130: Lauren Pak: Life with Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Lauren is on a mission to bring inclusivity and empathy to the forefront of fitness and health. She co-owns and operates Achieve Fitness in Boston with her husband, Jason, where they work daily to fulfill that mission. Lauren has been a personal trainer and strength coach for over 10 years, and she draws on her own past battle with body dysmorphic disorder to relate to and help others who may be going through similar struggles. When Lauren’s not at the gym, she can be found spending time with her dog, Diesel, playing football, or relaxing on the beach in Cape Cod.

Lauren wrote an article on her experience with Body Dysmorphic Disorder a few months ago and I was just blown away by her honesty and openness with her experience. I would venture to guess that most women have had body image struggles at one time or another. In Lauren’s experience, her struggles became pervasive and paralyzing.

I found myself able to relate to Lauren’s story in many ways. If you’ve ever struggled with body image, eating disorders and/or disordered eating, I think you’ll be inspired by Lauren’s journey.

Listen in to hear Lauren share:

What daily life is like with BDD
How she was paralyzed by BDD and her weight even though she was never actually overweight
Why it is so hard for people with BDD and body image struggles to talk openly about it
How sharing her story was a crucial part of her healing
Her recommendations to other women who are struggling (…and why she doesn’t give advice)
How she wants to revolutionize the gym experience for women and marginalized populations

Links Mentioned:

Achieve Fitness website: www.achievefitnessboston.com

Personal website: www.lauren_pak.com

Facebook (business): www.facebook.com/achievefitnessboston

Facebook (personal): www.facebook.com/laurenp22

Instagram (business): www.instagram.com/achievefitnessboston

Instagram (personal): www.instagram.com/laurenpak22

Lauren’s blog post: My Experience with Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Depression

Book: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

Book: The Broken Mirror: Understanding and Treating Body Dysmorphic Disorder by Katharine A. Phillips

Website: https://bdd.iocdf.org/about-bdd/ (an awesome resource that provides you with professionals as well as groups and programs based on your geographical location.)

Sponsor: Aaptiv.com (use code SMA30 for a free 30-day trial)