Boot Camp Challenge

Hey my fitfam! I feel super blessed to spend time with you. And, even more blessed to share all things fitness and wellness with you in our Boot Camp Challenge® podcast! In our Boot Camp Challenge® podcast I will share the truth of all things fitness and wellness. We will talk about the best workouts out there, top nutrition hacks, how to lose weight, how to gain weight, why you can’t lose weight, kids fitness, boomers fitness, hormones, alcohol, and the list goes on. I will also invite guest speakers who are experts in their fields. I will interview campers so you get a real life perspective on the balance of fitness and wellness. And, sometimes I will just rant. But it will always be the TRUTH. Always. Thank you for your time. I do know it is your most valuable commodity to give. And I will always appreciate it.

Seasonal Depression 10/30/2023

Weight loss drugs, diet coke and menopause. We mention it all with Abby Langer! 09/22/2023

Are you a Covid Long-Hauler?! Yep, so is my husband. 07/22/2021

Tired Of Being Tired?! READ THIS. 12/16/2020

Tired Of Being Tired?! READ THIS. You can’t cheat sleep. Over the years, we’ve learned to sacrifice sleep. I’ll just stay up later, I’ll wake up earlier… But, you’re actually sacrificing so much more than your sleep. By shortchanging your sleep, you are compromising: Your mood Your performance Your hormonal balance Even your immunity And, so much more… We sat down and talked with Dr. Joseph Ojile of the Clayton Sleep Institute in St. Louis and learned some things that will change the way you think about sleep. First, start thinking of sleep as a pitcher of water. When you go to sleep at night, your pitcher is empty. While you sleep, you are filling up that pitcher with water, or energy. As you go throughout your day, you are emptying out that pitcher. If you are sleep deprived, you are pouring from an empty cup. If you are constantly moving around your sleep/wake times, your hormones can’t keep up. They’re misaligned. It’s as if you got on a plane and flew to Paris. You’ve effectively given yourself jet lag and you didn’t even get to see the Eiffel Tower. Dr. Ojile gave us so much great intel, including: The positive results they’ve seen from low dose melatonin (Exactly how much to take and when to take it) How sleep and weight loss are related How much sleep you need (it’s written in your genetic code) What to do when stressors wake you up in the middle of the night AND, you know what's crazy? Most of us are doing the exact OPPOSITE of what we need to be doing and, in effect, we are training our brain to continue to keep waking us up in the middle of the night. While 2020 has been a challenging year, many people have used it to really dig down into better sleep habits, exploring what works best for them. Don’t expect bad sleep habits to be fixed overnight. Just like with exercise and diet, it takes consistency and stability. We’ve jam-packed all this intel and more into this podcast for you! The Clayton Sleep Institute is a leader in diagnosing and treating a full range of sleep disorders, providing both in-clinic and home sleep tests. Talk to your doctor about seeing them because – at the end of the day - sleep is the most basic form of self-care. Learn more about them at claytonsleep.com. Again, so appreciate you taking the time to listen to our podcasts and share your thoughts, ideas, and comments. And, if you have any topics you would like us to discuss in future podcasts, please email me and let me know. The best ideas always come from you. Much love, xoxo Smiles, Lors /episode/index/show/bootcampchallenge/id/17217821

Nutrition Questions, Answers, and Shockers 11/06/2020

Campers, Conversations & Cocktails 09/29/2020

Real Talk on Racial Injustice and Making Changes 06/18/2020

The Covid-19 Virus and How We Can Win This War 04/06/2020

Meal Planning 101 02/26/2020

Do Kegels Really Work? And All Your Bladder Questions Answered 02/10/2020

A Woman on a Mission to Help Other Women 12/04/2019

A Woman on a Mission to Help Other Women Hey chica’s, I hope you are having a fabulous day! On this weeks’ episode, I am introducing you to my sweet, amazing friend, Lindsey Rainwater. She is a wife, mother of two, consultant, entrepreneur and founder of an organization called Women in Fitness Association (WIFA). Lindsey and I met over ten years ago when we were both working and speaking at fitness conferences. Lindsey was in her twenties, single and hustling to build her career. And, unbeknownst to most of us, was struggling with alcohol. Over the last decade, Lindsey moved through sobriety, married the man of her dreams, had two beautiful babies and became the founder of a non-profit to support women in the fitness industry. Watching her navigate through such high highs and low lows with such grace and thankfulness inspired me to invite her on our podcast to share with you her tips and secrets for creating the life she loves. As we dive into the conversation, Lindsey shares with us how self awareness helped her move through the troubling times in her life, the steps she took to make her whole and the building blocks she uses today to create a place for women to grow. Lindsey also shares the following: - What she decided to do at 27 years old that changed her life. - Her motivator to start an organization for women in fitness. - How she finds “balance” between work and family and how she renamed and reframed it. - What every female entrepreneur needs to find success. - The importance of having a mentor especially if you are a leader. Thank you, Lindsey for sharing your amazing story with all of us. And, for the inspiration to get out there and create the life we want to lead. xoxo And to all of you listening, thank YOU for your time, your ideas and your suggestions. You’re the best! Love you so hard, Lors PS Sorry for all my “um’s”. Seriously, um, don’t even know what that was all about! /episode/index/show/bootcampchallenge/id/12281498

A Couple’s Hope, Laughter, and Heartbreak During Their Struggle through Infertility 11/20/2019

A Couple’s Hope, Laughter, and Heartbreak During Their Struggle through Infertility Hey chica’s, I hope you are having a fabulous day! On this weeks’ episode, we dive head first into the topic of infertility. I want to start by sending so much love and thanks to my guest, Laura Michel, aka, Michel-Macher, who was so courageous and transparent as she shared her story. Thank you, Laura for being your amazing self and your sense of humor on this topic. I also want to send some love to Chris (husband) for being so open and cool with Laura sharing the part of the story that belongs to him. And, I want say thank you to all you listeners who have requested this topic. Because of you, we are talking openly and honestly about the challenges of infertility, the heartbreak of miscarriages, the emotional roller coaster of conception and the devastation of loss. Over the last few years I have had the privilege of walking along side Laura through her journey as her and Chris tried to bring a baby into this world. I was so struck my Laura’s self confidence, her abundance of hope and her appreciate for her body. And, while her body and eggs are considered “old” because she is over the age of 35, she continued to strengthen it, move it and honor it as she went from many tries of IUI and IVF over the course of the two years. I thank you, Michel-Macher for sharing something so intimate and private. To our listeners, some of our conversation sounds like a sit-com (carrying sperm in her bra and the thought of getting pulled over) and some of our conversation is heartbreaking – (how she and Chris had to cover up a miscarriage). But all of it is real. And, I hope it helps any of you struggling with infertility. xoxo Here are some other topics we dive into: - The one person who struggled more than her during this process. - How she faked drinking to cover a miscarriage. - Her number one piece of advice to any couple going through infertility. - How her and Chris did Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) every month for seven months. - Her one shot with in vitro fertilization (IVF) - Her last and final shot at having a baby. Thank you always for your suggestions on topics and thank you more for listening! Love you tons,  Lors /episode/index/show/bootcampchallenge/id/12113657

How to Combat Anxiety and Move Through Worry 10/21/2019

How a Misdiagnosis Lead to a 100 Pound Weight Gain and the Journey Back 10/09/2019

Menopause – How to Survive It! 09/18/2019

The Road to Sobriety – A Chat with Virginia Kerr 08/21/2019

The Road to Sobriety – A Chat with Virginia Kerr Hey my friends, today I am introducing you to my friend, Virginia Kerr. Virginia is well known around the St. Louis area as a television news anchor and the host of a show called The Thread St. Louis. Virginia also just outed herself on Instagram as struggling with alcohol. I met Virginia a few years back while working on her show. We did a segment together and had a blast. We laughed, cut up and I think we actually got yelled at by the producer to get back to work! When I drove home that day I remember thinking she definitely had it all together. A successful career in television. A happy marriage. An amazing healthy, son. One evening as I was scrolling through Instagram, I came across one of her posts. It was November 8th, 2018. She just shared she drank two bottles a night of Chardonnay. And she didn’t want to do it anymore. Honestly, I was shocked. Not that she drank two bottles of wine, but that she was “outing” herself on Instagram. And, asked us to hold her accountable! As I continued to follow her journey, I fell more in love with her. I already knew she was fun and had a wicked sense of humor. Now I was discovering her inner strength. Her resolve to love herself. Her honesty and unapologetic candor about her inner demons. I found her insta-diary fascinating. Some of the strategies she uses to stay sober I had used in saving my marriage. Some of the trauma she had to work through regarding her childhood were similar to my own. And, her courage to be what she was created to be, infectious. And today, she is sharing her story with us. Put your listening ears on, chica’s, this episode is loaded with amazingness! We take a deep dive into the following areas: - How binge eating turned into binge drinking. - Therapy and how it changed her life. - The debilitating effect of shame. - Toxic relationships and how she made the change. - How we both relate to Eminem (yes, the artist!) Remember, wellness isn’t just about moving your body, it’s also about changing your mindset. Love you,  Lors  xoxo P.S. If you want to follow Virginia on social: Instagram- Twitter - Facebook – /episode/index/show/bootcampchallenge/id/10942457

How I'm Going to Get More Peeps Movin with a Little Help From My Friends 08/05/2019

My Coffee Chat with Tim Ezell – Spirituality, the Importance in our Overall Wellness 07/23/2019

My Coffee Chat with Tim Ezell – Spirituality, the Importance in our Overall Wellness Hi my friends, I hope you are having a most awesome day! A few weeks back I had a lunch date with a friend. You know him as a television personality on Fox 2 News in the morning. You may recognize him as the host of the television show, The Thread. He may be the pastor of your church. But to me, he is a friend whom I love dearly. Peeps, meet Tim Ezell. Tim and I met over ten years ago at the news station. I was a guest on his show sharing fitness and wellness with his audience. Before and after our segments every Monday, we would have a quick chat, share how things were going and ask about our families. A few months into meeting Tim, our chat turned spiritual. This was surprising because I usually don’t share my spirituality with many people. I mean, it‘s one of my most favorite topics but I usually keep it within my family and close friends. Tim and I jumped right in, and it became part our chats. They would be quick, but they would be deep, full of wisdom and a comfort to each of us as we were going through things. As our friendship grew, so did the lengths of our conversations around spirituality. We would talk God, faith, struggles and victories. And, when we met for lunch this day, our conversation topic was the same. So, I asked him if I could share it with you. And, he said, “of course”! So, grab a coffee, wine (don’t forget, Jesus loved wine J) or water, and push play. Today our topic is Spirituality and why it is critical to our overall wellness. Here is what we talked about: Tim’s story, and how he almost died at a young age. How to respond when God doesn’t hear you. How one professor changed Tim’s heart and encouraged him to keep moving through the fire. Tim’s top five tips to keep you spiritually strong and healthy. For those of you who have watched Tim the last twenty years, you see a fun, outgoing, entertaining TV personality. But he is so much more. He is a man who has been called by God to share the message of love with the world. As always, I love your feedback. Please feel free to email, text, tweet or dm your comments, suggestions, or just say hi. Love you so hard, Lors xoxo /episode/index/show/bootcampchallenge/id/10632710

How to Create a Workout Just for You 06/12/2019

Me and My Bikini 05/29/2019

This One is for All My Mammas 05/15/2019

How Trainer Turned Chef Became the Answer for Eating Right 05/01/2019

How to Make Your Family Healthy WITHOUT Being a Nag 04/15/2019

How to Make Your Family Healthy WITHOUT Being a Nag Hi my friends, I hope you are having a most awesome day! So many of you have asked me over the years the following questions: How do I get my husband to exercise without sounding like nag? How do I get my kids to eat healthy when all they want is mac and cheese? How to I steer my kids away from thinking they are fat? How do I serve healthy meals my family will like and still include junk food? So today we have some real talk about how to make your household healthy. But before we dive in, I need you to know it may take a long time. You will need to be patient if you are changing your households’ lifestyle. And, lastly, don’t give up. This is a marathon, NOT a sprint. I start off talking about your spouse. When asking your partner to join you on a wellness journey, whether it’s eating more veggies or starting an exercise program you have to remember it’s an individual journey. While you can be an encourager (which I talk about) and an educator, your person still has to make their own decision and find their own motivator. BUT there are ways you can help. I then jump into your kids. I think this is a bit easier cuz you’re the boss and you have more control over your littles. You will be the one to teach them about healthy foods. You are the one who will require an hour of movement a day. You will be the one to make the lunches and provide the desserts. I share stories on how I did this with my three and how they felt about it. I also share the following: - How Tony went from a 30 pound weight gain to an Iron Man. - How to incorporate Captain Crunch or donuts into your meal planning. - How to get your kids to eat healthy foods. - The number one thing to NOT talk about. - What to do if your child does not like/play sports. My friends, I hope I was able to provide you with some tips and tricks to get your family healthy. And, if you need more, always feel free to email me at . A BIG THANK YOU for asking such great questions, taking the time to educate yourself and allowing me to be part of YOUR wellness journey. Love you lots, Lors xoxo /episode/index/show/bootcampchallenge/id/9405089

Why the Scale Does NOT Determine Your Self Worth 04/03/2019

My Interview with a Spice Girl 03/18/2019

How My Camper Lost 30 Pounds 03/04/2019

Diets and Exercise – Who Do You Trust? 02/06/2019

The Truth About the Celery Juice Craze and Other Diets 01/23/2019

Women Bosses – Running the Track and Running the World 12/19/2018

Women Bosses – Running the Track and Running the World I want to introduce you to my friend, amazing momma, stylin designer and legit CEO BOSS WOMAN of JBloom Design, Jennifer Bonacorsi! Jenn and I met over a year ago when she brought Boot Camp Challenge® to JBloom. I went to help launch the program and was in a bit of shock and awe when I saw her show up in a boot! Yep, she had just had surgery on her foot but was so excited to do the program, she decided to do it in her boot and take the options. I immediately knew she was my kind of peoples. What I didn’t know at the time was how like-minded we were in other areas of our lives. For instance, we are both mamas; she to four beautiful girls and me, well, you know my fam. We both created companies and encountered so many obstacles we became warriors AND wonder women. We both work with AND like our husband (although we both demand “alone” time). And, we both rely on our faith during the trials of tribulations of not only the business life but also real life. And, we both enjoy running although we are NOT runners. As we sat down and began to share our stories, another thing struck me: Jenn’s courage. A few years in of starting the company that would become known as JBloom, she had to pivot. In order to keep her vision alive, she had to change her entire company. And she had to do it in a day. If any of you have had to make change in either your personal life or professional life, you know the challenge. And, she did it- with grace, gratitude and God. So, I would LOVE for you to grab your beverage of choice, take a comfy seat (or grab your water jug and take a walk) and listen as Jenn shares the story of JBloom, how she incorporates wellness in her crazy busy personal and professional life, and how she relies on her faith to change women’s lives across the country. Oh, and we also talk about the following: - How to balance family and a career - The number one strategy to keep you on track with your fitness routine - The challenges of incorporating your faith into your company. - How having your utilities turned off can be a “life” lesson (btw, it happened to both of us!) While Jen and I dive into some serious chat, we also enjoy a lot of laughs. And, for whatever reason, I said “a hundred percent” a HUNDRED times (sorry!). As always, I so appreciate you. And, I love your suggestions. Please continue to reach out with your ideas and comments. It is why I do what I do. Take care this week, make good choices and remember, women rock! Much love,LorsXoxo /episode/index/show/bootcampchallenge/id/7980863

Struggling with Your Mental Health? Please Listen to This! 12/05/2018

Boot Camp Challenge

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