One of the most fervently debated questions in the field of nutrition is this: Is breakfast important to eat or not? While many of us grew up learning that breakfast is important to eat every day for good health, lately there’s been a lot of discussion about the benefits of intermittent fasting. Many people argue that forgoing breakfast is better...

It’s no secret that the Paleo community seems to have a vendetta against grains. Many Paleo advocates preach that grain consumption is the root of poor health and chronic disease. The war against grains leads many to believe that if they eat any grains they will surely become fat and sick. But for most healthy people, this isn’t true. And...

Many women, at one point or another, want to lose weight. Some hope to trim five or ten pounds from their current weight, and others have a more significant amount to shed. If you’re thinking about starting a weight loss journey, the first step is not to change your diet and exercise. The key to safe and sustainable weight loss...

Move over fat, sugar is the new public enemy #1 in your kitchen cabinet. For years, the nutrition and food industries have blamed dietary fat – saturated fat in particular – for the rise in chronic diseases like heart disease, obesity and diabetes. But with the case against fat crumbling, many mainstream health and wellness experts have now targeted sugar...

If you don’t like to eat meat, how can you eat enough protein in your diet? Nourishing our bodies with the right amount of dietary protein is essential for health. It supports proper immune function, helps to maintain muscle mass, regulates blood sugar and allows for sustained energy throughout the day. Typically, omnivores eating a whole foods diet don’t have...

(Forgive the controversial title, and please know that I’m not attacking other women who have abs or want abs.) I get it. There’s something about the idea of having a perfectly fit body that is super appealing. And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with having a body composition goal. But we need to get real about WHY. Why do you want abs?...

This is a short preview of an article featured at GirlsGoneStrong.com Fat loss can be one of the most challenging and controversial fitness goals that a woman can set for herself. Especially women who are already relatively lean, for whom losing a little bit more fat can be particularly challenging. While the desire to achieve a certain fat loss goal isn’t...

Recently someone posted this question on my Facebook page: “Hey Laura, I would love to hear about what you think of fruit? In my nutrition class today (I’m going to be a NTP) they demonized carbs all day and specifically fruit. I know going low carb caused major problems like HA and adrenal problems. It’s hard sitting in class all...

I’ve written before about the struggles I’ve had in the past with my approach to my personal health. Even though it’s easy for me to be kind and compassionate with my patients who struggle with their body image, I’d always held myself to an impossibly high standard. Isn’t it the truth that we’re all our own worst critics? While I...

Hiring a coach can be a big decision, and a big investment. And sometimes even those of us who teach and motivate others for a living need our own coach! For the past month or so, I’ve been doing 1-on-1 training sessions at Capital Strength and Conditioning in Raleigh, NC. Three times a week, my coach (and CS&C owner) Matt...