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Category: healthy

clean eatingfamilyhealthyHealthy TipsholidaysLifestyleMotivationweight loss

THANKSGIVING – HAVE A PLAN

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]As many of you know because I mention it all the time — Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year. In fact, I love the whole weekend.  It’s a time that we enjoy our families, and traditions, and we are truly grateful and thankful for everything we have and those we love. While we should feel like this everyday (and hopefully most of us do) Thanksgiving Day gives us a day to celebrate it.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]NOT A VERY SOCIAL WEEKEND…… When it comes to Thanksgiving and Weight loss it’s usually not just about Thanksgiving it’s about a very social weekend. However this year and this weekend we are in a much different place. Social is not high on the list of activities with the world we live in – so while we are keeping everything more low key it should be easier, right? Maybe for some but for others it’s going to be a lot more indoor and a lot of left-over temptation to deal with. Which wouldn’t be terrible if we only went for the left-over turkey, but it’s usually the sides and desserts that we tend to gravitate toward. So while you are making your plans for Thanksgiving it is probably a good idea to make plans for the left-overs too. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Some Left-Over Options:
1) Freeze everything immediately after dinner – do not leave it out for the next day. You don’t want anything tempting left out where you can taste, bite and pick….
2) Soup kitchens – we have a list on our website. Call for covid instructions.
3) If you want to keep them and eat them – plan the exact day you will be doing that so you can look forward to it. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Throughout the four days you want to maintain control and enjoy. I think for many of you the importance of taking one day at a time — planning, and knowing what you are doing in advance is key to your success. Think before you grab – and think again before you eat. Think about your plans and know where you are going, what you are doing and when you are cheating. Don’t just plan your cheat days. It’s also important you are planning what you are eating when you are staying 110% clean and on program.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]When we are celebrating and following traditions it’s easy to get caught up in the holiday spirit and before you know it Monday morning comes and you look back and think oh no… what did I do??[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Here are some options to help you have a Happy Monday After [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]1. WEIGHT LOSS: Cheat Thanksgiving Day and Stay on program and clean the rest of the weekend. While this is a little challenging it’s doable. You choose Thanksgiving day as your Cheat Day and you are 110% the remainder of the weekend. Just remember it’s always harder to stay on program after you already cheated when you still have a long weekend in front of you. So you must really be in a good mental place to do this and follow through with it. Plan where you are going and what you are eating on program the remainder of the weekend.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]2. WEIGHT LOSS:  Eat Clean Thanksgiving Day and Cheat one day on the weekend. This is challenging but very doable. You can have your Turkey and Vegetables and you save everything else on the table that you love for your cheat day. Having your cheat day later in the weekend is always easier. Once you get through eating clean Thursday and Friday – then you choose your cheat day and before you know it the weekend is over and you made it. — JUST BE SUPER CAREFUL. It’s usually not the turkey that is the issue…. It’s the sides, the desserts and the alcohol that causes the binging. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]3.  MAINTAIN:  This is a little more realistic and if you are not in shark mode this might be the best option for you. You split the Cheat Day and you choose two nights out of the four days.  So for Example – you choose Thanksgiving and Saturday to be your cheat nights. You would eat on program Breakfast and Lunch and then Cheat Dinner, Dessert and Drinks. You would do that for Thanksgiving and then again one day on the weekend either Saturday or Sunday. The remaining two days you would be 110% clean.  This is a realistic way to stay on program and enjoy the weekend.  You won’t lose but you won’t gain and that’s great. Then you go right back on Program and give it 110% clean week and weigh the following weekend. Again very important to plan and know where you are going and what you are doing so you can plan and prepare for your on program days. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]There is always a choice and you are the only one that can make
it because you are the only one who has to live with the results.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]  
 [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]While you have many options – you really only have two choices:   1) You will plan in advance and follow through with your plans or 2) you will go through the weekend mindless and no plan and end up cheating a little or a lot each day. RESULT #1: Monday morning you will either be super happy and feel good and in control and eager to get back to your 110% week of eating on program — RESULT #2  you will be miserable walking around in tight clothes mentally knowing that you didn’t do what made you happy you did what was easy. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]My Final thoughts:  Thanksgiving comes once a year but so do many other holidays and birthdays. Don’t look for excuses to sabotage yourself. Think about what makes you happy today, tomorrow and the day after. Keep the focus where it should be – not on what you can’t have – focus on what you do have. It’s a beautiful holiday with a lot of celebrations – Enjoy all the love, family, friendships and memories this holiday has to offer – because that is what it is truly about. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Much Love, Health and Happiness
To all of you 
From all of us xo[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
Happy Thanksgiving
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
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Watch Sebastian Maniscalco from your living room – While Raising Awareness!

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Hi EVERYONE![dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Today and everyday I have been supporting my friend Dana and her family to find a cure for her son Matthew and everyone that battles the rare kidney diseases called FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome.
TONIGHT 730pm is their annual fundraiser and this year it is Virtual! It will be a night of raising awareness and finding cures![dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]YOU GET TO WATCH
SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO
FROM YOUR LIVING ROOM!![dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]I CAN’T WAIT![dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]AN ADDED BONUS is a live 1/2 performance by Sebastian Maniscalco!!! To purchase tickets click the link below. Thank you for your support! [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
clean eatingeatcleanfamilyfeel goodhappyhealthyHealthy TipsholidaysLifestyleMotivationweight loss

STOP DOING WHAT IS MAKING YOU UNHAPPY

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]It’s not always about doing what makes you HAPPY
Sometimes it’s about having to STOP doing what is making you so UNHAPPY[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Hundreds of new clients and returning clients have signed on in the last month. So much so that I was actually thinking of having a cut off. But those of you that know me know I can’t do it. My life is about helping those in need — it’s what I love to do more than anything. I could never turn anyone away who really wants to lose the weight and be healthy. One reason I tell you this is because I want you to realize the importance of when you are on program I need you to work hard and be committed to the program. That doesn’t mean you don’t make mistakes – we all make mistakes and we all have bad days and some even bad weeks but regardless you keep moving forward and you keep trying because eventually it will come together for you — even if you have hiccups week after week you keep trying until the hiccups are gone. We both know it’s hard work but in order for you to get the best results you need to be in it mentally and physically. So if you are going to do it I want you to put the same amount of love and effort into it as I am for you. That is what creates the best results.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]The Second Reason I am telling you this is because I wanted to tell you the number one complaint of both Men and Women New and Returning— they gained weight in quarantine it got worse over the summer and now they feel completely overweight, OLD and out of shape. Yes OLD. Everyone says it. Weight = feeling OLD.  [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]I have clients all over the world we are all experiencing quarantine. But not everyone treated the time the same.  The bottom line is those who have done the right thing are in a really good happy place right now – and those who did not have decisions to make. Remember: with all the health issues obesity can cause – extra weight on your body also makes you look and act old. I have mentioned this many times because I have seen it in front of my eyes so often. When a client comes to me overweight most of the time they look even older than they are. They look older they act older, they dress older and most important they feel older. Sometimes we don’t even realize how different — until the weight is off. We know we are not looking and feeling our best but then when we lose the weight we think – WOW that’s what I looked like before? For so many I see the transformation right in front of my eyes. It’s truly amazing how as the weight comes off the confidence comes back. Clients constantly send me before and after pictures – The changes are beyond amazing and it’s not just in how they look. They tell me how they feel amazing, young, and energetic and how they love to wake up feeling lighter, fitter and just simply happier. They no longer wake up afraid of having health problems. They don’t wake up wondering if they will stay on program- they just do the right thing because they know how important it is to their health, and how much it changed them both mentally and physically.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]SOME NOVEMBER TIPS FOR YOU:
  • With Thanksgiving so close – if you are even thinking of pausing your weight loss or pushing off your weight loss for another day or week you need to refocus right now and realize that life is never going to stop for you to lose weight. Start now and make it happen. You will always have an occasion, an event, a holiday, and/or dinners out. You need to make this a way of life and the only way to do that is to incorporate your busy life with your weight loss goals. You can do anything and go anywhere and stay on program.
  • Stop making deals:  If you cheated extra during the week you don’t make the deal to starve yourself the next two days. If you have a lunch or dinner out and it’s not your Cheat Day – You should never be thinking…“Should I stay on program or go off?” – There is no should I or could I. There are no deals to be made with yourself. You have done plenty of that and look at where it has gotten you. You need to be in SHARK mode — keep it all very simple — if it’s not your Cheat Day then you are on program regardless of where you are or what you have going on in your life.
  • Make it a priority: Yes unfortunately you need to be little obsessive about your weight loss. Not in the sense that you have to be extreme but you do have to think about it and it has to be a priority – weight loss is hard and it takes commitment and you have to be willing to feel that little hunger. You can’t get distracted and mindlessly eat —With so much temptation around (and with the holidays it will only get worse) you have to be focused, committed and a little obsessive about staying on program. The more you make it a priority in your life the better the results and the easier the weight loss will be.
  • If you are feeling a little mentally weak – Take out your skinny pants and try them on. Try on your shorts. Look online for a bathing suit you want to be in. Shorts and/or sun dresses – because the next vacation along with spring will be here before you know it. With the weather we are having in NY these days it might be here even sooner than we think. While quarantine was a great time to be the best you can be and even get yourself to a better place — many did not use the time wisely. So now this is the time for you to do it. Start now – you don’t wait for warm weather to be here and then try and start. You do it now so when vacations return and warm weather arrive you are ready.
  • Extra weight makes you unhappy –  studies show that unhealthy and over weight people get angrier over unimportant issues 5x faster than healthy fit people. Most likely the reason is because unhealthy and overweight people tend to start their day unhappy and frustrated to begin with. So as the day goes on so does their temper. So next time you think “should I eat it or should I stay on program?” Remind yourself it’s not just extra food or unhealthy food that you are debating about – What you really are debating is do you want to add another unhappy day to your life and to the life of those around you. Do you want to continue to feel unsettled and out of control with your unhealthy eating habits and more importantly unhappy with who you are and who you have become. Is it really worth what you will be going off program for. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Final Thoughts…..You will always be faced with challenges but you must constantly remind yourself how important this is to you and those who love you. Remind yourself how much you want this. How much better you feel when you stay strong and on your path. It is only when you have this self motivation and consistency of eating clean and on program that you will truly feel better each day. You will feel more in control and wake up feeling healthier and happier. But you have to start and when you do in just a couple of days you will feel better and in a couple of weeks you will wake up like a Shark – doing the right thing, feeling lighter and fitter each day – and all because you finally made the decision that the only deal you will make with yourself is you will do what it takes to live your best life and be the best version on you. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]“Create The Life You Can’t Wait To Wake Up To”[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
eatcleanfeel goodhealthyHealthy TipsholidaysLifestyleMotivationweight loss
[dt_sc_hr_invisible]NOVEMBER GOAL[dt_sc_hr_invisible]
[dt_sc_clear]The only special people in the world are the ones who make themselves that way.
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]DO YOU HAVE A GOAL? Sometimes feeling good about the future is one of the keys to happiness. We all need goals to motivate us. It should be challenging enough to excite you, but also achievable. Choosing an ambitious but realistic goal will give your life direction and bring a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when you achieve it. A great short term goal for November is Thanksgiving. Where do you want to be when Thanksgiving arrives? [dt_sc_clear]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small] THANKSGIVING IS LESS THAN 4 WEEKS AWAY: But regardless of where you are right now – ONE solid week is sometimes all it takes to get back on track to feeling great. When you have a week that is 110% clean and on program, at the end of the week you will see where your weight truly is. You will get rid of the water weight and maybe even a pound or two of real weight. It really doesn’t take much and for those who have been on the program you know that you don’t want to go into Thanksgiving feeling bloated and heavy.  Get back on program because even if it’s not where you want to be it’s going to be better than where you are today.[dt_sc_clear]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]NEGATIVE THOUGHTS AND EXCUSES: YOU CAN DO THIS! If you want to reach any goal (short or long term) you must stay positive. Don’t give in to the negative thoughts and excuses “I will start after Thanksgiving” or “What’s the point of starting now how much could I lose” or “ I will wait until January”.  There are so many excuses – you can find one whenever you need to. But where are they getting you? – The more you put off what you need to do the longer it will take to get to where you want to be.[dt_sc_clear]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]NOVEMBER IS A GREAT MONTH FOR WEIGHT LOSS: You can really make so many positive changes in the month of November. It’s a great month to focus on you and your goals. From now until Thanksgiving you should be focused on how you want to feel sitting down at your turkey dinner. You have almost 4 weeks – even if you do 1lb a week that will be 4lbs less than you are today. 2lbs a week is 8lbs. Don’t waste this time — make the changes that will help you feel good about yourself.  There is no better feeling than enjoying the holidays when you are feeling so good in your mind and body. [dt_sc_clear]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]IF NOT NOW – THEN WHEN? —November will fly by and December is around the corner. Every month you have choices – lose weight, maintain or gain. How you live, how much work and how much time you put into what you want will determine the outcome. No one else can do it or make it happen except you. It takes more than just saying you want it you have to work hard for it everyday. So stop just saying it and instead prove it.  Prove to yourself what you really want and what you are capable of.[dt_sc_clear]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO NOT LIVE THE BEST VERSION OF YOU:  Give yourself reasons why YOU SHOULD do it now. Why you CAN do it. Why wouldn’t you want to do it. If you are 180 and and want to be 130 – then why shouldn’t you be 130?  If you see people around you that have lost the weight and look great – why shouldn’t that be you? If you keep telling yourself that they are more disciplined than you – it’s just another excuse. What that really means is that they are just willing to work harder for what they want. You need to remind yourself that you are no different than they are and there is no reason why if you work hard you can’t be the number you want or look the way you want.  If being thin and healthy makes you feel beautiful and happy — then what is stopping you? [dt_sc_clear]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]ARE YOU WILLING TO WORK FOR IT? Weight loss requires work, consistency, commitment and patience. Understanding that there is no end but only a journey to live a clean and healthy life that will get you to your goal. It’ takes thinking, and making the right choices everyday. Now if you don’t want to work hard for what you want and put the time in that you need to – then that’s a different story and that’s on you – and it’s something you have to come to terms with. But if you are willing to work hard, put the time in, make the commitment to make the right choices – you will get your results. 99% of the time the only one that gets in your way is YOU![dt_sc_clear]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]EVERY MORNING WAKE UP AND PUSH YOURSELF TO BE THE BEST:  How many times have you heard this? But I bet you didn’t know that people who wake up and remind themselves to be positive and challenge themselves to be the best they can be have the most success. Eventually it doesn’t take much effort because it’s simply the way you live. It’s what makes you feel great and you don’t want to feel any other way. Life is short – and if you don’t make the time and effort to do what makes you happy and you don’t put the work in to change into the person you want to be – life will pass you by and you will look back and wonder – why didn’t I do it!? [dt_sc_clear]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]It doesn’t matter if you have 10 or 100 pounds to lose. If you keep putting yourself in the direction of positive thinking and reminding yourself that you can do it, and keep giving yourself goals to get there – you will do it. While it may take some longer than others to reach their goal, we are all on the same journey and those that live it all end up in the same happy place – Eating clean and feeling good is a journey that we should all be on everyday. [dt_sc_clear]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_medium]You are happy when you feel good
And you feel good when you are happy[dt_sc_clear]
[dt_sc_clear]~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
feel goodhealthyHealthy TipsLifestyleMotivationweight loss

THE PATH TO YOUR SUCCESS INCLUDES CHOICES

 

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YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES TO CONTROL YOUR MIND OR LET YOUR MIND CONTROL YOU. Life is all about making choices, and when it comes to weight loss it’s even more important to think things through before we do them. While it’s very easy to grab, eat and regret – the success comes when you plan prepare and follow through.
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HALLOWEEN CHOICES:  Halloween Week can be an easy time to let your mind control you. Especially when you decide to buy candy early. Remember they are out on the shelves early because the stores are well aware that you will buy them and then eat them and then come back and buy more. This can happen multiple times before Halloween even arrives. Don’t fall into that trap – wait and buy the day before. Yes the candies are adorable but they are the same little chocolate bars you can buy anytime of the year they just have little wrapper costumes on to make them look more appetizing at Halloween season. Wait until the night before to buy them.
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MIND CHOICES:  it’s so important for you to control your mind and thoughts and keep them mentally strong. Because when we are mentally strong we feel like we can accomplish anything. We force ourselves to do the right thing and control what we want and who we become. Regardless of how much temptation is around us we choose to be healthy and happy and stay that way. We wake in the morning with the 100% intention to be positive, feel amazing and do the right things. Day and night our mental strength controls our actions and our actions control our thoughts to stay happy, healthy and fit. But this will only take place if you make the effort everyday to control your mind and thoughts and keep them both in a healthy positive place. When you put the extra effort in — your mind and body rewards you with results.
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FEEL GOOD CHOICES: Each week you work so hard to get to where you want to be. It’s hard and challenging but what choice do you have. This is life. Some days will be easier and some days harder, but the most important thing is for you to understand that you need to stay on your path and on program because that is when you feel your best and that is when you lose the weight. Here are some things I want you to think of this week:
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  • When you are on program and it’s challenging you have to remember how good you feel. Yes the temptation is there but you are losing and you feel good that is more important then any cheat that is in front of you.
  • What is the alternative? You are off program – eating out of control and the whole time you keep thinking “I have to get back on program” meanwhile you are gaining the entire time you are contemplating going back on. Why even put yourself through that? Why even put the people you love through that? If you think about it – it’s just so much easier to stay on program, it’s so much easier to do the right thing and lose the weight. Because when you are not on all you want to do is be on.
  • You are just so much happier when you are in control and doing the right thing! Think about it. Even though it’s hard. Even though it’s challenging. Even though you have to talk yourself into making the right choices every day 6 days a week – it makes you so much happier when you do it.
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YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS is a choice only you can make: You need to make the choice that weight loss is what you want and you are willing to work hard for it. Every day 6 days a week and when you work hard for what you want and don’t let anything in your path stop you — is when you will get it. Remind yourself daily that you are sticking to your program and doing the right things because it gives you a healthy mind and body, it makes you happy and it makes you look and feel amazing. The consistency of Living “six” on and “one” off is your path to success but it will only happen when you make it a priority in your life and that priority has to be everyday not just on the days that is convenient for you. There is no excuse you can find around you and no food on the table that is better than feeling good, being in control being happy and looking great. Your path to success is the choice to walk away from temptation and stay on your path. Because staying on your path is what will lead you to success both mentally and physically. Don’t make it harder than it is. Just follow your program and you will feel great.
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Making the right choices is never easy. We speak to our children about it all the time. We tell them – Do the right thing. Make the right choices. And always remember what you do and the choices you make everyday affects everyone in your family and all the people that love you. When it comes to weight loss and health we are no different. We need to remember and live by that same advice.
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GOOD CHOICES = SUCCESS
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~Love to live healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
clean eatingdieteatcleanfamilyfeel goodhappyhealthyHealthy TipsLifestyleMotivationweight loss

ARE YOU REALLY TRYING YOUR BEST?


ARE YOU REALLY TRYING YOUR BEST?

How often we say it.  How often we promise to do it.  Yet, how rarely do we actually do the best we can? When we do — when we use all our efforts, when we push through old and new boundaries — the satisfaction is enormous and the rewards are sweeter because we earned them.  But the first thing you have to come to terms with is your best really your best?  Mindset is everything when it comes to weight loss.  When you wake up in the morning and tell yourself —  “That’s it!” — You are tired of giving every one else your best,  NOW you are going to give yourself your best too!!  You are going to put yourself in a place that no matter what —  you will do the right thing.  You will make sure you walk away when you have to and you will plan, prepare and follow through each day.  You not only promise yourself — but you fight through the tough times and you don’t let anything  or anyone set you back.  So don’t just SAY you are going to try your best THINK IT, BELIEVE IT AND DO IT.  Because if you believe that you are going to be amazing then you will be amazing and if you think it’s too hard you can’t do it — you won’t do it.

From the time you wake up in the morning how you think about yourself and your day is going to have a huge impact on your results.  Last week we went over how important it is to Fall in love with taking care of yourself.  This week I want you to continue that but be excited about it.  Be excited about the scale. Be excited about feeling good.  Be excited about doing the right things…. And be excited because you are in control of your life and you make the decisions on whether or not you want to live healthy, be thin and feel amazing.  No one makes those choices for you.  How exciting that you get to wake up today and decide that you want to take care of your body, your mind, your health.  You want to work hard toward a goal and you are the only one who can get in the way of that goal.  What you want, how bad you want it and hard you work for it will determine your success.  How amazing is that — and how EXCITING!

Keep the NEGATIVE OUT:  Keep the negative people away, and keep the negative emotions out of your mind.   Negative people will always be around.  Sometimes we can control their presence and sometimes we can’t.  But you always CAN control what you take from them.  If you have no choice to be around negative people then it’s important to keep your mindset extra strong.  Don’t let them take you to their dark side.  Don’t let them talk you into ordering something you don’t want.  Don’t let them convince you how hard weight loss is (we already know how hard it is no one has to tell us).  Most of all don’t let them take you off your path.  Unfortunately even our closest people can take us off our healthy path just because they are in a bad place.   The bottom line is misery loves company.  It doesn’t mean they don’t love you it just means they want you to share in their misery at that moment.  What you do and how you react is your choice.  And while it may only be one bad day for them — that one bad moment for you might take you off your path for a week — and then where does that leave you?  Stick to what works for — if they love you they will be okay with it.  If they are not okay with it then you should re-evaluate your people.

 

POSITIVE PEOPLE ARE HAPPY PEOPLE

 

KEEP THE NEGATIVE EMOTIONS OUT OF IT:  I can’t, it’s too hard, im sick of it, I should weigh less by now, I want to be at my goal already, they made me do it. I didn’t want to go off I had no choice ……. I can literally go on with this list forever.  I have heard it all.  If you want to change your results – THEN CHANGE YOUR WORDS.   The words you tell yourself are the words you will live —  so every time you catch yourself being negative — STOP AND PAUSE and then reverse it.  Even if you don’t feel it reverse it anyway and keep your words and thoughts positive.  The more you do it the more it will become second nature.  No one wants to hear you crying — You don’t even want to hear you crying. Everyone has their own problems and is trying to get through their own tough days.  Im sure you are even sick of listening to all the negative excuses that comes out of your mouth — so think of how your family and friends feel.  Negative talk does nothing but create negative actions which result in negative results.   KEEP IT POSITIVE- POSITIVE -POSITIVE!  The more positive you talk to yourself the better results you will think…..  The more positive you results you think the more positive you will speak……  the more positive results you speak the better results you will feel.  While I know you already know all of this — it never hurts to be reminded so you can reevaluate your words, thoughts and environment.  We can fool others.  But we can’t fool ourselves.  When you are honest with yourself it will bring freedom for you to work harder.  Only you truly know what your best is.  And when you give less than your best those are the results you have to live with.

 
 

IT’S YOUR HAPPY HEALTHY LIFE YOU ARE WORKING SO HARD FOR
MAKE SURE YOU ARE TRULY TRYING YOUR REAL BEST

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
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FALL IN LOVE….

Halloween Pumpkins, Ghosts, Thanksgiving, Fall Shopping, Leaves Changing….

What is not to Love about Fall?!


FALL IN LOVE WITH TAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY:  
Sometimes it’s not enough to just take care of your body.  When you FALL in love with taking care of your mind and body it can be life changing.  It doesn’t matter where you are right now — if you are just starting, have been on program or returning…  wherever you are the most important thing to start with is to remind yourself daily how important it is to feel good about yourself and how happy it makes you when you are doing the right things —  and you are the only person that can make that happen.


DON’T JUST DO THE PROGRAM — LIVE THE PROGRAM

In the beginning of the program (the first couple of weeks) you just need to get through the weeks to get to your cheat day.  The Cheat Day is life saving as it helps you stay on program the other six weight loss days.  but after a couple of weeks and after seeing some really nice changes — it should start to become more than getting through your six clean days to get to your cheat day.  In fact, it should start to reverse.   You should start to live for the six clean days.  The Cheat Day is fun and always look forward to it, but your body and mind should begin to understand and take notice that you feel your very best on your six clean days.  Mentally you start to look forward to them — at the end of your Cheat Day you can’t wait to eat clean the next day.  You can’t wait for a couple of clean days to pass — so you can feel better and get back to the lighter and cleaner feeling you love.  You can’t wait to get back on the track of eating clean knowing that you are back to fueling your body with healthy and clean eating and in return it’s working your numbers in the right direction.  By mid week you should begin to get excited wondering what you will lose this week.  The closer you are to your menu the more weight you will lose.  Will you see a new number and will it be the lowest one you have seen in a long time?  It is so exciting to take care of yourself to the point of loving it.  Loving how you feel and loving how it’s changing you mentally and physically.  When you love feeling good, healthy, lighter, fitter and thinner there is truly no better feeling and no better way to live.  It’s a positive addiction that you should want and love.


TRUE STORY:
 Clients literally text me all the time and say “I have to start sending my food again”, or “I have to get back on program.”  A client just texted me yesterday and said “I have to get back on program.  I don’t know why I go off program every time I am off program I am miserable and when I’m on program doing the right things and taking care of my body I am so happy.  My husband told me last night it’s time to get back to Josephine.  He didn’t say it because of the weight he said it because he knows how happy and good I feel when I am on program and he sees how miserable I am when I’m off.”   MY RESPONSE: YAY!!!! — that of course makes me so happy!  I never want anyone unhappy but it absolutely thrills me when clients realize that being on program is when they are the happiest.  They are the happiest because they feel the best.  So why do we go off program when being on makes us so happy?  The answer is simple — no matter how great being on program makes us feel we will always have little slip ups and hiccups because life gets in the way.  And once it’s in the way and we lose that control —  our brain takes over and it can take days, weeks and sometimes months to get back on path.  But the most important thing is that you do get back on path because you know that is when you feel the absolute best!


FOCUS:
 This week try focusing on your six clean days instead of focusing on your Cheat Day.  Think about each  day and how good you feel when you go to bed because you followed the program and stayed 100%, and think about how amazing you feel when you wake up.  Whenever we do the right things for our body it changes us as people.  We are happier, and proud of ourself and how we are treating our bodies.  We are proud of the way we look and feel.  I don’t think anyone can say that they don’t feel anything but amazing when they get dressed in the morning and feel great in their clothes.  If you want that to be you then you need to work for it.  If you want to feel good all week then you need to stay focused and positive about your clean days.  Don’t focus on the one Cheat Day — focus on how you feel the six clean days…  you feel lighter, healthier, thinner — and how you feel when you followed all week and at the end of that week you step on the scale — so proud, super happy, like you want to jump around and tell the world you did it — you followed you lost weight and you feel great!!


FALLING IN LOVE WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WHAT IT’S DOING FOR YOU:
 When you do the right things for your body, and make the right choices, and fuel your body with the right foods, you feel better.  Some weeks will always be harder than others but if you stay true to what you want and what makes you feel the best and keep positive everyday knowing this is what makes you happy — then you will start falling in love with what you are doing and what it’s doing for you.  When this happens you will never want to go back to treating your body unhealthy — because you know feeling like that makes you unhappy.  Why would you want to do anything that makes you unhappy or not feel good?  Stay positive and remember what makes you feel your best and what makes the changes in your body the best it can be.  Stay focused and positive on your six clean days and how they are changing your body and then you will truly enjoy your cheat day.


LOVE THE RESULTS:
 As much as you love and enjoy the Cheat Day you realize that every consecutive six clean days that you complete is what is changing your body.  It’s changing how you look, it’s changing the scale and most important, it’s changing how you feel.  When you fall in love with taking care of our body and fall in love with feeling the very best that you can — it no longer is about the one Cheat Day a week.  It’s about the six clean days that you are fueling you body with healthy clean portioned foods that make you feel your best.


There is no better feeling than taking care of yourself.  There is no better feeling than doing the right thing for your body and your mind.  There is no better feeling than being the best you can be.


“LOVE YOURSELF INSIDE AND OUT”

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

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MAKE YOUR CHOICE AND STICK TO IT

4TH OF July Weekend has arrived — it’s time to make your choice and stick to it.

 

As many of your know it doesn’t take much to gain weight.  All it takes is not thinking, not planning, and frequently over indulging — very easy to do any time of the year but especially over a long holiday weekend.

 

THIS WEEKEND

you have 3 choices — Lose, Maintain, or Gain

 

WEIGHT LOSS:  If you are really motivated and the weight loss means everything to you and you don’t want anything in your way of reaching your goals then you will continue to stick to your menu and ONLY HAVE ONE CHEAT DAY THIS WEEKEND.  That means no extras at all.  Simply stick to your meals and snacks and only cheat the ONE cheat day.  If you do this and treat this weekend like any other weekend you will continue to stay on your path and lose weight.  Will it be easy — that depends on how much you have going on  — it also depends on what is most important to you.  While some can go to a BBQ and focus more on how they feel others are challenged by what is around them.  These are choices only you can make.  There are always options — if you are going out make sure you bring what you need or make sure they will have what you need available to you.  Plan before not after.  Don’t give yourself reasons to do the wrong thing.  If you want to stay on program and feel your best then follow your plan and stick to your clean meals and snacks.  The most important thing is to make your choice before you go and stick with what you plan.

 

MAINTAINING:  If you have a lot going on this weekend and you feel really good about where you are and you want to enjoy a little extra then you will split your days.  You pick 2 out of the 3 days and you stay on program for breakfast and lunch and cheat dinner, drinks and/or desserts; and you do it Friday and Saturday OR Saturday and Sunday or Friday and Sunday (you choose 2 days of the long weekend and cheat any one meal, drinks and/or desserts and the rest of the day you are 100% on program).  If you follow this you will maintain your weight through the holiday weekend — very doable.  But again the most important thing is to make a choice, plan for it and then stick to it.

 

WEIGHT GAIN:  Very easy to do but NEVER an option!

 

We always talk about planning and how important it is. But what is more important is following through on the planning.  Do the right things and make sure that if you planned on being 110% today — then you are 100%.  If you planned on cheating for dinner and dessert and then right back on the next day — make sure you go right back on the next day — no excuses.  If you planned on being off program 2 nights but clean all day then make sure you do it.  Always think things through — what is tomorrow going to feel like, and what the end result of your choices will be.  Will it make you happy? Is it worth it? Think about where you are today and where do you want to be come Monday.  Learn to live and enjoy today but plan for what you want and where you want to be tomorrow.

 

ALCOHOL – THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK:  One drink you are okay — TWO drinks you are forgetting what is important to you — THREE drinks you are done. It’s not the alcohol that is the issue it’s what the alcohol makes you do and what it makes you forget.  It’s fun to have but it can be very damaging on so many levels.  Remember to think before you drink.  Like everything else have a plan and know how many you are having and stick to what you plan.  Drink water throughout it’s hydrating and it keeps your hands busy.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS…. whether you want to lose weight this weekend or maintain you can do it.  You follow your plan and decide before so you know what you are doing and what the outcome will be.  Think things through and always remember that just because it’s a holiday weekend that you want to enjoy and celebrate doesn’t mean that you need to cheat at everything you go to or everyday of the weekend.  You can enjoy and celebrate everything without constantly indulging unhealthy weight gaining foods.  We know you will feel better mentally and physically and have a happier time staying on program.  When you can be amazing and on program do it because every good healthy clean choice can make the difference between maintaining and gaining.  And all the choices you make as the weekend progresses will make the difference in how you look and feel each day.

 

You are the only person who can make the excuse of why you are going off program and you are the only person who can give yourself a better excuse of why you are staying on program.  Monday is only 4 days away — think about how you want to wake up and feel when the weekend is behind you.

 

Make good choices today so you don’t have regrets tomorrow

Innovation Wishes everyone a Happy, Healthy and Safe 4th of July

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick 

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Are You Ready?

Ready or not here it comes…. 4th of July is exactly 5 weeks away.  It’s hard to believe with this crazy 2020 that we are approaching the beginning of summer.  But after the beautiful weather this past weekend in NY we also know how quickly spring turns into summer weather.  So what can you do in 5 weeks?  If you put your mind to it and really focus, you can get a lot accomplished.

 

4th OF JULY WEEKEND IS EXACTLY 5 WEEKS AWAY

1 POUND A WEEK = 5 LBS  

(very doable)

2 POUNDS A WEEK = 10 LBS

(doable)

3 POUNDS A WEEK = 15 LBS

(hard but doable)

These are all doable.  You just have to want it and be persistent.

Make it a priority and work toward it everyday.

  1.  Start with your menu.  Follow it 110% and you will see the weight loss every week.  Give up a snack when you can and you will see it even faster (less is always better when trying to lose weight).
  2. Exercise is always great because it helps you look and feel better – and it also get you out of the house and away from the kitchen.  Exercise doesn’t always have to be hardcore.  It can be something you like to do…shoot hoops, dance, walk, bike ride, golf, tennis…  anything that will keep you moving out of the house and in a healthy state while having fun.
  3. Think about what you want going into the summer.  Even if you are not happy where you are right now it will only get better if you continue to do the right things… and if you don’t do the right things it will continue to get worse.
  4. Summer is social — even virtual or in smaller groups it’s still going to be social.  If you know you will be drinking more than usual it’s important to keep an eye on how much you are drinking.  It’s a trigger and will make you start reaching for the wrong choices.  While it can be used as a snack, try and keep it for the weekends.  When possible, fuel your body through the week with weight loss choices and keep the alcohol for weekend snacks and Cheat Day only.

This is such an important time to really concentrate and be as consistent as you can with your meals and snacks.  The reason is because the closer it gets to the 4th of July the more drastic you will be willing to try a Fad Diet that will put you in the wrong direction.  There are no miracle pills or potions.  The only thing that is going to get you to a good place and where you want to be is HARD WORK, BEING PERSISTENT AND CONSISTENT.  Just like everything else in life you have to put the work in to get the results.  So if you are feeling like, “Oh No! I only have 5 weeks what pills or potions are out there” — I’m telling you right now to put your efforts into your menu because you know it always works for you.  Have your one Cheat Day a week and follow your meals and snacks 6 days a week.  Remember:  you can’t cheat during the week and then cheat on the weekend.  You can’t cheat during the week and still have a Cheat Day and you can’t cheat for 5 days and then be good for 5 days and expect a miracle.  It doesn’t work like that.  KEEP IT SIMPLE:  take the next 5 weeks and follow your menu 100%.  Stick to your meals and snacks and include any fun exercise.  Have ONE Cheat Day a week and I promise you by 4th of July you will be in such a great place you will be so happy that you did it.  Even if you have more weight to lose you will be so much happier, lighter and thinner than you are today.

 

This is a game.  It’s how you play it that will determine your outcome.  If you follow the rules you will have the best success.  If you cheat when you shouldn’t be cheating, then you will be less successful.  It’s not much different than how you should view anything in your life.  If you want to be the best, and feel the best then you have to act it.  Be amazing and give everything that matters in your life 110%.  Fight for it and be persistent!  … and let go and give the nonsense, the gossip, and all the other unimportant things 0% of your time and effort.  Use your energy and your efforts toward the things that make you happy — and YOU should be at the top of that happy list.  Firmly believing when you feel good, your weight is good, and your clothes fit — you are a happier person.

 

How happy do you want to be this Summer?

We say it all the time, weight loss is hard

but being over weight and unhappy is harder.

It’s always your choice.

If you are persistent you will get what you want

If you are consistent you will keep it.

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

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SCALE NOT MOVING?…..

SCALE NOT MOVING?

If the scale stopped moving it’s most likely because you stopped moving too!  Rainy days and quarantines can make for a very unhealthy lifestyle for weight loss and health!

DID YOU KNOW…. Based on a study of more than 220,000 people, researchers found that the longer you spend sitting down every day, the higher your risk of dying prematurely, even if you engage in regular exercise.  And if that isn’t scary enough then you should know sitting down for long periods of time isn’t just bad for your metabolism, it can also make you age quicker too.  New research has found that sitting down for long periods of time even with regular exercise can make a person’s cells age prematurely.  Yikes!

Why does this happen?…  Because you are not meant to sit you are built to stand upright.  Your heart and cardiovascular system work more effectively that way.  Your bowel system also functions more efficiently when you are upright.  You are also meant to move!  When you are moving, your overall energy levels and endurance improve, and your bones maintain strength.  Moving your muscles helps your body digest the fats and sugars you eat.  If you spend a lot of time sitting, digestion is not as efficient, so you retain those fats and sugars as fat in your body.  — Yikes again!

Interesting fact…. Your legs and gluteals, are the biggest muscles in your body and when used they burn the most calories.  That’s why runners, long distance walkers, and lower body training will always have and create leaner bodies because they are working their legs and gluteals, and burning the most calories. These large muscles are important for weight loss and overall strength to help stabilize the body.  Sitting for long periods can lead to weakening and wasting away of the large leg muscle and gluteal muscles.  What happens when your leg muscles waste away?…  you don’t burn as many calories because you no longer have the biggest muscles in your body and if that isn’t bad enough you end up with all fat and cellulite.  Because prolonged periods of sitting reduce blood flow and that creates fat and cellulite.  Just another big reason to get up and go…..

Live Longer!… Physical inactivity contributes to over three million preventable deaths worldwide each year. It is the fourth leading cause of death due to non-communicable diseases.  It’s also the cause of approx. 30  per cent of breast, colon cancers, diabetes and heart disease.   So next time you are at your desk and working 8 hours straight think about the damage you can be doing to your body.  Set the timer and make sure you are moving.  It’s something you have complete control over to change.

Feeling Sad?…  We don’t really understand the links between sitting and mental health as much as we do the links between sitting and physical health.  But we do know that the risk of both anxiety and depression is much higher in people that sit more.

Have I made my point yet?…  if not, let me make it clear — it’s time to stop sitting and start moving! And walking your plate to the sink doesn’t count.

Move More In Quarantine…..  An hour of exercise a day is just not enough in quarantine.  Before quarantine you were exercising an hour a day and then you were running errands, work, sports, shopping, kids etc…  Now you exercise and hour a day and you sit a lot more than you used too.

A SIMPLE FIX:

  1. Add one extra hour a of exercise a day (walk, bike, hike, HIIT workouts, or just dance with your family around the house for an hour — so much fun and good for everyone!).  If you do it consistently for 7 days along with your current one hour you will see a big difference in your body and the scale.
  2. Don’t sit for longer than 30 minutes at a time.  Get up do jumping jacks or jog in place.  Do anything to get the blood flowing and the body moving.  Just keep thinking sitting too long = loss of muscle, and lots of fat and cellulite.

 

Today is more challenging than ever because you are not always on the go.  Being sedentary is definitely going to play a part in how your body looks and functions. So whether you are cleaning, playing with the kids, walking, biking, jogging, …. find the time to move and make the excuses to keep moving as much as you can.  It will help you mentally and physically feel so much better today, tomorrow, next week and next month.

IT’S NEVER ABOUT HAVING THE TIME — IT’S ABOUT MAKING THE TIME

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick