JOSEPHINE

Hi everyone, welcome to the Love to Live Healthy show. I’m Josephine Fitzpatrick. Today I have a very special guest, elizabeth Zagetti. She lives in Miami now. She used to live in New York and she moved to Miami, I believe, after the pandemic, but she has been on program for a little over seven years. We have spoken every day through text with her journey and it’s been just nothing but exciting. I love her. She’s like family to me now. But the funny thing is is I have not seen her in a little over seven years. Of course she sends me pictures, so I see her that way, and of course I’m talking to her every day. We text each other, but I have not seen her literally like in person, over Zoom or in my office and since she was here a little over seven years ago. So I’m very excited myself, but I’m so happy and excited for you to hear her journey that she has been on with me. So let’s bring her in and we can start there you are, yes. 

ELISABETA

Hello, hi. Oh my God, how are you? It’s so good to see you In so long. I know in seven years. Oh, my God, that’s amazing. It’s been seven years. I think it was March 31st when I went to you in 2017. 

JOSEPHINE

Wow, oh my gosh, I know Unbelievable. You look gorgeous. 

ELISABETA

Thank you, so do you.

JOSEPHINE 

Thank you. I always see your pictures, but you look so beautiful in person, so I’m very excited for all the clients to hear your story. They love listening to it because it gives them inspiration that other people do this and go through the same things. I really want them to hear your journey Like from when you started. I know you had lost weight, but then you gained some back, right, yes, with menopause and everything, and honestly you look so young to be even through menopause. And now you got back to your amazing, amazing numbers. 

ELISABETA

Well, actually, I would have never thought that I would be a hundred pounds ever again in my life. The last time I weighed a hundred pounds, I think I was 18 or 19 years old. And I mean my goal weight. Well, let’s start from the beginning. When I went to you in 2017, I weighed 139 pounds and I look completely different, as you can see. I don’t know if you remember

JOSEPHINE

Oh, I totally remember. 

ELISABETA

Anyway, and a friend recommended you and it took me about two months to actually make the commitment to call and make the appointment, because I think people in general are afraid of change. They don’t know what to expect. So I finally decided, I said, okay, I’m just going to make the appointment. And I went to see you and it was so easy, so easy. I remember you asking me questions about foods and what I like to eat, and then you created the menu, and once I started and I made that commitment, I couldn’t believe it worked. I said okay this is crazy how fast, because I’ve tried everything, I mean you name it, I’ve tried shakes and Atkins, I tried every diet. 

You know, my whole life I was, you know, struggling with weight and those diets work, but for a short period of time and you a little , but then you gain more back. You gain back more than you lost. Because once you start eating again you realize you don’t know how to eat the right way which now I know because you have taught me.

You know this is why in my text I always tell you that you’re like family to me now, because we have been communicating on a daily basis for seven years and you have supported me and and you have changed my life. Because your program I don’t consider a diet, it’s a lifestyle change and it has taught me so much on how to be disciplined and how to um, to to not give in to temptation and peer pressure. You know, I have people who tell me, oh, you know, you’re so skinny now so you can afford to go out and and have a few drinks on a Saturday, and I said, no, it’s not my cheat day. So no, I’m not, I’m not going to do it, unless it’s a wedding or something which I always let you know if there’s a special occasion, and I let you know, in advance, 

So, yes, I did lose weight when I first went to you and I remember how excited I was because when you see the scale on a weekly basis going down, you know, and as the months went on and I was like 20 pounds down, I was like, oh, my God, I would have never thought that I could lose so much weight and feel so happy. And the reason this works for me is because I don’t feel deprived, because I know I have that cheat day, you know, on Sunday, when I can eat something I’ve been craving all week, um, and I have to tell you in the beginning, on my cheat day, I used to overdo it, but I don’t anymore. I don’t because, , you know, like when you first start, you feel like, oh my God, this is my only day. You know when I can eat the kitchen sink. You know everything I find. But then, as the years went, you know, went by, I realized that no, I don’t want to eat like that because I don’t want to feel like that, because then the next day I feel awful. But so, yes, when I went to you in 2017, I did lose weight and I was very excited. 

But then Covid happened and I was working from home and even though I I tried and I did, I really did. I kind of was on program, but I wasn’t, you know. So I did gain some weight back again and then I had to make that decision one more time. Like that’s it no more you have to stay on program. So I lost again. You know, once I eat clean, no more cheating, because you know, I watch every single video that you put on on instagram, and now you have the, the youtube, and you always say everything counts. Even a morsel of food counts. It’ll affect your weight, and it really does. So I made that decision and once I I made that decision in my head and I’m very focused, I, I lose immediately. 

JOSEPHINE

We have spoken throughout the whole seven years, I think almost every day, 

ELIZABETA

yeah, every day, yeah, 

JOSEPHINE

and I can literally see it in your text when you are like 100% back on

ELIZABETA

So after that in 2021, in May, we moved to Florida and I don’t know what happened, because it happened so fast. We made the decision in January and I was here in May, and not that I went to hell, because Florida is beautiful and it’s you know healthy and sunny, but it was a huge change and honestly, it didn’t feel like home for a long time and, even though I ate on program during the day, what I did was at night I would, I would pick on my chocolate covered raisins and I don’t know. 

I was just I don’t know if I was a little bit depressed, I really don’t know, but I gained again and so I had to buy bigger clothes. And then, in September of 2021, I again, I made the decision. I said, no, I don’t like myself, I’m not doing this for anyone, I’m doing this for myself, you know, because I need to like what I see in the mirror and I need to feel good in my my own skin. So then you told me about the Keto version of the program. And I said I want to do that. 

And when you told me about the five-hour fast, I was like, wow, this is really awesome and, and I can do it. I mean, people ask me how do you not eat after 2 o’clock until the next day 9 o’clock? I said, easy, I’m not hungry. I’m not hungry because my mind is trained, it’s amazing. Just, you know, I’m so invested in it and I really want it so badly and I’ve been keeping this weight off now for two years and I’m in full menopause, it’s unbelievable I would have never thought I could do it. And of course you know sometimes I go up and down one or two pounds from the menopause and hormones.

JOSEPHINE

Yes that will always happens those one to two pounds flexibility. We all need that. Especially through menopause. That is all hormonal, and water weight your numbers are always 1-2 lbs usually 98 to 100, But we know 100 is your top and 98 is your low so as long as you are within those numbers you are at your happy place. 

ELISABETA

Exactly, yeah right, exactly, I’m so very happy and you really changed my life and I really, even though I’m at my goal weight, you know I still need your support on a daily basis. I still, because for me and I can’t speak for other people, but I need to be held accountable. . So you’re almost like my teacher and I’m handing my homework on Sunday. So it keeps me on track, because I know that even if, let’s say, one night I have like a craving for something, I’m like, oh no, no, because Sunday is your weigh-in and I want to make Josephine proud of me, I want to be proud of myself. So, no instead I have a glass of water, go to sleep and I know Sunday will be here in two or three days, whatever it is, and so I need to have you as my coach, and as my therapist. 

Yes, that’s why I always tell you I will never leave. You know I will never leave because life changes, you know things happen and I will always need your support and your expertise. And you know you’re so knowledgeable. You know so much about menopause and how the body works and how weight loss happens. You know you encourage me and you let me know, It’s okay, if you gain a pound this week, you will lose it next week. And when I see that, then I say to myself okay, don’t beat yourself up, there’s always next week. You’re going to do better, it’s going to be okay. 

JOSPEPHINE 

You are amazing, and you have been so amazing, especially since you have been through so many changes. You really have, I mean like think about it, even from when you started so many years ago, you did great, then you went through COVID, then the big move that was a big deal. You never gave up, even when there were times when you were going through the changes and menopause, You never gave up.

ELISABETA

Yes, yes, and I will never give up. 

JOSEPHINE

I think of when you first walked in my office, I mean, and that was seven years ago and I have to tell you, You were a completely different person.

ELISABETA

Yeah, I was a completely different person. I was not happy because nothing worked and now I am so happy now. You know, I’m confident and, like I said, I’m not doing this for attention or for anyone. You know I’m doing this for myself, because getting older you know it sucks, like you know, as a women it’s really hard. , I think we are all struggling. I know for me at least sometimes, when I say, oh, I’m 52, I’m gonna be 53, it’s like even hard to say it, but it’s reality. And you know, like I said I’m in full menopause. It’s unbelievable I remember just being 30. 

And I remember when I was 30 looking at women in full menopause and they were extremely heavy and that’s another reason why I am so grateful that I started this and I tell people who try to lose weight you know, don’t do the shakes and the you know all these fad diets, they don’t work. You need to change your lifestyle. And I always refer them to you because it works. It works.

When you learn to eat with your new lifestyle I tell them I’m never hungry, I’m not deprived, I’m very healthy. I just had blood work done, a full panel. You know everything is normal, you know. So I’m not deficient in anything. I eat very healthy and you know, I just eat less. 

JOSEPHINE

I love so many things that you said because one I feel like so many people going through menopause they think like that’s it, like I’m I’m done, and they could never look like you. I mean it’s just so inspiring for so many people you don’t even know. Listen, you’re at your lowest weight, I mean since you’ve been 18 and you’re in full blown Menopause, I mean that tells you right there, like what you’re capable of if you change your mindset. You know you have to change your mindset. It’s always about the mindset.

ELISABETA

Yeah, yes, yes, and, like I said, don’t look at it as a diet. This is a lifestyle change and it’s a healthy one. I feel like I have more energy, I sleep better, because, you know, because I don’t go to bed bloated, you know, and I just I love it. I truly, truly love this program. I love your support. You are my friend, you know you’re like family to me and just you know you’re so encouraging and inspiring and I don’t know what I would do without you. So when I say that you changed my life and I’ve said this many many times to you in my text messages it’s the truth. You have changed my life. Because, yes, I’ve seen many women who give up when they’re in menopause, and you know they gain a lot of weight and they don’t know what to do, and I’m very grateful that you know that I look and feel like this. 

JOSEPHINE

Oh my gosh, I’m so happy for you. There’s no better feeling. But I wanted to say one thing, because I do ask everyone this Do you exercise? Have you exercised? 

ELISABETA

Yes, Yes, I do, Well, because I lost, you know, a lot of weight. I, I became very very thin. So I started to do my own weight training. Just, you know, push up squat sit ups, 

JOSEPHINE

You lost your weight first, and then you started incorporating the exercise after you lost the weight right,?

ELISABETA

Yes, exactly. And since I’ve been doing them, it’s been about close to a year now that I’ve been doing all the exercises, and, my whole body, looks different. You know my sister and my mom they’re my biggest supporters and they’re telling me like, wow, now, now you look fit and healthy, you look great. You know like you lost all that weight. And now even though you still weigh the same, but now you have a shape. You know like my legs are toned. You know my butt, my stomach, my arms.

JOSEPHINE

Yes I can see your arms look great 

ELISABETA

Thank you, Yes, so I just do my own thing, I don’t I don’t need a trainer, I just do my own workout and of course eating on program and not cheating, and you know, and drinking my water. So, my skin looks nice and hydrated, I drink a lot of water. And I follow everything that you tell me and it really works and I highly highly recommend it to anyone who wants to live a healthy lifestyle 

JOSEPHINE

I literally cannot wait for people to see your before and after, you actually looked older when I first met you 7 years ago 

ELISABETA

I know It’s unbelievable. It makes me so happy but I know not everyone understands. I have a friend who tells me oh, you know, just accept your curves. And I said, but you don’t understand. You know, that’s you. You can accept your curves and I respect that. But to me I’ve always been thin, small, like when I was younger, you know, in my 20s, I’ve always been a petite girl and and I know that’s when I feel good, I want to feel good about myself. This is how I think and that’s what makes me happy. If you want to embrace your curves that’s on you if that is what makes you happy. But being petite and small is what makes me happy. you know this is what makes me happy. You know fitting in a size 2, I bought a size 24 pair of jeans and I’m so so proud of myself. 

 I was like, oh my god 24. Like, oh my god, I’m like so excited, so excited it just gives me joy, you know, because, like I I think I’ve said this to you before there’s so many things in this life that we have no control over, right, like you know, loved ones getting sick or passing away, or my little doggy passing away, but what I put in my mouth I have control over that’s. That’s the only control I have.

JOSEPHINE

I love that, and I preach it and I agree a hundred percent, an I do think that you really live that and that’s one of the things I love that you do. And I say this to people, because I always see the ones who have the best results. They really live the program, they know they’re in control, they live it, you know, and that’s what makes the difference. They don’t just do it, they live it. 

ELISABETA

Yes, I live it, yes, and and I wake up every day and, and I know I start eating at nine and I know I have that window between nine and two and I’m good, I really am. I’m not hungry after two o’clock and I get my nutrients in. I drink water, you know, of course, I drink water even after two o’clock, but that’s it. 

I just drink water and I’m not hungry. I’m very satisfied, I’m very happy and, like I said, I sleep better and I wake up in the morning. I’m not bloated, I feel light, I feel great, yeah, and putting clothes on, you know it just feels amazing.

JOSEPHINE

Yes I know that’s a great feeling. 

ELISABEA

And you know when I look in the mirror I like what I see. And it’s nice because of course, people at work notice when I started losing weight and you know it’s nice to get compliments, of course, but I really do it for myself. Because it makes me feel good.

ELISABETA

So I told you I will never leave. You can’t, you can’t, get rid of me. I’m staying with you forever because I really, I truly need your support. So that’s how I feel about it. 

JOSEPHINE

That’s amazing. Thank you so much you are amazing. 

ELISABETA

Truly, you are such a blessing. I am so grateful to the person who referred me to you because you have changed my life. I swear you really did, even though I’ve had some hiccups in the seven years, but for the past two years, thank God, I’ve been doing great and I am determined to continue on this path and not let anything you know get in the way. I thank you for being you, for your knowledge, for your expertise, for your all your support. I’m so grateful, thank you. You’re so kind and and your words of encouragement. You know they stay with me and and they they motivate me everyday. 

So I want I want to say thank you so much. I love you so much. 

JOSEPHINE

I love you. I’m so happy, thank you.

Thank you! Thank you so much, Elisabeta. That was amazing. You are so inspiring. I know the clients and the customers are just going to love listening to your story. 

Everyone struggles as we get older and you know, I think you have proven that, just because you’re going through menopause, just because you’re in your 50s, you can still be and look the way you want to. The way that makes you feel the best, by doing the right things and following. And, yes, sometimes it’s hard and you will have hiccups, but you can get through it and you’ve proved that and I’m so proud of you. Don’t ever give up. That is a great message for everyone. Do not ever give up. It doesn’t matter your age. It doesn’t matter what you’re going through. She is the lowest she’s been since she’s 18 years old and she’s 52 and she has never looked better in her life. 

So so proud of you, Elisabeta, and I’m so happy I got to see you so happy.. So thank you everyone for tuning in. Thank you for all the feedback. I love it, I appreciate it. It makes my day. I’m wishing everyone a happy, healthy week full of love and hugs and kisses from me to all of you. 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

INNOVATION WEIGHT LOSS

INNOVATION HEALTHY MARKET

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516802-5055

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Josephine (Host)

Hi everyone, welcome to the Love to Live Healthy show. I’m Josephine Fitzpatrick. Today we have a very special guest, Stephanie Luft from Merrick. I’m going to bring Stephanie in now. Hi, stephanie, hi, how are you? How are you Good? So thank you for joining us. I’m so excited. 

Stephanie (Guest)

Oh, my pleasure, take it easy. 

Josephine (Host)

So you are definitely like one of my long time clients, right? 

Stephanie (Guest)

I think I’ve been following your program over eight years. Yes, eight and a half years now.

Josephine (Host)

That’s amazing. That’s so exciting. I love that. So, how much did you lose? 

Stephanie (Guest)

Yes, so originally I lost about 11. That was my original goal weight was to lose 11. Total, I’m probably down about 17 or 18.  

Josephine (Host)

That’s amazing, yeah. So your total is 18, but your original goal was 11. But what’s funny is, once you got to this new number, now that’s your number. 

Stephanie (Guest)

Yeah, and now I think about that number. Like what do you mean I was seven pounds more at one point. How could I have been 7 lbs more than this number.

Josephine (Host)

It’s so funny how that happens. 

Now, what’s different? I think, too. And what I love about your story and I wanted to share is you go through times because it has been, you know, almost nine years where you have little instances of maybe like something going on in your life or whatever, and you go up a couple of pounds and you come in, and immediately, as soon as you come back in and you’ve done it so many times you lose it in like the first or second week.

Stephanie (Guest)

So it’s funny because I came into the office like two months ago and you put me right back on track. I lost it in two weeks. 

So I went through some medical things so I couldn’t really work out the way I wanted to, and also accepting age too. I mean, I started this journey nine years ago, so there’s a big difference between being in your early 40s and being in your early 50s, Right, like the change of your body and everything else that’s happening along with your diet and your exercise, but also your hormones right. 

Josephine (Host)

Yes, exactly, a big difference.

So what everyone doesn’t know. Stephanie makes me laugh all the time. Every time she’s in the office. Since I’ve known her, she’s just hysterical. So when she doesn’t feel good about her body, she will not walk into the bathroom, she backs into the bathroom. 

Stephanie (Guest)

So my husband can see the better parts of me. It’s so funny because you know my whole life I was always hung up on like having a big, you know, big ass, like when I gain weight that’s where it goes, but like I needed to be born after the Kardashian error, and the JLO error. So when we were younger, you know that was always the thing. Right.

(Both Laughing)

Josephine (Host)

Yes. Right. So Funny.

And just so you know this is her talking, because if you saw her, you would be like, oh my God, that’s what I dreamed to look like. 

Stephanie (Guest)

Thank you, thank you, but everybody has their hand up. 

Josephine (Host)

Everyone has them

Stephanie (Guest)

And when I started working with you and my goal weight was like six pounds more than I am now, it was like I could never imagine the number that I’m at right now. That was like I don’t even think I was this number in high school. 

But you know, everybody puts pressure on themselves and like we talk about, I think there’s a pressure where we live. 

Josephine (Host)

Yeah, right, Of course yeah, and that’s a big thing. But the other sense too is sometimes if you don’t have that little bit of obsession it can so easily get out of hand. 

Stephanie (Guest)

It did and you totally brought me back. So I felt so much better because I left and it was like shocking to me and you just said to me just you know, change one snack and it immediately worked. And it really did make all the difference.

Josephine (Host)

It’s always the little details that make the most difference. 

Stephanie (Guest)

You know you and I have discussed this before. How many times at work I’ve been skinny shamed at work, I think. I think more at work than outside of work. I had one person actually and we spoke about this too was she at one point like, shook my pants and she’s like Are you okay, are you sick? These are so big on you. And I was like, first of all, didn’t ask you and, second of all, what was that about? But I think a lot of it is just, you know, through jealousy.

Josephine (Host)

Yeah yeah, and I do think the worst comes out when someone’s jealous. And listen. We always have to remember weight loss is one of the hardest things to do. We’re surrounded by temptation all the time and when you see someone jealous of course because it’s so hard to lose weight. I think like to your point before when you said when your coworker said that to you I think it just sometimes, when you’re in such a good place and you look so good, it can make other people very uncomfortable.

Stephanie (Guest)

Yeah. You are right I didn’t think about it like that.

Josephine (Host)

Yeah, that’s when you force people to look at themselves and a lot of times when someone’s not in a good place, they don’t, don’t want to do that you know,. 

Stephanie (Guest)

Yeah. But you’re right, there’s so much temptation. So every time I’m at a meeting at work, there’s the one who I said to you. She comes with a huge, huge bowl of candy and sticks it like right in the middle of the table. And usually I’m in the middle and the other day I took like a paper towel and I stuck it on top and put something else on top so I didn’t have to see it. And they’re like what are you doing? I’m like I can’t sit here and stare at peppermint patties when they’re like my favorite. 

And that same group would sometimes just if there was a party and they’re having cake like just because it’s your birthday doesn’t mean I have to eat cake on a Tuesday, right? And they’re like you’re not gonna have a bite. I’m like I’m good and they are like but you could afford it. You’re so skinny. 

Josephine (Host)

That is why you look the way you do, because you’re not doing the cake on a Tuesday just because it’s there. 

But you know, I love that. I think it’s so important for people to hear, like, what other people go through when they’re when they’re trying to lose weight, because while you handle it so well, I have clients who really get so upset they cry. You know, I had one client recently who cried at the table because her friend supposedly was skinny shaming her at the dinner. And you know it’s hurtful because you’re trying so hard to lose weight and when you get to a good place, instead of people going well, you look great. And understanding that’s why you look great and all the positive things that you’d want to hear from your friends, and instead it’s reverse, or the opposite, and it can really be hurtful. So it’s good. I love the way you handle it. I think that’s so great. 

So tell me one thing as far as like how you feel, especially because you’ve been on for so long. Give me an idea of like what you do when you go on vacation. Like how do you handle that? Because these are questions clients ask me all the time. So, of course, when I tell them, it’s one thing, but when they hear from you or a client, it’s a big difference. 

Stephanie (Guest)

So it’s funny because some people say, oh, you’re on vacation, but I’m like, okay, I need to. There’s so many things like swirling around in my head. So it’s funny because sometimes we go on vacation or sometimes you know, we have our vacation place and it’s like being at home and for some reason, I don’t know it’s harder for me sometimes now to be there than if we just were on vacation and going to restaurants all the time. I do think to myself like, yes, I’m on vacation, but I know that at the end, if I’m gaining four pounds, three pounds, two pounds, it’s not making me happy. Like recently when we were away, I tried to do the best I could and we were, you know, in our apartment and I was really sticking to it, 

Josephine (Host)

Which it’s funny because if you gain a pound or two, you know you’re going to lose it. 

Stephanie (Guest)

Yes, but I don’t want to go through the pain of like agonizing over it,. Like the other day when we were away, we were in our apartment and you know my husband, he’ll weigh himself to most days and I was like tempted to get on the scale. So I get on the scale and and he’s asking me questions and I’m not responding. I said do me a favor, just don’t even talk to me. I’m not in a good mood and I’m not answering anything. This is just a warning for you. 

Josephine (Host)

(Laughing) Oh it’s always good to give warnings. 

Stephanie (Guest)

I was like don’t talk to me, because I got on the scale and I was pissed off. (Laughing), yes so I gave him the warning.

Josephine (Host)

Do you think it’s harder now for you to get back as quick. 

Stephanie (Guest)

I think so, but I think I’m also mentally struggling, like I said, with the change of body because of the medical reasons why I couldn’t work out the way I wanted to. You know it’s just cardio. And I know that I’m thin because of the sizes that I wear because of what the scale says. 

Josephine (Host)

Cardio is very good for you mentally. It really does help you. It’s like a different level, a different feeling. So even if your weight stayed the same, I don’t think you would necessarily feel the same without it, because your body is so used to doing it. 

Stephanie (Guest)

Yes, you are right and that makes me feel better. But like it’s so funny. So this is, it’s like it’s either. You know, we used to say I either have a full face and a big ass or small face and a small ass, because I lose my weight from there. Now the conundrum, as I’m sitting in the sun and I don’t want to get it on my face, so I sit up and then I look at my stomach and I have these like lines from where the rolls are tanning, that everybody really has. And now it’s either I have a pale face and I have these lines in my stomach, or I’m going to have like a good tan stomach the way it should be, and my face looking like leather.  So, we just catch a break here when you’re losing weight and trying to get to where you want to be (laughing)

Josephine (Host)

(Laughing). So true, But also, I think the biggest thing is, what we’re talking about, too, is age, because how much more do we worry about getting a tan now than we did when we were younger? 

Stephanie (Guest)

Yes, right exactly. Now when I sit in the sun I’m on to the umbrella and I don’t care, because then it’s like all right. Well, you know, I’m trying to use every product to get rid of the sunspots. 

Josephine (Host)

Yes, right and as soon as you go out in the sun they all come back. I agree. As we get older, it’s just such a different mindset, because we used to be like, I can remember pictures of you in your bathing suit on the boat. But now it’s like you don’t even want to go in the sun.

Stephanie (Guest)

(Laughing) But that picture was like the ideal day I said to my husband and to my sister and to my kids see this picture. This is a picture you’re going to use it if I ever go missing. This is what’s going to be on all over channel seven. She is missing and she looks like this. (Laughing)

Josephine (Host)

(Laughing) That is hysterical, you are so funny. But I think that was actually before you got to your thinnest. 

Stephanie (Guest)

It’s probably before I was at this weight, Yeah.

Josephine (Host)

That was before you lost the last 6 pounds, and look at how you loved, how you looked. Now look at what you just said. And now you’re six pounds lighter. 

Stephanie (Guest)

Yeah. You are right. 

Stephanie (Guest)

I never old you this so other people would say you know, who is Josephine. Because sometimes Danny will reference, you know, like if the kids are over, oh, Josephine says don’t eat that. And they are like who is Josephine, And Danny says, it’s the little person that sits on her shoulder during meals, and pipes things into her ear (laughing)

Josephine (Host)

(Laughing) Oh my God, that is so funny. I love that.  So this is at your lowest weight. 

Stephanie (Guest)

I’m sure you’re going to want me to say this, okay, so I have my low number that I aim for, and then, for whatever reason, I got like two pounds lower than that and it scared me, my body scared me, like I’m seeing bones and I’m like I cannot look like that. So you know, when they say you can’t be too rich or too thin, like for me, like I was.

Josephine (Host)

Yes, I remember when that happened. And there is a fine line you have to be careful at. And that’s why I said before, you know which I don’t even think you’ve ever realized like when you were talking about, like your picture on the boat, like you said, that was the best you felt at the time, like you’d never look better. Meanwhile you ended up losing six pounds more. Now, after that, I know what you mean. Like when you go to that fine line of another two pounds more, it can really change how you look in a bad way, you know. You just start losing everything you know, and that’s not good either. But that’s when you know, like you look at yourself and you say, okay, wait. Because I do know unfortunately Women tend too, and men, I’m sure do too, but they tend to go on what other people say. So sometimes you’ll get someone who’ll say, oh, don’t lose any more weight, you look too thin and you really don’t. But I know I have clients who, if people don’t say to them you look too thin, they don’t feel thin, they’re like why isn’t anybody saying it to me? I hear that all the time from them because it kind of reaffirms that they feel like they’re in a good place. But it doesn’t always mean that, because sometimes people are like you’re too thin and you really might be. I’ve said it to clients you can’t lose any more weight and sometimes, like you said, it’s not even on purpose. Your body’s in that weight loss mode and I know people are listening going I wish I had that. Your body has been losing weight for a while so it just keep losing. But it doesn’t last, it will stop and eventually it’ll balance out. And then all of a sudden you find yourself like oh, I just I want to be that one number again. But it’s very hard to be that one number and that’s why I always say you need those two or three pounds that give you flexibility in your weight it can never be just one number. 

I wanted to say too, which I love you with your cheat day. Now, a lot of times I have actually in the last, I guess, couple of years, two years I’ve been putting people on cheat meal because they just cannot handle a cheat day, and a lot of times it is because they’re not being 100% during the week, which you know, when you have that cheat day, you have to be 100% during the week. 

Stephanie (Guest)

Yes totally. 

Josephine (Host)

But your stories with your cheat day are just by far the best. 

Stephanie (Guest)

I’ll tell you one because I don’t think I’ve ever shared this with you. So you know, typically my cheat days are on a Saturday and typically when you get together with friends it’s on a Saturday. So you know, I save it for dinner and during the summer we’ll be with friends at the beach or we go to their house or a pool. We have a couple that we’re very good friends with, and when they first met me and I would do my cheat day, I think that he was shocked, right. So he makes a barbecue and while I’m eating the ribs with all the guys, all the other women are eating these dainty salads, and he’s like Stephanie, eats like a gavone. 

So they tell that daughter that. And she’s like you said that to her. He is like, yeah, I shouldn’t have. She’s like no woman wants to hear that they eat like a gavone. (Laughing).  And I’m like, I’m good with it, I’m proud of it, because you know I can wear a bikini and eat like that on a Saturday (both laughing)

But yeah, then Sunday morning comes and I get right back, because mentally, Sunday just resets me, right, it’s just right back and then I’m good. Yeah, I just, I really can discipline and get right back, on Sunday.

Josephine (Host)

Yes that is so important. I really keep trying to tell people that is like one of the best things you can learn from this program, for example, the way you just said it, like you almost embrace getting back on every Sunday, like you can’t wait. I love that.

The best part of this whole thing is you’ve been on so long and you really live the program. 

Stephanie (Guest)

Yes, I really do.

Josephine (Host)

You really do and I love that. I am So thankful that you shared your story, I’m telling you that you don’t even realize how much these help everyone. Every time I do a podcast, people come in. They’re like I love that. I learned so much. Just learning how to deal with people, and the strategies you use helps so much. Especially since you had such a rough year with medical issues.

Stephanie (Guest)

Yeah, and you know, just because I’m talking to you now doesn’t mean that even during the outside of this rough year, that I haven’t bounced up a few pounds at certain times and bounce back down.

Josephine (Host)

(Laughing) Yes, I know that is when you come back in and I get to see you.

Stephanie (Guest)

(Laughing). I love you and I so appreciate you having me. 

Josephine (Host)

Thank you so much. I love you. I appreciate you. Have the best weekend. 

Stephanie (Guest)

Thank you so much. 

Josephine (Host)

Thank you so much, stephanie. That was an amazing story. We appreciate you. We appreciate your time and we appreciate so much of sharing your journey with us, how you’ve dealt with going up and down in the last nine years and how you deal with all the outside circumstances that go on in almost everyone’s life. So thank you.

And we want to thank everyone who’s listening today and has been sharing the love to live healthy podcast. We appreciate it. We appreciate the likes, we appreciate the comments. Please, any questions you have, leave down below. We’re here for you. We want you to live healthy and love living your best life. Much hugs and loves from me to all of you. Have a great one everyone. 

~Love to Live Healthy With Josephine Fitzpatrick