My Story

Always having a passion to help others and through her own life lessons Lydia is committed to being a lifetime learner. Following her completion of her bachelors of science in Kinesiology in 3 1/2 years, Lydia furthered her education with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and became a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT). Lydia has worked with a majority of her clients in Telluride Colorado in person but has relocated to Denver Colorado where she does traveling training in person, as well as selling custom online programs. Lydia has eight specific certifications in the works as she is pursuing nutritional coaching through the Nutritional Coaching Institute (NCI).

Lydia’s “Why” for Leafstrand Live Strong is her grandfather, Douglas Leafstrand, great grandmother, Great-Grandma Bee Leafstrand, and of course her father, Tim Leafstrand.

Lydia’s grandfather Douglas Leafstrand is a Vietnam Veteran, retired pilot and photographer. At 92 years old, Douglas golfs three times per week, walks everywhere he can unless he has to drive, and attends church with family weekly. Douglas does a full body routine of exercises every morning to help keep him moving with ease on and off the golf course. He’s been a major idol in Lydia’s life as he proves that consistency and an active lifestyle surrounded by loved ones has kept him so healthy for his age. Lydia grew up with her grandfather visiting Colorado yearly to elk hunt with her father up in the mountains at 12,000 ft until he was 90 years old!

His mother, Great Grandma Bee, lived to be 102 years old. She valued family, staying active and eating well. She rode her bike till she was almost 100 years old! Lydia’s relatives have demonstrated their whole lives what she was taught when getting her degree in kinesiology; “if you don’t use it, you lose it.” 

Lastly, but surely not least, Lydia’s father Tim Leafstrand, made a profound impact on Lydia’s life. Lydia grew up very close to her father and always loved learning from him. Tim was a blue-collared hard working man that loved sharing his passion for the great outdoors. Like the rest of their family, he loved skiing, fishing, hunting, cooking, and anything outside. Tim was unfortunately diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer in April of 2022 and passed in August 2022 surrounded by loved ones in Ludington, Michigan. Lydia always looked up to her father as he pushed her to pursue her dreams. Lydia’s sole goal is to make her father proud as she dedicates her career to helping others. During such a hard time in her life, Lydia learned so much while taking care of her father and seeing how stress plays a large role in diseases like cancer. Food, exercise, and nature is medicine… 

My Mission

I have a passion for the outdoors and an active lifestyle. I truly believe that your body adapts to what you do and what you consume. That is what has brought me here, to spread the importance to others. 

I’ve had numerous life experiences that have taught me how important proper nutrition and an active lifestyle plays into our quality of life. The way we train doesn’t only matter for that time period, but carries over to our everyday life. Whether it’s our posture, our energy, strength to simply get up, etc., it adds up day by day throughout our life and impacts our mood, focus, mentality, and so much more.