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Information
Born in: 1985
Country of origin: USA
Occupation: Registered Nurse and Personal Trainer
Competition Weight: 56.7 kg/ 125 lbs
Off Season Weight: 60.78 kg/134 lbs
Height: 167,7cm / 5′ 6″
Interview
– Tell the readers some brief details about you before we get started
My name is Lauren Drain Kagan. I was born in Tampa, FL. My family moved to Kansas where eventually I became part of an infamous hate cult. I wrote a memoir about my struggles both inside that religious cult and how it was like to leave my family behind. It was struggles like this in my life that have led to pursuing helping motivate others to live strong, happy lives despite their circumstances. I’ve done public speaking engagements as well as motivating people to live healthy, active and strong lives. I believe you can be in control of your own destiny if you chase your dreams hard enough.
– How and when did you get started in health and fitness
I have always been into fitness in some way during my life. Growing up, my parents always had me involved in team sports year-round such as baseball to start as young as like 6 years old. When I was school-age I participated in baseball (where I became an All-Star Team player), basketball (played point guard), and softball (position: second base or shortstop). In high school, I made the Junior Varsity Softball team, then went onto to run track (800 m run) where I became very competitive. After high school and college, my fitness was very sporadic with no structure. I had a high metabolism so I would visit the gym randomly for running, stair master and abs (basically a cardio bunny). I’m a thrill-seeker so I then started getting involved in adventure races such as the Tough Mudder and the Spartan Races (completed 3 13-mile races) in 2012-2013. I sought after my next challenge in Crossfit. I competed at local competitions and learned a lot of my olympic lifting there as well as developed decent cardio endurance from the HIIT workouts. Then in 2014, I signed up for my first WBFF show where I went on to compete in 5 more shows in less than 8 months, winning my pro card and then 4 months later, placed 4th at my very first WBFF Pro Show. I am now fully active with weight training, cardio and constantly challenging myself whether it be yoga, gymnastics, boxing or other active endeavors.
– What mistakes you used to do when you began?
Oh my goodness! So many! You cannot avoid mistakes when it comes to trying to get fit and especially when it comes to competitions! I overtrained for my first three shows (didn’t grow much muscle because I didn’t understand the concept of a rest day). I under-ate at times to try and get lean faster. I miscalculated my macros at times (got fat and carb deprived which lead to huge lapses in judgment/emotion). I developed body dysmorphia at one point and I can safely say a year later I am MUCH better now. I avoided social events because I was scared of certain foods or drinking. I could probably write a book and maybe I will one day about how many mistakes people make and what I did to overcome them.
– What is your diet like?
I eat about 4-5 meals a day of lean protein, healthy fats, veggies and my carbs depend on my body goals at any given time (leaning out, gaining muscle or maintenance). I have followed a paleo diet for 6 weeks which helped me shred down 9 lbs but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it long-term. I have followed IIFYM for about three of my WBFF show preps and was able to shred down for each of those without completely limiting any foods. However, my favorite “diet” is to eat lean whole foods (4-6 meals a day) consistently (5-6 days a week) with one or two cheat meals (any food I like) to reset my metabolism and mood. 🙂 I feel the most stable, healthy and look the best with that current regimen.
– What is your typical workout routine?
I don’t think I can even explain it! My coach has me doing 4 days of weight training a week but I am very ADHD and I don’t do things in an orderly fashion. I get things done in a chaotic way. I may do leg day on monday one week, and wednesday the next week. I may do my workouts in a different order every time. I almost always workout in “beast mode” where I end up with messy hair and sweat everywhere. However, I like to mix up my routine because I never want boredom to keep me from my goals. My upper body grows a lot faster than my lower body. I have very long legs so in order to sculpt them, it takes a lot of heavy weights, low reps and isolation to get results. I focus heavily on glutes, hams, calves and did I mention, glutes? 🙂 I will work my lower body 2-3 times a week usually with rest days in between.
– Which are your top 3 exercises and why?
Weighted Hip Thrusters, Cable Kickbacks and Straight-legged deadlifts (because they work my gluteus and hams best)
– How do you keep motivated?
Results! I never thought in a million years I would look and feel how I do today! I also never thought I would enjoy getting older so much! Muscle maturity and strength don’t have to get worse with age, in fact, the reverse is actually possible! I love motivating others and seeing their results and happiness! I’m an adrenaline junkie by nature, so I always need to get my energy out whether it be physically in the gym or riding a fast motorcycle, and enjoying some other thrill almost on the daily. Last, but not least, I feel extremely thankful to be alive and healthy. I am a nurse and I’ve seen plenty of people suffer and not be able to enjoy their lives to the fullest extent and I feel extremely passionate about becoming the best version of yourself you can.
– What is your favourite body part?
That’s a tough one. The body is such an aesthetic piece of art. I can appreciate different body parts on different bodies. My favorite on myself I guess would be when my obliques come out to play. 🙂
– What is your favorite healthy meal?
OMG! This is a trick! If I was stranded on a desert island, which food would I pick?! I would probably starve because I could never choose! I LOVE FOOD. I think people have a very misconstrued concept that athletes and fit people “don’t like food.” I have only witnessed the EXACT OPPOSITE. They just eat in MODERATION but still enjoy all the same favorite foods! I like margaritas. Does that count? =P But in all seriousness, I would be sad if I never ate Ezekiel bread again.
– What is your favorite cheat meal?
Hmmm…this is so freaking weird, but I LOVE GREEN TEA ICE CREAM! After sushi of course.
– Do you do cardio? If so, what type of cardio?
Yes. I try and do cardio about 4-5 days a week on my maintenance plan and 6 days a week on show prep. Right now I’m doing either 15 min of HIIT or 30 min of low intensity. I will go up as high as 55 min of HIIT before a show.
– What supplements do you use?
EHPLabs
– What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Don’t be rigid in your thinking, never stop learning and don’t be jealous. All three of those lead to dead end roads or distraction from your personal goals or lost friendships. Reaching your goals is amazing but goals without friends is lonely and not worth having. Do not try and reach goals at the expense of good people in your life. Learn to balance both.
– Other hobbies a part from fitness?
Dirt biking, riding motorcycles, traveling, hiking, photography, modeling, seeking new challenges and living spontaneously (outside the box).
– Favorite fitness models, athletes or bodybuilders? Inspirations?
Oh boy. I have SO many. My current woman crush would probably be WBFF Pro Sue Lasmar. Is she even real? Yes, yes, she is. I’ve spoken to her a few times now and she is not only extremely powerful and sexy embodied in one, she’s sweet and nonthreatening. I’ve looked up to other women in the past that lost my respect when they turned out to be selfish or jealous. To me, sexy is confident and happy. If you are threatened by others or unapproachable, that ruins any exterior strength and sexiness to me.
– What are the most important tips you would give to our readers to achieve a Top Physique?
I respect all forms of fitness and basically the love of life. If you are full of passion and life, I can totally dig that and support it one hundred percent. Fitness isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but try to learn to respect that it’s someone’s cup of tea and it has tons of benefits! Don’t knock it until you try it. =P Some of the critics say, oh you show off your body too much, that’s not humble. I would respond, fitness and sculpting the body has become not only my lifestyle, hobby and passion, but it’s my job. So that is my canvas I advertise to those that would respect that or who would want something similar. I also try to keep my public exposure clean and fitness-related.
– Any quotes that describes your way of thinking?
Perfect Love Casts Out All Fear. It’s part of a Bible Quote. It describes so many aspects of life that it is my number one quote.