My name is Laura Harris and I live in Charlotte, NC.. originally from NY.
What’s your athletic background?
I was always selected last in gym class to play any team sport. I was about as unathletic as a person could possibly be in life. I tried out for cheerleading in high school and did not come close to making the squad. I then signed up to be a cheerleader for intramural sports where anyone who was willing to pay to dues could join, there were no tryouts and I was never good at it but still had fun cheerleading with my other friends who were not cheerleading material. I got started trying to become fit when I was 23.
I had a cubicle job after college and one day I got a look at my ass in the 3 way mirror in the department store. I was shocked at the condition I saw,.. saddle bags, cellulite, and hanging flab. I quickly went out and purchased a few home workout videos and did them every other day for 16 years. I did not particularly enjoy doing these videos but they did a great job helping my body from turning to lard so I made a huge effort to keep up on a consistent basis and I was successful.
What do you feel is your biggest fitness-related accomplishment?
I am very proud of keeping myself in great shape due to never cancelling workouts and making the difficult proper food choices. It is not easy and it flat out sucks sometimes but it is very worth the sacrifice to me. I have a better body now than when I was 18 years old. Throughout the years I had a ‘no excuses’ policy for myself and have never even answered the phone during a workout and I have not missed more than a week at at time away from exercising since 1992.
Is being fit your full time job? If not, what else do you do?
No, it is not my full time job. I am a realtor. Working out is the only way to stay in great shape so I suck it up and do it but there are so many other things I would rather be doing. I love reading, photography, writing stories, painting and just sitting around being lazy with my dogs and husband.
What are your immediate and long-term goals?
My fitness goal is to keep improving my body with age, as well as grow old gracefully. I am in the best shape of my life right now and I hope to continue improving. I hope my honesty about this very difficult and challenging process of working out and eating right will help motivate other people who aren’t in shape, to realize they can also become better with age if desired, even while not being thrilled about the process like me. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean you can’t do it and be successful.
It’s worth it to do all the hard work and make the sacrifice of eating right. I want to live long and be active as long as I can in my old age.
Please describe a typical day for you. What is your daily routine like?
I wake up at 7am everyday, sometimes earlier. Because I am in Real Estate, my days are constantly different depending on my client’s needs. I always have a pouch of tuna in my purse in case I get caught without time to grab a meal. I eat out constantly and don’t find it a problem to order grilled chicken in any restaurant, even McDonalds has a plain grilled chicken, (worst case scenario). I go to the gym 3 days a week for weight training and I do my cardio at home. I prefer to get my workouts done early in the day so they are out of the way, but depending on the day, I will workout at 10pm if I have to so that I don’t miss a session.
What is the best advice you have for someone who is trying to get in shape?
I think my being honest about how it takes hard work and sacrifice is the most helpful thing I can do. So many people are seeking a magic pill or exercise( I don’t blame them) or an easy way to do it. It’s not easy to stay fit and never will be but it is SO worth the effort.
Being realistic is the best way to go. I know I will always think pizza is more delicious than tuna and sitting on the couch is more enjoyable than working out, but I face the facts and do what it takes to maintain my fitness goals.
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