Lorraine Bosse-Smith

Lorraine Bosse-Smith's mantra, "never giving up," has helped her overcome adversity throughout her life. Bosse-Smith's father died of cancer when she was the tender age of 13, leaving her and her mother to "press on." "I learned at a very young age that things didn't come easily," relates Bosse-Smith with a warm and confident smile. "We had to pull ourselves together and continue to live life, even when we didn't feel like it." This traumatic event launched her on a path of self-discovery and personal challenge that continues to drive her to succeed in all areas of her life.

Bosse-Smith began charting her course then and prepared to work her way through college. Working over 50 hours a week, she attended night school to obtain her associate's degree in office information technology and bachelor's degree in business marketing and communications. By her mid 20s, she was the youngest employee to become the director of Focus on the Family Publishing in Colorado Springs, Colorado, running the 4-plus-million-dollar business. All the while, Bosse-Smith had a passion for fitness. An energetic individual, she enjoyed outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, skiing, tennis and volleyball.

However, it wasn't until her mother was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor and she left her abusive husband in 1996 that Bosse-Smith realized her life wasn't balanced. "I spent so much energy climbing the corporate ladder," says Bosse-Smith, "that I forgot to care for my total being." Moreover, her self-esteem was shattered by her ex-husband's physical and emotional abuse and, weighing only 97 pounds, she wanted to give up. "I had to make a difficult decision: take the easy route and just fade away or make some drastic changes in my life," Bosse-Smith shares. "I wasn't raised to quit, so I opted to improve the quality of my life."

Bosse-Smith embarked on a healing journey, learning she needed to do more than care for herself physically with exercise. She also needed to attend to her emotional, mental and spiritual health. Upon her mother's death in May 1997, Bosse-Smith decided to take a huge leap of faith and moved to Washington to start her own consulting business to help businesses across the country grow and succeed. Within a year, she had remarried and her business was thriving.

Still, she had always dreamed of being a fitness instructor, so when she moved to California with her new husband, Steve Smith, she trained and began obtaining all the credentials she could to help others get "totally" fit. "Steve provided such a safe and loving environment," Bosse-Smith continues, "that I was able to come into myself for the first time in my life. He gave me the courage to soar!" Bosse-Smith is an AFAA certified fitness instructor, KickBoxing instructor and advanced personal trainer as well as a Precision Cycling[TM] instructor and advanced certified human behavior consultant and life coach.

The couple's business expanded to offer corporate training and life coaching. Bosse-Smith was able to use her corporate experience and life lessons to help people find balance in their lives. In addition, Bosse-Smith began writing in hopes of encouraging and helping more people to better manage their lives. In A Healthier, Happier You: 101 Steps for Lessening Stress (Barbour Publishing, 2004), Bosse-Smith helps readers understand the negative impact of stress (e.g., illness, strained relationships, disease, overeating, undereating, drugs and alcohol abuse) and provides practical yet powerful ways to eliminate chaos and replace it with balance. It is light, inspirational and easy to read, but don't let its size fool you. Even though it is compact, it is full of ideas to change your life for the better.

Bosse-Smith hasn't stopped there. She recently built her own, private fitness studio to work with clients one-on-one and meet their fitness goals. In addition, she continues to teach dynamic, energetic fitness classes at 24 Hour Fitness in Temecula, California. "I really enjoy Lorraine's classes and training style," compliments Harvey Dickerson, a mortgage loan officer in Hemet, California. "She knows just how to push each of us to go further than we thought we could and makes it fun!" Bosse-Smith has made what was once a dying class for the club, indoor cycling, one of the most popular, with over 20 people on the waiting list. "Lorraine gave me focus with her never-ending positive personality and warm soul. I will always remember her inspiration in my spiritual growth, body and mind," adds Pete Buddhu, a loyal bike rider and commercial plumber.

Bosse-Smith's mantra of "never giving up" has paid off. Today, at age 37, Bosse-Smith is the healthiest and strongest she has ever been. She competes in triathlons, runs, hikes, bikes, plays tennis, rock climbs and enjoys the balance and peace she has found by caring for her total self. Bosse-Smith continues to coach individuals, helping them achieve their personal and professional goals. She speaks and trains across the country and has a second book, Finally FTT, coming out this September with Siloam Press. To learn more about Bosse-Smith, her books and how she can help you reach your potential, visit www.thetotalyou.biz.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group