Age: 20

Hometown: O’Fallon, MO

College: Lindenwood University

Major: B.F.A. in Graphic Design

Year: Junior by Year, Senior by Credits

Sorority: Sigma Sigma Sigma

Instagram: @brittanylavy17

 Hashtag: #LUStrongMovement

Tell us about yourself!

I am a Tri Sigma at Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Missouri. I love to go out on adventures and discover new places to enjoy my time. I love doing outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, float trips, etc. That being said, I also love indoor activities like shopping, getting my hair done, and just hanging with the girls. I am a full on cat lover and enjoy including my kitties in anything possible. I am a Graphic Design major at LU and hope on graduating by the Spring of 2017. I just accepted a Graphic Design internship over the summer and will be designing the entire Saint Louis Art Fair in September. I’m very excited to be an ambassador for this amazing program and help empower women to live a healthy lifestyle.

What does “Strong” mean to you and what makes you a Strong Girl?

Strong means being yourself. There is so much pressure in the world today to be the “perfect” woman. I think being strong resembles being who you want to be in a society like today. I am a Strong Girl because I stand up for what I believe in and I will do anything and everything it takes to get to where I want to be in life.

What excites you about being a Strong Girl Campus Ambassador?

I am excited to help those around me live a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle as well as help empower women around me.

What is your favorite thing about The Strong Movement™?

My favorite thing is the fact that it’s not all about your body image and working out with a nutrition plan added on. The Strong Movement also focuses on things outside of that such as a fulfilling life. Many programs just give you a nutrition plan and a workout plan but The Strong Movement gives you much more than that.

How do you envision The Strong Movement™ growing on your campus as a community of motivated, encouraging and supportive group of girls?

I envision this program to grow on my campus through time. We have a lot of girls on my campus that I feel are looking for something like this. Even though my campus is kind of small, the people here are looking for something new and something that will stick. I think The Strong Movement will have an impact on my campus in some way shape or form and it will only go up from there.

When did you discover fitness & healthy living and decide to make it part of your lifestyle?

I discovered it about a year ago. I became very active, however, due to my work and school schedule I wasn’t able to maintain it. This past fall I realized how much I missed it how gross I started feeling. This encouraged me to get back into it and it made me feel 100 times better. I decided to keep it in my daily lifestyle at that point.

How has exercise and healthy living increased your confidence and self-esteem?

This has really helped increase my confidence and self-esteem because it has allowed me to feel empowered, strong, and motivated. It makes me feel good about my body and my mind on a daily basis.

What challenges and/or injuries have you had to overcome on your fit journey?

My biggest challenge is my schedule. I work 30-35 hours a week, I’m taking 21 credit hours, and I have a work and learn position that takes 10 hours a week. On top of that I am an officer in my sorority, very involved with the Greek Life around me, and apart of a graphic design chapter on my campus. Trying to balance all of this with my personal life such as family, boyfriend, pets, and alone time is very rough. It has become my biggest challenge because sometimes I don’t want to exercise and I just want to sleep or relax. I overcame it by blocking out a schedule with all my classes, events, homework time, workout time, etc. Blocking out my schedule has really helped me hold myself accountable.

What keeps you motivated when the going gets tough?

I think my vision for my life in the future really motivates me. I know what I want and I know if I let all the hardships and challenges get to me then I will struggle on reaching my goals in life. This motivates me to keep going.

What do you love about your body?

I love my legs and booty! I used to play a lot of volleyball which always required me to dig and squat to hit the ball. I also used to dance a lot as well. I think both of these activities has really had an impact on my body today and it continues to show.

What do you wake up looking forward to and excited about everyday?

I look forward to learning new things. I enjoy finding out new things about the world and people around me. I also enjoy getting one day closer to my future life. My goals in life consist of an amazing graphic design job, a family, and one day, retirement! (I mean who doesn’t dream about retirement?!) Each day I get closer and closer to these goals which is what I look forward to most.

Do you have any daily rituals?

My biggest ritual is probably stretching and working out. If I don’t have time to workout one day then I definately make sure I have time to stretch. I get moving either by running or dancing. I’m always moving. Even when I do homework, I find a way to do my studies while dancing around my room or stretching out on the floor with a book and pen.

SPEED ROUND…

Favorite Workout: I love running, dancing, yoga, and weights!

Fit Goal: I would love a six pack by summer. Not an overwhelming one but a nice sweet subtle one!

Favorite Workout Song Playlist Right Now: The Workout Playlist on Spotify

Favorite Healthy Snack: Pistachios, almonds, and fruit! 

Favorite Fruit/Veggie: I love Mandarin Oranges!

Favorite Quote: “I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.”-Vincent Van Gogh