Hi everyone, welcome to the Love to Live Healthy show. I’m Josephine Fitzpatrick. Today’s episode is Feeling Overwhelmed. It’s summer and we are all feeling overwhelmed right now. 

00:43

Life can often feel like a series of challenges, so you’re not alone if you feel stretched, thin and exhausted. You know, between work, family, social schedules, let’s not forget taking care of your mental and physical health, which, for an overwhelmed person, will always take a backseat when we have busy schedules. And you know, when we feel this overwhelmed, that’s when that little voice, that little anxiety whispers in your ear. You’re dropping the ball, you’re letting people down, you’re just not good enough, you’re not strong enough to get through this. But you are strong enough and good enough. But sometimes It helps just to know that overwhelmed feeling is only temporary. I tell you all the time you’re so much stronger than life’s challenges, even if it seems impossible at the moment. I can’t tell you how often I will have a client come into my office that is just overwhelmed in their life and they don’t connect it with why they can’t stay on program. They will say things like what is wrong with me? Why can’t I do this? And I have to tell them. You have to just continue to take it, one day at a time when you feel overwhelmed in your life. It’s going to affect you trying to take care of yourself. It always does. You know our lives are full of responsibilities, right, like I said before, work-related, family commitments, social obligations. And then you put summer on top of it, when we expect to get so much done and we’re not getting it done because we’re busy doing everything else. You know we get drained. It’s like having the browser tabs open on your computer. Eventually it’s going to crash or your batteries run out and you can’t find your charger. Everything in that moment of time just feels so hard. 

02:18

To give you a great example I have a client who is doing amazing on program. She was doing amazing for the longest time and then she had some really hard challenges go on in her life. It just completely threw her off. She just couldn’t get back mentally on program and with the school year ending and kids going to camp, and she had social vacations planned, to her It all felt like a waste of time to even try. But to me, I know her better, which, honestly, a lot of times I know my clients better than they know themselves and they don’t realize that and it’s because I’m looking at them from a completely different mindset. I know they can do it even when they don’t think they can. So every week she would come in and she started feeling like coming in week after week was even more frustrating. You know all the challenges she went through was so difficult. She kept thinking Is it really even worth coming in? She was maintaining or gaining a pound here and there and it was so frustrating for her she just couldn’t bring herself to be a hundred percent back on program. 

03:12

But let me point out one thing that I was very happy about she knew she wasn’t being a hundred percent and I can’t tell you how important that is. When someone is trying to move forward, you have to be honest with yourself. You know that’s what living in your truth is. It’s like AA. You have to admit you’re not doing the right things in order to stop doing them. You have to admit you’re not doing the right things in order to move forward. So for me, I was so proud of her for coming in and admitting I’m not 100%. I know why I’m maintaining or gaining, but of course that doesn’t make it better, doesn’t make it feel better. It doesn’t make it less frustrating just because she knew she wasn’t being a hundred percent. It still felt just as frustrating. For me it meant that she was being honest with herself and eventually, because she was being honest with herself, it would work. 

04:00

She would get back to that mindset and, sure enough, after a couple of weeks she kept coming in and all of a sudden she lost. And then she lost again, and then she lost again and she was back. She was back mentally. She had control back. And you know it was so uplifting and important, because when she was coming in every week when she wasn’t 100% and wasn’t losing she was contemplating stop coming and she would say should I keep coming and I was like you have to because if you don’t what is the alternative? The alternative is you gain every week and you never get to your low again. So it was really a great feeling when she started seeing and losing every week and now, two weeks ago, she was at her new low. I mean, that’s amazing. She never felt better. It was more than just the weight loss it was feeling so accomplished she did it. 

04:47

The point is when she was coming in even when it was frustrating It kept her mindful, knowing she was coming in kept her in control even when she wasn’t 100%. That’s a big part of it. Like she didn’t go crazy, she didn’t go off the rails. She knew, okay, I gained a pound, but it would have been five if she wasn’t coming. So being mindful is really important when you know you don’t have that 100% control yet, and I can’t tell you how many times this happens with clients, because we will not always be in that mindset to do it. We will not always be in the mindset to be 100%, but if we keep working at it, I promise you it will all click, it will all happen, and I have so many clients to prove that it does happen. 

05:21

So keep moving forward, because we have to remember we live in such a hard world today. Okay, it doesn’t help at all that the modern world constantly bombards us with images of successful people. You know, through social media, tv ads, even peer comparisons. You know it’s sometimes so unrealistic, the standards, and it can lead you to a sense of inadequacy and the feeling that we’re not doing enough, which that’s what pushes us into the state of being overwhelmed to begin with. So the bottom line or lesson that I’m trying to get across to you today is no matter how overwhelmed you feel when it comes to losing weight or taking care of your health, the best thing you can do is keep doing things to move you forward, especially this time of year, when you’re feeling extra challenged. 

06:05

I want you to try practicing some of these helpful tips. One, breathe when you feel overwhelmed. Breathe and think before you grab so many times we grab for something to take our thoughts away from the present, or we grab because we were just mindlessly eating. Either way, breathe and ask yourself what am I doing right now? Do I really want this? Am I even hungry for it? Or am I trying to distract my thoughts from where they presently are? Always be honest with yourself. Only you can control your results, because you are the only one who will be honest with the answers. Two, write your food down for the day, Good or bad. Write it down so you know what keeps triggering you when you go off. Maybe it’s the time of day, maybe it’s when you’re tired, maybe it’s when you’re bored or stressed. Write it down so you can reflect back to what it is, and you can get out of that concept of all or nothing. It’s going to be life-changing for you If you go off for one thing get right back on, don’t waste the whole day. 

07:11

Someone said to me yesterday I was having a really stressful morning at work and I ended up having a bagel. What should I do for the rest of the day? I said continue on with your day, have the rest of your meals, have your snack and move on. What’s done is done. You can’t change that. But don’t make it worse by having the whole day off. Just get right back on program. Finish the day strong, because it will make the next day so much easier and it really did. She got right back on, she finished the day strong and the next day was even so much easier for her mentally to continue. 

07:40

Another good one is to seek a change of scenery. Sometimes just changing your surrounding, even if it’s just moving to a different room, can really provide a fresh perspective. Go for a walk, take a step out in your backyard, feel the ground, go play tag, go do laundry, do something that is different from where you are currently struggling. Just change your scenery when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It really will make a difference. Five, and my favorite always practice gratitude for what you do have right now. I can’t tell you how the attitude of gratitude is one of the best things you can do with helping yourself when you feel overwhelmed. It brings us back to a sense of I have so much and although I may not be where I want to be, I’m in a good place and will work hard to get to where I want to be. We have to remember this is all an ongoing process of growth, understanding and consistent effort by you for yourself. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. For your mental and physical health it’s so worth it, I promise you. 

08:39

By using these tips in your life, you will find yourself better equipped to handle the feelings of being overwhelmed, and you will develop a healthier mindset in which you can approach life’s challenges. I say it all the time life is hard, but it’s also fun, loving, happy, exciting. Embrace it all. Keep moving forward. It’s the very best thing you can do and it’s the most important thing that will help you get to where you want to be. I hope this helps. I’m wishing everyone a very happy, healthy week full of love. Hugs from me to all of you. 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

00:32 – SPEAKER: JOSEPHINE 

Hi everyone, welcome to the Love to Live Healthy Show. I’m Josephine Fitzpatrick. Today’s episode is we want to lose, we want to maintain, but we do not want to gain. That is our Mantra for July. I have to start by telling you this past weekend was awesome with all the clients and their weight loss. The numbers are pretty amazing. We had so many clients losing weight and reaching numbers they never thought they would see. Super, super exciting, I love it. I can see, hear and feel the excitement in the clients, it makes me so happy. Everyone is working so hard, everyone is in such a hardcore state of mind and they are reaching new goals and seeing numbers they have not seen in years. 

01:07

And what I love so much and many of you know this we have thousands of clients on program from Long Island, New York City and across the country, and for most of you, the Innovation Program is not a diet, it’s a way of life and, honestly, that’s because I’ve had so many of you for over a decade. You either stay with me and you live this program consistently or you come back every time you need a tweak and sometimes, yes, it’s more than a tweak, right, but you always know you get right back to your healthy life and program and you get right back to your happy, healthy weight and I love love that you do that, you live it and you love the way it makes you feel, and we know there is no better feeling. It’s truly one of the best things about the program. It’s a way of life. You know in your heart and experience that, no matter what is going on in your life it could be your kids graduating, moving them into college, it could be vacations and just too much indulging, or even sickness that maybe someone in your family or yourself had to get through, whatever it is that threw you off your game, whatever you did, that got you sidetracked, took you off your path, you know 100% in the back of your head, and in your heart, when you are ready to come back and commit again, the program is here and it always works amazing for you. And, trust me, this happens all the time. 

02:25

I just recently had a client who came back to me for the fourth time. She lost her weight the first, second and third time. Listen, we’re talking over 15 years she’s been with me, so over that time, yes, it’s easy to gain 10 pounds here or there, but every time she came back she would go right back on program and she lost it again. Now, this time, she came back and I haven’t seen her in four years and unfortunately she was now in remission from a rare cancer. She was on all sorts of drugs and she was just mentally devastated because, yes, of course she’s so happy she’s in remission and she’s doing great, but she gained 25 pounds through it all, you know, like as if going through cancer isn’t enough. Gaining weight from all the medication just makes you feel that much worse. She was convinced that she was not going to lose the weight and she would never get her body back. I actually spoke to her doctor frequently, so we worked with the medicine and not against it. And, to be totally honest with you, what was really amazing is this 54-year-old woman lost her 25 pounds in less time than some of my clients who are not even on medication. So always remember, nothing is impossible if you want it enough. She is now back to her happy place and she’s back to living the program and she’s doing amazing. All of this is what makes it a real life program and not a diet. 

03:44

Another thing that’s pretty exciting this year is this June and July we have had more new clients sign up than ever before. This time of year, usually in the summer months most people will wait to start the new program until September, you know, after vacation, and social celebrations that take place all summer. But this year, for some reason, we’ve had record-breaking sign-ups for this time of year, which, of course, I absolutely love. I love to help people, but what that really tells me is it doesn’t matter, it’s summer. They want to feel good and they are ready to put the work in to make it happen. And, as many of you know, this time of year you have to give it that extra hard work so you get the very best results every single week. 

04:24

Summer’s not easy, summer’s social, but it’s also very motivating. You’re in less clothes, everyone’s in a bathing suit, you’re going to the beaches, vacations. You know it’s always all about the way you look at something that will determine your actions toward it. Don’t look at it hard. Look at it as it’s very motivating. Summer’s motivating to lose weight. I also think a lot of new signups is because results are proof of what you can accomplish if you have the right tools. 

04:57

I mean, we just came off 4th of July and everyone is doing fantastic. But we also have our own methods we keep creating and I think that’s really important. We know the importance of incorporating the detox into your week, especially when you have some extra events or dinners taking place. We know the importance of eating less and doing the fasting and how much it really does make a difference and balances out the week for when we do incorporate all the extra summers drinking and snacking. It’s actually why I think everyone is doing so well this summer and this time of year, because you have options to go to and you can enjoy and eat your extra meals and have your extra drinks, but you can balance out your week and your weight loss with your detox days and your fasting days. These are all tools that have been proven to work and when you experience it firsthand, that is what makes all the difference in how you approach your summer and what you actually want out of it, because now you know what’s possible and that is so exciting. It’s so exciting to think I’m going to enjoy my summer and still lose weight or even just stay in a great place. And for those of you who have literally just started, it will all come together for you and you will love your new life. 

06:07

Just remember consistency is key because whether you’re doing the Innovation, the Detox or the Fasting, or the combination of all three, which most of you are, the bottom line is you are always doing something that is moving you forward to where you want to be. Our summer mantra is we are happy to lose or maintain, but we do not want to gain. And when you are prepared for your day and your week, that is when you will get the best results. And remember, being prepared means even being prepared for your cheats. When you know you’re going to go off program at dinner, do the detox during the day. When you know you’re going on vacation, do the fasting, but maybe just don’t worry so much about having exact on-program meals. Just make sure you’re sticking to the fasting. All of these things is what is helping everyone maintain on the days that are not weight loss days, and it’s been truly amazing. The results have been truly amazing and I want that for all of you. So when I say it’s important to be prepared, I mean prepared for it all the on and the off days. Remember, health and weight loss is something you should not mind working hard at because it’s for your health, both mentally and physically. 

07:14

My clients love to send me pictures and I absolutely love when they do. And I can’t begin to describe the changes in clients when they feel good about themselves. They get to enjoy delicious food, they are enjoying vacation, but they also get to do it in a body that they love. I see it in the pictures how they’re so happy, how it gives them that extra bounce in their step and extra bounce in their personality. They’re excited to enjoy, but they are also excited to eat. And there’s no better feeling than when you can enjoy your delicious meal, maybe have a couple of drinks and feel good in your body. And you do that because you’re doing all the right things. I see it in the pictures. It’s sheer happiness that is beaming from healthy, hydrated skin. 

07:56

Listen, when it’s mid-July and everyone’s losing weight. That is amazing, it’s exciting. It’s exciting to be feeling great and doing the right things for not only for your weight but for your health. Yes, some days are harder than others, but it’s always worth it, because when you can enjoy the most is when you feel great. So if you want to enjoy the vacations, you want to enjoy the extra meals, the snacks, the extra drinks throughout the week, you must stay on program because you can enjoy and lose weight, and when you do both, that is when you feel great. Do you ever notice, when you feel great, how contagious it is? Everyone wants to be a part of that. Everyone wants to be a part of that great feeling. 

08:39

There’s so much sadness in the world today. You have to make sure you appreciate and enjoy every bit of happiness that comes your way. Most important is to make sure you are creating your own happiness every day. That’s what you do on program. You do the right things, you lose weight, you feel great, you enjoy your food, you enjoy your snacks, you enjoy your drinks, and it gives you happiness that you have a hundred percent control over. My last thought for you on this beautiful summer day is, it’s hard, yes, weight loss is hard, life is hard, but it’s all so worth it. 

09:09

Will you feel hungry? Yes, you will feel hungry, but think about it. You feel hungry even on the days you are overeating. So at least when you have a little hunger, you know it’s because you are losing weight and getting results from it. We always have to remember the less you eat, the less you want, so you will eventually get used to eating less. 

09:27

But give yourself a chance without giving in. The clients that have done amazing and continue to do amazing know how tough it is. When it gets tough, they remind themselves how much they want this and how important it is to them. If you want it, then don’t let anything or anyone get in your way. Don’t look back and wish you did better last week, because it doesn’t matter that time has passed and the only thing you can do right now is stop making excuses and move on to a better day today, tomorrow and week ahead. Don’t waste your time and don’t waste your energy looking back. Only look forward, because that is what you have control over. Don’t let another week go by without doing the right thing, because it will only add up and the longer you delay it, the harder it will be. If you do it now focus on a better today then tomorrow will be easier and by next week you will feel amazing and in control. 

10:24

If you want to feel great, happy, lighter and enjoy your summer, feeling inspired, motivated and in control, then commit to yourself, commit to the program, and you will be so happy you did Remember. You don’t have to be perfect. We just want to either lose or maintain. You just don’t want to gain. That’s what summer’s about. This is not something you can just wish for. It’s something you have to work for. I hope this helps and I hope everyone has the most happy, healthy week full of love. Hugs from me to all of you. 

00:33 – Speaker 2

Hi everyone, welcome to the Love to Live Healthy show. I’m Josephine Fitzpatrick and I’m recording from beautiful Fire Island. Today’s topic is being prepared for the 4th of July weekend and, regardless if you’re home or on vacation, I want you to take a moment and remember how hard you work to get to where you are and whether you were at goal or not, think about how good you feel going into this holiday weekend. 

So many of you are feeling beyond amazing, better than you have felt in years. I get the text messages every day that make me so happy. I get the pleasure of seeing you in studio and feel through your text how excited and good you feel when you are on program and feel amazing in your body when you’re doing all the right things. But that’s what this holiday weekend is about how quickly that can change, because I also see and feel when you are not doing the right things and don’t feel good when you are off program. It affects everything about you and everything around you. 

The point is, I know sometimes both feel like struggles. It’s a struggle to stay on program, but it’s also a struggle to be off program. What you have to think about is which is worse? I see the clients who go off program for many reasons. It could be a holiday weekend, it could be the struggle of peer pressure, their own emotional eating or just simply the temptations of life and family. But when they go off program, as many of you know and have experienced yourself, it doesn’t take long at all to not only gain back what you lost but even more than you lost, and the feeling of not having control is the worst feeling. So while in the moment you feel like going off might feel so good, I promise you, within a short time you will wish you were back on and never went off. 

Being on program is a struggle for sure, especially around holiday weekends, but you have to remember how, while you are struggling, you are also feeling so much better, lighter, healthier, thinner, in control, just overall happier. 

02:23

What I want to remind you before this holiday weekend is, if you are not mindful how fast everything can change. You have to have a plan and be prepared for your weekend. There is always a choice and you have to make the one you can live with and be happy with, not just in the moment, but also when the holiday weekend is over. I want you to focus on how you feel, but also what you want. 

This weekend, focus on the control, the accomplishments and the scale. I want you to think about these things because after this weekend, you still have a whole summer to get through and enjoy. So you must go into the weekend mindful and planning, because the results will determine how your summer is going to be. Of course, I want you to plan your good days, but you must plan your cheat days too. I have clients texting me restaurants they’re texting me if they should do detox on a cheat day so they can balance out the day. That’s planning. You have to know what you’re doing before you do it, even on your cheat days. When you can plan your cheat meals in advance, it helps you determine what you are doing each day and that will put you in a positive mindset to keep yourself in a good place and on program, and that’s what we want. 

03:30

We have talked about mindset this year and how important it is. It always comes down to a decision, and not just a decision, but following through with that decision. Do you want to maintain your current weight or continue losing? Decide and manifest it by focusing on the outcome you want, whether it be from the day, the week, the month or the whole summer. One of the biggest things about manifestation and accomplishing your goals is you have to know what you want in order to actually accomplish it and be successful at it. 

03:58

July 4th weekend is four days long and we want to either lose or maintain, but gaining should never be an option. If you want to maintain for the holiday weekend, you will eat on program all day and you will pick two to three meals throughout the weekend. So say, thursday, friday and Saturday, or Friday, saturday and Sunday it’s one cheat meal and the rest of the day on program. Of course, if you only need two out of the three, that’s even better. Every clean on program day you can incorporate is just going to get you back faster to your number. Remember it’s cheat meal, cheat desserts, or cheat drinks. Whatever you do is up to you, but try to keep your days 100%. Only choose one each day. 

04:35

A good thought to have is to treat meals like appetizers and have taste instead of full meals. Sometimes when you do this, you get to enjoy more but actually eat less. Regardless of however you decide to enjoy your cheats – Monday you get right back on to a solid week of 110% week. And if you want to get back to that number even faster, You do the five-hour or the detox for five days straight.  

If you don’t want to maintain this weekend and want to continue losing it’s very simple. You stay on your program you have been doing and you eat on program six days and you only have your one cheat meal. 

05:06

It’s not as hard as you think. If you plan and prepare, you can go into any barbecue, any restaurant any holiday weekend, have a clean meal, fruit for desserts, drinks for your snacks. You can do it if you really want to, but you have to know what you want and that’s what you have to follow through with. Sometimes we make things so much harder than they have to be. If you don’t want the results of maintaining or cheating, then stay on program. If you are okay with maintaining, then follow the maintenance. 

05:33

We’ve talked about choosing your hard and being responsible for your results, and this is one of the times that will make a big difference. If you are amazing this weekend, you will wake up Monday feeling really good and continue to go into the summer feeling in control and amazing, continuing on your weight loss path. If you decide to maintain and are happy with your choice, do the right thing and get right back on 100% Monday, then, after a full week, you will be thrilled to be back to your pre-holiday weight. 

But remember there’s always temptation. You have to go into any holiday week with a plan and a positive mindset because if you don’t, you will cheat your way through this weekend and come Sunday you will be miserable with the outcome. Monday morning you will not fit in any of your clothes and you will take it out on everyone around you and nothing you can do will change the outcome. 

06:18

We always talk about planning and how important it is. What is even more important is being happy with the outcome and happy with your decision. So if you want to continue to lose this weekend, that’s awesome. Be happy doing it, but don’t make everyone miserable around you because you can’t eat what everyone else is eating. If you want to stay on program and continue to lose weight, make your choice to stay on and own it, embrace it, love it and enjoy it. If you want to maintain, be happy about it and enjoy what you can indulge in and have fun. 

06:46

But again, have a plan. If you go into the weekend with a plan and you stick to it, that is a successful weekend, and that is what should make you super happy and proud of yourself. There are all kinds of control, Maintain, losing, even cheating. Plan for them, prepare for them and follow through with them and you will have a very successful and happy holiday weekend. 

This 4th of July Weekend, celebrate life, celebrate freedom and enjoy the love you have in your life this weekend. Always love who you are and what you choose.

I hope this helps and I’m wishing everyone a happy, healthy and safe holiday weekend. Hugs and love from me to all of you. 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

INNOVATION WEIGHT LOSS

AND HEALTHY MARKET

8025 JERICHO TPKE

WOODBURY, NY 11779

516 802-5055

Innovationweightloss.com

00:00 – Speaker 1 – JOSEPHINE

Hi everyone, welcome to the Love to Live Healthy podcast. I’m Josephine Fitzpatrick. Today’s topic is summer advice that might be life-changing for you. We know summer has begun and the kids are done with school. Many have already left for camp. For many work has ended for the summer months, and for others it’s just slowed down to a summer speed. 

00:20

It’s a time we always promise ourselves that we’re going to do all the right things that we put on hold in the fall and spring, when things were so much busier. We tell ourselves all year that in the summer we’re going to exercise more, eat healthier, plan, prepare, follow through. We want to do all the right things to get ourselves feeling the very best we can, but many times what really happens is the complete opposite. We let a sense of freedom take us over. Freedom from our regular daily schedules, freedom from the pressures of the year that we’ve now replaced with summer parties, barbecue, long delicious weekends and trips around the world. Vacation time that we never want to end. 

Listen, losing weight in the summer is not easy. It’s definitely something clients struggle with, but what I can tell you is losing weight in the summer is a lot easier than the feeling of gaining weight in the summer. Between being very social and a lot less clothes on, you don’t want to gain through the summer. You will not only feel it, but you will see it even faster. While I want you to think about it, I don’t want you to go into the summer so strict, because sometimes that can really backfire. Remember to lose weight in the summer doesn’t mean you have to be perfect every week from now until September. It just means that the more weeks you can have that are back on track, the better you will feel and the better the end result will be. Trust me, I see firsthand the clients who are on program right now how much better they feel when they are in control. Again, it doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. It just means you have to be mindful when you are not perfect. 

Right now, we have so many clients who are doing all the right things. They feel really good about themselves, even on the days they are not perfect or when they had an extra cheat. You know why? Because they plan for it. Like I said, as long as you have a plan for, even on your extra cheat days, it’s going to make all the difference. You can give yourself a million excuses, but you are always in the driver’s seat and you are the one who will control where you go. Will you gain? It’s up to you. Will you lose or maintain? Totally up to you. 

02:22

There are difficulties that arise in everyone’s life, whether they are positive parties or negative problems. What is most important is dealing with them, because if you let the food control the feelings or let the food control the atmosphere you are in, you will end up unhappy with your actions. Think about this you can enjoy everything that has to do with summer without gaining weight. You just have to plan for it. But you know whether it’s summer, winter, spring or fall, you can’t eat and drink out of control and it not affect your weight. So you have to decide what do you want out of the summer? Do you want to be in control, enjoy and feel good, or do you want to feel out of control, bloated and covering up because you don’t feel good? Start by asking yourself this question. Think about how you want to feel come July, August, September. Every action you do today affects your tomorrow. 

03:14

I’m going to give you some summer tips that I think will be life-changing for you if you follow them. First three you have heard from me multiple times because they really work. 1. Get through the good days with two meals and one snack. It’s going to make such a big difference in your weight loss and in your good days. If you can do it in the five hours, that’s great, but if you can’t just follow the two meals and one snack for amazing days. 2. Do a detox before and after the more challenging days. It will really help reset your body and at least get you back to maintaining so you’re not gaining. 3. Always wait as long as you can to start your first meal. You don’t have to wake up and eat if you’re not hungry. 

Make the good days count. Most people gain between 7 and 10 pounds by September. That’s a lot of weight, especially if it’s on top of weight that you already needed to lose. Think smart, act smarter. 

04:06

MORE TIPS: If you want to look good, if you want to feel good, then you have to do good things for your body. Yes, exercising very important and the more you can incorporate it, the better you will feel. But eating less and staying on program is what’s going to make you feel amazing and make that scale stay where you want it to be. It’s what gives you that feeling that you are in control and doing the right things for your body and mind. While it’s a much harder concept to follow in the summer, there are days you will feel amazing and follow it, and those are the days you need to make count. Choose your battles. If you know you are going to have long weekends, whether you’re out east or you’re on a boat or on a beach, then you need to try and be 110% Monday through Thursday. 

04:49

If you want to lose weight this summer but you 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 and be mindful, even if you’re cheating. You don’t want big cheat days to be consecutive and you don’t want to be cheating a little every day. The days that you can be amazing, they have to be amazing. Eat minimal that is on your plan. On the days you need the extra snacks because you’re out, you’re on vacation, you’re social then have them, but try to make them on-program snacks. My point is the great days will help and will count in your overall summer. You may not see the weight loss every week, but you’ll see it by the end of the month, instead of losing one to two pounds every week in July, you might lose two pounds by the end of July and two pounds by the end of August, and both are much better than gaining 10 by September. 

05:34

If you already made the decision that you want summer to be less about dieting and more about enjoying, then you need to change your focus. Many clients will look to just maintain through the summer and get back on program in September, and that is totally fine and may give you the mental break you need. But in order to do this, you need to still be mindful every day about what your choices are. Instead of focusing on losing, focus on not gaining. Some clients will cheat a couple of days one week and then be 110% the following week. Others will be amazing Monday through Thursday and cheat Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

06:08

Try and make changes where you can, even on the days you are not 100%. If you want extra drinks, give up your snacks. If you want extra snacks, then make your meals smaller. Try and make even the smallest positive changes on the days you are off program. This way, even though you’re having more cheat days, the changes will not necessarily help you lose, but that’s okay, because what they’re doing is helping you from gaining. 

By the end of the summer days and summer months, we have to accept what we have done. While it’s great to party, drink and indulge and vacation, if you continuously overdo it, you will be left with results that I can assure you will not be worth how you feel or what you were doing. 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. 

I hope this helps. I’m wishing everyone a beautiful week full of love, hugs and kisses from me to all of you.

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

INNOVATION WEIGHT LOSS & HEALTHY MARKET

8025 Jericho Tpke

Woodbury, NY 11797

516802-5055

www.innovationweightloss.com

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

8025 JERICHO TPKE

WOODBURY NY 11797

516802-5055

WWW.INNOVATIONWEIGHTLOSS.COM

WWW.INNOVATIONHEALTHYMARKET.COM

Speaker Josephine

Hi everyone, welcome to the Love to Live Healthy show. I’m Josephine Fitzpatrick. Today’s topic is being incredible can sometimes be uncomfortable. We know this right. If you want results, you have to be willing to do what it takes, and this is what it takes. It takes getting up every day and working towards your goal and agreeing that some days will be very, very uncomfortable. And that’s okay, because it’s those tough, uncomfortable days that you get through that make the biggest difference in your outcome. When those uncomfortable times or days appear, you need to work harder to get past them. Don’t waste time thinking of an easier way, because there is no easier way than doing the right thing. The time you actually spend trying to find an easier way or a shortcut could be the time that you already invested into the work that would be getting you to where you want to be. 

Now. Listen, I even tell my kids this all the time. For most of us, life is so simple if we don’t complicate it. If you want to do well in life, you must get up every day and work hard toward what you want, what makes you happy, toward your goals. Don’t waste time looking for shortcuts or easy. Just get up, work hard, make good choices and you will reach your goals. We all have to work, and it should be at multiple things in life – at our jobs, families, school, at our love life, at our health and our body. Everybody has to work hard to get to where they want to be, to make good things happen in their life. But the point is, no matter what it is in life that you are working for, if it makes you happy, you get up every day and you put the time and effort into it, I promise you you will reach your goals. You will make it happen. Yes, it may happen slower for some, but slower, or fast, it will happen if you keep doing the right things. 

Now, when we talk about everyday life, this applies to everything. Right, consecutive days, hard work, making good decisions will lead to incredible results, no matter what you’re putting your time and effort into, and when you continue to do the right thing, the journey is always going to be just as exciting and rewarding as the outcome. Every day you are closer to what you want. Every day you feel better and better mentally, physically. Every day you are closer to what you want. Every day you feel better and better mentally, physically. Every day you have more and more control, and this should apply to everything in your life the more it makes you happy, the more likely your success will be. 

I will tell you one thing, if you haven’t already started working towards your goals and toward where you want to be, I suggest you start now. Spring is here and it is not waiting for you to get ready for it. If you want to be amazing and feel amazing this summer, there’s one simple solution Follow your program. Do the right thing for your body, do it for your mind. Stay on your program. As you know, there are all types of people in the world. There are those who do and those who talk about doing. You have to decide who you want to be. It’s up to you if you want the very best results. It’s up to you if you want to be thin or you just want to talk about how you wish you were thin, how you wish you were eating better, how you wish you were healthier. If you want to be a talker, be a talker. If you want to be a doer, start working towards it now. 

We know one of the very worst feelings is having a party, an event, an occasion and not being ready for it, and looking back and saying I should have, I could have, why didn’t I? You know, some things come up out of the blue and we just think, oh, I wish I would have known, I would have had more time, I would have made sure I was ready for it. But spring is here and summer’s around the corner. And we go through spring and summer every year, so it’s not like you didn’t know it was coming. So you’re either going to be ready or you’re not going to be ready. Right now you have the time to get yourself in motion and make the changes you need to make, to see the differences you want to see. And while many of you still might not reach your goal by summer, if you start now, you will know you’ll be closer to it than you are today. If you start now, you are going to be so much in a better place by the time summer comes than you are today. 

So here are some things I want you to do to remember when you are trying to be the best you can be. 

-You will see the best results when you have six consecutive on-program days every week

-One Cheat Meal and dessert a week

-Exercise is amazing, but only if your food is amazing as well. You can’t eat more because you’re exercising, not when you’re trying to lose weight. 

-Stop making excuses. You are only hurting yourself. 

The bottom line is if you want to be amazing, look amazing and feel amazing, then you have to put the work in. You have to follow your program, you have to be a little hungry and you have to want this more than anything. Temptation will always be in sight, but you have to be stronger than what’s in front of you. You have to look at yourself and visualize. What do you want in two weeks from today? Where do you want to be? Where do you want to be in four weeks from today? Two months from today? Every weight loss day is one day closer to the person you want to be. 

You can only fight the addictions, the habits and the poor choices if you recognize. You have them, so own them and move on from them. If you have been amazing, then continue to be amazing, and if you’ve not done the right things to make yourself happy, then start today and make yourself happy. Make it happen. You are the only person who has control over your happiness, just like you are the only person who has control over being unhappy. We have the same control to be happy as unhappy. It’s always in our choices. You are the only person who can get in your own way today. So make it happen. Don’t be a talker, be a doer. You can do this if you really want it. 

Okay, that’s all I have for now. I want to tell you in two weeks from now, we will have another fabulous story from one of our successful weight loss clients. I can’t wait for you to hear her journey. So please make sure you subscribe to the podcast, because if you subscribe, then you will immediately get notified every time we have a new show, so you don’t have to keep checking. Subscribe. Give it a thumbs up. It helps the program, it helps you. It’s a great way to find all our shows and be notified immediately. I want to thank you all for joining me and listening to the Love to Live Healthy show. I’m wishing you all a happy, healthy week full of love. Hugs from me to all of you. 

~Love to Live Healthy With Josephine Fitzpatrick

Speaker 1 (Josephine)

Hi everyone, welcome to the Love to Live Healthy show. I’m Josephine Fitzpatrick. Today’s episode is Suffer Now or Suffer Later. The choice is always yours. First thing I want to say is wow, we had the most amazing results this past week. Almost every single client in studio and online lost weight. That is a lot of people doing the right thing and I’m so proud of you all. 

You know, the clocks have changed and I can’t believe we are already halfway through March already. And it was a challenging week with the time change. You know, we don’t realize how much that could affect us, but all of a sudden people were hungrier. They just felt off, and that is because you have more daylight, which feels like more time in your day. So if you feel hungrier, the first thing to do is try to start eating a little later than you normally do, so this way you don’t feel like you finished at five and there is still three hours of sunshine. Maybe save a half a snack for the evening. You know, you must remember, you are in control of your appetite, your mind and your body. You train it. So yes, changing it that first week might feel like a struggle, and it probably will be, but by the second week you will be fine, you will get used to it because you’re training your body, mind and appetite.

When the time changes, one thing we know for sure that it’s a true sign that summer is approaching. In New York, we’ve already gone from 30 degrees to 65 degrees overnight. It happens so fast. 

And so many of you are going to say I’m so excited for the warm weather, and so many of you are going to say I wish I had more time. But the truth is you do have more time. Every day is a chance for another great day and it’s a chance to add on to the great day you had the day before. Always remember what you do today affects your tomorrow. You will either do the right thing now and suffer through getting back on program now, and suffer through eating less now, suffer through the exercise now. But if you suffer through it all now then when June and July comes that’s the reward. You will feel amazing. So when everyone’s putting on shorts and bathing suits, you will be right there with them OR you will not do that. You will continue to overeat, you will continue to grab, taste, have extras bites, and when June and July come and everyone’s putting on shorts and bathing suits, you will be suffering and wishing that you suffered now instead.

So remember, you will either suffer now or you suffer later. Actually, that is going to be this week’s mantra I will suffer now, so I am not suffering later. 

What I can tell you and I have been talking about a lot lately is, once you decide to start being 100%, that is what’s going to make all the difference in your results and how you look and feel. And, of course, how you look and feel is going to make all the difference in your day. It changes everything and makes a difference in how you approach your day and how you feel throughout the day. You see, if you commit and stay on program, you may suffer being a little hungry through the day, but by the end of the day waking up feeling lighter the next day, that’s the reward. Or you will eat off program. You will eat too much, eat unhealthy, grab, taste pick. You’ll feel full and bloated. By the end of the night you’ll wake up feeling even worse next day. Either way, you suffer now or you suffer later.

Now I know we all have challenges and excuses, Why it’s hard, and why it sometimes feels impossible to do it. You know how many people I see so I could probably write a book on excuses, and, honestly, even for me I just had a bank account hacked. It was terrible, but I got through it and I didn’t eat my way through it. I might have drove people crazy around me, but to me that was better than taking it out on the food, though they may not have thought so (laughing). But my point is it was a real excuse. To me it was very warranted excuse to be stressed, and I was very stressed over it, because when you count on your bank to protect your money and someone decides to just take what you have and the bank lets them, well, that’s very stressful to me and that is a warranted excuse. Right?, To not like be able to see my path clearly, but I stayed with it. I stayed with what I had to do with food because I knew it would only make me feel worse and more stressed than I already was.

The good news is they stopped it and we had everything returned and now we have an extra protection that, ironically, I have to pay for, which is another whole type of fraud. Right?! (laughing) I have to pay extra so my bank accounts don’t get hacked. It’s crazy. But enough of that. 

I just thought I would share this with you, that we all have challenges. We all go through things in life and we all have good excuses.

I know for a fact that many times your excuses are very serious and very warranted, but eating your feelings and your stress and not caring in the moment is not going to help you. It’s going to keep you stuck and in a bad place, both mentally and physically, and it’s never, ever going to help the challenge. In the moment it might feel like it helps it or it feels like it’s worth it. You over eat, indulge in a bottle of wine, extra desserts, because you think it helps your stress or helps you get through the stress or the moments of stress, but it actually only adds to the stress. It adds to the challenge, because as soon as you are done, you know it’s not worth it. You put yourself back and you gain weight that you already lost and now you have to lose it all over again. That is never worth it. 

So my biggest point I want you to take from all this is I know there are many excuses that are very warranted excuses, but the unfortunate thing is, whether it’s a good excuse or a great excuse, it’s going to keep you stuck where you are and the excuse is never going to help you get to where you want to be. So deal with the challenge, deal with the excuse, the problem or the issue, without using food and alcohol to make you feel better. No matter what excuse you have or how good it is, I promise you, whatever it is, if you were taking care of yourself and feeling better and feeling thinner and your clothes are fitting you, you would feel a thousand times better going through that problem or excuse than you would if you were going through the same problem or excuse not feeling good.

I don’t care if you have to keep trying over and over again. Get away from the excuses and commit to what you want and just do it, because there is no reason that you should not be one of these happy clients that I have. I know this program is so doable. I’m not telling you to do something that you can’t do. You have the tools, the support, the food and cheat meal. Every client that has been successful on program all say the same thing the program is so doable. They found it so much easier than anything they’ve ever done. They love ordering the food because it’s easy and delicious and they love the support it’s hand holding. 

We know how hard weight loss can be, so we make sure we are there for you. But YOU have to be there for YOU and make the right choices and be strong in the face of temptation. Stop waiting, stop putting it off and stop making excuses. Trust me, we are approaching spring. You want to suffer now and enjoy later. 

I just did a Monday tip the other day and it was all about you have to stop losing the same weight over and over again. You have to get yourself unstuck and the only way to do that is your mindset. You have to tell yourself, no matter how hard this week is going to be and no matter what is going on or what excuse I have, I am staying on my program 100% no extras, because at the end of the week when I weigh in, I need that scale to go down. I am the only person that is in control of doing that this week.

Repeat your mantra every day you wake up and every night before you go to bed.

I am not going to let any challenge or excuse prevent me from reaching my goal. I am going to suffer through it now so I do not suffer later.

That’s all I have for today. I hope it helps an I am hoping everyone has the most amazing day, week and month. Much love and hugs from me to all of you. 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

Josephine (Host)

Hi everyone, welcome to the Love to Live Healthy show. I’m Josephine Fitzpatrick. Today we have a very special guest, one of our success stories, Shari Rauch. Let’s see, I’m going to bring her in. Hi Shari, can you hear me?

Shari (Guest)

Yes, I can hear you. Hi.

Josephine (Host)

Hi. Welcome. One of the absolute things I love is that about your story is it’s the second time you did this. You had success the first time, lost all your weight and it was years ago how long ago was that? 

Shari (Guest)

2015. 

Josephine (Host)

And then, of course, with everything, life, age, pandemics, name it, you gained weight and you came back. I guess it was like in the summer, right this past June,

Shari-(Guest)

June, yes

Josephine-(Host)

Okay yes, and what I love and I think is so inspiring and this is what I told you, I wanted to share so much with our audience is you were a one pound a week weight loss and sometimes you weren’t even a pound. 

Let’s talk about first, how much did you lose so far? 

Shari-(Guest)

25 pounds

Josephine-(Host)

Wow. That’s amazing. It’s a lot of weight. It’s insane, especially doing it like that. But if you think about it, did we ever have a two pound week? I think once or twice, right?

Shari (Guest)

Yes In the beginning there were a couple of times I would lose two and a half maybe, but that was the most I ever got in one week. 

Josephine (Host)

That’s what I thought. And, honestly though, look at like you now. Like, if you look back and if you would have given up because it wasn’t a lot of loss each week, you would have just regained the weight and ended up starting all over again.  

This is what I tell people all the time if you stop and then you just regain what you lost, it’s the hampster wheel you never get anywhere and just keep starting over. 

What I loved about you, you had that mindset. No matter what and I tell you this all the time when, there were weeks you came and worked hard and lost nothing and you were disappointed. Of course you’re trying so hard, but I never looked at you and said she’s going to give up, You were just so mentally in this. 

Shari (Guest)

And it took me quite a while to get myself mentally to that point. I mean, obviously, the weight starting with pandemic years was creeping on, creeping on, then pre-menopausal and hormones and so many things, just all compounding one after the other, making it, you know, all this weight gain coming on and I hit rock bottom and I said finally, like all right, like this is it, I can’t take it anymore and I’m going to do this. But before that I wasn’t mentally ready and I knew like I probably would have given up. The only time I ever weighed that much is when I had two babies in my belly. I was pregnant with the twins. 

Josephine (Host)

Wow, that’s so funny, but that’s so inspiring. If you look back, do you feel like it took as long as it did? I mean June? What are we in January, so Basically, it’s not even what. Seven months. 

Shari (Guest)

I feel like it’s been like slow and steady, but I feel so much better now getting to this point it was worth it, you know, every bit, of every little bit each week it was so worth it. 

Josephine (Host)

I just did a podcast with someone else and I was talking about you in the beginning. You didn’t really have that much exercise either. You started that more towards, like the middle to the end, right? 

Shari (Guest)

Yeah, and I’m trying. And you know, to be honest, I am not a big exercise person, I don’t love it, I kind of hate it. But I force myself and I mean I’m better in the warmer weather, in the summer I love to walk and that’s my big thing, but not in the winter, now I’m getting on the peloton and I’m like forcing myself to get up, you know, early in the morning and do it, even though I don’t like it, but I do feel better after I do it. So I’m really trying to push myself for more exercise. 

I wish I had that exercise bug. I just don’t. And the first time I did the plan, you know, it was really with almost no exercise and the weight came off a lot easier. And now I feel like I really need to try to incorporate more exercise along with the eating to make it work at this stage of my life, you know, hormonally and everything else, where I am, and I’m not working in the city anymore, so I’m a lot more sedentary where I used to commute every day. So I’m just in generally not moving as much as I used to.

Josephine (Host)

Right and that is important. I see you buying all new clothes, when I bump into you at RAGS and you look so happy and amazing. 

I do want to talk about the five hour and detox, because I think what’s really great to tell people is how much you basically bounced back a lot between the detox and the five hour. 

Shari (Guest)

Yeah, I’ve been doing both. I think I like the five hour better. I did a mix of the detox and five hour this week, a couple of days and I kind of felt like I was a little bit hungrier than usual, where I think I’m not feeling as hungry when I do the five hour. I have that little like hunger pang like in the morning and I get past it and then once I eat my muffin for lunch like I’m full and I’m good till dinner, but having the detox drink and then the muffin for lunch. I don’t know, I think I was feeling a little hungrier this week or maybe it was in my head. 

Josephine (Host)

You were supposed to feel a little hungry. I was trying to confuse your body a little bit just because we are down to those last 5 pounds, you know. So that’s when I like what I called it the doubling down, Like sometimes just confusing your body a little bit. So if a little bit hungrier, that’s probably a good thing. Another thing to mention is you started with just the regular innovation and sometimes we still throw it in, especially on the weekend,

Shari (Guest)

 I know, in the beginning we did more of the regular innovation and then we switched over to the five hour, which I really like doing the five hour. I feel like it just works very well for me. I’m not finding it that hard to stick to. 

Josephine (Host)

Yeah, and I felt like, even when you didn’t lose you always said you felt lighter. 

Shari (Guest)

Yeah, sometimes the scale just didn’t move, but I felt lighter for sure. 

Josephine (Host)

What’s great about that is too, is sometimes it just takes that scale a little extra time, another day. We just don’t see it, but you felt it and a lot of time mentally you need that, you know. 

Shari (Guest)

I mean, it definitely stinks when the scale doesn’t move, but it helps when you feel lighter.

(Both laughing)

Josephine (Host)

I know it stinks for both of us, trust me. Well, it’s great. You’re doing amazing, you look amazing. I can’t even believe It’s 25 pounds. 

So this is a great question. Okay, last question. It’s 25 pounds, and because I saw you go through this, and it was a lot meaning a pound a week, and you just kept at it, and some weeks, no pounds, and you still kept at it. You were so mentally strong. I was so proud of you through the whole thing. If you look back now, though, if somebody said to you when you first started, it’s gonna take seven months, but you’re gonna lose 25 pounds, what would you have thought? 

Shari (Guest)

I, it’s a good question. I mean, I think, just mentally, I was at the point where, like, I have to get this weight off and no matter what it takes. So if it’s seven months, then it’s seven months and that’s what it’s gonna be. But as long as I was seeing progress most weeks which most weeks I did it was worth it. 

Josephine (Host)

I really feel that to look back on like seven months, it sounds long, but it really wasn’t long. The days and weeks go so fast. And look at you now. You’re like a different person and in the middle of it, at any time had you given up, which I knew you wouldn’t it’s not even a question, but for other people, when they feel like it’s slow and they give up they never get to where they want to be. I think it’s important to realize when you don’t give up and put the time in look at where you got too. You are amazing and you look amazing. 

Shari (Guest)

Yes, 100%. I feel like a new person. I was at the point I was miserable. I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror, I didn’t want to put clothes on. I was just happy being in sweatpants, because then I didn’t have to feel how tight all my pants were and buying bigger sizes. It was, it was awful. And I just finally like hit the bottom and I said, okay, like I have to do something. I had started coming back and buying the food, but like I knew what I needed to do. I needed to start sitting with you being accountable every week and like really taking it seriously. 

Josephine (Host)

The last question what if somebody’s looking right now and they’re apprehensive about doing it or they’re scared about doing this? What is your best advice to them? 

Shari (Guest)

My best advice would be just do it. You just have to tell yourself mentally I’m ready to do this, I’m gonna do it and whatever it takes, and you just stick to it. You got to stick to your plan, you got to hold yourself accountable and you’ll see the results. 

You can’t be picking at this or picking at that, and, believe me, I do that sometimes. It’s not easy when I have two teenage boys and they’re eating all this fattening stuff around me and I definitely pick at this, pick at that, and that’s why I like the summer better when they weren’t around, and there was not a bad thing in my house, so it was a lot easier to stay on track but definitely hard with temptations around. But I always try to plan the best I can.

You know, if I have to go to a restaurant, I’m looking at the menu. I’m asking what can I eat? Like this is going to be hard, but you do everything to just try to stick to the plan and see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

Josephine (Host)

Yes, see the results, and yes, see the cheat day at the end of the week. 

Shari (Guest)

By the time that meal comes, it’s like if I eat one thing on cheat day I’m so full. 

Josephine (Host)

Yes, exactly, which is the whole point. Like, mentally you want it but you can’t even physically do it, because your stomach shrunk and you get so full so fast, which is good. 

You are amazing. I am so appreciative of you being on. I know this is not really your thing, but you did it and you’re inspiring so many people. You look gorgeous Every time. I see you every Saturday, which I’ll see you tomorrow morning I am amazed by the progress and everything you’ve done and all the work you put in to get to where you are, so I’m really proud of you. 

 Shari (Guest)

Thank you so much. You’re the best, I couldn’t do it without you my therapy sessions every Saturday morning and getting me through when I just don’t feel good or got to get over something or stressed out so you’ve helped me get there. Without you I couldn’t do it.  

Josephine (Host)

Thank you so much I really appreciate that. I really do. I love you. You’re so great. Thank you, 

Shari Rauch 25lbs lighter, You’re an inspiration to so many people you don’t even know. One pound a week and you kept at it and seven months later you’re 25 pounds lighter. You look amazing. So proud of you. Thank you so much for being on our podcast and thank you all for listening today to our Love to Live Healthy podcast. I’m wishing everyone a happy, healthy week. Hugs and love from me to all of you. 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick