in their own selves.
The skill that has most helped me make an impact on women’s lives is the skill of helping them realize their own potential. Yes, I give the knowledge, expertise, and support. However, all the knowledge and support doesn’t do any good unless the women can build the strength in themselves to implement learned tools. I’m proud to help see them through this.
Finally, the most impactful area of knowledge that I’ve gained is in the world of nutrition. It may sound cliche, but knowledge truly is power. Without an understanding of proper nutrition, it’s so much simpler to fall into the traps of fad diets. I’m excited every day to share this invaluable knowledge to help others feel empowered to make healthier effective decisions for lasting weight loss.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most impactful thing my mother has done for me is shown me that there’s no challenge you can’t overcome. I saw her struggle as a single mom when I was younger, but she never gave up. She has passed down her incredible work ethic and fortitude to me, and I’m forever grateful for that. Without her, I wouldn’t be nearly as strong as I am today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenshaffer.coach/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gentlebeastcoaching/
