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Category: diet

clean eatingdieteatcleanfamilyHealthy TipsLifestyleweight loss

FACT & MYTHS

When it comes to weight loss sometimes it’s easier to do something when you fully understand why you are doing it.  So as part of our SPRING INTO WEIGHT LOSS i’m going to explain a FACT and/or MYTH every week so you can understand what works and what doesn’t and most importantly why.

 

THIS WEEK FACT:  You need to be a little hungry to lose weight.  

When it comes to hunger and being uncomfortable I think it’s pretty obvious no one likes to be either.  I hear it all the time – “I had an extra handful because I was hungry.”  or “I was starving I needed an extra snack.”  I have said it many times and will continue to say it – 99% of us don’t even know what starving is. We use the word so loose that we forgot what the true meaning is.  When you feel a little uncomfortable it’s not starving it’s just a little hungry.  Yes you will absolutely have a little hunger on program.  You have to if you are losing weight.

 

 

THIS IS WHY:

WEIGHT LOSS – in order to lose weight you need to take in less than the body currently needs.  If you are currently 150 and want to be 140 you have to eat like someone who is 140.  Because if you eat like someone who is 150 you will maintain and not lose.  But when you are 150 and you are eating like someone who is 140 then of course you are going to be hungry because you are taking in less than you body needs to maintain and that is what creates the hunger.  And of course this goes for if you are 125 trying to get to 110 or if you are 200 trying to get to 180.  Regardless of where you currently are you need to eat less than your body currently needs to lose weight.

 

 

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU EAT LESS THAN WHAT YOUR BODY CURRENTLY NEEDS:

When you eat less your body goes into a deficit and it doesn’t want to be there.  It’s going to tell you that it’s in a deficit by giving you hunger signals.  It knows you are not giving it enough food to maintain it’s current weight.  So it gives you hunger signals to tell you it’s looking for more food.  but when you don’t feed into that hunger and ignore it the body is very smart and it will get what it needs from somewhere else – it will get it from your fat reserves.  The extra fat you have on your body is received for exactly these times.  Our body stores fat to protect us from hunger and famine.  Since you are not going to feed it what it needs — it starts using your stored fat.  That’s a good thing!

 

 

RECAP:

When you eat less and you feel that little hunger your body can’t get what it needs so it taps into your stored fat reserves. — This is exactly why I tell you to embrace the hunger.  It’s good to feel the little hunger here and there because it means you are talking in less and your body is going to get what it needs from your fat reserves and that is how you lose weight.  you are losing real fat.  Embrace it!

 

 

HOW TO GET THROUGH IT:

When I say that the little hunger will pass and you should go have tea or drink water or go for a walk – It may feel a little challenging at the moment but it will pass.  Why does it pass?  Because once the body taps into your stored fat reserves it’s happy again.  The hunger signal goes away.  you just have to give it a chance to do that.  So when you tell e you felt hungry but didn’t feed into it and it passed this is why — because it took from your reserves and it’s happy again.  Just always remember before it takes from the stored fat it’s going to send a signal to your brain to feed it first.  When you don’t immediately feed it then it will take from the stored fat.

 

 

** This is only going to work if you are feeding your body properly with your meals and snack(s).  Depending on where you are on program and weight you menu is designed to feed you nutritionally and help you lose weight.  If you just stop eating all together you won’t lose weight because the body will go into starvation.  But if you eat the right amount of food for where you are with your weight and where you want to be with your weight loss  — only then the body will go to the fat reserves when it’s hungry.  This is why it’s so important to follow your menu 100%.

 

 

CONSISTENCY:

Now in order for the body to continue to tap into the fat reserves you have to do this consistently – the word I use so often CONSISTENT.  When you do it consistently for 6 days is when your body has the opportunity to lose real fat and that equals pounds.  Your body will keep going to reserves and the more it goes to the reserves the more pounds you lose.  YAY!!!!  So everyday when you feel a little hungry you must remind yourself that you are eating enough and following your menu and when you don’t feed into that little uncomfortable hunger is when it will take from your fat reserves — and that’s exactly what you want it to do.  EMBRACE IT!

 

Self-Discipline is the magic that makes dreams into reality

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

www.innovationweightloss.com

 

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TRANSITIONING

MARCH IS THE MONTH OF TRANSITIONS

This week has been mentally tough for everyone.  With the threats of snow and the cold weather it can be challenging to remember why we are restricting ourselves from all the comforting foods we could be having.  but this is the time you have to constantly remind yourself that summer is going to sneak up on you and when it does you want to be ready.

In only a couple of short week we will be taking the coats off.  Think back to a time when you were not ready to reveal yourself.  It could have been last spring or last week on vacation.  When everyone is taking coats off and you wished you could keep yours on because you were not mentally or physically ready to reveal what was underneath.  March and April are transition months when the weather changes from Cold-to Warm – to Some very Hot Days.  Think of this as your transition months as well.  you want to take where you are right now and continue on with where you want to be.  When it’s hot you want to be ready for it and when coats come off and shorts go on you want to be following the same transition from winter to spring to summer.  you don’t want to be that one person walking around with a winter coat on or a long sweater because you didn’t do what was good for you right now.

Think about and motivate yourself for what you have coming up in the Spring and Summer.  Whether it’s Graduation parties, Vacations, Bar Mitzvah or Sweet 16.  Keep reminding yourself that you are preparing right now to be and feel the best you can for what’s ahead.  Shop online for spring and summer outfits and bathing suits.  It doesn’t always have to be a special occasion it can just be that you want to be prepared for the BBQ and Beach season that you love and want to be ready to enjoy.  When it’s 90 outside you don’t want to be in cover ups and long jeans.  You want to be feeling good and confident in your skin and your clothes.

Living the program makes you happy.  When you get through these tough weeks you will feel so much better and you will feel the mental strength that comes with staying strong and on your path.  When you follow your program and you get through these tougher weeks the results will be amazing.  The sun will be warmer and you feel better and you look better and act better.  We have had a lot of returning clients in the last two weeks. Some come back just to reboot – others may have let vacations and holidays get the best of the them  — some just feel better when they come in.  But what I have learned from all of them is one thing they all seem to say — Being on program feels so much better than being off program.  It doesn’t matter if they weren’t cheating everyday – it’s really not about that.  It’s about having the control, and that amazing feeling of lightness in your body that you feel when you live the program.  As soon as they had the feelings of being off for an extended period of time whether it be 2 weeks or 2 months they realized that they started to not feel well — feeling sluggish, out of control, and just not as happy as when they are on program.  It doesn’t take long both mentally and physically to learn that your body responds best to living the program.

When you don’t do the right thing by your body it takes away confidence and self control.  You quickly fall into sabotages and bad habits and before you know it you look back and think why did I do something that made me unhappy/  I was so happy on program and doing the right things for my body and mind.  Yes – just like this week – it may sometimes feel restricting but that is such a better and easier feeling than not being able to get your pants on or feeling the lack of confidence when you are walking into work or attending a party.  Or most important just feeling miserable in general because you just don’t feel good about yourself or your health.

The truth is feeling good about yourself and eating healthy is the most important thing you can do.  It sets up your day anyhow you perform in it.  From taking care of your family, to being productive at work.  When you don’t do the right things and you don’t feel good about yourself it affects everything including your confidence.  It’s not always easy but you must make it a priority to stay on your path.  I see you all and read the texts and I know when you are on and feeling good you are completely different from being off and not feeling good about yourself.  So while March may be challenging and difficult I can assure you that the challenge of staying on program is going to be a lot easier than the challenge of entering into Spring and Summer in a body that you don’t feel good in.

The First Step to Transitioning is Deciding that you are

Not Going to Stay Where you Are!

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

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STAY MINDFUL AND YOU WILL STAY HAPPY

With just a hop skip and a jump you will be on Holiday Break.  As fast as it arrives it will be gone.  So make sure you enjoy every second of it and do tithe way that will make you the happiest – with No Regrets.

Here are some Holiday Tips and Advice I would like to share with you:

  1. Whether you are on the beach, the mountain or home you should be drinking water throughout the day.  Dehydration can cause hunger, headaches, constipation and fatigue.  Plan your water intake throughout the day.  for example a great practice is to drink an 8oz bottle of water when you wake up first thing.  Your body is dehydrated from sleep and the activities from the night before – whatever that may have been.  So wake up and drink.  Every time you plan a meal or a snack drink 8 oz of water before you eat.  You will not only consume less but you will feel and look so much better throughout the day.  ** Did you know that alcohol and caffeine are diuretics.  If you are drinking alcohol or any caffeinated drinks – make sure you have a glass of water in between every drink.
  2. Stay of the gym BUT stay active on Vacation.  You want to change it up of your mind and body and vacation is the perfect time to do that.  On the mountain go skiing, sledding, shoe walking, or horseback riding.  On the beach take a long walk or jog on the sand.  Go swimming.  Do an outdoor yoga or bootcamp.  Enjoy your surroundings and plan activities according to the weather you are in.  If you are staying home with the family play hide and seek or tag.  Go bowling or ice skating.  Take long walks in the park or go hiking.  It will be enjoyable and nice change for the mind body and great family time.
  3. Always always plan your meals and snacks.  Regardless on vacation or home you need to plan your meals and snacks because believe it or not while it’s uncomfortable to over do it at home it’s even worse to over do it on vacation.  Whether you are home or on Vacation you want to choose one of the following to keep you on track:
  • STAY ON PROGRAM:  and follow your 6 clean days and 1 cheat day.  If you do this you will of course lose weight and feel great.  Plan your food and snacks in advance each day.  if you are drinking then that is your snacks.  if you follow the 6/1 I would recommend having your cheat day at the end of the week before you go home.  All week long you can make a list of the foods/snacks/desserts you see that you want try on your cheat day.  If you save the Cheat Day for right before you return you will have a much better chance of sticking to the 6 clean days.
  • SPLIT THE HOLIDAYS:  We have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New years eve and New Years Day.  If you split them and stay clean all day and only off at night – Dinner and Drinks or Dinner and Dessert.  You do it for both Holidays with super clean days in between.  You will absolutely maintain but for many will still have a great chance of losing if you have SHARK DAYS in between.
  • MAINTAIN YOUR VACATION:   If you feel you need the break from the everyday mindsets vacation is a good time to take advantage of it.  Whether you are homer away you will choose one meal and one dessert/drinks each day.  The remainder of the day keep clean. So for example you might do Muffin for breakfast and bar for lunch and then cheat dinner and dessert/or drinks (desserts are your drinks.  The next day you might decide to cheat at breakfast and eat clean the rest of the day with cheat dessert.  It’s up to you to choose each day your cheat.  The key is not to have a full cheat day that week.  You come home and you go right back on program.  No scale.  You go back on program for one week and then you go on the scale and you will see your  pre-vacation weight.

While I wish food and drinks didn’t play such a big part in how we feel – the reality is it does.  And Im a big believer in addressing things rather than ignoring them.  Since what we eat and drink affects our mindset and personality, I think it’s super important to think through how you want to feel and what is going to make you happy.  Do not cheat everyday if you  by mid week you will be miserable because that will use make everyone you are with miserable.  As hard as it may feel to stay on program – think about how hard it will be to feel bloated and uncomfortable in your own skin.  In not suggesting you stay 110% clean on vacation.  I know you all so well that I really believe there is a different option for each one of you.  But what I am telling you is that while going off program makes you feel free of stress and structure – if you over do it you will begin to feel uncomfortable and out of control and I don’t want you to have that feeling on your vacation.  Think about it and plan how often you can cheat and still feel okay.  Because when you start out in a bathing suit or snow pants and end up mid week in a cover up or feeling like frosty you have to be okay with it.

FINAL THOUGHTS:  Remind yourself two things.  It doesn’t matter how amazing you were up to this point.  You will feel the effects of daily over doing it and you will feel it quickly.  Smoke the choices because this vacation isn’t only about you it’s about your family and what mood they have to deal with when you lose control.  I know it’s the harsh reality but I’m telling you now so you don’t look back and feel like you should have made different choices.  You have all been on vacation before and you know what it does to you mentally and physically the you are consistently off program.  Some are okay with it and can just deal with the affects of it and go right back on program when they return — others will let it ruin the holiday/vacation mid way through.  Don’t do it.  this year you are going to THINK BEFORE YOU ACT and make sure your choices are what is good for you and all those you love.  And always remember if you lose control and you realized you over did it and start to feel uncomfortable there is a simple solution –  the very best thing to do is regardless of where you are you just go right back on program to a 110% shark day.  After one solid day back on program you will feel so much better.  We are always here for you if you need guidance – simply reach out.  Remember this isn’t about being perfect it’s about being happy.

HAPPINESS LOOKS AMAZING ON EVERYONE!

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS – HAPPY YOU?!

We all want to be happy around the Holidays.  But along with happiness, we also know the holidays can be filled with stress, laughter, drinking, over-eating, family fights and even tears!  Everyday can bring a mix of different emotions, and not just for you but for everyone around you.  There is however one way to feel your very best this holiday season….

 

Do you want to know the secret to having a happy Holiday Season this year?  The secret to a happy holiday season is not about how much you put on the table.  It’s not about how much money you have or what kind of car you drive.  It’s not about how expensive your outfit is and it’s not even about how many friends you have.  I mean these are all great things to have in your life but I can tell you for certain it’s not what is going to make your holiday season the happiest it can be.   The secret to a happy fulfilled holiday season is how you are going to feel about yourself throughout the holidays.  The happier YOU are and the better YOU feel in your own skin is going to be a game changer on how you feel through the holidays and how you treat yourself and everyone around you.

 

Many of you know exactly what I am talking about.  You know that feeling good about yourself is more than just what you have or what you can buy – it’s about how you feel mentally and physically.  Let’s face it putting on an $800 outfit is amazing but putting on $100 outfit on the body you love and feel great in will make you feel like you are wearing something that is priceless.

 

I know I am constantly reminding you that the better you feel the better you will live.  I am a true believer in if you are doing the right thing and feel good you  are more likely to choose the right options to keep you feeling that way.  When you are around a holiday dinner or party you will feel amazing and you will want to do everything you can to stay that way.  FACT:  when you feel good you want to continue to look good and when you don’t feel good you tend to throw in the towel a lot faster and fall prey to temptations  around you.

 

Between Thanksgiving and New Years you want to be able to go to a party, a holiday dinner and even a planned vacation and feel the very best you can feel because the better you feel the happier you will be and the better you are going to act and treat those you love around you.  You don’t want to put yourself in a position that you don’t want to get dressed and don’t want to see people.  We all kind of live in the same shoes.  When we are doing the right thing and feeling amazing – we don’t care who we run into.  In fact, sometimes we even seek out people.  When we are not doing the right things we want to avoid everything and everyone.  — Keep this holiday season simple.  When you are doing the right thing – you are happy.  So don’t make it complicated.  Follow your program and feel the best you can feel.  Always remember nothing is worth feeling uncomfortable in your own skin.

 

If you find that you are struggling at any time – you always remind yourself that you just need one clean week and you will feel like someone stuck a pin in you and you deflated.  One clean week is all it takes and you will start to feel the lighter version of YOU!  You want to spend this holiday season starting off on the right path.  But if somewhere in between you fall off you just get right back on and 6 clean days you will feel great again.  Everyone can be a shark when they want to be.  Head strong you will go into the holidays on program and enjoy your cheats when its you cheat day and not just cheat because it’s the holiday’s .  Because we all know when you start cheating just to cheat or because there are parties week after week – before you know it you will be squeezing into clothes and the happy face will turn into a frown very quickly.  And no one needs to see you frown around the holidays.  Especially when it’s something you have absolutely control over.

 

They say nothing in life is given to you.  But that’s actually not true.  The most precious thing in the world has been given to you – It’s called LIFE!  What you do with it, and how you take care of it will determine how happy you live it.  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS START WITH A HAPPY YOU

Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

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SHOT OF ENERGY

NEED A MIND, BODY, ENERGY and METABOLISM BOOST THAT WILL GET THE BODY WORKING AT 110% EFFICIENCY THROUGHOUT THE DAY?.

This time of year we can feel a little extra tired and stressed.  A lack of sunlight, shorter days and a change of weather all play a part .  When we don’t feel our best it’s even harder to do the right thing.  Because of all of your requests – I have been working hand in hand once again with my Naturopathic Doctor who is a specialist in Chinese Herbal Medicine.  We created and designed a 2oz shot that will increase energy, boost your metabolism and get your body working at 110% so you can feel your very best everyday.

 

NEW INNOVATION ALL NATURAL SHOTS

TANGY TURMERIC AND FIRE APPLE

Do a shot first thing in the morning and up to 3 times a day when needed.  Each shot is an immediate immune and energy booster that provides an increased metabolism, and blood flow.  They are also an excellent source of phytochemical to fight against aging, inflammation for a healthy all around immune system.

 

We used our special combinations to create our All Natural Energy Shots.  Both contain two Chinese medical herbs that together have been proven to stimulate the body and give you the most intense internal and external health benefits.  Along with our hand picked special blends both shots also include:

 

ELEUTHERA ROOT:  It has been proven to help the body boost metabolism handle stress and acts as a natural stimulant to increase blood flow throughout the body and nervous system.  It increases blood flow creating an energetic feeling throughout the day.

 

REHMANNIA ROOT:  Improves oxygen intake, reduces inflammation and helps pain and swelling. It improves allergies, and lowers blood sugar levels and helps diabetes or tired blood (anemia).  It also improves weakened bones (osteoporosis).

 

Two amazing Roots together are life changing in the way you feel and perform throughout your day.   So if  you need an energy boost or you need to increase your fitness levels, or you are just not feeling your best because of age, the lack of sunlight, change of weather, daily stress, allergies etc…   Give the shot a try.  It will give you an immediate internal all natural energy and health boost so you can enjoy your day and not drag yourself through it.

 

Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

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HOLIDAYS ARE NOT JUST ONE DAY!

Innovation Tips for the Upcoming Holiday Season

THE HOLIDAYS ARE MORE THAN ONE DAY – KEEP THIS IN MIND NOVEMBER THROUGH JAN1

  1. Don’t just do the program – live the program
  2. Walk away from the temptations and remind yourself to choose your hard.  – HARD TO WALK AWAY OR HARD TO DEAL WITH THE RESULTS OF YOUR ACTIONS
  3. One drink is a snack – Before you go for the second drink – remember it’s not the alcohol it’s what the alcohol makes you do.
  4. Be a Shark – it feels great!
  5. Be happy! No one wants an Eeyore in the room.  Everyone wants to be around the happy Tiger who is excited and feels good because they are doing the right things for their mind and body.
  6. Don’t live in the moment.  While it’s fun to do something spontaneous – make sure it’s not with food – the results can be both mentally and physically draining.  Plan, prepare and follow through
  7. Everything matters – every bite, sip crumb that you have extra is one extra to many.  Live by 6 clean days and 1 cheat day and you will feel great, be happy and lose weight!
  8. Everyday you will either lose weight, maintain or gain.  The choice is always in your control
  9. Less is always better when trying to lose weight.  If you don’t need it don’t eat it.
  10. If you want to feel amazing you must act amazing.  Stay on program, work hard and do the right things.

The better you feel the better you will live and the happier you will be

Stay on Program!

Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

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POSITIVE MINDSET WILL HELP YOU LOSE THE WEIGHT

A Positive State of mind is so important in so many areas of your life- family, work, school, friends, health.  We can literally talk our self into happiness and/or talk our self right into depression.  When you keep things positive and happy your life may not be perfect but it will be a lot better and a lot more positive than if you are living in a negative stare of mind.  When it comes to weight loss I would have to say more than 90% of it is mental.  We eat when we are not hungry, we feel pressured in social situations, we want the weight loss but we don’t want to put the work in that comes with it.  We can step on the scale and when it doesn’t say what we want we throw in the towel and over -eat.  We never even stop to think how much better we feel.  A great weight loss day can be as easy as walking away – but when you tell your mind that – it’s not so easy.

CHOOSE TO BE POSITIVE

How do you get to a positive state of mind.  There is no magic.  You accept where you are and you move forward to where you want to be.  When you are not in a great place it can be the hardest time to push yourself to get there- but it’s also when you need to push yourself the most.  Let’s face it you have two directions…

  1. Do the right thing, fight through the hard and keep yourself in a positive place and feel good.
  2. Continue to make excuses, blame everyone around you and self sabotage and stay in the negative.

Sometimes it will take you being laser focused to do the right things – planning ahead, reminding yourself over and over what you want, walking away from the temptations, and pushing aside all the negative feelings – focusing only on where you want to go.  Reminding yourself constantly that when you stay positive and on program – it is the only thing that will change the way you feel mentally and physically about yourself and about everything around you.  Keep it simple – when  you do the right things and you follow your menu you feel better.  When you feel better you act better and you even speak nicer to everyone around you – you think happier thoughts throughout the day and you let go of any negativity.  Every good decision leads to another one.  Even when the scale doesn’t move as much as you wanted it to you wills till say how much better you feel mentally and physically by following your menu.  Will it be hard- of course it will be.  But just focus on one solid week at a time.  You have to stay positive and know if you put the time in an you follow your menu and you stay true to 6 clean weight loss days with 1 Cheat Day.  It will only take one week to get to a place the you realize and remember makes you so so happy.

We know staying on program and feeling good are two very good ways to live positive.  Here are some more ways that will keep you living in a positive state of mind:

  1. You must plan your days.  Know what you are doing and eating every day.  When you plan in advance and you know what you are eating you are taking the struggle out of your day.  When you take out the struggle you add in positivity.
  2. Know what you are wearing so you don’t have to sabotage yourself with negative thoughts first thing in the morning when things do’t quite fit yet.  
  3. Stay away from the scale for one week.  I know that will be the hardest challenge of all but I promise yo that by the end of the week not only will the number be in the right direction but you will feel mentally better all week.
  4. PROMISE yourself one solid 110% week on program.  Follow your menu for 6 straight days.  The consistency is the key and putting yourself in the mindset that no matter what I am sticking to my menu of meals and snacks for one week – after one complete week you will feel like you did it and you are back in it!  It will be an empowering positive end to a successful week!
  5. Change every  negative thought into a positive one.  As soon as those little negative thoughts come creeping into your mind you must immediately replace them with positive thoughts.  negative thinking will always win over positive if you let it.  Really make an effort to change your mindset when those little negative thoughts find their way in.  
  6. make the decisions that will keep your results positive.  Stay away from sabotages.  Remind yourself that you really can do whatever you want.  Every decision you make is your own.  Don’t base them off what others want.  You know your feelings and how staying on or off program will affect you.  It’s up to you to make the right decisions.  It’s not what is going on in your life or in anyone else’s.  You make each decision – because good or bad you are the one who has to live with the results.

There are soooo many Innovation positive Sharks!  They are positive about what they are doing everyday.  I you are not one o them – YOU SHOULD BE! There is no reason that you are not doing the right thing for your mind and body everyday.  There is no reason that you shouldn’t look and feel like you BEST SELF every day!  Don’t even begin to say “I can’t or it’s too hard.”  Everyone can make the same excuses just like everyone can make the right choices.  You can do and achieve whatever you want to.  But you really need to want it and it has to be a priority to you.  There is no difference between you and the person next to you who has done amazing and continues to do so.  The only difference is THEY WANTED IT MORE.  You can give yourself every excuse in the book but I’m telling you that if you really want it, and you make it a priority, and you stay positive and follow your program – you will do it.  

It all starts with you.  Your choices – Your decisions, and Your positive mindset.  

OUR LIVES BEGIN TO CHANGE

THE DAY WE DECIE WE WANT IT TO

 

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BEWARE OF AUGUST AND THE END OF SUMMER

BEWARE OF AUGUST and THE END OF SUMMER

August is so dangerous for so many reasons. We start the Summer full of excitement and committed to do the right thing and stay on program. It is fresh in our mind in May/June and even July – how hard it was to get to the happy place we started when summer began. It’s that memory that keeps us true and dedicated to what we want, who we are and how we want to feel…..  But slowly as the summer sun gets weaker so do we. August arrives and you start to feel like it’s almost over – the summer is ending. And all of a sudden you have to fit in as much as you can. This is when you must stay strong, mindful and positive. When you stay mentally strong you will remind yourself that the end of summer doesn’t have to result in the end of you feeling good and gaining weight.

Fall Is In The Air: For many are scheduling camp pick-ups; preparing for the last vacations; for others it’s the end of freedom and the end of less demanding schedules. We will start to feel senses of Fall coming near. The faint smell in the air, the Sun changing, or recognizing one orange leaf that has matured early. For some will feel Fall when they walk in the stores and see all the back to school shopping, and Teachers will start preparing for class rooms. Many will be packing up college students (that will be me crying and packing). For each one of us something reminding us summer is slowly coming to an end and Fall is around the corner – leaving little time left for summer fun.  While it’s easy to want to give in, this is when you need to be your strongest and not let the mental override the physical. We tend to mentally think “the end is near Im just gonna do what I want and go back to 100% in September” – No don’t do it. Im warning you that way of thinking will add on 5-10 pounds in a blink of an eye. You have to keep reminding yourself that Fall is around the corner and the more days you stick to your meals and snacks the better you will feel as summer comes to an end.

Let’s Face It – The “END” of Anything is Hard. While you might think you are ready for it — I know some of you are already saying, “I can’t wait to get back to a September schedule” and “I am going to go full force – hardcore in September!” and all that’s great, but don’t let that mindset determine what you do right now. Sometimes when we know we are going to give it a full commitment in a couple of weeks – it’s like saying you can have a free for all now. But you can’t and you don’t want to. As summer ends you need to get into the mind set —it’s ending and it’s okay—. And for it to be okay you need to start slowing things down — not speeding them up.

Mindset Is Everything When It Comes to Weight Loss. If you believe that you are going to be amazing and stay strong then you will be. If you tell yourself that you can’t do it and it’s too hard then you will give yourself a reason to “ throw in the towel” and you will regret it. Because at the end of the day it’s very important for you and your mental well being to feel the best you can be. The only way you will do this is to stay mentally strong and continue to stay on your program. Fell off – get back on. Had a bad week — make the next week great. You must stay disciplined and mindful, and even though the end of summer is the hardest to be discipline doesn’t mean you can’t do it.  But if your mindset is to “throw in the towel — summer is almost over — I don’t want to work hard anymore — I need a break — I want to just enjoy the rest of the summer.” Well… that’s the results you are going to get. You will gain and depending on how much depends on how far off you go from your path and how long you stay there. And let’s face it after a couple of days you are no longer enjoying it and you are out of control wondering how you are going to get back on program. You are feeling fuller, thicker and sad and that is what you are doing not to just yourself but those that are spending the end of the summer with you. Stay on program and it will keep you happy and everyone you love happy.

Much of what I am telling you I am sure you already know.  What is important is to recognize that you are the one in control and how you think is absolutely going to affect your outcome. So if you keep it positive and stay strong and stay as close to program as possible those are the results you will get. It’s always up to you and it’s your choices that determine your results. While friends, family and work all play a part the decision – you must take responsibility for the choices you make. Make August fun and exciting. Prepare, stay mindful and enjoy friends, and family time. Keep positive thinking and remembering that just because we may soon be losing the shorts and tank tops doesn’t mean you want to fill out the jeans and sweaters. Stay healthy, stay happy, and stay in tune mentally and physically with where you are,what you want, and what makes you feel your best.

Stay positive and you will get positive results!

When you feel good it’s always easier to transition from one change to the next. Don’t give yourself an excuse to do the wrong thing. Give yourself excuses to do all the right things. Make the choices that make you feel lighter, thinner, happier, healthy, and strong, and makes everyone around you happy too. Only you have the power, the want and the need to make this happen.

“Whatever we make ourselves believe is what we will experience”

LOVE TO LIVE HEALTHY WITH JOSEPHINE FITZPATRICK

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One Positive Thing Leads to Another

ONE POSITIVE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER…

As summer continues on and our social plans seem to multiply life can start making choices for us. Sometimes they feel like choices that are completely out of our control. Other times we just aren’t really fighting for what we want and we tend to go with the flow whether it’s something that is making us happy or not. But I’m here to remind you that you are the only person who controls your own destiny. You are the only person who can decide how people and events affect you. So much of your happiness lies within the choices you make. You either accept that this is it and you throw in the towel and continue to get to a place that makes you more and more unhappy – OR – you change it and get back to a happy place that is positive both mentally and physically. You are the only person who has the power to change where you are and where you want to be.

Positive or a Negative: It’s really important to remember whether positive or negative – One thing really does lead to another. When you do something negative it usually leads to another negative experience and when you do something positive it leads to another positive experience. Here are two examples that you may be able to relate:

NEGATIVE ACTIONS BRING NEGATIVE THOUGHTS:  When you are eating unhealthy you don’t feel good. When you don’t feel good you are not happy and when you are not happy it shows in everything you do, act, feel and look.  When you are eating unhealthy you gain weight.  When you gain weight you feel lethargic, weak, and old. You would think because you are eating more food that you would want less, but the opposite happens and the more you eat the more you want. The worst part is you are not even enjoying the unhealthy food as much as you thought you would. It’s no longer special when you eat it all the time. Now because you don’t feel good and nothing fits you and you are tired – you don’t want to exercise. Even taking a simple walk can seem unappealing. When you eat unhealthy and drink too much you get into a negative mindset and all of your negative unhealthy habits bring negative feelings, thoughts and actions into your life.

 FLIP IT

POSITIVE ACTIONS BRINGS POSITIVE FEELINGS:   You plan your on program meals, snacks and drinks each day. Eating clean everyday makes you feel good. It gives you that lighter, happy and in control feeling that you love. You lose weight and have more energy than ever. This makes you happy. When you are happy everyone around you is happy because you are glad to share the love when you feel good. When you are eating clean and on program you feel good. You are excited to step on the scale and you are excited to get dressed. You are excited to go out!  You know what you are eating so you are not looking for food all the time. The less you eat the less you want and crave.  You are excited and enjoy your meals and your cheat day.  Whether it’s getting dressed or going to the gym, a swim or walking the dog – everything feels effortless and enjoyable.

Do these sound familiar. I know they do because eating unhealthy makes you feel unhealthy and eating clean and healthy makes you feel happy and healthy. It’s a very simple process if you don’t complicate it. When it comes to weight loss ONE THING (good or bad) LEADS TO ANOTHER. You are either eating unhealthy for weight gain or eating clean and healthy for weight loss. It’s the consistency of doing something over and over that makes the habit stick and that consistency is what will continue to give you either the worst results or the very best results.

My final thoughts that I want to share with you… Keep it positive! Be positive and stay around positive people. Work hard everyday and know that the consistency in doing the right thing is what will keep you in a good place. It’s the consistency of doing the right thing over and over that creates the weight loss. Yes it’s hard. But you can do this. You need to work for it and you will get the results. Think about where you are right now. If you are not in a good place then work to get there. I am always here for you and remember you are not the only person who falls off and has to get back on. I can’t even begin to tell you how many clients came in recently that I haven’t seen in a while. I haven’t seen them because they were doing great until they weren’t.  Please don’t ever ever feel embarrassed. No one is perfect. I feel so bad when clients come in and say they weren’t going to come in because they felt embarrassed that they gained weight back. Please don’t ever live unhappy over being embarrassed. It happens to everyone at one time or another – and for some more often than others. I have seen it all. And so many of you know me very well and you know there is never any judgement. I am grateful to be here for you and to be able to help you. It’s what I love to do. All I want is for you to do your best and feel your best everyday. I don’t care where you are – I only care where you are going. So whether you had a bad weekend, week, couple of months or year -don’t be discouraged. Just reach out. It only takes a week to feel better and back in control. It’s always so inspiring and motivating for me when I get the text messages after only one week about how much better you feel and are so so happy you are back on program and back to a controlled happy place. Knowing that each day you put in is a day that will return happy healthy feelings inside and out. Eating clean and healthy doesn’t only change your body it changes your mind and how you act. It keeps you in a positive mindset and changes your life for the better in every way.

You can either give up when the road becomes difficult

or you can keep going and make your path positive and happy!
Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
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IT’S OKAY!

IT’S OKAY!
Lots of different emotions this past week. -Happy, sad, determined, mad, excited, disappointed-. You name it and I addressed it!  When you have a holiday week that is smack in the middle of two party weekends – the results are sometimes not pretty. It’s almost a given that at some point you might not do the right thing. How big and/or bad that thing– is very individualized across the board.
Now that the week is behind us this is what I will tell you moving forward. IT’S OKAY! It’s all okay. Food plays with emotions and feeling in the most drastic way. It can make you ride an emotional roller coaster that if not thought out can ruin your vacation, summer and your family fun. But what you have to remember is it’s not really the food that is doing it – it’s what you are doing with the food and how you are abusing it that creates the emotional roller coaster and results. The best thing you can do is learn from this past week and know what you will and won’t do next time. What made you feel good and what made you feel instantly bad. And most important how you feel today.
YOUR BODY CRAVES 6 CLEAN DAYS!
It’s so much more important to learn from your week then to be negative about it. There is no reason to beat yourself up or be upset with what you did last week or wish you would have done. You have to learn to say IT’S OKAY. What is done is done and whether you were good, bad or ugly you have to deal with it and move on. Once you come to terms with last week is when you will move on and put all your energy into today, tomorrow and this week’s weight loss. You need to think about the next 6 clean days your body wants, and craves so it can feel good. You should be embracing the clean eating and embracing being back on program so that you can get back to your very best and be ready for your next BBQ, Beach Day and Cheat Day.
CHEATING IS FUN ONLY AFTER EATING CLEAN
There is only one thing as good as cheating and that’s eating clean after cheating. Getting back on program and having your healthy clean weight loss days are what you need to embrace and enjoy. You are doing your body good and you know that these clean days are what make you enjoy your cheat day guilt free. The more consistent you can keep six clean days the better you feel, look and the more you will enjoy!
DOING THE RIGHT THING FEELS GOOD
I always like to address all the clients who lost weight this past week and did amazing. We had a lot of clients who lost, maintained or followed exactly what we planned. I’m super proud of you all.  You worked hard and stayed on program and remembered day after day what was important and what makes you happy! Congratulations to all of you for doing the right thing, working super hard and keeping yourself in a positive place.
DON’T FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF
For everyone else you know the drill and if you don’t this is it – you will be hungry this week and you will deal with it. Don’t sit and feel sorry for yourself because what is done is done. It’s time to pick yourself up and wipe yourself off -lick your wounds and move on to a positive place. Make your week a happy healthy and on program weight loss week. Because only you have the power, strength and want to make this week Amazing!
You can not make positive changes to yesterday 
But you can make them today tomorrow and the next day.
Love to Live Healthy With Josephine Fitzpatrick