Real sporty women: Laurel House

Turning an injury into the QuickieChick empire

QuickieChick's Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness, Fashion and Finance on a Less than Fabulous Budget

Name: Laurel House

Age: 34

Involved in: Hiking, speed walking, Quickie workouts and Daily 100s, Xbox Kinect and Wii

I hike on the weekends (I have a fave eight mile hike in the Santa Monica mountains), daily speed walk with my pup Beignet, Quickie Workouts in Bed and Daily 100s (both in my book), Your Shape Fitness Evolved on Xbox Kinect, Gold's Gym Dance Workout on the Wii.

When injuries become inspiration

I have always preferred individual sports that were equally an emotional and physical workout, tapping into my heart and mind by pushing my body. From the age of 6 to 15 I was a competitive ice skater. I was a dance major in college. Then, my junior year, I severed the ligaments in my left ankle. That was the end of my dance career and the beginning of a depression that spiraled into major weight gain. But two great things came out of the injury: 1) I became an English major, and 2) I started doing my own Quickie Workouts in Bed to lose the weight and continue working out despite my inability to walk. I kept those quickies to myself until I became the Fit Life Expert for ExerciseTV, shot a video of myself doing one of those Quickie Workouts. After a few days, the video had about one million views. I developed the concept into QuickieChick... quick, unconventional, immediately gratifying, fun and effective tips... because there's always time for a quickie. Which is why it's now a book- QuickieChick's Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness, Fashion and Finance on a Less than Fabulous Budget (St. Martin's, May 2012).

Staying motivated and challenged

GirlsGoneSporty (GGS): What is your motivation for staying active?

Laurel House (LH): Inspiration for me comes in threes: body, brain and Beignet (my pup).

Body: As much as I would love to lie and say that my body has nothing to do with why I exercise, I am a horrible liar so that’s just not going to happen. The fact is that I have struggled with body image issues my entire life. Working out keeps me thin and healthy and strong and that’s important to me. Beyond looking good, working out feels good. When I was an ice skater and a dance major in college, movement was more about competition. After recovering from my ankle injury, I experienced exercise and movement completely differently. I was finally exercising just because it felt so good to move again. Soon, my body regained its lean shape and I came back into balance. What was interesting was that I was exercising less for my body and more for the feeling I got from it. Sure, I still struggle with my body and its image. But don’t we all? More than staying healthy and fit for the sake of my self image, I have to admit that it’s also because my boyfriend loves my butt. And you know what? I’d like to keep it that way!
Brain (work): If I don’t get a workout in before work, my brain is sluggish. I need that natural high that comes from a good a.m. sweat session. And here’s the interesting thing - even if I am exhausted when I first force myself to get out of bed, after I exercise I’m energized.
Beignet (my pup): My pup Beignet is a black lab who requires lots of exercise. Honestly, that’s part of the reason I rescued her. I knew that on those days when I was just not in the mood to workout, she would motivate me to do it. If I don’t, she just stares at me with the most depressed big brown eyes. But the second I grab that leash she does this jump and spin that, no matter what mood I’m in, instantly puts a smile on my face.

GGS: What sports or fitness accomplishments are you most proud of?

LH: My Quickie Workouts in Bed. The emails that I get from people who see my videos are amazing. They keep me going. Here are some real quotes from injured fans...
"Laurel, you're my new fitness guru. I've a leg injury and finding your bed exercises is the best thing that happened to me. I say that because I've lost 5 pounds in the last 3 weeks just by doing quickie workouts and daily 100's because I can't hit the gym with a broken foot."
"I just want to say thank you. I am a 34 year old woman and I have been stuck in bed after ankle surgery; I am not allowed to put any weight on my left foot. My right leg gets one heck of a workout when I make the long trip to the rest room, but I've been going crazy from the lack of activity...that is until I found your videos. People laugh at the movements, but I tell you what, my arms are starting to look stronger and I break a little sweat, too. I look forward to new videos in the future :)"

GGS: How do you keep challenging yourself to improve?

LH: As you age, your body starts to shift. You have to workout longer, harder and more in order to get the same results. What's exciting about it is that I constantly change up my workout, which keeps it from getting boring.

Tools of the trade

GGS: What’s your favorite healthy food or dish?

LH: Quinoa with cucumber and edamame, plus green tea with soy milk. I eat it for breakfast almost every morning. I crave it!

GGS: What's on your workout playlist?

LH: Rude Boy - Rihanna
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson
Somebody that I Used to Know - Gotye
Poker Face - Lady Gaga
Party Rock - LMFAO
Super Bass - Nicki Minaj
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey

GGS: What’s in your gym bag?

LH: Nimble by Balance Bar, Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel, Asics Running Shoes, hot pink hair thing

Live the sporty life

GGS: What does the phrase “live the sporty life” mean to you?

LH: It's about attitude. It's a lifestyle. When I travel, fitness is a priority. I like to see the city by foot (or by kayak if I'm traveling to an island). It's also about slipping exercise, calorie burns, and heart rate elevators in your day throughout the day.