Boot Camp Challenge

Hey my friends, I hope you are having a most awesome day! I was sitting in the airport a few months back, and I overheard a conversation.  Two ladies were chatting and complaining that it was taking way TOO long to lose thirty pounds.  They said they had been working on it for a few weeks.  I so wanted to jump in and shake them and tell them all they had to do was be consistent, be realistic and be patient AF!  But, I did none of that.  I did not interrupt their conversation, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Then I began to wonder how many more people think it is easy to lose THIRTY pounds?  The answer – A TON. So today, I am sharing with you the TRUTH of what it takes to lose thirty pounds.  Everything you need to know.  Here are a few things I dive into: What to actually EAT to lose weight The best workouts to do  The number one cause of pain when working out (and how to fix it) What I write on my bathroom mirror to stay motivated The number one strategy you need to deploy to find success in your wei

Hey friends, I hope you are having a fabulous week! I just had the most amazing conversation with my friend and personal fashion stylist, Stacy Cody. She not only answered YOUR questions about fashion, clothes and how to dress YOUR body, she also dove deep into the psychology of how we dress ourselves and how and why it makes us feel the way we feel. During our conversation, Stacy shared how a size on a tag can change our whole attitude for a day (good or bad) and why this number is such a lie (doesn’t this sound like a scale?!). She also dives into how clothes make us feel. Put on a fabulous outfit and you will feel you can run the world. Isn’t it crazy how an amazing dress or pair of jeans can make us feel so confident?   We also chat about dressing our bodies. She said most of us pick clothes that are TOO BIG for our bodies when we should be picking smaller sizes (amen to that!). And, she goes on to answers a ton more questions to include: - What to wear to make your hips look smaller - How to make your bo

Hey friends, I hope you are rockin your week! I want to introduce you to my friend, amazing momma, stylin’ television personality and legit dietician, Jennifer McDaniel. Jen and I met at our local television station over eight years ago. I was brought on to share fitness tips with the St. Louis peeps, and Jen was brought on to share nutrition tips. We chatted before and after our segments, and a friendship was struck. Many (more like tons) of you have asked me how to lose weight while going through menopause or the beginning stages of menopause. So, I reached out to Jen and asked if she would join me on our podcast and share with you how to help lose and/or maintain weight during this time of our life. Here are a few topics we cover: - Menopause weight gain – why it happens. - The best foods to eat to help you lose weight during this time. - The anti-weight gain menopause diet (yep, she tells us what to eat!) - The one truth Jen shared that SHOCKED me (and it will change WHAT time you eat!) - The best carbs t

Today I would like to introduce you to Bryan Daddio, my friend and the founder of Turbo Strapp, a heart rate monitor device. Daddio and I had a great chat a few weeks back and had a blast. We both love to geek out on the science of heart rate training, heart rate monitoring, and how it affects the whole body.     And, we are both total science nerds, especially on the topics of fitness, wellness, exercise and nutrition. AND, in this convo, you will hear all that. AND, we provide insight on how all of this relates to YOU. Here are a few of the topics we discuss: - Our thoughts on the Apple Watch, the Fitbit and the Garmin, and which is the best device. - How you can change your BODY by understanding your heart rate, and what it means. - Why RECOVERY may be more important than the work when trying to change your body. - How monitoring your heart rate can make you faster and stronger. - How exercising can make your babies smarter (this is forreals). So, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and settle in to li

Today I would like to introduce you to Dr. Vidan (Dr.V), my friend and the official chiropractor for the 2011 World Series Champions, St. Louis Cardinal, whaaat?! Yep, true story. Dr. V and I met twenty years ago in a gym. He was working his way through Chiropractic school and I was about to launch Boot Camp Challenge®. We both left the facility we were working and continued on with our education and our businesses. A few years back, we ran into each other at Fox 2 News. It was great reconnecting and catching up. I started following him on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VidanFamilyChiropractic/) and saw he is not only a doctor who helps his patients with pain and impairment, he is also a true proponent of health, wellness, and prevention. And, I love his integrity. He speaks truths that most doctors do not want to address. He tells the truth about pain medications, how the use of our phones can greatly impede our health, and how driving in our cars can be a detriment to our bodies. And, he also gives solu

Hey friends, I hope you are having a fabulous day.  Have I told you lately that I love you? I know, you are either thinking “isn’t that a song?” (Yes, you are correct and it is by Lionel Richie), or “why is Lori saying she loves me?”  I am saying I love you cuz I was thinking about you and just feel so blessed you spend time with me and Boot Camp Challenge® (BCC), and you have chosen us as your fitness/wellness expert. Time is our greatest commodity- we have so little- and yet you choose to spend some with me. Yep, I love you, and I am so blessed. Now, if I still have your time for a bit longer, I want to introduce you to Avery Ivan, our newest BCC trainer. She is also a sophomore attending college at Auburn University (go War Eagles!).  Avery shocked me from the moment I met her. She reached out to me about a position within my company when she was just 18 years old. That in itself is surprising to me. Most college bound kids are not thinking about their careers just yet let, let alone one that entails a hef

Hey friends, I hope you are having a fabulous day.  I have so missed you! So much has happened since we last chatted. Our daughter, and Boot Camp Challenge® master trainer extraordinaire, Victoria, was married at the end of April. And, it was amazing.  We also ran a half marathon, attended a college graduation, and partied at another wedding.  Oh, and trip to Mexico where my husband battled a shark (or so he says). Such a busy time…but I LOVE it! And, now, I am back to you. And, I CAN’T wait so share with you what I learned from Dr. Alison Ball. Who is Dr. Ball, you ask?  Only the most brilliant D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) in the world! Okay, maybe that is a bit overdramatic, but she is brilliant. And, do you know what I like best about her?  She shares her info in a way we can understand.  And, she has a real love and passion for her patients.  And, she LOVES research and knowledge and always learning.  Told you she was brill (brilliant).  I met Dr. Ball a few months back. When I was doing our podc

I hope you got your learning ears on cuz I am bringing some nutrition truth bombs your way!  Today’s topic – FAD DIETS. And, I brought back our expert scientist and registered dietician, Sarah Weitz, MS, RD, Michigan State professor and BCC nutritionist, woot! Sarah takes us deep into the current fad diets to include the Whole 30 diet, the Keto diet and a titch of Atkins.  I asked her ALL your questions, and, again, Sarah does not disappoint.  She dives into the history of these diets, why they were created, how they made their way into the “fad diet” trend and why they work or don’t work.  She also drops the following bombs: The number one reason we should AVOID the Keto diet. The one missing ingredient of the Whole 30 diet plan that makes it a FAD. Peanuts are not at all what they are cracked up to be (and this shocked me!) The number one food group we need to eat to lower our cholesterol. I always love conversing with Sarah on all things diet and nutrition.  And, I hope you do, too!  So grab a coffee or

Hey my friends, I hope your day is awesome! Today I am inviting you to my kitchen table for some kitchen table talk. Real talk. You may or may not be aware, but I am going to be the Mother of the Bride (MOB).  Yep, my daughter, Victoria is getting married in just three weeks.  Not even gonna lie, it has definitely been quite the journey.  Planning a wedding is no joke.  And, throughout this journey, I have had the blessing of watching my daughter navigate with such sensibility, a peaceful spirit and a love for God. So, I asked her to join us this week on our podcast and share the hi’s and low’s of planning a wedding AND staying on track with her fitness.  And, here is what she shared: • Her top secret diet plan to prepare for the wedding day (and I share mine also cuz, MOB). • The greatest emotional stressor for both Tors and myself, and how we dealt with it. • Tors number one strategy for staying on her fitness plan and the added benefits she didn’t expect. I know I say it every week, but I am so thankful fo

"You only get one life. Make the best of it." - Kristina Koob, Boot Camp Challenge® Camper Food IS medicine. It CAN heal. Kristina is living proof of it. In my latest podcast, Kristina sits down with me and shares how suddenly last year she just wasn't feeling well. Always going to the bathroom. Always thirsty. Just feeling "off," she says, and she thought to herself... well, maybe it's menopause. She went to the doctor and got the news she most dreaded: She had Type 2 diabetes, the same disease she watched take the life of her 70-year old aunt. We hear about diabetes all the time, but what exactly is it? Well, first of all, you could be one of the MILLIONS in line to get it right now and not even know it. Diabetes is a life-long disease that affects the way your body handles glucose, a kind of sugar, in your blood. Most people with the condition have type 2. There are about 27 million people in the U.S. with it. Another 86 million have prediabetes: their blood glucose is not normal, but not high enough to be

I am inviting you to grab a coffee, tea or wine and take a seat cuz I got a story for you! My guest on this week's podcast is a coach of a university cheerleading squad, winner of four national championships, top sales rep within her company, a wife, mother, and a fitness professional. And, she has a child with severe special needs. I would like you to meet my friend Carrie. Carrie and I met close to twenty years ago while teaching “aerobics”.  Between us, we have six kids, two husbands (the originals), fifty plus years in the fitness industry and forty plus years of running businesses. We try to meet monthly for lunch, wine and conversation.  And, when we meet, we talk about everything from college kids, to special needs kids.  Marriages and how hard they are to keep going.  Being a control freak and giving up control.  And, everything in between. When you listen to Carrie, you can’t help be in awe of her joyful heart, her truth bombs (we both cry a little on here) and her servant’s heart for others.  So, I

I would like to introduce you to Mary Margaret! (Her real name is Margaret Bridgett but EVERYONE gets a nickname). I met Mary Margaret over two years ago when she signed up for her first Boot Camp Challenge®. She was the first to arrive on the first day of camp. 5:10am, I believe (we start at 5:30am). She is so tiny, maybe 5ft tall. She has a huge smile and tons of energy. She shared she had just started weight watchers and was ready to add exercise to her life. She said she had never exercised before, wasn’t sure if she could do it, but wanted to give it a go. She was so brave. During her first year, Mary Margaret took all the exercise options. And, she walked. She told me she couldn’t run, but it was her goal. As the months passed, Mary started running. She also lost 30 pounds. And then, she had a heart attack. Yep, I said heart attack. Mary Margaret was visiting with her daughter when the symptoms starting presenting themselves. And, she did what most of us would likely do: immediately went into denial. Sh

Hi my friends! I want to first thank you for taking the time to listen to this weeks’ podcast. Not only will you find inspiration and courage, you will hear some hard truths and harsh realities. On this episode, I invited a very special guest. Her name is Jenn Messer, and she is one of the most inspirational and motivating trainers I have ever had the privilege with which to work. She launches BCC in the Christianburg, Virginia area as well as trains clients personally, and advocates for healthy hearts through the American Heart Association. She also lost her brother, Jimbo, who was also a BCC trainer and part of our fitfam, over a year ago at the age of 40. He was an amazing man, loving father and awesome husband, brother and trainer. Jimbo left us way too soon. When Jenn received the call that Jimbo had suffered heart failure on his run, in shock, she bolted to the hospital. What she learned from the doctors that could possibly be the cause for his death, well, it shocked her. And when she shared the story

A few weeks back I had the most awesome afternoon with my friend Stacy Cody. She is our team/trainer manager for Boot Camp Challenge®. And, she is a professional fashionista. Like forreals. She has been dressing peeps for over three decades. Some famous and then some ordinary folks like myself. And when she styles people, she is able to make them look more thin, more tall, more short, more round, more whatever you want. And, she is genius. So I asked if she would share her secrets, tips and tricks around fashion and dressing for our body type, and she said yes! Because, fitness and fashion go together like peanut butter and chocolate. Or gin and tonic. Or milk and cookies. :) So, grab your Prosecco (my fav champs), have a cuddle on your couch and take a listen to our latest podcast. I think you are gonna LOVE this chat! :) Here are a few things Stacy shares: - Her top THREE fashion tips that make all women look FABULOUS! - How the size of your purse can make you look thin! - How to pick YOUR basic color that

Friend! How is January treating you? Here in the Lou, it is giving us the cold shoulder. And, by cold, I mean FREEZING! But we are finally back at camp again and that makes me happy. I feel so much more myself when I am working with you. YOU never fail to inspire me (awwww, cue the sappy music :)) Over holiday break, I had the most amazing conversation with Angelo Bezzole. Angelo is married to our BCC trainer, Sammie Bezzole. And, I have known him for ten years. And, this is what I didn't know- he held the title of Mr. Universe for middle weight class - OMG! When I learned of his experiences, shows and competitions, I was intrigued to hear about his strategies for becoming a world class athlete, the obstacles he faced when pursuing his dreams, and how he managed the discipline to maintain his level of fitness. Then I asked him if he would share them with you. And, he said yes! So, grab your coffee or wine and pull up a seat (or jump on your treadmill and take a walk. He will definitely inspire you to move!) a

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2018. And, here in the Midwest it is a very cold start (it was -6 this morn!) Did you enjoy your New Year celebrations? Mine were awesome. Spent time with family, friends and had so much fun. My heart is so full :) And, so is my belly. O.M.G. I am seriously excited about eating clean and getting back to my normal routine. Are you like that? Love the holidays but grateful to get back to your schedule? And, by getting back to IT OR starting IT is what I chat about in this podcast. And, by IT, I am referring to working out. I know some of you get quite frustrated when trying to start a program or restart your fitness regime. And, I totally get you. You are not sure what to do. Or how to do it. Or, when to do it. Or even how often to do it! So, in my latest podcast I break it all down for you. I cover: - The best workout program for YOU. - How often you should workout to get the best results. - The number one cause of injury in new exercisers. - The number one strategy to get me off my

I am SO FREAKIN EXCITED! I seriously LOVE this time of year. I love the chaos, the traditions, the parties, the meaning, and just the whole season. (I mean, seriously, look at my house! :) BUT, and this is a big BUT, I do struggle with staying on track with my fitness and wellness during this time. I find myself trying to skip workouts, passing on my quiet time, and putting everything before ME. Here is the problem with putting me last. I become susceptible to sickness (and, the flu just flew through here last week. I used my jedi mind tricks to avoid it. I'm awesome). I also become cranky cuz I am tired and have not worked out. I, literally, suck the joy out of my own season! SO, in order to combat these pitfalls, I have put some strategies in place. Cuz, you know, I am a strategy girl :). And, I share them with you in my latest podcast. And, here are a few other things I share: - A strategy my grammy told me to help me sleep. And, it's gross. - What I HAVE to do to fall asleep. - How to drink during the hol

I hope you are having a most awesome Tuesday! I want to share with you my newest podcast. This one is on stretching. DON'T CLICK OUT OF THIS! I know you are thinking you don't NEED to stretch. You don't WANT to stretch. You are NOT going to stretch. I know exactly what you are thinking cuz you have been telling me this for over thirty years! But before you click out, give me 10 seconds to tell you why you should listen to this podcast. I invited Sammie Bezzole (that right there is why you should listen cuz she is amazeballs) to talk about how she had to go from competitive dancer, fitness professional, and runner to attending aqua classes with the senior population (she was 22). She also shares how she was able to wrap her head around doing yoga instead of running. I asked her how she was able to change her mindset, and her answer shocked me. We get into a detailed discussion about acupuncture (we have both had it done), how stretching is no longer optional for either of us, and how there is only one person w

Happy Thanksgiving Week! I want to wish you a most wonderful holiday. And, I want to share with you how thankful I am for you. Seriously, I woke up at 3:54am (before my alarm) because I was so excited to work you out, talk to you on this podcast, share pics with you on Insta and tweet with you on Twitter. No joke, YOU are my jam. I truly LOVE sharing fitness and wellness with you! And, I have more info to share with you. A lot of YOU ask me this time of year how to enjoy the holidays without wrecking your diet. And, it is a great question. In actuality, peeps gain one to two pounds each holiday season. That alone is not crazy bad. However, most of you never lose it. So the pounds start to grow. Into double digits. And, that my friends, is bad. So, in this podcast, I share with you how to avoid gaining weight during the holidays by: - Eating ALL day on Thanksgiving Day. - Having your pie and eating it too. - Sharing your thoughts to make your belly feel full. - Drinking a bottle of wine (just kidding b

I want to start by apologizing for our delay in getting you our latest podcast. We had an emotional few weeks here at BCC headquarters but we are making our way back into our regularly scheduled programming (‘member that saying from network television?) And, what a surprise podcast I have for you. I invited Tony (my hubby) to talk about our marriage. Whaaat?! I know! And, I know you are thinking, “What does this have to do with fitness?" Nothing. Absolutely nothing. So, why? Because of YOU.  Many of you have asked Tony and I through the years about our marriage. How did we manage so many years? How do we still laugh with each other everyday? How can we possibly still like each other? And, what are our qualifications? None. Absolutely zero. Except, in May, we will celebrate thirty years of marriage. And, we are happy. Very happy. And, we really like each other. Like, we really enjoy spending time together. And, we love each more today than we did thirty years ago. Now, before you “ba humbug” out of thi