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Category: holidays

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HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE

HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE

With just a hop skip and a jump 2023 will be here. Let’s be ready with some helpful holiday tips:

HOLIDAY TIPS :

1WATER WATER WATER: Whether you are on the beach, the slopes 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 as soon as you wake up because 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 snack drink 8 oz of water before you eat. You will not only consume less food because water is filling — 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 each one. 

2. EXERCISE: Whether you are in the gym or out of the gym stay active on vacation. Home or away vacation is the perfect time to stay active. On the mountain go skiing, sledding, or shoe walking. On the beach take a long walk or jog on the sand. Go swimming. Do an outdoor yoga class or take outdoor boot camp. Enjoy your surroundings and plan activities according to the weather you are in. If you are staying home with the family play tag or hide and seek. Go bowling or ice skating. Take long walks in the park and maybe even go hiking.  It will be enjoyable and keep the mind and body in a great place. 

3. PLAN & PREPARE: 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 for Holidays & New Years:

  •  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 count it as your snacks. 
  •  Split the Holidays. We have multiple holidays and New Years Eve and New Years Day. If you split them and stay on program all day and only off at night – Dinner and Drinks or Dinner and Dessert. You do it for all Holidays with on program days in between. You will absolutely maintain but for many will still have a great chance of losing if you have amazing days in between. 
  • Home or Away – Maintain your Vacation– If you feel you need the break from the everyday mindset vacation is a good time to take advantage of it. Whether you are home or away you will choose one meal and one dessert or drinks each day. The remainder of the day keep on program. So for example you might do Muffin Breakfast, and light chicken salad for Lunch – and then cheat dinner and dessert or drinks. Then the next day you might want to do a Cheat Breakfast – and then on program remainder of the day.  You can choose how you want to do it but each day it’s one cheat meal with dessert or drinks (your drinks count as your desserts). If you do this you do not have a full cheat day before or after the holidays’s or break — because you are cheating a little each day. At the end of the holiday week go right back on program for a week and then get on the scale because it will take a full clean week before you see the maintenance of that week. So if you choose this option don’t weigh at the end of the week after having a cheat meal and dessert every day and expect to be the same weight you were at the beginning of the week. Im telling you now that won’t happen. But after the holiday week if you give yourself a solid on program week you will go right back to the pre-holiday weight.

While I wish food and drinks didn’t play such a big part in how we feel – the reality is it does. And I’m a big believer that it’s always better to face things then ignore them. Since what we eat and drink affects our mindset and personality, I think its super important to think through how you want to feel and what is going to make you happy. Do not cheat everyday if you know by mid week you will be miserable because that will just make everyone you are with miserable. As hard as it may feel to stay on program – think about how hard it is to feel bloated and uncomfortable in your body. Im not saying that you should stay 100% on program this holiday break but what I am saying is think it through and decide what you are going to feel your best doing. Honestly I know you all so well that I think 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 this holiday week. 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 thoughtsRemind yourself two things: It doesnt matter how amazing you were up to this point. You will feel the effects of daily over doing it immediately. So make 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 Im telling you now so you don’t look back and feel like you should have made different choices. You have all been on holiday break before and you know what it does to you mentally and physically when you are consistently off program. Some are okay 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 back 100% on program. After one solid on program day you will feel back in control and feel so much better. I am always here for you if you need guidance – simple reach out. Remember this isn’t about being perfect it’s about being happy. 

 

HAPPINESS LOOKS AMAZING ON EVERYONE!

 

Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

INNOVATION WEIGHT LOSS

& HEALTHY MARKET

8031/8037 JERICHO TPKE

WOODBURY, NY 11797

516 802-5055

innovationweightloss.com

innovationjeff1@gmail.com

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HEALTHY MINDSET = HEALTHY HOLIDAYS

HEALTHY MINDSET = HAPPY HOLIDAYS

LET’S TALK MINDSET: No matter the situation you find yourself in this year, you need to take time and ensure you have a healthy mindset. If you don’t know by now, everything in life has an upside and a downside—it’s your duty to look at the situation the right way and make the most out of what’s present. Remember, your perception of things frames how you will experience them. Follow these tips to ensure you have a healthy mindset so you can enjoy your holidays as much as possible!

Reflect on What You are Grateful For:  You know I’m always talking about gratitude, and it’s for good reason. Gratitude is what creates a healthy mindset. Practicing gratitude is a great way to get and keep your mind right day to night. Gratitude allows you to center yourself and realize that while your life isn’t perfect, you have a lot to be happy about. Practicing gratitude is straightforward. You simply need to take time to reflect on what you have in your life- not what you don’t have.

STRESS: All of us feel stress at some time or another, but the holidays can push us even further. Between shopping, cooking, planning, visiting family, traveling, weather and holiday breaks — many of us are thrown right off our game. Disruption to our daily routines can distract us, so we have to find ways to stay grounded and in control. Make sure you are stocked with all the healthy foods you need, and look to the future to make sure you are prepared for holiday parties, dinners, vacations, events or other plans. Whether you are spending the day shopping, going out with family, hosting or attending a party or any other festive plans – be prepared.

SPEND TIME WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE: I can’t stress enough how important this one is. Just like the importance of being grateful for what you have – the holidays are all about spending time with the people you love and are grateful for. If you have family or friends you are close to – you should go out of your way to spend more time with them.  Keep in mind – the right people uplift you, appreciate and value you, they are there when you need them, honest with you and want the best for you, and want to see you happy and succeed in life. Being with people we love and care for is good for our mental health as they make us feel loved, and appreciated.

HOWEVER – and this is a BIG HOWEVER:  Just as the right people provide us with positivity — spending time with toxic friends or family drains us. Unfortunately, the holidays can be draining and unhealthy when we are spending time with the wrong people. And I understand sometimes we don’t have as much control over this during the holidays. But we do have control over how much time we spend with them and how much we let them affect us. So this holiday season, be mindful of who you surround yourself with to keep your mental health balanced. Always remember you are the gatekeeper for who you choose to invite into your life.

SNACKS: Having healthy snacks on hand is essential. When we are driving around from store to store shopping, spending hours walking around the mall, or spending time with our family and friends – a healthy snack will save you. We’ve all been there – we are shopping at the mall, completely exhausted and starving, low energy and just spent. Once you get to that point of starving you will grab without thinking. Don’t let that happen. Always have water and a prepared on- program snack on hand in case you need it. 

Focus on Creating Positive Memories: It’s important to remember that the holiday experiences you create now will be your future holiday memories for you and your loved ones. I know the stress can be overwhelming but if you take the time to step back – give yourself a 5 minute self meditation and just remember that this year is what will be remembered next year. Don’t focus on being 100% perfect – instead focus on  on giving yourself and your loved ones the opportunity to create positive fun experiences this season that you will look back and love and laugh about in the future. Try to laugh a little more at the things that might upset you. Sometimes when we laugh at ourself instead of getting frustrated it can create a completely different experience for everyone involved. I will never forget when I was about 7 years old. My mother and father cooked large pans of baked ziti for all of our relatives. As my dad was walking down the stairs with all the food he tripped and the pans of food went flying all over the floor and all over my relatives. And everyone just froze looking at my big Italian father who just spent the entire day in the hot kitchen. But of course my mother just burst out laughing hysterical and before we knew it everyone in the entire room was laughing including my father. I can tell you first hand that situation could have went a completely different way. But the fact that my mother laughed hysterically made all the difference in the room. To this day – there is not a holiday that someone doesn’t mention that memory in fondness. . It’s a memory we are all love to talk about. So during this holiday season remember everything we do creates memories. It’s up to you how you want them remembered by those you love.

Maintain Your Self-Care Routine: Between the time off from work, traveling to see family, and all the extra activities, it’s easy to fall out of our regular routines around the holidays. While it’s a great time to indulge in some of those tasty holiday treats, it’s important to maintain those healthy habits that you worked so hard to establish during the rest of the year. Make sure to prioritize your self-care habits like exercise, mediation, and hydration. You’ll have a much easier time fighting off those holiday blues if you’re feeling healthy and energized. You don’t need to go to the gym or complete an hour-long class each day. Something as simple as going for a 30 min walk outside or even doing a self workout at home counts. During the holidays my family self care tradition is to walk the neighborhood after dinners to take in all the beautiful decorations and reenergize for the remainder of the evening. Physical activity is important and good for us. Even 20-30 minutes of exercise can be enough to boost your mental activity, reduce stress, and improve your overall mood—something we can all use this time of year. So be sure to keep your body moving. 

TRADITIONS OLD AND NEW: Enjoy your holiday traditions and try Starting Some New Ones – Traditions tell our family story. They enrich the holiday season by allowing loved ones to recognize the culture and history that has shaped their identities. They add meaning to our experiences and enhance a sense of belonging with others. In an uncertain world, we find security in something remaining the same over time that can also be passed down through the generations. When we move from one phase of life to the next, the traditions we cherish and our values can remain a constant. The smells, tastes, and sounds we look forward to each year are predictable, familiar, and comforting. But it’s also okay to create new traditions or be flexible in your own traditions.  The truth is I am big on traditions. I love ours and our family lives by them – and now that my children are older it makes me so happy to get to see them introducing our traditions to their significant others. And it’s even just as exciting and fun to incorporate new traditions.  For example. every year we do cookies, and gingerbread houses and this year my son’s girlfriend introduced us to Sip and Paint. It’s where you sip wine and paint a holiday picture on a canvas. With my children older it makes sense to include something that we could never do when they were younger. So now they have the nostalgia of doing our yearly tradition of baked cookies and gingerbread houses from when they were young and the twist of an adult tradition that we end the evening with Sip & Paint. Now our tradition has a new twist that we all love and enjoy. Adding new traditions and/or being flexible in your yearly traditions is just going to make it fun for everyone and more importantly it’s going to tell the story of your family past and present. 

The best things in life are spending time

with the people we love and the memories we make.

It’s not only about the food on your plate –

More importantly it’s about the love and laughter that surrounds your table. 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

INNOVATION WEIGHT LOSS & HEALTHY MARKET

8031/8037 JERICHO TPKE

WOODBURY, NY 11797

516 802-5055

Innovationjeff1@gmail.com

innovationweightloss.com

innovationhealthymarket.com

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DON’T LET DECEMBER EXCUSES SET YOU BACK

DECEMBER CAN EASILY TURN INTO A MONTH OF EXCUSES. With holiday parties, get together’s and vacations it’s almost hard to know where to fit in an on program day. But if you keep your focus and mindset in the right place you will get closer to where you want to be. 

KEEP YOUR FOCUS IN THE RIGHT PLACE and keep your eye on the prize. Whatever you have going on right now use it to motivate you to stay on your path. Are you going away? Do you want to wear that awesome holiday outfit you have in your closet? Or maybe you just want to feel better going into the new year. Whatever your reasons are use them to stay focused and in control. 

HOLIDAY TIME CAN MAKE US CRAZY. Yes we are running around Holiday shopping – wrapping- holiday parties – it’s all extra added things into our already busy day. While they should be so fun they can also be exhausting. The very best way to get through the holidays is to plan and prepare your days. I know you are probably sick of hearing me say it but you also know it is what works the best. If you don’t plan and you have a crazy day – you will get to a point of hunger and reach for anything in sight. If you plan it then you are feeding your body throughout the day the foods you know will help you feel your best. 

PUT THE TIME IN.  You have two weeks until the Holiday Break. You can do a lot in two weeks. You can lose weight and you can feel in control and you can just feel better overall. So do not tell yourself that you will just start after Vacation or after the Holidays or in the New Year. If you do that you will absolutely end up gaining weight from now until then and then you will have to lose even more weight. If you don’t want to be 100% now and see some real results then at the very least be very mindful and maintain. 

Keep The Following Holiday Tips in Mind for the Remainder of December

INNOVATION TIPS FOR THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS SEASON

  1. Don’t just do the program – live the program.
  2. Walk away from the temptation and remind yourself to choose your hard. – Hard to walk away or hard to deal with the results of your actions. 
  3. One alcohol drink is a snack. Before you reach for the second drink – remember it’s not the alcohol that makes you gain weight — it’s what the alchohol makes you do that makes you gain weight. Make sure to drink water in-between drinks to stay hydrated.
  4. Start with warm lemon water in the morning and continue with regular water for the rest of the day. From the time you wake up until bed. At least 8 oz before each meal. 
  5. It’s okay to be a turtle during the holidays. If you lose slow it’s still better than gaining. But the days you can be a Shark and have amazing 100% days then do it. 
  6. Be happy and enjoy everyone around you.
  7. 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 it’s the best way to have successful weight loss days. 
  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 the happier you will be. 

Stay on program!

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

 

INNOVATION WEIGHT LOSS

& HEALTHY FOOD MARKET

8031/8037 JERICHO TPKE

WOODBURY, NY 11797

516 802-5055

www.innovationweightloss.com

EMAIL: innovationjeff1@gmail.com

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LET’S TALK TURKEY

LET’S TALK TURKEY

I absolutely love Thanksgiving. Many of you that know me already knew I would start off like that. It’s my favorite Holiday. For me it is the start of the Holiday season. It’s not about shopping and gift giving — it’s about family and for being grateful for what you have and who you have in your life. And while it’s also a time to give thanks it’s also a time to pray and/or hope for those we lost and those less fortunate who are struggling. 

It’s also important for us to be grateful for the food on our table. How lucky are we all to be able to sit around a table filled with family, friends, love, laughter and a beautiful turkey with all the trimmings. 

So let’s plan for our TURKEY AND TRIMMINGS! It doesn’t matter if you do or do not like Thanksgiving food. As you may have heard me mention Thanksgiving is more than one day. It’s a 5 day social weekend where the average person gains 10-12lbs from start to finish. It starts Wednesday night and ends Sunday night. And if you don’t have a plan you are going to wake up a very unhappy person Monday Morning. So let’s talk about our Plans and Tips….

PLAN PREPARE AND FOLLOW THROUGH:

TIP: Whether you are cheating Thanksgiving or not – One of the best tips I can give you for Thanksgiving Day is to stay on program and go off dinner, dessert, drinks. Don’t starve yourself all day because if you do that you won’t be able to control yourself when you finally sit down. Instead follow your on program meals of Breakfast and Lunch or Breakfast and Snack and then go into your Thanksgiving dinner hungry but not starving.

5 HOUR FAST:  Unless you are on the 5 hour fast. If you are on the 5 hour fast you are already used to only eating in that time period and your body already knows how to control it. So if you are on the 5 hour fast stick to your 5 hours and make them to your Thanksgiving schedule. 

NAVIGATE THE TABLE:  Regardless whether you are doing the Signature Innovation or the 5 hour fast – When it comes to the food I would have your turkey and then take 1 large tablespoon or 1 small portion of everything else you like that is on the table. Sometimes you will find tasting them is enough. You can always go back for more of what you really liked. But if you fill your plate with everything you will most likely eat it all even if you end up not being crazy about something to begin with. Mentally we tend to finish what is on the plate whether you love it or not. So do not give yourself that option. Instead take a small portion or TBSP of everything you do like – try it and if you really want more go back for it or you might be very satisfied with what you had and be done and feel good. Same goes for the desserts. 

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN

PLAN 1: 

WEIGHT LOSS:  If you want to continue on your weight loss journey and continue to lose weight over the Thanksgiving weekend then you will either use Thanksgiving as your cheat day and do the rest of the week and weekend on program. OR you will be 100% on Thanksgiving and have turkey and veggies and have your cheat day on your regular weekend day that you choose. This is very doable. You can eat out and still be on program. You can have a drink and still be on program. So if you want to stay on program and continue to lose weight you can do this. Always remember you are 100% in control of your results. 

PLAN 2: 

MAINTAIN: NO Exercise: If you are okay with maintaining you can do 2 cheat meals and desserts. You simply pick two days— For example: Thanksgiving dinner and Saturday night and you only cheat dinner and dessert or dinner and drinks on those two nights. The rest of the day and the rest of the weekend is 100% on program. If you do this you will maintain this weekend and that is fantastic if you are okay with maintaining.

PLAN 3:

WEIGHT LOSS:  If you do everything I just listed for PLAN 2 above; but you add in at least 60 min of cardio each day then you have a really good chance of still losing this weekend. So basically it’s 2 Cheat meals with desserts or drinks and incorporate 60 min of cardio each day and you will see weight loss at your next weigh in.

After the weekend the most important thing is to get right back on program.  Because if you stick to your plan any new weight will be gone in a day or two and you can start losing again. The worst thing you can do is get into the mindset that Thanksgiving is once a year and you will be missing out if you don’t over indulge each day all weekend. I see it with clients all the time they want to lose weight but they don’t want to put the planning and work in to make it happen. You have choices. If you stick to one of the plans above and use the Healthy Tip – I promise you will come out of this weekend – feeling great and very grateful. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 

FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU

~LOVE TO LIVE HEALTHY WITH JOSEPHINE FITZPATRICK 

 

INNOVATION WEIGHT LOSS

AND HEALTHY MARKET

8031/8037 JERICHO TPKE

WOODBURY, NY 11797

516 802-5055

WWW.INNOVATIONWEIGHTLOSS.COM

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EASTER & PASSOVER – WHEN AM I CHEATING?

PREPARE FOR THE HOLDIAYS

Whether you are celebrating Passover – Easter or both! – you want to incorporate your Cheat day into your celebrations. Here are some helpful tips:

CHEATING MORE THAN ONE DAY: Split your Cheat day and do Cheat Meals. Instead of having Saturday as your Cheat Day – do Friday night and Saturday night – back on program Sunday. Or you can do Saturday night and Sunday night back on program Monday. Any two nights you want to do cheat meals instead of a whole day. You want to have cheat meal dessert and drinks (optional). Remember when you split your cheat day it’s one less day of the week you have to lose weight.

CHEATING ONE DAY: If you know you are cheating only one day you always have the option to keep your Cheat Day to one day. One cheat day a week will always give you the best results. But only do this if you are certain that you are not going to be tempted at other holiday celebrations.

VACATION: If you are going on vacation – do not cheat before you go. Stay on program and pick one cheat each day to enjoy while on vacation. Any meal – dessert or drinks. You choose each day one thing that you want to indulge and enjoy. This will help you maintain the week. If you want to lose while on vacation then you must stick to your One Cheat day a week and stay on program on Vacation. Sounds hard? It’s not as hard as you think

EXAMPLE:

  • Egg whites for Breakfast
  • Grilled chicken salad for lunch
  • veggies and hummus at the pool or beach
  • Fish and veggies for dinner
  • choose your dessert whether it’s a drink or fruit

If you want more than this then you should be prepared to maintain or possibly gain. Remember your actions = results.

PASSOVER CHOICES:

INCORPORATE PASSOVER CHOICES IN YOUR DAY

BREAKFAST & LUNCH CHOICES YOU CAN INCORPORATE PASSOVER WEEK:

• MATZAH-2 Matzah with 1tbsp of peanut, almondor SunButter, or 1/2avocado

• MATZAH AND FRUIT: 1 Matzah with 1 tsp of pb or sunbather with 1 piece of fruit

• MATZAH AND EGGS- one Matzah with 3-4 egg whites and 1 cup of veggies

• ANY Kosher Meat no sauce no marinate no butter

• Light tuna or chicken salad or egg white salad with 1 matzah

• Chubby Potato: 1 large white potato or sweet potato with 1 cup of veggies on top and 1/4 cup of cheese and bake 🙂

• 1/2 cup park skim Cottage cheese with 1 cup of fruit 

• Popcorn

• 15-20 Any nuts

• Think Thin Bar

• Matzoh ball soup without the Matzoh ball

• 2 slices of low fat cheese or 1 light part skim cheese stick with 1 Matzah

 • non fat greek yogurt with 1/2 cup of berries

• 1 cup of any berries with 2 tbsp of cool whip

 

 

INNOVATION FOOD AND PASSOVER:

1) IF YOU are NOT STRICT and ALLOW FLOUR FROM OUR VEGETABLE PROTEIN you can have anything in the store

2) STRICT – NO WHEAT OR ANY KIND OF FLOUR

— All our Gluten Free Muffins, GF Cookies and GF Bagels

— Our Entire Ketovation line contains no wheat or flour 

Cauliflower Pizza

Turkey Taco

Chicken Salad

Tuna Salad

Sweet potato fries

Tomato Soup

Broccoli cheddar soup

Bisque Soup

Pudding

Rice Sticks and Hockey Puck Rounds

Chocolate mousse cake, & Cheese Cake & Gummy Bites

All Innovation nuts regular, chocolate and mixed

Popcorn

Licorice

Detox

The Staff of Innovation wishes everyone a healthy happy Holiday 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

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AUGUST GOALS

BIG NEWS AND CHANGES COMING TO INNOVATION!  Can you believe we are already in August! It’s been such a busy summer. I have been working on some really exciting things for September that I can’t wait to share. In the next couple of weeks I will start to share all of these new wonderful programs and products that we will be incorporating into the store. It’s Super Exciting! You are going to love them all.

 

LET’S TALK AUGUST: While I am working on all of these new things, I want you all to answer these questions:

 

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR AUGUST…. It’s so important to go into the month knowing what you want out of it.  August is a time when we may not want to think and be on schedule or always do the right thing – because we know in a very short time it’s the ending of the summer months that we waited so long to arrive. But it’s a time where we have to think about it or we can do some major damage. So whether it’s to lose one pound a week or to maintain where you. Plan, Prepare and Follow Through with it. Start by asking yourself where do you want to be by August 31? Then follow it up by what are you willing and capable of doing to get there. If it’s weight loss then you need to be willing to walk away from the temptations. If it’s maintaining then you need to choose your battles on what is worth indulging. We always have choices – just always remember it’s your actions that determine the results.

 

ARE YOU MAKING THE GOOD DAYS COUNT… If you know you are having long weekends at the beach then you need to be 100% Monday through Thursday. If you want to lose weight or maintain this summer but don’t want to be super strict — then be amazing on the days you can be. And on the days that are more challenging- try to be mindful even if you are cheating. You don’t want big Cheat Days to be consecutive and you don’t want to be Cheating a little everyday. The days that you can be amazing – then be amazing and eat the minimal that is on your plan. On the days you need extra snacks then have them but make sure they are on program snacks. If you want to enjoy a treat here and there then do it but try to be amazing and 100% on program the following day. My point is, the great days will help in your overall month.

 

ARE YOU BEING HONEST WITH YOURSELF… Don’t go into the month saying you want to lose but your actions are the complete opposite of someone who is trying to lose. If you know your schedule is a little crazy right now or you are just mentally weak then be okay with maintaining. It’s important to be honest with yourself not just about what you want but what but also what you know you are going to really follow through with. Being honest with yourself requires self-awareness and even courage. It can sometimes be challenging to make contact with your truth, and even harder to take action based on that truth. But when you are honest with yourself about what you are capable of at this time – you have an 85% chance of achieving it. So let the truth set you free and be honest with yourself about where you think you can be August 31.

 

DO YOU HAVE A POSITIVE MINDSET GOING INTO AUGUST….. While you are deciding what you are capable of it’s so important to be positive about it. Always remember to use the words I can, I will, Im excited! Being positive about what you want is so important but talking positive to yourself about what you want is even more important. You will believe what you tell yourself so if you use negative words like “I can’t” then you won’t. But if you stick with the positive “I can” then you will!. If you think about it it’s no different than what many of us teach our own children. Be positive about what you want and believe in yourself that you can do it. Because at the end of the day you are the one person who has total control over what you are doing, thinking and feeling.

 

ARE YOU CHOOSING YOUR HARD…. Most people gain between 8-10 pounds by September. That’s a lot of weight to gain on top of weight that you already needed to lose. Think smart and act smarter! If you want to look good, you want to feel good then you have to do good things and make the right choices for your mind and body. Yes, exercising is very important and the more you can incorporate it the better you will feel. But eating clean and staying on program is what is going to make you feel amazing and make the changes you really want to see. It’s what will make you feel that lighter, happier feeling that you love and change the number on the scale to where you want it to be. It’s what gives you the feeling that you are in control and doing the right things for your body and mind. While it’s much harder to follow in August…. It’s also hard to go into September at a higher number.

 

Final Thoughts…..Summer days in August is a time when it’s harder to stay on track and have 100% days. But just because it’s harder doesn’t mean it’s not doable and doesn’t mean it’s not necessary. I don’t have to tell you how quickly you will gain the weight back. This program works if you follow it but like anything else if you eat what you want when you want you will gain the weight back. You see the clients around you. Many who have lost the weight and kept the weight off and are maintaining. They do it because they are on program and live the program. They are always prepared and have their food and snacks. We have hundreds of clients maintaining this summer and we have hundreds of clients losing this summer. You have to decide what you want and follow through with it. There is always a choice and you need to make it everyday. If you want to lose weight this summer you need to follow your program and stay on program 6 straight days in order to enjoy the Cheat Day. Make sure you have all your meals and snacks prepared and ready for you. It’s important to plan your days and be ready for whatever is coming your way. If you have your meals and snacks then you have no excuse to go off program. Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you have to give up losing weight. You can enjoy and lose weight if you are willing to put the work in. Remember, the harder you work the better the results. It’s never easy – especially in August, but it’s very doable and necessary – especially in August.

 

At the end of August and the end of the Summer months we have to accept what we have done. While it’s great to party, drink and indulge – if you continuously over do it — you will be left with the results that I can assure you will not be worth how you feel. So stay mindful and think before you act. Because just like every bad choice will make a negative difference — every good choice will make a positive one.

 

WHAT HAPPENS IN AUGUST DETERMINES YOUR SEPTEMBER 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

Choicesclean eatingeatcleanfeel goodhappyhealthyHealthy TipsholidaysLifestyleMotivationSUMMERweight loss

IS THE STRUGGLE TO BE ON PROGRAM OR OFF PROGRAM?

BALANCE IN THE SUMMER

I have to say I am super impressed with how so many of you got right back on program after vacations. So many of you even texted me on vacation telling me you couldn’t wait to be back on program when you returned. For those of you who have experienced it you know that it is such a great feeling to have when you are away enjoying knowing that when you come back it’s only a couple of days until you feel back in control and back to yourself. Thinking about it more in depth it is even more amazing how quickly we feel the difference when we go from on program to off and then off program to on program.

IS IT A STRUGGLE TO BE ON PROGRAM OR OFF PROGRAM?  We always feel like it’s a struggle to be on program and do the right thing – but the funny thing is as soon as we have the freedom to go off program we can’t wait to get back on program again. Which brings me to the question is it more of a struggle to be off program or on program. I would have to say from the text messages it’s actually more of a struggle to be off program.

Here is why: Mentally while we are on program it feels so difficult and we just can’t wait to have a cheat day but you see the cheat day is part of the program so when you are on 6 days and cheating 1 day that is still very much on program. But when you have a long holiday weekend or a vacation and now you are off program every day – even if it’s just a cheat meal or extra drinks – you are off program and you immediately feel it in your body and clothes.  When you don’t have any 100% on program days and you feel it in your body it changes you mentally. You know it’s a struggle to feel that way and you don’t want to stay that way – and that is why you can’t wait to be on program again.  For those of you who have lived the program for a long time know exactly what I am talking about.

WEIGHT LOSS IS 90% MENTAL: When we break it down – what we learn on program is very simple: We can go enjoy our holiday and vacations knowing that when we return and get right back on program in only a couple of days we will feel so much better. It’s truly the beauty of the program. What many of you may not have realized is that the cheat day has set you up for this. Having your cheat day once week and learning how to get right back on program the day after cheating has taught you so much. You have learned how to go on vacation and get right back on program after the vacation is over. When you master this you have learned the balance of weight loss. Living healthy, losing weight and enjoying and indulging.

THE BEST LIFE IS ALL ABOUT BALANCE:  We work hard we play hard. In every part of life we need balance so that we don’t just do one thing too much because that will only set you up for failure. There is nothing more important than having a healthy balance in your life – you work hard to be healthy and feel good, but you also enjoy and indulge. It’s so important to incorporate the cheat day because no one can or should want to be 100% – 24/7.  When you learn how to incorporate the cheat day it teaches you the balance you need to lose weight. Just remember the cheat day only works when the other 6 days are 100%. If you are not having 100% days then you should not be having a cheat day.

LIVE THE PROGRAM: When you learn not to just do the program and you learn to live the program you will see it gets easier and easier to get back on program right after a cheat day, holiday and/or vacation. A big part of the program is not so much the vacation or holiday cheating – but what you do after it. It’s super easy to cheat but it’s twice as hard to get back on program after a long holiday weekend or vacation. But the more you live your 6 days on and 1 day off makes getting back on program so much easier because your body learns quickly how much better it feels when you are doing the right thing and feeling your best. Consistency is key here. The longer you teach your body to live the 6 days on and the 1 day off program – the easier it becomes and the faster you learn to live in this healthy balance.

YES, THE STRUGGLE IS REAL: While we want to enjoy summer we don’t want to throw away everything you worked so hard for. Remember when you are returning from vacation the first few days will always be the hardest because you are going from eating too much to eating less than your body needs – so you will experience real hunger pains. Just remember they are temporary. By thursday you will start to feel so much better and you will know only another couple of days until cheat day again. So if you are returning from vacation and feeling a little struggle with the hunger – remember how important it is that you get right back on program. Push yourself through the first couple of days and I promise you by the end of the week you will feel amazing. You will be thrilled that it’s behind you and that you are back on, feeling good and eating on program.

FINAL THOUGHTS: it’s hard but its also very doable. You make choices and you deal with the outcome. If you want the summer to continue to be fun and you want to feel good every week so you can enjoy it – then you need to learn to get right back on program after a holiday or long weekend. Continue to do your best everyday and be proud of it. Don’t wait until you find a perfect week where nothing is going on to go back on program – finding a perfect week in the summer where nothing is going on is impossible. Instead jump right in and think of your weight loss as weight loss days not weight loss weeks. Every day that you can make a weight loss day – do it. The more weight loss days you get in one week – the better the result at the end of the week.  When you treat your body good your body repays you will results.

GET THROUGH THE STRUGGLES YOU WILL SEE THE RESULTS

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

Choicesclean eatingdieteatcleanExercisefamilygoalshappyhealthyholidaysLifestyleMotivationSUMMERweight loss

Back On Your Path

Welcome back everyone!  Im so happy everyone had a great safe holiday weekend. First, I want to tell you wherever you are don’t stress about it. Just get right back on program and finish out the week solid. One week and you will feel so much better being back in control and knowing that your body is in the right direction. You will weigh in this weekend and wherever you are you move on from there into a positive and happy place.

 

I want to thank you all because I have heard the nicest things the last couple of days from so many of you……. I love all the photos you send me. So many of you that were at holiday events this weekend and felt so good about yourself…….  We had more clients than ever hit their lowest numbers this past weekend. The excitement was beyond thrilling for me to be a part of. Thank you all for working so hard.

 

I love how so many clients couldn’t express enough how knowing they were going back to their magic muffins and Innovation food after the Holiday weekend helped them mentally get right back on program. It makes me so happy!!! I say it all the time — it only takes a couple of days of being back to eating on program is what gets you back to feeling good again. The quicker you get back the faster you recover. It all comes down to it’s not always about going off program that matters so much — it’s about what you do after you go off program that makes all the difference. When you get right back on program you get right back to feeling your very best, lightest, happiest and in control feeling — and that makes us all happy.

 

Here are some things I want you to think about moving forward into the Beautiful Sunshine and Social Summer.

  1. You will feel hungrier this week.  Why? Because you were eating for Holiday and Weekend Vacation last week and now you are back to eating for weight loss. So expect the hunger and embrace the hunger. I promise you will live through it. You might not be happy about it and there will be uncomfortable moments — but it will pass. And by the weekend you will feel so much better mentally and physically.
  2. Try your best to put the clean on program week in. I know we have so much going on in the summer and we are eating-out more often and socializing more than normal. But the more on program consecutive days you can put together the faster you will go back to feeling your best and back to your weight loss. If you are eating out make sure it’s a clean meal. Just because it’s summer does not mean you have to over indulge.
  3. If you are drinking alcohol make sure you follow your Snack Categories. It’s not the alcohol that is the problem it’s what the alcohol makes you do that is the issue. By the second drink the body and brain slows down – you are no longer in control. If you are having more than one drink– try and drink a bottle of water in between drinks.
  4. Don’t blame others. If you go into a social setting half-hearted about staying on your program it’s going to be easy for family and friends to talk you out of it because that is what you really want them to do. We give off signals to people of whether or not we are serious about staying on program. If you give off the signal that you are not in it 100% they will know it and easily talk you into sabotage. If you give off the signal that you are on your program 100% then no one is going to be able to talk you off it.
  5. As much as I always tell you consecutive days are the most important for weight loss — what I want you to think about through the summer is on program days in general. If you know that you are extra social and that you have things going on through the week or weekend — and consecutive days are going to be difficult —then make sure that any day that you can have an on program day you do it. Follow your meals and snacks and make sure you have your on program food planned and prepared because when you can be on program you want that day to be 100%. The more on program days you can add into your week will make the difference between maintaining and gaining.

You have to decide what you want.  If you are 225 and want to be 190 OR you are 140 and want to be 120 you can’t just talk about it and wish for it — because that is not going to make it happen. If you really want to lose the weight throughout the summer then you have to stay on program and work hard and follow your meals and snacks. Everyone that does the program and has success will tell you that it becomes a way of life. Learning to use your cheat day and loving it every week is life changing. Learning to go right back on program after holidays and vacation is more important than the time you spend off it. I see clients everyday do it regardless of the time of year. They are prepared with on program food and they always know what they are doing and where they are going and what they are eating. Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring – if you want to lose the weight I can promise you it’s very doable just put the work in— and this time of year don’t let the social summer become all about food. The bottom line is whether it’s losing weight or maintaining the weight you have to plan it and stick to it. I can give you all the tools in the world but you have to want it and work for it. And it can’t be just when it’s convenient for you — it’s just as important to do it when it’s inconvenient. When you really learn to live the program – you will love the way you look and feel everyday.

 

My final thoughts for you are…  When you can’t control what is happening in front of you — challenge yourself to control the way you respond to it. You can control your mind or You can let your mind control you

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

ChoiceseatcleanExercisefamilyfeel goodgoalshappyhealthyHealthy TipsholidaysLifestyleSUMMERweight loss

HOLIDAY WEEK CHECK-IN

[dt_sc_hr_invisible]Do you remember when you were young and your parents went away and you were so excited — YAY! PARTYYYYY! The funny thing is, now you reflect back and realize your parents were thinking the same thing. They were thinking, the kids are gone let’s PARTY!!!! Yes – everything tends to come full circle and what we didn’t understand or even think of back then we understand now. If your kids are away you are certainly playing – how much you play and how much damage you do will result in how the rest of your summer will be. You must stay mindful and remember to think before you eat and drink.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Many of you, which I am so thrilled to say, are going into this holiday weekend in a very good place. And Im really so super proud of all the hard work you have been doing. But regardless if you are in a good place or still struggling you need to approach this very fun filled holiday weekend with a plan. Know what you are doing, where you are going and how you will approach each of the days. This is such a tough weekend, but sticking to your good choices and feeling the best you can will make such a difference in your outcome. We all know how bad choices and good choices can dictate our mood. If you make good choices you feel great and when you make bad choices it makes you unhappy. While it seems like it should be so easy to choose HAPPY, the truth is, when the treats and Cheats are in your face is when you need to remember that eating on program makes you feel your best. Walking away will make you happy. Eating On Program makes you happy. Do what makes you happy. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Holidays are never easy and I wish I could tell you that they don’t count. But the truth is, if it’s not your Cheat Day – what you do matters. What you do this weekend will show in your next weigh in and will result in how you feel the day after the holiday weekend is over. Do you want to look back and think about how you Cheated for 3 days straight and feel horrible, or do you want to look back and think about how much you enjoyed your long weekend, stayed on program, enjoyed your Cheat Day and when you wake up Monday morning you will feel great about your choices and looking forward to the week ahead. At the end of the day it’s always a choice. And it’s one that I can’t make for you. But it’s a choice that you have to always keep in mind that whichever decision you make will result in the way you feel mentally and physically. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]You want to make sure you are starting your summer following your program, staying on your path and making the decision that will make you happy. Whether you are at a friend’s or BBQ or home, you can get through the day with the same amount of food you get through when you are working or when it’s a normal weekday. 8 hours is 8 hours and 10 hours is 10 hours. Where you are and who you are with should not dictate how you eat. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]One of the most important things you should learn from this program is you can go anywhere and be anywhere and eat, have a drink and have fun and still stay on program. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]One thing I can tell you for sure – and I know you will agree when you read this… You always feel so much better about yourself when you are eating on program and making the right choices.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]You have choices: 
Lose Weight: If you plan on only have one cheat day this weekend because you want to continue to see results that fabulous.
Maintaining: If you are splitting cheat days (staying on program all day and only having dinner and drinks or dinner and dessert cheats for two days) then you will maintaining and that’s great too. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Most important you don’t want to look back and know that you had 3 days of no control -cheating and not doing the right things because that will make you unhappy Monday morning. Now is the time to make the choices and have a plan for the weekend. Think of what makes you happy and what makes you feel good. Not for just the moment but for the long term. When the weekend arrives be ready and know what you are doing and how important it is to you. Make sure that you are thinking about what and how you want to look and feel like next week, and your next weigh in, and even next month. Think about what makes you happy and remember that TREATS AND CHEATS are not for everyday. Because if you have them everyday they are no longer treats then they are just plain old cheats. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]NEVER MAKE PERMANENT DECISIONS 
BASED ON TEMPORARY FEELINGS[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
Choicesclean eatingdieteatcleanExercisefamilyfeel goodgoalshappyhealthyHealthy TipsholidaysLifestyleMotivationweight loss

Choose Your Battles

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]THIS WEEK YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]I have to first say I am so so proud of so many of you! I really see how hard you are working and so many of you did all the right things getting right back on after New Year’s and have not looked back. New, old and returning have made a commitment and have stayed with it. Some are sharks and others snails but both doing amazing at their own pace! Three months in to 2021 we are at the end of March, and we are in a place where so many are on some kind of vacation whether it’s home or away. I know it sounds crazy hard to be able to maintain while you are on vacation but if you are mindful and really think about what you are doing it’s not as hard as you may think. Here are some things to remember and follow:[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES: I know I have said it over and over but I like for you to think it in your sleep – In order to maintain you can actually add food or drink into your program and still lose. The reason for this is because when you are trying to lose you need to be in a state of restricted. You need to have LESS than your body needs. When you are maintaining you get to have more food than when you are trying to lose. You get to have enough food – the amount that your body needs to maintain and not lose and not gain.  [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
  • [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]One meal and dessert off OR alcohol but not both. So if you are a foodie then you will eat clean all day and choose one meal a day and one snack/dessert and have that as an off program choice. OR if you are over the age of 21 and like your alcoholic beverages on vacation then you can do clean meals and snacks and have your drinks when you want them.[dt_sc_hr_invisible]
  • Stay away from the nachos! When you are at the pool or the beach or after the slopes – you will order fresh raw veggies with hummus or light ranch. These veggies will help keep you munching and maintaining while you are laying around enjoying the sunshine or relaxing at the lodge after you ski.
  • If you choose to have one meal a day off program then you do not get a Cheat Day at the end of the week. Remember, the Cheat Day only works when the other 6 days are 110% on program. So if you know you are “off” each day then you are using that and not your Cheat Day. You can’t do both because if you do you won’t maintain you will gain.
  • You can’t run, exercise or ski off a bad food day so any exercise you do, make it in addition to your controlled food day. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]The most important thing to remember is how hard you have worked to get to where you are today. You have sacrificed and have gotten yourself to a place where many of you no longer have cravings through the week. When you work so hard to get here you want to be able to enjoy it. Just because you are on vacation or a “stay-cation” doesn’t mean you just go back to your old habits – and trust me they will want to come back. It’s up to you to remember how AMAZING you feel when you are doing the right things. It’s up to you to think about how hard you worked to get to this amazing place. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN: Most people start vacation feeling amazing. You work hard and you do all the right things to get there and then all of a sudden by mid vacation you start to think “I can have that – I’m on vacation”and  “I can have that – everyone keeps telling me how great I look”and “I feel soooo good – I’m just gonna have it this one time.” And then slowly you start incorporating more and more and throughout the day you are picking and tasting and sharing…before you know it you are bloated and your clothes are starting to tighten. And if that’s the worst of it that would be enough but it’s not. Because then all of a sudden your mood starts to change. You went from starting the vacation so happy to now you are slowly becoming miserable. You can’t believe you let it get you again. You are starting to feel that heaviness. And you were so happy when you were lighter why did you let it happen…now your whole mood has shifted. You think the kids are driving you crazy but the truth is you are driving them crazy! You are feeling bloated and you are upset and short tempered. All because you feel bigger and bloated because you are no longer in control. When you are not feeling your best everything starts to bother you. And you keep thinking I was just so happy. I shouldn’t be doing this we are on vacation – but you can’t help yourself because your sugar levels are dipping and rising with every unhealthy meal you have. Then you have a drink or a bad meal to numb out the fact that you did it again and the drinks / unhealthy meals just make you eat more and before you know it you are waking up even worse then the day before! Then you start thinking you just can’t wait to get home! But wait it was only a couple of days ago you couldn’t wait to get here!  – DON’T DO THIS TO YOURSELF! There is no food or alcohol that is worth this. Stay in control and think about what you are eating and putting in your mouth before you do it. Have a plan everyday so you can enjoy your vacation. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Vacation or Staycation:  You are not there to eat out of control. It’s okay that staying in control and on plan makes you happy. Don’t get in the mindset that you need to eat everything because you are on vacation. Because that will make you unhappy not happy! You are not there to be unhappy. You are on this beautiful trip with your family and/or friends and you are there to have an amazing time that should not revolve around food. It should include food but not revolve around it. There is always a healthy choice – MAKE IT! You can’t have the whole cake but you can have a slice everyday and that should be enough. Your “slice” might be dessert, meal, alcohol etc. but choose it and have it everyday – but the rest of the day must be on program. Because you will feel so much better THE WHOLE VACATION if you do. You can have your cake and eat it too you just can’t have it morning noon and night everyday. Choose your battles and know what is important to you. If it’s your alcohol then make a place for it in your snacks. If it’s desserts then that is what you have each night with the rest of the day on program. If it’s your food then you choose which cheat meal each day you are going to have. You should have an amazing time and you should enjoy everything you want – but that doesn’t mean you go there and you treat everyday like a Cheat Day and it doesn’t mean you go there and lose even a little control because you know where that will lead. Staying in control makes you happy and makes you feel good. That’s what your vacation should be about – feeling good! When you go on vacation you are supposed to come home feeling better than when you left – make sure you are doing what it takes to feel that. I always tell you that when you come home I will get you back to feeling amazing. But the truth is, you want to be away and feeling amazing. So think about your choices and make sure they are worth it. Because at the end of the day – In the reality of it all, it’s not very hard – IT’S TEMPTING. BUT YOU ARE STRONGER THAN ANY TEMPTATION.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES AND YOU CHOOSE YOUR HAPPINESS.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]