top of page

Meet Your Trainer

Welcome to my first FitStyle blog post! Chances are, if you are reading this you have found the blog through my website or social media so you may already know a little about me. If not - here we go!

My name is Patty Lauren and I am the owner of FitStyle, LLC based out of Knoxville, Tennessee. My fitness journey started in January of 2015. I had just turned 30 years which I had always anticipated would a magical year when my life would be together, but instead I found myself overweight, dealing with high anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. I had had a bad run of relationships, working a 9-5 job I didnt't love and generally treating my body badly with a poor diet and little to no exercise. Needless to say, I was miserable.


I will never, ever forget the day I decided to change. I had been somewhat active in the past but never for long and never consistently. I knew being more physically active would help me feel better so I made a promise to myself I would do something active every single day - even if just for 30 minutes! I took my bike outside and started to load it onto my bike rack. Rain strops started slowly falling from the sky as I struggled with secure my bike. I began to grow frustrated as the rain pelted me harder. Looking up into the sky, I yelled at God, "Can something just be easy today?!" I finally got my bike strapped in and I never looked back.


Over the next couple of months, I became even more serious about my health and decided to invest in a personal trainer. Making the decision to get a trainer and start strength training was the best decision I made for myself - it was then I truly began to see my body change. I found strength (mentally and physically) I never knew I had - I was challenged, pushed and I made small, attainable goals along the way.


I completed a half marathon in April of that year and went on to set a pretty steep goal for myself - to compete in a bodybuilding competition (another story for another day). The next several months were consumed with training, eating extremely clean, but more than that I was peeling off each layer of my old self. For the first time in my life, I was truly happy with myself. I had given up old habits, I had become stronger, more confident, and I was surrounding myself with positive, encouraging relationships.


More than fitting into a certain clothing size or reaching a certain weight, I was happy. Along with taking care of my mental health by talking to a counselor, my anxiety had faded away, I no longer had feelings of being depressed or unhappy and I was fully content with my life. Fitness saved my life in a sense because I had the tools to combat the negative feelings of fear, inadequacy, and failure right at my fingertips.


In the summer of 2015, I was encouraged to pursue my personal training certification by Hannah Davis, who I would go on to shadow and work with at Body by Hannah in Cleveland, Tennessee. During my competition prep, through the holidays, and into the beginning of 2016 I studied for my exam and passed on my first try in March of 2016. Almost immediately after, I began toward part-time at Body by Hannah Studio in Cleveland, Tennessee while still working my full-time office job. Within just a few months, I was training clients from 5-7am several days a week, going to my office job at 8am, leaving at 5pm and going back to train clients from 5:30pm-7/8pm at night.


Personal training is a love in a career that I knew existed for some people but wasn't sure would ever be something I would find. It is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. Sure, not all days are great but to help people every day achieve their goals is a humbling, soul fulfilling feeling.


In September of 2016, I was able to turn in my notice to my full-time office job and started working as a full-time trainer at Body by Hannah. The day I turned that letter in was one of the scariest, exciting, chill inducing moments of my life. After what felt like dragging through mud for all of my 20s, I was finally take control of my life and commit myself to something I loved, was passionate about, and what I was meant to do with my life.


Life is ever changing and after over a year and a half of training clients and teaching classes at BBH, I moved my work to Knoxville full-time in July of 2017. It was an incredibly difficult decision, but after moving to Knoxville in April after my wedding the commute got the best of me and I knew I needed to focus my full attention on my Knoxville work and my new marriage. Working alongside Hannah and gaining knowledge from other trainers and sharing experiences is something I miss a lot, but I'll never that time for granted. It made me the trainer I am today as I am still on a path of never ending learning.


Also, just for fun, here are a few non-fitness related things about me!

• I LOVE coffee - Starbucks is my favorite, but a good cup of coffee can't be beat!

• I have a 5 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Grace Kelly, who is my constant companion - I'm pretty obsessed with her (she even has her own Instagram (@gracekellythecavalier)

• My personality type is INTJ #introvertsunite

• Chicago & Nashville are my favorite cities (besides Knox, of course!)

• I'm a complete book worm and have been known to read a book a day

• I'm a die hard Fleetwood Mac fan and cannot wait for their 2018 tour!



So, now you know a little more about me and my background - Knoxville has been so good and welcoming to me. Thank you for joining me on this journey!

Xoxo,

patty lauren

0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page