We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Featherstone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, what do you attribute your success to?
Relatability. The most important factor of my success and brand is being able to relate to my clients. I’ve had eating disorders, I’ve been overweight, I’ve tried every diet in the book. It took me years to find balance and create a healthy relationship with food. I want to help save others from the trial and error I had to go through to get there. In my opinion, people trust not just experts, but other people who have been through similar experiences. Starting your health journey takes a level of vulnerability so trusting your trainer’s expertise and understanding is pertinent. It’s doing both myself and my client a disservice if they don’t trust me enough to be honest about their struggles. Knowing that I’ve been in their shoes and can relate to them gives them the confidence to confide in me. At the end of the day, I just want to help people be the best version of themselves both mentally and physically. I won’t give up on my clients even when they want to give up on themselves.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I prefer to refer to myself as a Health Coach, encompassing not just physical health, but mental health too. It’s important to me that my clients are healthy from the inside out. Helping people create balance, fix their relationship with food, improve their self image and reach their goals is what motivates me to keep going even when it’s tough.

I developed a love for health and fitness at a young age. While other teens were reading Seventeen Magazine, I was consuming every inch of Self and Women’s Health. In 2012 I graduated from Arizona State University with my Bachelors in Print Journalism and a plan to write for a health magazine; however, years of experimenting with many of the fad “diets” I read about led to a struggle for my own balance. After trying every diet under the sun, being both over and underweight, I found stability counting macros in 2016. I was the heaviest I’d ever been and began a journey of self-discovery for physical and mental health. In July 2017, after losing 45 pounds myself, I hired my own coach. Since then I’ve lost an additional 45 pounds and competed in two NPC bikini competitions. I’m currently training for my third!

Despite my dream of writing for a health magazine, I ended up in the corporate events industry. After seven years in corporate world, I decided I wanted to pay it forward and help others stop the yo-yo dieting and restrictions to create a fun and balanced lifestyle. Unfortunately, or fortunately, my plan to make the switch on my own terms was changed when the events industry took a COVID-19 hit in 2020. Fate pushed me to make the change a year earlier than anticipated. Financially it was terrifying, but I’ve never looked back, even when I was offered to return to my former position. There’s nothing more rewarding to me than helping other people live their best life! The most rewarding things in life are those worth fighting for.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Despite being a nutrition coach, I’m still a foodie! Luckily, Phoenix also has a lot of great outdoor activities to get you moving. Arizona is also known for it’s sunsets so we definitely have to catch some of those!

– Hike South Mountain with lunch at The Farm at South Mountain and time at the pool
– Bike the canal to the Scottsdale Waterfront with brunch at Olive & Ivy, then catch the sunset on a Hot Air Balloon Tour followed by wine and apps in the desert
– Shopping at Scottsdale Quarter followed by lunch and margs at Sol Cocina, then Horseback Riding with dinner and dancing at Buffalo Chip for a true Western Experience
– Relaxing day at the pool, then dinner at Pomo in Downtown Gilbert followed by ice cream at Peterson’s
– Trip up north to Sedona and Cottonwood – Hike Devil’s Bridge, Jeep Tour with lunch picnic on the rocks- Kayak and Wine Tour at Alcantara Vineyards
– Sunrise Hike of Camelback Mountain, then sunset Champagne toast and dinner at Elements at The Sanctuary

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my parents, Rick Featherstone and Denine Graff. Thank you for supporting me in everything I do and teaching me to be kind, loyal and trustworthy.

To my boyfriend, JR Morales. Thank you for loving me, supporting my crazy dreams and encouraging me to constantly challenge and create the best version of myself.

To my best friends, Julie DeFrancisco and Elena Colombe. Thank you for encouraging me to take risks, chase my dreams and for loving me unconditionally through thick and thin.

To my coach, friend and mentor, Tommy Jeffree. Thank you for not only guiding me on my own health journey, but for teaching me how to guide others. I will forever be your student.

Website: https://thebodyshopgilbert.com/

Instagram: @lafeathe.fit

Image Credits
Prime24Photograhy

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