Laurie Schubert
PhD RD LDN
Team Dietitian
“I just wanted to take a moment to thank Laurie, my nutritionist for Ironman Louisville. If you are like me, as a first time Ironman wannabe, you read a bunch of information from well-respected resources as well as from some suspect sources, like internet blogs. The variety and scope of information was overwhelming, contradictory, and confusing and wound up being very different than the custom plan created for me by Laurie…I cannot recommend Laurie enough. Don’t fool yourself into a “one size fits all” nutrition plan. Get what is tailored for you and have a worry free race day and a speedy recovery.” – Wendy H.
“When I first met Laurie, I was stuck in a vicious cycle of temporary weight loss followed by not-so-temporary weight gains. I had thought that as long as I was working out regularly, I could eat whatever I wanted. And yet, the only way I could seem to lose weight was to starve myself. This didn’t keep the weight off long term, and had the extra side effect of robbing me of the energy I needed to have quality workouts. Laurie has taught me a great deal about eating the right kinds of foods, at the right times, to manage my weight while maintaining my energy level. With her help, I have reduced my body fat, increased my strength, and made it through many a long training session without bonking. Thanks, Laurie!” – Drew R.
Laurie specializes in working with clients to meet nutritional needs and goals within the boundaries of food preferences, cooking ability, medical limitations, and budget. She has a particular interest in sports nutrition and cardiovascular health, but gets personal satisfaction from encouraging people in weight loss, finding the right meal plan for a medical issue, and watching young children learn to enjoy a variety of foods.
Laurie joined the nutrition community in 1998, when she began studying the biochemistry of vitamin D and skeletal muscle. After moving to Chicago in 2003, she indulged in a culinary exploration of Chicago’s fabulous ethnic neighborhoods. Laurie also became a registered dietitian and began applying her dietetics knowledge to specific populations. She is a frequent volunteer at local food- and nutrition-related charities and food banks and enjoys delving into the literature to find the answer to an unusual nutritional problem for a client.
Laurie has been a coached athlete since 2005, so she knows first hand how important race nutrition is. Laurie has enjoyed a variety of athletic pursuits in her life, including bicycling, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, cross country skiing, and most of all, weight lifting. She completed her first triathlon in 2000. After moving to Chicago, Laurie and her husband joined a running club full of triathletes. A few bike rides and track sessions later, they hired Coach Joe. Laurie has since completed sprint and Olympic triathlons, and is really hoping that she’ll eventually find a comfortable bike seat.
Laurie lives with her husband in Naperville, IL. She has an AB in Chemistry from Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia and a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Laurie completed her dietetic internship at Loyola University Chicago, working with multiple hospitals, food service organizations, government programs, and people in every age group. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Nutrition Department at Benedictine University, where she teaches graduate and undergraduate nutrition research and an advanced nutritional physiology class for the exercise physiology graduate program. Laurie also gives seminars and webinars in the Chicago area on a number of topics, including hydration, combating GI issues during races, and dietary supplements. Given the opportunity, Laurie even does live TV interviews! She is looking forward to continued learning, meeting new friends, and helping athletes fuel for competition and a long and healthy life.