Claire Rae fitness
This was a different kind of post for me but I truly felt led to share this story. Today, I lost another friend that although had changed their life in terms of drug addiction and alcoholism, they were dealing with the long term effects and eventually succumb to illness and passed away. It grieves me to see so many people waiting so long to get free and how it hurts so many people but with this story there is hope and with God all things are possible.
It all comes down to the things we do on the regular. If there is something amiss in our life we can usually figure it out by taking inventory of our thoughts and ultimately our actions. Let’s have a look at some things we can do daily to create a positive life no matter what’s going on in the world around us.
Fasting has become one of the top subjects for new years resolutions both for physical and spiritual reasons. If you are a fitness buff like me and also happen to be a Christ follower, you will notice how Jesus spoke of fasting in the Bible (Matthew 6 and also in the old testament ) . As there are more and more people becoming aware of God’s divine health plan for His people, science and the mainstream are just catching up to its benefits physically. Let’s not minimize the divine power spiritually it has on the believer in relation to the Father( God) but let’s go over some of the physical aspects so if you aren’t quite ready to deep dive into the divine, you can at least understand some of the reasons why Jesus said “when you fast” as in, it’s going to happen as a Holy Spirit filled believer, you will be lead to do so at some point. Real believers follow His leading in the scripture.
Here’s what you might look forward to physically from what you might consider a challenge when you first get started, and why I always recommend a new years fast starting after the holiday feasting for a reset in your body and mind. For best results in all things pray and ask for help to do it healthily and holy.
The Benefits of Fasting: A Comprehensive Overview
Fasting, the practice of voluntarily abstaining from food or drink for a specified period, has been a part of human culture for centuries, often rooted in religious, spiritual, or cultural traditions. However, in recent years, fasting has gained popularity for its numerous health benefits, supported by scientific research. Below is an exploration of the key benefits of fasting, highlighting its impact on physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Fasting, especially intermittent fasting (IF), is an effective tool for weight management. By restricting calorie intake for specific periods, fasting can:
Fasting triggers cellular processes that promote health and longevity, including:
Fasting offers significant benefits for mental clarity and brain health:
Fasting positively impacts cardiovascular health by:
Fasting supports hormonal regulation in several ways:
Fasting provides a rest period for the digestive system, which can:
Fasting helps develop mindfulness and self-discipline:
Types of Fasting
There are various fasting methods to suit different lifestyles and goals:
Safety and Considerations
While fasting offers numerous benefits, it’s essential to approach it responsibly:
Conclusion
Fasting is a powerful tool for enhancing physical health, mental clarity, and emotional well-being. By triggering biological processes that promote repair, fasting helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improves metabolism, and supports a healthier lifestyle. With proper planning and mindfulness, fasting can be a sustainable practice for long-term health and vitality
If you are interested in hearing more on the spiritual side of fasting and some of my experiences comment below or follow me on YouTube where I touch on more of the spiritual side of things as a believer in Christ.
We are going to do just fine this holiday while we enjoy and plan our holiday meals. Sometimes it can be challenging but with the right mindset and some planning you can enjoy the holidays without over doing it. Try and give yourself a break and enjoy those meals and treat with a plan. Here are some top tips for surviving the holidays:
1. Plan Ahead
• Preview Meals: If possible, look up menus or know what will be served in advance to plan your choices.
• Pre-Meal Snack: Eat a small, protein-rich snack before gatherings to avoid overeating.
2. Focus on Portion Control
• Use Smaller Plates: It tricks your brain into feeling satisfied with less.
• Fill Half Your Plate with Veggies: Prioritize non-starchy vegetables to add volume without excess calories.
• Sample, Don’t Splurge: Take small portions of calorie-dense dishes.
3. Choose Wisely
• Prioritize Protein: Opt for lean proteins like turkey, chicken, or fish to keep you full longer.
• Limit Sugary and Fried Foods: Focus on whole foods and skip unnecessary toppings like heavy creams or gravies.
4. Be Mindful While Eating
• Slow Down: Eat slowly to savor flavors and give your brain time to register fullness.
• Avoid Seconds: Wait 10-15 minutes after finishing before considering more food.
5. Watch Liquid Calories
• Limit Alcohol: Alcohol can be calorie-dense and lower inhibitions, leading to overeating. Alternate with water or opt for low-calorie options.
• Skip Sugary Drinks: Choose water, sparkling water, or unsweetened tea.
6. Don’t Skip Meals- Unless you are planning on intermitted fasting
• Avoid “Saving Calories”: Skipping meals often leads to overeating later. Eat balanced meals throughout the day.
7. Bring a Healthy Dish
• If you’re attending a potluck, bring a healthier option like a veggie platter, roasted vegetables, or a light dessert.
8. Balance Indulgence with Moderation
• Pick Favorites: Enjoy small portions of your absolute favorite holiday foods without guilt.
• Balance the Day: If you indulge in a big meal, eat lighter and nutrient-dense foods earlier or later.
9. Stay Active
• Incorporate a walk, stretch, or workout before or after big meals to offset some calories and boost metabolism.
10. Practice Self-Compassion
• One indulgent meal won’t derail your progress. Get back on track the next day without guilt.
Holidays are about enjoying time with loved ones, so aim for balance rather than perfection!
If you need some healthy ideas and just don’t know where to start grab my Diet Makeover Ebook.>>>
Hormone health is crucial for women’s overall well-being and affects a wide range of physical, emotional, and mental functions. Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate processes such as metabolism, mood, fertility, and even bone health. For women, hormones fluctuate significantly throughout different stages of life, including puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause. Below is an overview of important aspects of hormone health for women, as well as strategies to maintain balance.
Eating organic foods in season and from your local area has a profound way to help keep you healthy. It’s God’s way of providing for us perfectly. …
Healthy living is for every age and sharing is caring!
I want to continue to support everyone in their health journey. I believe that healthy people attract healthy people and healed people help heal people. A balanced lifestyle is one that has to be worked at and scheduled.
The best thing we can all do is live a healthy lifestyle and inspire and encourage as many as we can to do the same. Live by example and join those who want to make healthy choices.
Things you can do right now to enjoy heathy living at any age:
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Making a healthy lifestyle change doesn’t have an age limit but making healthy choices early will be of benefit as soon as you get started. I invite you to join Shift 2025 starting in January. You can Register now!
Don’t limit yourself or let others limit what you can achieve. Make goals and put deadlines on them.
Your physical and mental wellness has never been as important as it is right now.
Another SHIFT is coming….
It’s been a crazy summer and as much as I have wanted to share all the details, there simply has not been enough time to climb the mountains, farm the land, entertain family and friends, fall in love, train, get good sleeps, cook and eat good healthy meals and rest. I thought I could quickly give you a little update to let you know things are going really great and phase 4 healing really has been the completion of my healing journey. God is at work as always and things are spectacular and better than ever.
If you are popping in for the first time, my name is Claire and I have been a health and wellness coach for 20 years and I was put on a journey to learn first hand about recovery through an extensive trial and training period of 3 years, that included a traumatic brain injury from a snowboarding accident, followed by a cancer scare with a benign tumor, followed by a severe car accident where I broke my neck and suffered more brain trauma all while the world was shutting down and causing emotional and mental trauma. Not to mention losing two of my best friends to substance overdoses and watching other loved ones harm themselves with alcohol and substance to cope with the shifting times. It was a lot and a lot to take recover from.
Since July 2022 after the car accident I have been on the recovery journey and sharing what I can about the miracles, natural remedies and activities that God has been revealing to me during my recovery. I did not have much help from the medical field and my story is one for testimony purposes. My hope is that I can inspire, educate and just share my story that includes natural ways to heal through the guiding of God’s goodness and leading. He has given me a personal blueprint to restore through natural remedies, prayer and divine instruction. I believe He is using my story to help others and bring hope to those going through various trials and to remind people that He is the one with the answers and we can trust Him to bring us through many difficulties. If He can do it for me, He can do it for you or someone you love.
He is on the move in our communities, countries and the world. He is at work as always and it truly is a glorious time to be alive.
Thanks for stopping in.
In my last post I told you guys that I was working with some farmers this year and have been truly having the time of my life, such a great group of people and the physical challenge is just what I needed to strengthen my body and brain. I don’t think I’ve ever had as much fun at work as I do with them and organic farming is just so very rewarding. Knowing you are helping feed other people healthy whole foods is such a good feeling. We have so much fun together at work we decided to go on an adventure because we often don’t have as much time to visit when we are working. This trip was a great team build and time to get to know each other a little but better. I think these kinds of community activities are just so healthy and needed these days. If you have a church group, family event or work event, I would highly recommend planning a trip like this.
I have been on a few hikes over the years while in recovery but this one was a little longer and a little more challenging. I probably would not have planned to do this one on my own but thankful I was pushed to do so. I have some pretty amazing people around me these days that keep me motivated and challenge me to go a little further and push a little harder. Everyone needs that from time to time and when you are in recovery, it’s important to have people understand your level, so not to push you too hard but also when you are ready, not let you stay in the comfort zone. I am definitely ready to leave the comfort zone and really push it. It can be so easy to fall into excuse zone when you have been knocked down a few times. You do have to push it and you will feel amazing after if you do, plus it will improve your recovery and hopefully all round life in general.
As much as I love training in the gym for strengthening and maintenance, I am very driven by real adventures. The destination adventures are so rewarding and the pictures are always epic.
If you are planning some hiking and you are new to the scene, I do want to tell you it’s a good idea to be prepared. You do need a backpack, water, snacks like trail mix. A good meal is important because these hikes are physically demanding. We had someone with bear spray because you just never know. I always like having a whistle but that’s more for when I’m alone. It always feels safer to go with a group and a lot more fun.
Reggie, was always running from the front of the group to the back making sure no one was getting left behind. He is the best companion and such a good adventure and farm dog, we all love him.
I love the Alltrails app. It really has given us a ton of opportunity to find amazing trails. It also gives us a the information before we set out on our journey so we know how to prepare. I highly recommend downloading it if you haven’t already.
The fun part about getting to the top of Eagle pass is that there is remains of an old cabin that was built up there. I just the thought it was inspiring to think of the work it would take to build at such a highly remote point with such an amazing view. Can you imagine waking up to that view daily? I guess if you wanted to you can always camp overnight to see what it would be like. It might be a little isolating but sometimes that’s just what a person needs.
Anyway, I need to get going as summer is flying by and there is so much I still want to do but I am working on a book that will give more details of the ways God has led me through this interesting and exciting trial to be fully and completely healed. I am officially well now and look forward to having more to share with you in the coming months. I hope you make time to get out there and adventure too, if you are able and if you are also in a trial or recovery, let this story give you hope and remind you, it’s not forever, there are always mountain tops and valley’s on the journey and God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
-Claire
I wish everyone got to enjoy the farm life even just for a little while…..