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Lauren Updyke, MS ACSM HFI Executive Director for Employee Experience, The Whole U Fitness Fitness Trainer and UWHR Chief Wellness Officer

Hi everyone, I’m Lauren, the Executive Director for Employee Experience and UWHR Chief Wellness Officer. I am also the weight training virtual instructor and moving break lead. My role is to lead our Employee Experience team encompassing The Whole U, UW Combined Fund Drive and WorkLife programs.

I have spent over 20 years of my career in Health and Wellness. I came to the USA from Canada on a track and field scholarship to University of Louisiana. I have my Masters in Exercise Physiology, am a Certified Personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine, and have coached over 10,000 individuals online from all over the world. I worked with the wellness program at Duke University and Hospital for 13 years as fitness and health education manager.

This is my tenth year at UW and I love being a Husky. When I’m not at work, I am either training for a marathon, doing lots of strength training, traveling with my family, or racing from one kid activity to the next.

Facilities Shares Easy Way to Stay Healthy & Promote Team Bonding

Some departments connect over happy hour or a casual group lunch. Facilities Services connects by stretching. Gene Woodard, the director of Building Services, supported the creation of a very unique stretching program that makes a direct impact on staff every day. Three years ago, Steve Fayden, a staff member in FMC, initated a stretch and [...]

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Get Strong, Lose Weight, Eat Healthy. Summer Challenge Registration Ends Soon.

Believe it or not, the summer months can be the hardest to keep up with your exercise and healthy eating habits. With vacations, out of town guests, outdoor patio socials, retirement parties at work, and kid birthday parties with cake, it can be difficult to stick to your typical routine. The Whole U Summer of [...]

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Your Vote Counts for The UW!

The Whole U team is proud to announce that our kettlebell record is up for this week’s Guinness World Records Fan Choice Record of the Week with a chance to win the Fan Choice Record of the Year award. In order to win, we need the most online votes by 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 22. [...]

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100 Day Challenge

Earlier in the month I had the pleasure of meeting Renee when she agreed to be my fitness model for a strength training handout I was preparing for Facilities Services. Her positive energy was contagious and she told me she was starting a 100 day challenge back to fitness. I asked Renee if she would [...]

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A Chance to Change Your Mindset with Neal Dempsey

When we were told back in December that Neal Dempsey himself would help lead the World’s Largest Kettlebell Workout at Dempsey Field, I was floored. I thought, “I get to meet the man that donated this incredible athletic facility to the UW?” I was brand new to the University of Washington but realized that Dempsey [...]

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Fitness Challenge: Are you ready for the Summer of FUNction?

Are you on a quest to keep your body strong and healthy? The Whole U is here to help with the Summer of FUNction fitness challenge. Join a team and get ready to eat healthy, fit fitness into your day in unexpected ways, and find new ways to make your quest fun. This challenge begins on [...]

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VIDEO: Mindful Parenting Seminar Offers Great Insight & Tips

One of my favorite jobs of all time is being a mom. It is a hard job, but so rewarding and so fun. I am inspired by my own mother. She spent so much time with us and stayed at home for 10 years so quality time was never an issue, especially since modern technology [...]

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From Farm to Fork – New Partner!

One of the best things about spring is the fresh flowers and food available. To help you get the most out of the season, The Whole U added a new partner to its Farm to Fork program, where local farmers and vendors offer University of Washington’s faculty and staff a discounted rate on their produce. [...]

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CONTEST: The Leading Fork Appreciation Dinner

At the UW, leaders can be found in every corner and at every level. From running a research project or coordinating patient care to motivating a project team or maintenance crew, the UW celebrates leadership at all levels. Thousands of UW faculty and staff are in roles in which they serve as formal or informal [...]

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The Whole U Cooking Series Launches with a Mouthwatering Hit!

UW faculty and staff ranked healthy eating as their #1 interest and food and cooking as #2, so our mission was clear. The Whole U has partnered with UW Dining Services to host monthly cooking demonstrations after work! Our first event was a HUGE hit! Faculty and staff filled the stadium seating and chef’s table [...]

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The Bad, the Good, and Your UW Opportunities for Weight Loss

Weight loss is such a touchy subject but such an important topic for so many. I decided to begin with some eye opening facts. According to the Center for Disease Control: About 1 in every 4 Americans die of heart disease in the United States every year. Heart disease is the leading cause of death [...]

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No April Fools: We really do have more discounts!

Every day I check my inbox for more YES’s from local businesses. We reach out to so many potential discount partners each day from travel options to restaurants, services to fitness memberships and get lucky to land a more than just a few. The Whole U was created for YOU so please continue to email [...]

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