This week’s Friday Fitspo Feature is Laura Williams, M.S. Ed.
Full name: Laura Williams, M.S.Ed.
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Other places you can find Laura: FitFluential Ambassador, Wellsphere Top Blogger, EmpowHER Blogger,
She’s a freelance writer and Assigning Editor for SheKnows.com and I’m an expert fitness resource for LoveToKnow.com
Q: Have you always lived a healthy fit lifestyle?
I was lucky enough to grow up in an active family, so fitness and sports were practically expected of us when we were little. I played lots of sports growing up, from swimming to horseback riding to volleyball and basketball, eventually focusing on basketball in high school. Luckily, last month I bought this new volleyball shoes at amatop10 and I am using it right now. Hope my team wins, well, winning doesn’t matter anymore to me. The important things is the fun!
After I finished my senior year, I basically stopped exercising. I no longer had a coach and teammates to help keep me motivated, and I had the freedom to start making my own nutritional choices…and they weren’t good! I put on weight and wasn’t happy with myself, but I didn’t know how to pursue activity without being involved in a team
It was around this time that I met my husband, and he became my new motivation. He never said a word about my eating or lifestyle choices, but the fact that he was so active and healthy gave me the desire to start making better choices myself. I started running, hitting the gym and eating healthier foods. I also decided that fitness was my calling, and I ended up getting my undergrad degree in Exercise and Sport Science, eventually followed by my master’s degree. Along the way I also learned to become my own motivation. I think that’s a tricky thing for some people to learn – how to turn external motivation into internal motivation, but ultimately, it’s the internal motivation that’s going to keep powering you through the tough times (and there WILL be tough times, even for the most dedicated fitness fanatics!)
Q: What keeps you going, motivated?
Honestly, my own health and well-being keep me motivated. Of course I want to look great, too, but that’s finally become a secondary motivator. And, lastly, my husband and I will probably start having kids in the next couple years, and I’ve always said I want to be in great shape before having kids so that I will have an easier time throughout pregnancy and after the babies arrive. I want to make sure that I’m a healthy role model for my kids.
Q: What is your favorite workout?
Oh man, I love running, but I’m also a big fan of jump rope and plyometric training. Love me some box jumping drills!
Q: What are some of your goals?
I turn 30 this Sunday, and I’m running a 10-mile trail race on Saturday in order to commemorate the end of my 20s. My goal is to run the whole thing without walking, even though there’s going to be some crazy terrain. Other goals include taking up surfing and sandboarding and becoming better at wakeboarding and snowboarding. I love trying new things, so most of my goals involve new experiences.
Q: What are some of your accomplishments or things you’re proud of?
Oh gosh. Tough. It may sound weird, but I’m really proud of the fact that I stood my ground in a bad work situation a couple years back and walked away from my “dream job” when it became clear that things wouldn’t change. Sometimes you have to accept that the “dream” and reality don’t match. It was scary and awful, but I knew that I was right to leave a bad situation and I’m better for it today. In fact, my entire career path has changed and I’m thrilled with where things are going.
That brings me to the other accomplishment I’m proud of: GirlsGoneSporty! My husband and I launched our website (http://www.girlsgonesporty.com) at the end of November, and we’re thrilled with its potential. I’ve been freelance writing for the last two years, but to finally have a website that’s all my own, that I have complete creative control over, is really something I’m proud of.
Q: What is one random fact we should know about you?
Hmmmm, you should know that I’m 6’0″, but I’m one of the shortest in my family. Both my sister and sister-in-law are a good three inches taller than me…not to mention the men in my family!
Q: What words of advice would you like to leave the readers?
Don’t allow yourself to be confined by or measured by others’ expectations of you. There’s such freedom in knowing who you are and following your own path. This applies to everything, from finding the best workout program to choosing a career. There are so many options, and none of them are “one size fits all,” so take the time to get to know yourself and don’t be afraid to pursue something that’s off the beaten path. People may look at you like you’re crazy, but who cares? One of my favorite quotes is, “The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.” I welcome naysayers because that gives me the opportunity to say, “Oh yeah? Watch me!”
I ADORE THESE posts.
Love our FF family as well.
Thank you so much for including me! Love your site & everything you do!