First Day of Summer

It’s the first day of summer and whether you are happy with where you are or you are looking to get back on a healthy path…summer plans can be challenging for everyone. I know many of you are thinking ‘how can I stay on program and lose weight with all the parties, bbq and events that I have every week?’… My thoughts to you are: If you can take the time to gain then you can take the time to lose. Follow these amazing tips to start the summer off right!

MEALS: Clean 6 days and cheat 1 day. Thats the most effective way to lose weight. If you eat 3 clean meals and 2-3 snacks a day with one cheat day then you will see immediate results.

LITTLE LIES: Stop telling little lies to yourself – Really think about what you are saying and feeling. When you say you are starving…are you really starving?? Do you really even know what starving feels like? Remember, you can convince yourself to feel however you want. So if you tell yourself  “I’m starving!!” that’s what you will feel. Switch it to “I’m getting a little hungry” and your whole attitude will change in a positive direction.

NO EXCUSES: I have to split my cheat days; there wasn’t any options for me to eat; It was the cleanest choice there — There is always an option. At a restaurant, you may have to ask for it the way you want it and at a bbq you can eat before or you can bring a healthy choice. Think about it…when do you ever walk into a party empty handed? Along with the wine or dessert make sure you bring a healthy choice that you can enjoy. **Restaurants ask for grilled plain fish or chicken with steamed veggies. Everyone has it 🙂

BE AMAZING: Summer is always going to be hard. But on the days you can be amazing, be amazing, and the days you can’t, then be mindful. You have 4 weeks in a month – if you lose weight 1 week but the other 3 weeks you maintain then you are still ahead of the game at the end of the month you still lost. If you can lose 2 weeks and maintain 2 weeks that’s even better!!

EXERCISE EVERYDAY: While you can’t exercise off what you eat, what you can do is feel and look better when you exercise. It’s amazing how you feel when you start your day with exercise. It immediately gets the blood pumping and you feel like you can accomplish anything. A walk, do weights, a jog, spin or  do a class…With the sun rising early try and find a way to start the day with exercise.

LIVE LIKE THERE ARE NO DO-OVERS: Try not to live like you are on a diet. Every time you go off you think you have to start over. Instead, when you have a bbq or a night out that didn’t go as planned, just get right back on your healthy lifestyle. Eating clean and healthy 6 days a week with 1 day off is a way of life, not a short term fix. No one is perfect all the time. So when you are not perfect don’t throw in the towel and snowball into 10 lbs of a mistake. Instead, get right back on and CONTINUE on your weight loss and healthy lifestyle.

KNOW YOUR LIMIT: When it comes to alcohol, know your limits. If you know you can’t have more than 1 drink or you will lose control then don’t have more than 1. It’s important to stay in control of the drink before you let the drink control you.

Regardless of what season we are in, it takes dedication and mindfulness to change into the person you want to be. Just take one day at a time and continue to make the right decisions. While it’s totally up to you how much you will lose this summer – it’s also up to you how much you will gain. The important thoughts should be that you keep heading in the right direction. You will no longer put it off – Slow or fast you are headed there.

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018