Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Shaffer

Hi Lauren, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I’m now living my most fulfilling dream career as a women’s weight loss and fitness coach.

For the longest time, I knew I was meant to help other women discover their most confident selves and feel proud in their own bodies.

But I haven’t always been confident myself. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

When I was 10 years old, I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and major depression. At age 14, bulimia was added onto that list. Between the ages of 10-18 I was hospitalized 6 times. There were so many nights I’d fall asleep completely OK with not waking up in the morning because my recovery seemed way too much for me to handle.

I’m not sure exactly when, but at some point in my life it hit me that I needed to not only get healthier for myself; I needed to get healthier so I could inspire and help other women crawl from underneath this toxic diet culture pit that still flows through our society. I knew I was meant for this higher purpose.

Now, I’m the confident woman I’ve always dreamt of becoming. As a women’s weight loss and fitness coach for high-achieving women, I’m proud to show women there’s a better and more fulfilling way to lose the weight, keep it off, and get fit without taking diet pills, detoxes, or constantly obsessing over calories.

I’m now grateful for my struggles, because without pulling myself out of such a dark space I wouldn’t be able to serve my purpose.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

The biggest battle by far was my struggle with an eating disorder. But I truly believe that being able to overcome is also the biggest reason I’m the type of woman who can’t let myself be overtaken by anything ever again. Without those struggles, I may not have been called to coach how I do. I ‘m so grateful for this.

On top of that, I’d say building a business from the ground up isn’t for the faint of heart! You have to learn how to be uncomfortable with uncertainty. You have to be willing to take risks that other people won’t take. While you’re working so hard day in and day out, you also need to understand that the destiny of your business lies in your hands. As you can imagine, it can get very intense!

To combat the stress of owning a business, it’s important for me to do inner work every day and remind myself that in order for me to provide the best value to other women, I need to be my best. Setting intentions and a positive vibe for myself every morning is crucial. I remind myself of my purpose multiple times a day. All of this inner work plus my gratefulness for having such incredible clients is what keeps me moving forward with this dream.

If there’s 1 piece of advice I have for new business owners at this point in my journey- Lean into your passion, and always remain curious about yourself, other people, and the future of your business.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I founded my online weight loss coaching business Gentle Beast Coaching, LLC in January 2024. As an American Council on Exercise certified personal trainer and nutrition specialist/coach, I’m so proud to bring a fresh perspective to lasting weight loss for women in a society that’s still obsessed with toxic diet culture.

My weight loss services include fitness, nutrition, and growth-mindset coaching influenced by Positive Psychology. I specifically target busy high-achieving women who’ve found success in many areas of their life. Getting this “weight loss thing” right would be the cherry on top for them. In my 12-week LEVEL UP weight loss transformation program, I work with my clients to build their own personal weight loss plan that fits their unique personality, food preferences and busy lifestyles.

I personally record all of my workouts, and they’re designed specifically for that busy-bee woman who wants the most efficiency out of her workouts without spending hours at the gym or on the treadmill. They’re perfect for lunch breaks, early mornings, or whenever you can find a free 30-35 minutes!

While most trainers and weight loss coaches these days focus on counting macros and calories, my program focuses on evidence-based weight loss and fitness nutrition. No calorie-counting necessary. I teach my clients everything they need to know about proper portions and weight loss nutrition so they can finally back away from the diet culture mindset to build a healthier relationship with weight loss, their bodies, and food.

I’m proud of the program and brand I’ve created, because I have the incredible opportunity to help other women realize there’s a much more effective and simpler way to lose weight and keep it off without restricting, counting calories, and cutting out entire food groups. My clients don’t just lose weight and transform their lives. They develop a level of confidence that helps them feel more comfortable in their bodies so they show up in life as completely transformed women.

Women in my program have been able to lose 30+ pounds in 5 months by using the tools and support I provide. I know I’m on the right career path when I hear clients tell me things like “I never knew it could be this easy.” or “this program has changed my life.”

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?

I love to connect and collaborate with other women entrepreneurs! Community is what keeps us entrepreneurs sane! Please feel free to reach out to me via Instagram, Facebook, and email.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about my weight loss services, you may also reach out via Instagram, Facebook, and email.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gentle-beast-coaching.ck.page/5ab82d8451
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenshaffer.coach/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com