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Clare Smith

Training Body & Soul

A mid-summer update, full-body circuit & survey winners!

July 20, 2016

Happy summer, friends! I sure hope it’s going well for you. We are halfway through July which means it is FLYING by! Do you feel the same way? It’s been a busy month for us and I wanted to give you a little peek into it! I spent the last week of June in Florida visiting my brother and his family and just got back from a weekend of camping. I want to share with you a little bit of how I eat and exercise on vacation, not because I think you need to mimic it, but because I think it’s interesting to look into other people’s lives!

If you’ve followed me for any time, you know that I try to be pretty realistic and balanced when it comes to living a healthy life. Vacations for me are a time to go a little off the normal schedule, but I still an aware of how to steward my health. For example, I may not exercise as many days a week that I do at home, but I do try to be active via walking or swimming, or at least try to get in small spurts of exercise in. I actually have found that I move more (thanks to my Garmin step tracker) during most vacations and that is not to be underestimated! I tend to walk/swim/bike more away from home than when I’m at home. I know what some of you are going to say, “It’s vacation! It’s time to take a break from exercise?!” And yes, maybe for you it is, but when you attach exercise to your MENTAL wellness, then it’s something that’s hard to separate from your daily routine. If exercise was purely used to keep weight off, then I might see your point, but it is WAY more than that for me. We each have to find out “the why” in the fitness portion of health so for me, staying relatively active on vacation is important!

Full Body Gym/Hotel Workout Circuit : www.claresmith.me

We spent one night at a hotel and I filmed a quick circuit that you might find helpful!
Here is a sample full body circuit if you are at the gym or hotel!

The eating portion is perhaps the hardest portion for me, especially on vacation! You are out of your normal routine, kitchen, and resources. For example, I drink a protein shake every day and for whatever reason, I didn’t pack it with me so I had to figure out a different substitute for my post-workout snack. For this vacation, we were able to make most of the food we ate, (we did eat out a bit) so that was helpful! I made a big batch of avocado chicken salad that we snacked on. We had walking tacos, burgers, pizza and I can’t remember what else. Lunches were salads and leftovers and of course I got a large amount of water in. I love NUUN in my water especially on those hot days where I am sweating either just at the pool or after a workout/run. I also love BCAA’s and recently have tried Momsanity’s and really really like them so that helps the monotony of water

A side of Lucky Charms with breakfast on the last day of #vacation. Yum.

A photo posted by Clare Smith (@claresmithofficial) on Jun 29, 2016 at 5:48am PDT

Last weekend I went on a camping trip and while you can definitely eat some healthy food, it’s so easy to binge on junk food! This was my contribution to dinner that weekend—a build-your-own veggie/meat foil packets with a side of a Texas (or Cowboy) Caviar which is super close to my black bean dip but a little different!! (We went with 2 other couples so we shared that responsibility!) I also enjoyed S’mores, Campfire Cones, and hobo pizza pies so I was definitely feeling a little yucky come Monday morning! I take it all in stride though and get back on the original plan as soon as I get home!

Healthy Camping Meal www.claresmith.me

♥♥♥

I also wanted to update you all on the survey and announce the WINNERS! I know–I am so slow to the game with that. SORRY!! First of all, thank you so much for filling it out. I figured maybe 200 of you would fill it out but I had almost 700 responses. WOW– you guys are seriously the best. The info you provided was so beneficial for me as I’ve been praying over where God is leading me for this next year.

I was surprised at how much you all still want exercise content from me. Honestly, I feel like there is SO MUCH info out there that there is no need for me to add more, but you spoke, so I am going to do my best to get back on that! You also had interest in more blogs and video about the faith content that I talk to. I mainly do this via Facebook or instagram posts, but I am going to try and bring that over to the blog because most of you said you keep up with me here! The challenges (“Living and Active and “Spring Clean Eating”) are also still well-received and there is interest in some of them being done just a tad bit more throughout the year so I need to think through the best way to do that. I am also (prayerfully!) going to do a version 2.0 of the Living and Active Challenge so that you have no content if you’ve done it before! We’ll see!

Perhaps the most surprising and encouraging part of this survey was the final question where I asked you if you had anything else to add. I forgot to make this part “optional” on the survey so that you didn’t feel the need tons ay anything, but forgot to turn that option off. Oops! However, it ended up being the very thing I needed. I felt like I had the biggest virtual hug from you guys. Many of you noted that you had missed my absence online and encouraged me that I wasn’t “just another voice” online. You affirmed my passion and desire to be where the Lord wants me as the seasons of my life change. I have gone back and read your comments, and will continue to do so, when I have the gray days of blogging. I am so very thankful for you!

So onto the winners of the survey! The 3 names randomly chosen are:

Debbie

Sharilyn

Kim B.

Because I don’t want to put email addresses on here and I have no other way to let you know which specific person this is, I am going to email the 3 of you so be on the lookout for an email from me if you see your name listed here!

Hope you are enjoying your summer! The school year will be here before we know it!

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Let your complicated, challenging, nuanced situati Let your complicated, challenging, nuanced situation(s) be what forms you. Let it build you into the person God is bringing you to be. It’s not the ability to live life unscathed and perfect that creates a beautiful soul. It’s the ability to feel the heat and pain and come out more tender, authentic, and loving that makes you a person who is set apart for use. A person like this is refreshing and that person absolutely is you. #abeautifulpurpose

(Quote not my own)
I’ll keep this short because I want you to read I’ll keep this short because I want you to read the poem. We can bring our burdens many places nowadays- friends, Instagram, Facebook, text, to gym, to work, to sleep.. you get the point. But let’s make sure we bring our burdens first to Jesus. After the week.. month.. year.. many of us are having, there’s no better time to do this than now. #sweetunfailingrefuge

(I found this tucked in an old book at my family’s 100 year old farmhouse that we were selling this summer 🤍)
•My house was a mess with everyone being home to •My house was a mess with everyone being home today
• I only had ingredients for one batch of soup
• I don’t drink alcohol on Mondays
• Hubs had the sink totally apart in the middle of a project
• The kids were in and out of our deep conversation

Sometimes the quick stop to say hello turns into a therapy session with dinner and wine. Everything was stacked against me – so I thought- but the mayhem is often beauty and normalcy to the person’s life who is spinning. Sometimes “the plan” goes off track... but it’s not off track in God’s eyes.

Living life knowing that the minutes of your day are not yours but for God to use to encourage and be there for people who are hurting changes everything. It changes who you marry. It changes how you spend your money. It changes what you do with your time. Dinner portions may not be what you planned but God always finds enough to fill those who come to His table to be loved on and heard.

If I know one thing – it’s this. People are hurting right now. Some things are private and some are public. What would it look like if our homes became safe places for people to land? For our hearts to enter in the pain? For our embrace to provide the temporary relief needed? We can be people who talk about bringing the kingdom here on earth or we can be people who do what we can with the little we have to be the hands and feet of Jesus. 🤍
I’ve been on a “physical” comeback over the I’ve been on a “physical” comeback over the past few weeks. Between an insane December, Covid recovery, Ohio winters, and the mere fact I don’t have the bounce back that I used to (#thisis40) it’s been a slow go for me to get to feeling where I feel best physically. It’s been discouraging to say the least and I feel like I just turned a corner last week. 

While a lot truly was physical exhaustion, it was more of a mind game I was playing. I had to be my own #hypeman and tell myself to keep chipping away at the goal. I had to tell myself that the only way to the end was through it…no shortcuts. Just time and steady work. I often dismissed the small wins I had because I hadn’t hit the finish line. Well that thinking wasn’t helping me and one day had the “aha”that while I wasn’t yet at the goal, I was BETTER.

Each of us have something in our lives where it’s not what we want. We are on the path to achievement but it sure ain’t there yet. It can be with some of the obvious things such a health or financial goals but I see this often with people regarding relationships. The marriage, friendship, child or community in which we live falls just short of “perfection” and so we just settle instead of putting in consistent, hopeful work, which allows room for the Holy Spirit to work. 

I just want to encourage you to keep chipping away because while things may not be what you want, they can be better. In fact the way we reach what we want is not by snapping our fingers and it magically appearing but by a process or journey which involves ups and downs, straight stretches of boredom, and then finally a renewed energy as you see the end in sight.

What have you given up on achieving because it hasn’t come to fruition in the time you wanted? Remember… things can be BETTER. And that counts for something. 🤍
I was recently telling someone my journey or where I was recently telling someone my journey or where I am today in regards to what I do for a living... the crazy road I’ve travelled over the last 10 years to get me here. It’s changed a lot and if you’ve been here online with me, you have seen it! If you would have asked 18 year old Clare what she saw herself filling her days with at 40 years old, it would be about 5% of what I’m doing. Goodness...none of this was even around when I was 18!

I look back and see all the twists and turns. All these tiny moments and conversations. Many open and closed doors. Things that I thought were just random or not a big deal, but in hindsight, they were a huge deal. I appear to be a very type a “has her stuff together and a plan” type girl but the truth is, I am (was) taking everything day by day.

All I know is that everything I stepped into prepared me for the next thing. Many times I didn’t even know it! But I look back often and am like, “ohhh, God, I see what ya did there!” 

My encouragement to you is this- no matter what age you are- trust the path you are on. Let peace be your guide... not some assumed plan an “expert” or author told you. Sure- be wise with your time. Put in the work with diligence wherever your feet may have you, but be open to the nudges of where to go.

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“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬
A few years ago I was the speaker for a women’s A few years ago I was the speaker for a women’s retreat in the Chicago area. I just finished a session & a lady ran up to me asking if she could ask me a few questions. She was early 50’s, striking in appearance… fit & confident. She started telling me that she resonated with my health/fitness message & wanted some encouragement on starting “this late in life”, but as we continued talking, her demeanor changed & tears started to fill her eyes.

She told me that was she was struggling with something that had been weighing on her since she was 18…the decision to have an abortion. The tears were streaming down her face, the clear guilt she carried from it weighing heavy on every part of her beautiful stature. Not many knew about it. Her current husband did not…many friends did not. She felt it was keeping her from this life she saw that was just within reach. The more she sat in silence, the heavier the chains felt. She needed to speak and I watched the tears fall like visible chains.

We chatted a little longer, prayed & hugged, & as I walked away I couldn’t help but think of many women I’ve encountered with this same story but I would’ve never known. Walking through life seemingly fine, yet carrying a deep wound inside, questioning every bit of her worth and ability to make a difference. Heartbreaking. 

If you relate to that woman, I want you to know that you are loved & seen. Your past, as hard as it has been, has formed & shaped you into the woman you are today, & a woman that God greatly desires to use. He wants your broken, fragile heart. He will bind it up and heal it. He will walk with you in the shadows. He will lead you beside still and soul-quenching waters. There may be many words you can attach to your situation but there is one more powerful than all that I want you to keep remembering…RESTORATION. Jesus is renewing and reviving something within you that will bring light to yourself & others.

For the rest of us who may not have this as a part of our story, let’s remember that we are walking amongst those who have & that we are to be healing arms, not ones of judgement & legalism...but ones of compassion & grace. 🤍 DM me if you need prayer!
This came up on my Facebook memories and I just fe This came up on my Facebook memories and I just feel it’s always applicable! There is always something in our lives that if we could just “get our hands on” would work to our favor. We dream about what it would be like if we got that thing/person etc. We think about the 2 tweaks that need to happen for it to occur. We pray about it. Perhaps obsess over it.. sound familiar?

But we also start to resent our current lives. We stop living in what God has fully given us. We live everywhere but the here and now and alongside that dream of yours comes a side dish of anxiety and sadness. So then we get our hands in it, perhaps without God’s “OK” and then we see a mess unfold. We’ve all been there. If only we had waited. 

This is the grind of living in reality. We are pulled from living what is before us into living into a dream we have deep within. Here’s the cool thing. We don’t have to choose.. reality or dream. It’s not an either/or but both/and. We can live fully here while also giving energy to our hopes. The difference is how tightly we hold into those things and how much they get elevated in our hearts.

If you are here this morning I just want to encourage you that you aren’t alone! I truly believe with everything I am, that God works for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) I believe in His sovereign timing. I believe that the work He started in you (and everyone else in your life) will be completed. (Phil1:6) Keep praying, stay faithful to where you are now, walk in the “peace path” and hold onto Jesus. He will lead you. 🙏🏻
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