About Me

In a nutshell, "Closer to 30" is what happens when we inevitably, like it or not, get closer to age 30. It's about the changes we face - professionally, personally, emotionally, geographically, and financially - that all lead towards that scary thing we've been fearing since the day we graduated high school - adulthood.

On a personal level, Closer to 30 is my transformation from an overweight, insecure girl who didn't take her body or her health seriously, into someone who, at the ripe age of 27, has lost over 65 pounds and changed her life for the better.

My name is Lauren. I'm a newlywed and wife to Rob, who I believe is a pretty good egg. We live in suburbia with our two extra-large rescue mutts, and on September 29, 2013, we said "I do" on the beach in our favorite place in the world (you'd be jealous of our pictures). You'll see lots of references to both Rob, and the dogs - the dogs, Scout and Brody (or Dog #1 and Dog #2), pretty much run my life. I'm not even mad about it.

I've struggled with my weight since I was a kid. Every formal dance dress shopping experience was plagued by my size - not being able to shop at stores or wear the same clothes other girls my age were wearing is not uncommon for me. I ballooned to well over 200 pounds during my final year of college, and started Weight Watchers in February 2009 after I moved back to my hometown.

Within a year, I had lost 50 pounds. I swapped out my running shoes for a pair of cute stilettos and spent the next 2 years catching up on things I thought I had missed out on, and enjoying the new attention I received from old friends, family and new friends after having lost some weight. Not surprisingly, I gained almost all of it back - and in January 2012, I made a commitment to getting back on track.

Since then, I've lost all the weight over again, and then some, bringing me to the lowest weight I've ever been in my entire life. I've 100% changed my lifestyle, as well as my eating and exercise habits, and I'm 100% positive I'll continue to live this way for the rest of my life. It's a constant struggle to find balance, but I've never been happier to take on the challenge.

Aside from fitness and food, I am lover of all things animals - particularly advocating for shelter dogs. I could single-handedly keep the white wine industry in business, I can probably eat more boneless wings than you, and Chipotle is probably the only food that really makes me feel like I could eat bowl after bowl after bowl, all day. I am lover of all things carbs, but actively resist them on a regular basis. I am a writer, a runner, and a damn good cook. And a big time Zumba enthusiast.

Stick around - I promise to entertain you with menu planning, wedding catastrophes and all things food, fitness and fun :)