Who’s Laura?
Hello everyone! I’m Laura DeAngelis and like most people, I can honestly say my life has not turned out the way I planned. And that is the best thing that could have happened to me.
When I was 16-years-old, I had it all mapped out. I would go to a top “J” school, graduate, move to Manhattan, become the next Katie Couric, get married and live happily ever after. Not necessarily in that order.
Fast forward 20 years and my framed bachelors and masters degrees from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism lay propped up against a wall of my Manhattan apartment – which I bought after living in Indiana and Connecticut but before meeting my second ex-husband.
Meanwhile, after 8+ years of sweating or freezing for live shots and reporting on too many tragedies to recall, I traded in my reporter notebooks for a clipboard to take a job as a producer at West Glen Communications, Inc. I also started hosting the company’s monthly video magazine show “Health & Home Report.” (www.hhrtv.com) That was seven years ago. Today, along with my hosting duties, I also work as the company’s Director of Production.
Photo by Leslie Hassler
As it turns out, throughout my school days, the moves and the marriages, one thing always remained constant – my love for exercise and fitness. (Thank you, Mom and Dad for getting me started in gymnastics at the age of six!) On my best and worst days, I knew I could count on a workout to right whatever ailed me. In the summer of 2010, I put those passions to the test and began my studies to become certified in the fitness industry. Today, I am a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and a Certified Group Exercise Instructor with the Aerobics & Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and a Licensed Zumba® Instructor.
My lifelong love affair with fitness hasn’t always been easy. It’s been filled with more injuries than I care to remember. Which is why I’ve started this blog. I want to help you avoid making the same mistakes I’ve made on this lifelong journey of staying in shape. Together, we can enjoy being active without unnecessary pain and injury.
To my parents, family and friends – thank you for giving me the confidence to finally make this blog, and all that may follow, a reality. Whether you’re in your 20s, 30s, 40s or beyond, I hope my anecdotes and tips inspire you to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!
I’m so proud of you! Love you! Can’t wait to read more of your blog!
Thank you, Loretta! Please keep checking in. I hope to get up to a daily posting sometime soon…
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Congratulations– your blog looks fabulous– and your photos too!
Hello Amy! Thank you, friend! Stay tuned for more…
hey there! finally got to the website! its awesome! so amazingly proud of you and what a cool direction to start your career in. hope its everything you ever dreamed of and that your fitness career is as rewarding as mine. welcome to the club! xoxoxox
Hello Amy, Your kind message means so much since you are the reason I got started on this path in the first place! I look forward to hearing your thoughts as I move ahead…Many, many thanks!
Enjoying your blog, Laura. Keep the good tips coming!
Thanks for taking the time to write such a nice note, Rachel! Glad you’re enjoying the blog and I really appreciate the support.
Great Blog, Laura. Who better to start it than you along with those killer abs I so admire. Well, my main goal for this year is all about fitness so i will be checking in regularly.
Thank you, Liz! I hope you find my posts helpful in reaching your goals – and please feel free to leave specific questions or topics you’d like me to address.
Congratulations Laura!!! This is a great website. I can not wait to read more. Keep writing.
You look great!!!!
Thank you, Aunt Ethel! So nice of you to check it out – please do come back and let mek now what you think of the tips.
Laura, you are a star and an inspiration always — so glad that you are following your dream and that you can share your energies and enthusiasms while doing it! Much love to you, my fair cousin — Claire
Hello Claire, Thank you for your kind words and support! If you have any questions you’d like me to address, please let me know and I’ll do my best to get a thorough and correct answer. XO
You look absolutely stunning in these photos! The blog looks fantastic – I’m all ears! Hugs!! xx
Hello Jeanne Marie, Thank you for the support, dear friend! Stay tuned for new pictures to come soon and please do check in with questions and comments at any time!
Laura: Congrats, just heard about this site from your Father-in-Law.
Good luck and I will be following along.
Cheryl
Hello Cheryl, Thank you so much for your support and for subscribing to my blog! I hope you’ll let your friends know about it, too! Also, feel free to submit questions or ideas for future posts. Would love to hear from you!
Hi Laura,
Like you my life is going in directions that I could of dreamed of. However, working out has been the one thing that has always been honest with me. I have subcribed to your blog and look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks,
Mike
Hello Mike,
Thank you for subscribing to my blog! Happy to hear working out has had a positive impact on your life, too. I hope that you find the information here helpful and would welcome any questions or topics for discussion you would like me to address. Have a great day!
Nice website and happy new year to you and your great husband. Also please extend the same to your mom and dad. We all miss you and can’t wait to see you both again in July. I also hope your 2012 brings health and happiness.
Tom
Happy New Year, Tom! Glad you like the blog so far, and hope you’ll check back – and don’t hesitate to send me any questions. Wishing your beautiful family all the best in 2012!
I just found your blog, and can’t wait to read more! What a big, but awesome career change, and even more importantly, it seems like you love what you are doing now!
Hi Stephanie,
Thank you for the kind message! I look forward to keeping up with your blog, too! (Love the name of it!) Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Thank you for sharing your story! Looking forward to reading more.
~ Tiffany
Transfer of Health
Healthy Recipes and Wellness Tips
Loved reading about ur experiences and how life turns out different to ur expectations and yet can be so good. I have a serious chronic illness but am so grateful I can still work out, albeit the machines that I’m hooked up to 24/7, fitness brings joy to my life and helps me stay fit even in my condition. Keep spreading the word!
Thank you for taking the time to check in Safora. Your commitment to health and fitness despite your health condition should be an inspiration to everyone! Fitness is something that can lift your spirits and make you feel better even on days you simply just want to shut down and turn your back on the world. Amazing what some endorphins can do, right? Wishing you a wonderful rest of the week and I hope to hear back from you again soon!
Laura, connecting on Twitter led me to your blog- inspiring messages, lots of great advice here. Also, for me an important connection between mindfulness and fitness and exceptional athletic performance.
Anyhow I’ll be happily following your blog as well. Tom
Hello Tom! Great to meet you in “Twitterville” and grateful for your support of my blog! Thank you for your kind words. It is wonderful to meet like-minded people who share an appreciation for balancing physical and mental wellness – and have fun at the same time! Have a great night and I look forward to hearing your feedback.
Hi, Laura! I came across your photo today and found it very motivating! I will be starting a new exercise program at home and am looking to other bloggers such as yourself for some motivation and health tips. I look forward to reading more, take care!
Hello Jennifer and welcome to LauraLovesFitness! It’s nice of you to take the time to leave a note here and I’m thrilled you found some motivation in one of my posts! If you have any specific questions, please don’t hesitate to ask, and hopefully if you type “motivation” into the search box on my home page, you’ll find some other helpful information. (Also, the archives will list each post from the past year.) I look forward to checking out your blog for inspiration on the healthy cooking front and to exchanging ideas here in Cyberspace. Wishing you a wonderful Monday!
Hello Laura,
Just a quick message to ask if you would be interested in a ‘mutual’ following on twitter. I am currently following you now and am awaiting for your follow-back. (#FYI I do RT’s ‘anytime’ for all #Triathletes #Cyclists #UltraRunners & #Marathoners who follow me on Twitter and have something ‘important’ they want mentioned…)
All the very best for the rest of 2012 and beyond Lou. Laura forward to hearing from you…
Darin
twitter.com/DarinArmstrong
#TeamLIVESTRONG
hi laura! I just watched your video, and discovered your blog today. I am a high school student who did gymnastics when I was younger as well (: I aspire to be a wellness coach someday and I am enjoying your blog! I look forward to learning more about your journey and seeing more posts. Your information is awesome and motivating (:
Hello Nicole and welcome to LauraLovesFitness!
I appreciate the support and kind words – especially from a fellow one-time gymnast!
It’s been a fun ride here so far and look forward to hearing from you regarding any questions or topic suggestions you may have to offer. Keep me posted on your progress on the wellness coach track…
Hope you’re enjoying a great weekend so far!