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Tag: cheat day

FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle

Happy Weight Loss Wednesday!

 

LET’S STAY FOCUSED!

 

Are you staying focused on what you want and where you want to be? Make sure your week is moving in a positive direction. With Valentine’s Day and Winter Break in just a couple of days it’s easy to lose focus. Today I want you to think about the love of your life and/or those you love. Both of which should be celebrated today! Stay focused on what and who is important. Dinner plans tonight? Choose a healthy On Program meal that you can order in or out. Clean fish, grilled chicken and a steamed vegetable. Fresh fruit for dessert. If you are staying in you can make or order the same or have a clean Innovation dinner with an Innovation snack. Whether you are eating in or out, your options are endless. You really want to make sure you have a super clean day today. If you stay clean and On Program you will wake up tomorrow feeling amazing and it will be a true Valentine’s Day Gift to yourself.

 

FOCUS only on what you ARE eating and HOW MUCH you are eating. 
Because when it comes to the number on the scale that is all that matters. 

 

BE AWARE: We tend to get into a slippery little mindset of what WE DIDN’T eat instead of focusing on what WE SHOULD BE eating. I hear it quite often – “I was so good! I only had a bite of this and a bite of that. But there was so many more things on the table I didn’t eat” It’s kind of like saying I had one slice of pizza BUT I did great because I could have had two. Well guess what? – If you are trying to lose weight – you shouldn’t have had the first one to begin with. Don’t think about and stop focusing on all the foods you didn’t eat – because unfortunately your body doesn’t give you extra credit or extra weight loss because you didn’t eat things. It only focuses on what you did eat and how much – and that is what you need to focus on too.

 

FEEL THE LOVE: Today, stay focused on who matters to you in your life and how much love you have to share. The better you take care of your body and mind – the better you will feel and the more you will feel the love. When you feel good and feel the love – all you will want to do is share those amazing feelings and make everyone around you feel good too.

 

Give yourself the gift of love and health today and do it by waking up tomorrow feeling amazing!
 It all starts with you…

 

Making the right choices always makes you happy. 

 

MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL TODAY!
FROM US TO YOU,
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
211 E 43rd Street Manhattan, NY 10016
FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle

Weight Loss Wednesday

 

WEIGHT LOSS WEDNESDAY REMINDER:

 

For some, the middle of the week is one of the hardest days to get through but it can also be one of the easiest. After today you have one more day until it’s Fabulous Friday! When you follow the program it’s an easy thought process. Monday you are ready to eat clean again, and by Wednesday you are thinking about your Cheat Day. Stay strong and remember, to have the best results it’s six days clean on program days and then you enjoy your one Cheat Day.

 

There is no room for error: You are eating meals and snacks every day. You are by no means starving during the week (even though sometimes you may mentally feel like it). But because you have your meals and snacks and a Cheat Day every week – you must remember there is no room at all for error. Every extra bite is going to make a difference. That’s the mind set that is so important when losing weight. You are either off or you are 110% on – and there is no in-between. When you stick to your weight loss days 110% and follow your meals and snacks it creates the weight loss – but more importantly it also gets rid of bad habits. The habit that you feel the need to pick, bite, graze throughout the day and not count it. You should not want and absolutely do not need to be picking, taking extra bites, or having a piece of an appetizer, or finishing your kids leftovers. When you do – all the “little extras” add up and they will make a difference on the scale from a weight loss to a maintain and sometimes even a gain.

 

Today’s Weight Loss Wednesday Tip = Stick to your meals and snacks. When you want to lose weight you are either “off” or “110% on” – there is no in between. The six clean days are what create the weight loss and why you can enjoy a Cheat Day. There is no room for “extra.” Everything counts. Every bite, taste, sip, piece – counts. Live by this and love it – because when you learn to really live and eat clean for six days you not only love that you no longer have cravings, and no longer feel the need to pick or graze all the time, but those six clean days are what really make the weight go down and what really makes you enjoy and feel entitled to your Cheat Day.

 

Cheat Day is the best day and truly enjoyed when your other six weight loss days are 110% clean. 

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

 Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
211 E 43rd Street Manhattan 10016
FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle

Hello February!

 

HELLO FEBRUARY! Can you believe January has come and gone? For those of you who have remained true to your goals (and there are sooooo many of you) I am beyond thrilled and excited for you. It’s a tough time of year but it’s also the most important when it comes to weight loss. In a blink, February has arrived and what a short month it is. With Valentine’s Day around the corner and only 23 days left in the month I can assure you March will arrive even faster than February, and for those of you who have not stayed true will say “What was I thinking?” and “How did this happen?” I think it’s fair to say – life has proved that it can happen so quickly and if you are not moving and thinking and planning, it will pass you by and you won’t even know what you did in the time it was passing.

 

 

If it makes you feel better – It’s not just you. Life happens quickly for everyone. That’s all we ever hear and say: “I can’t believe it!” and “Where did the time go?!” The day, the weeks, the months went so fast. You had planned to do this and/or that – and you never did it. But the truth is you didn’t plan. You merely thought about it or talked about it because if you planned you would have accomplished it. When it comes to life and time we are all the same – it happens quickly and the days, the weeks, and the months go by all at the same 24 hour pace. No one has more minutes or hours in a day or week than the rest of us. So what is the difference between those who are successful and those who aren’t?

 

Successful people plan, they have a focus and a vision and they plan for it and they keep planning until they reach that goal. If it’s a big goal then they make little goals to achieve along the way until they reach the big goal. When they reach that big goal they make another goal. It’s mental strength that everyone can have if they put their mind to it. Yes, some are stronger than others, and some may want things more than others. But at the end of the day you either have a goal that you are really truly working hard toward or you are just talking about it and make excuses for why you haven’t achieved it.

 

There are no excuses when it comes to reaching a goal. Even the weakest person can be a doer at their own pace. Every excuse you make puts you further behind and farther back from where you are trying to be. But if you plan and focus and keep reminding yourself what you want – then there will be no stopping you! Even if you are at a snail’s pace you can still be in the same positive direction and moving toward your positive goals. So stop making excuses and start doing. Stop talking about it and start planning for it. Stop floating around waiting for it to happen and put your feet on the ground and start moving in the right direction and don’t stop until you get there.

 

You can’t quickly UNDO what you did – but you can move forward and make tomorrow better than today: If you have not been great and are starting to freak out because it’s February and March is quickly approaching then you need to stop regretting, stop beating yourself up and stop trying to undo damage that is already done. I get messages all the time – how can I reverse my extra cheating, or how can I get this weight off tomorrow! I’m sorry but you can’t turn back the clock in any part of your life. Where you are today is where you got yourself. So accept it and move on to working hard to getting yourself to where you want to be. Trying to do anything quick or fast are bad habits that got you to the overweight place you started. You don’t want to keep going down that road because that is what will keep you on the roller coaster. If you want it to be different tomorrow, next week, next month – then you need to start the change today.  Unfortunately most of you who have not been on program or giving it your 100% may not want to hear this but it’s the truth – the only way to get the weight off is to start on your program and follow your menu and put the time in like everyone else. Putting the time and the work in is the only things that will make and keep you successful. If you are not happy with your weight today you need to own it and deal with where you are. You need to understand and own that you got yourself here. Then you need to focus on the change and the work and the positive process that you will take to get you to that happy place. The happy place where you feel good in your skin. That happy place that gives you confidence and makes you love waking up feeling lighter, happier and healthier. The process is simple: follow your menu, put the time and the work in, stay on your path and remember your goals – and keep following the process 6 clean days a week and 1 Cheat Day.  Don’t try and change the rules and don’t try to rush the process. You know it works you have either done it or know someone who has had amazing success. Every week the weight loss will add up and before you know it YOU will be the person that you once looked at and wished for. Yes, the one who has the healthy thin and fit body but not only that – more important, you will be off the roller coaster. You will be the one who has control and who knows what they are doing and feels good all the time because you are following your 6 days on and 1 day off. You will no longer have the guilt of cheating and you will know that your hard work 6 days a week every week is what makes you feel amazing. It’s the time and the hard work that creates the control of staying on 6 days and enjoying your 1 Cheat Day – and that is life changing. It’s life changing because you realize that you can have it all. That’s who you are and who you want to be – the person in control of feeling good everyday.

 

CONTROL TODAY AND IT WILL MAKE A BETTER TOMORROW AND THAT WILL MAKE A GREAT NEXT WEEK – AND TOGETHER IT WILL BE AMAZING MONTH

 

WORK AT 100% TODAY 
AND YOU WILL GET 100% RESULTS TOMORROW

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
211 E 43rd Street Manhattan, NY 10016
FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle

Super Bowl Sunday

 

Whether you are a football fan or not, this Sunday is one of the biggest sporting events of the year. It has something for everyone – the biggest game of the year, popular musical performances, and entertaining commercials all wrapped into one afternoon that is celebrated at the Super Bowl Party. Infamous for its notoriously unhealthy finger foods, Super Bowl parties can be hard to navigate when you are trying to eat healthy. Even if you couldn’t care less about the game, when we are faced with tantalizing treats and junk food, we can’t help but be tempted. If you find yourself hosting or attending a Super Bowl party this weekend, you will find yourself faced with difficult decisions. Here are two ways to handle it:

 

 

1) Make it your Cheat Day! Kick back and enjoy the game, the party, the food and your loved ones. But remember to get right back on program 110% on Monday. No eating leftovers! 

 

OR

 

 2) Stay clean! It may seem easy now, but things can quickly fall to pieces when you are wrapped up in the excitement of the game, or bored by the sport and looking for food to entertain you. If you make the decision to eat healthy tomorrow, stick to it and plan now. 

 

Here are some healthy game time tips for this weekend:

 

1) Whether you are watching the game or more interested in the commercials, take some time to get up and move when there is a pause in the game or you want a break from the television. Get up and make your way around the party to socialize or just go for a good stretch.

 

 

2) Avoid eating absentmindedly. Whether you are eating clean or cheating, eat with intention. Beware not to eat out of boredom or because food is just sitting right in front of you. Try and find a place to watch from that isn’t within arms reach of any food if possible.

 

3) Start small. You’re going to be there a while, so there’s no reason to get ahead of yourself and load up on food and drink right away. If you are cheating, eat what you want to eat – don’t stuff yourself until you are sick just because it is there. If you are eating clean – stick to your meal and snack plan like any other day. Remember: it doesn’t always have to be about the food. The same goes for drinks: take it slow with alcohol and be sure to hydrate with water.

 

4) The best way to ensure that there will be a healthy option available to you is to provide one yourself. You can reach for your favorite Innovation meals and snacks such as Chicken Wings, Turkey Taco, Beef Stew, Turkey Chili, Pizza and more to nosh on during the game. Or, you can try one of these healthy swaps for some Super Bowl favorites:

 

Veggie Chips, instead of potato chips

 

 

1. Select your vegetable of choice, such as zucchini or beets, or even broccoli or green beans – anything that can be baked to be crispy and crunchy. Preheat oven to 300 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

2. Clean and chop or slice the veggies into bite sized pieces. Use a paper towel to blot the veggies to be as dry as possible. 

3. Place veggies in a bowl with a drizzle of oil, salt, pepper and any other dry seasonings of your choice such as garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, etc. Toss the veggies to coat them.

4. Spray baking pan with cooking spray and lay out the veggies in one layer. 

5. Bake for 10-15 minutes then rotate the pan and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until edges start to brown. Remove from oven and let them cool before enjoying. Have them plain or you can dip in hummus or guacamole.  

 

Sweet Potato Skins, instead of loaded potato skins

 

1. Position oven rack in the top of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Bake sweet potatoes (number of potatoes depends on your needs) until fork tender, about 40-50 minutes. Let them cool completely. 

2. Cut the potatoes lengthwise and scoop out some of the flesh. Cut each piece in half. 

3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Arrange potato skins (skin side down) on the baking sheet. Brush with oil and bake for about 20-30 minutes (until potatoes are slightly browned).  

4. Remove pan from oven. (Optional: sprinkle skins with light cheese and put back in the oven for a few minutes to melt cheese)

5. Let cool. Serve with toppings such as chives, onions, tomato, peppers, salsa, cilantro, and/or other dry seasonings. 

 

Buffalo Cauliflower, instead of fried chicken wings

 

 

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

2. Mix 2 tsps garlic powder, a pinch of salt, a pinch of pepper, 1 tbsp oil, and 3/4 cup hot sauce in a small bowl.

3. Add 6 cups fresh cauliflower into a large gallon-sized bag, pour the sauce into the bag. Shake until the cauliflower florets are fully coated. Spread on a baking sheet.

4. Bake for 20 minutes.

 

Flavored Popcorn, instead of party mix

 

 

 

1. Microwave a bag of low fat popcorn, or use a bag of Skinny Pop Sea Salt Popcorn. Place in a bowl and top with dry seasoning of your choice such as:

    • Italian seasoning (such as a mix of oregano, fennel, red pepper flakes, basil, sage, thyme, rosemary)
    • Old Bay seasoning, dried lemon zest, pepper and salt
    • Jerk, curry, wasabi powder or other dry spicy seasoning

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

211 E 43rd Street Manhattan, NY 10016

FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle

Monday Motivation

 

I wanted to start you on the right path the week with some Motivation and Inspiration. Look at Susan Golden’s before and after and listen to her podcast. Susan is just another example that when you follow the Innovation Weight Loss Program you will lose weight and feel great. In fact, Susan tells you in the podcast how she was once a person who worked out all the time and could never lose a pound. It was only after she could no longer work out that she joined the Innovation program because she was afraid of gaining weight and what happened to her was beyond her expectation. Susan lost 20 pounds and changed her life.

 

LISTEN TO HER PODCAST TODAY, CLICK HERE.

 

20 POUND WEIGHT LOSS!!

 

Congratulations Susan!
You did absolutely amazing and we are so proud of you!!

 

Susan Loves the Life She Lives and Lives the Life She Loves!

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury NY 11797
211 E 43rd Street Manhattan NY 10017
FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle

It’s A New Day – It’s A New Life

 

IT’S A NEW DAWN – IT’S A NEW DAY – IT’S A NEW LIFE FOR YOU…AND YOU ARE FEELING GOOD!!

 

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!! It’s mid week and you are already only a couple of days away from your Cheat Day!! The first week back from vacation can be really tough. You are used to eating more and you have to get used to eating less again and eating clean. Not easy to do – and yet very doable! In only one week I promise you will feel amazing and in control.

 

In 2018 we are going to focus on feeling good, how important that feeling is to YOU, and how we should all embrace it because it is life changing when you feel good about yourself and your body. Start by asking yourself, how important it is to you to feel good everyday? How important is it to wake up feeling in control? Feeling thinner? Feeling happier? … waking up lighter? … and knowing that when you go to get dressed the clothes will either be loose or fitting better. Most important – think about when you feel good and in control how it relates to the rest of your day and everyone around you. When you get to the point of not having to think about food every second of the day you are more productive at work and at home. These are all the things I want you to focus on when you are either getting back on your path this week or starting the program from the beginning. When you live healthy and clean it resonates through everything you do and how you feel. It’s not something we do – it’s a way we live, and feel our best doing it.

 

2017 was an amazing year for so many of our clients. 
Thank you for working so hard!
 It is a true gift to us when we see clients reach their goals and live happier and healthier lives.

 

BEFORE AND AFTER’S: Starting today we will be posting before and after photos of those amazing clients who made Innovation a way of life. Their unbelievable weight loss and body transformations will put you in Awe and Inspire and Motivate you on what is possible for you in 2018!!! You will also get to listen to their podcast episodes and get a glimpse into how each client doesn’t just do the Innovation Program, they live it. They will tell you how they live it and why it became such an important part of their life.

 

SUPER EXCITED!! I am super super excited to share these with you. I believe for many of you it will be a reminder of what you want and where YOU want to be. Knowing and seeing that changes happen in a week, a month in 3 months, 6 months and this time next year. Whether it’s 10lbs or 100lbs – wherever you are and wherever you want to be – these before and after’s will remind you of just how possible it is to get there. They are everyday people who have all one thing in common – they all live the Innovation Program and it has changed their life.

 

SUCCESS IS A DECISION – It’s about staying focused, being determined and mindful on the hard days. It starts by YOU figuring out what YOU want and how hard YOU want to work for it. WHO ARE YOU? – You are either a dreamer or a doer. You will either be the one who constantly complains about being overweight and what you wish you could be OR you will be the one that puts your head down, walks away from the temptation and works your butt off everyday to make sure you get to where you want to be. Figure it out – Plan each day and don’t let anyone stand in your way.

 

GOOD THINGS AND POSITIVE CHANGES 
HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO WORK AT WHAT THEY WANT EVERYDAY

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
211 E 43rd Street Manhattan, NY 10019
FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle

Happy Holidays

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS:  The holidays are here and many are getting ready to celebrate and others vacate. Whatever you are doing or where you are going, I want you to keep in mind some very important things. As you know I always say planning is a big part of your success. The best way to plan is to do it the day before so you know what you are doing and/or where you are eating the day of. If you know that your lunch and dinner will be too far apart make sure to have a snack in between. In order to have a snack you need to have access to one. You don’t want to get to the point of being over hungry because then you will lose control and not be able to come back from it. This is a very difficult time of year for weight loss and you can make it less difficult if you plan accordingly.

 

IMPORTANCE OF SNACKING: Make sure you have your snacks and use them when you need them. If you are hanging out by the pool make sure you have the vegetables and hummus so you don’t go for the nachos. Sometimes we can forget the importance of snacking. Once a upon a time it was thought that if you ate before a meal you would ruin your dinner. But the truth is, if you DON’T have a snack before a meal you will not only ruin your meal but also your weight loss. Why? Because you will be so hungry you won’t be able to make a healthy choice. You will reach for everything and you will eat fast and too much before you even realize what happened. But when you have a snack before you go out and feel a little satisfied when you get to dinner you will not act like it’s your last meal. You will immediately see the difference in how you feel and how you can control your choices. So make sure you have your snacks available and use them when you need them – that’s what they are for.

 

YOUR ACTIONS DETERMINE YOUR RESULTS: Remember that throughout the next two weeks you are responsible for what you do. Whatever your choices are will result in your outcome. We sometimes forget that holidays and vacations have an ending. When we are in the moment of enjoying and celebrating we forget that reality is around the corner. I want you to enjoy and celebrate – it’s wonderful and you should continue to do that. It’s one of the most important things about working so hard all year. What fun is being thin, healthy and feeling great if you can’t go out and enjoy it and show the world how amazing you feel. With that said, you must also keep in mind this is not the last vacation or holiday you will have. When it’s over you want to feel just as good as when it started. The best way to do that is to think about your actions and the outcome. When you grab for something – do you really want it? Or are you eating it because you are on vacation? Always think before you grab and eat. Remember, whatever you do today you have to deal with tomorrow. If you are okay with it then go for it, but if you know that it’s going to make your first week of the New Year miserable then don’t do it.  There are not too many things that are worth that and you need to keep that in mind when you are grabbing and consuming. Remember how hard you have worked for where you are today and regardless of who or what is around you, at the end YOU will be the one who is either stuck or content with the outcome of your choices. No one has that power except you.

 

LOSE WEIGHT- MAINTAIN – GAIN

 

Through the holidays and on vacation the choices to Lose weight – Maintain – or Gain is ultimately up to you.  Here are some things to follow to determine where you would like to end up:

 

VACATION:   

 

LOSE WEIGHT: You can stay on your course of eating clean 6 days and save everything you see on vacation throughout the week for your Cheat Day.  If you do this try and save the Cheat Day for the last day you are there – this way you look and feel amazing all week and you can see the things throughout the week that you would like to have on your Cheat Day.

 

MAINTAIN:  Have a Cheat meal, a dessert or drinks each day.  You can’t do all three, it has to be one of the three if you are having a Cheat everyday. This will help you maintain. It teaches you that you can enjoy but you just can’t treat everyday like a full Cheat Day.

 

HOLIDAYS:

 

LOSE WEIGHT: With two back to back holidays in one week [Christmas eve – Christmas Day] and [New Years Eve – New Years Day], you have the choice of picking one each week and having your one Cheat Day a week. If you do that you will continue to stay on your path and lose weight. Sometimes it’s easier to continue what you know and what you feel comfortable with. For those who do not celebrate both it’s an easier decision,  but for those who do celebrate both you should think about maintaining…

 

MAINTAIN: While the back to back holidays are little difficult there is an easy solution to get through them and maintain. Keep your days clean and enjoy your feast at night. If you like a big Christmas morning breakfast then you can have your feast Christmas eve night and again Christmas day morning but all the other meals of both days must be clean and on program. So basically it’s two full meals with desserts and drinks if you choose. If you do this for two back to back days you will maintain. Of course like any other Cheat Day you WILL NOT go on the scale the next day. You will enjoy, go right back on program the next day and weigh in the following week and you should be the number you were before the holiday began.

 

My final thoughts to you for the next two weeks – is to live a life that you are proud of.  If at any time you find that you are not proud of what you are doing – find the strength to start over. It’s important to enjoy and have fun and celebrate. It’s the reason why we work so hard to eat clean and feel good in between the special occasions. Just always stay mindful, have a plan and remember you are creating memories with those you love. You want them to be memories that you can all look back on with love and joy. Remember that how you treat yourself will reflect in how you treat others. When you are happy they are happy and when you feel good they feel better. Appreciate the beauty of the world, and appreciate what you worked so hard for. Do not ruin your holidays or ruin it for those you love because you over did it and can’t wait for it to end. Instead, throughout the next two weeks, be the person that makes you happy and act in ways that you know will make you feel your best.  If you fall off your path get up and immediately back on program. Be the person that you worked so hard to be and remember the person that you want to see January 1st. Enjoy the life, the love and the happiness that you have and always, always have hope in your hearts for those less fortunate.

 

DO GOOD – TO FEEL GOOD

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
211 E 43rd Street Manhattan, NY 10017
FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle

Keep It Simple…

 

As we travel through December (with only 19 days until Christmas Break) – many of you are right back on your path but others are still struggling a little to get there. Wherever you are today and moving into this week I want you to be positive and confident about what you can achieve and why you want to do it. Think about feeling good, happy and alive in your mind and body.

 

Don’t ever be embarrassed about gaining weight. You always have to remember you are not the only one. Don’t think about the past or how you “used” to look. Don’t get discouraged because you keep slipping up or having more than one Cheat over the weekend. What you need to focus on is the following:

 

SLIPS AND FALLS – Regardless of where you are or how many times you slip up – the most important thing you can do is get right back on program and keep going in the right direction. Whether it’s a little slip up or a big one – it’s not about the slip – it’s about getting up. We all slip and we all fall but the sooner you get back on your feet and on your path is the sooner you will feel so much better and be back on track. The longer you lay down the longer you will feel terrible and the longer it will take to get back to a better place. Life is not perfect and it will never be perfect. We will always have times that will be more difficult than others and they are usually times that feel different from everyone else. It doesn’t matter – what matters is right now. Wherever you are you have to focus on where you want to be and keep moving in that direction. If you keep getting up every time you fall, you will get there. Yes, it might be slower than someone who doesn’t fall as much but who cares – the most important thing is you are in the right direction and you will get to your destination.

 

STOP THINKING SO MUCH – We focus on “why do we keep doing this” or “how can I be better” or “isn’t there a magic pill” – JUST STOP THINKING. Instead of spending so much time and energy thinking about an easier way out – or thinking about why you keep slipping – I want you to stop thinking about it all and just start doing it. Just start today and get on program and make the right choices. Don’t worry about where your weight is today – don’t even think about it. Just follow your program and you will feel better tomorrow. If you want to use your time thinking, then keep it about positive things like your family and your friends and your home and job. The program is the program – you know it works. Food is fuel and if you eat what is on your menu then you will lose weight. Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be. Don’t look for foods that will fill you and don’t look for “more” than you need.  Just follow the menu and you will lose the weight and your Cheat Day will come and you will enjoy it.

 

THE JOURNEY – Something I think is important to share is how important your journey is. I know I say it all the time but it’s very easy to get caught up in feeling sorry for yourself and bad about the mistakes and choices you make. But what I want you to focus on is how happy you are on the journey to feeling your best. Every step you take in the direction of eating clean and losing weight is one more step to feeling great both mentally and physically. Life is too short and you don’t want to keep doing things that intentionally make you feel worse. Keep the focus on positive things that will make you happy – Like Christmas Break!

 

If you want to lose a little or a lot of weight before the Break then follow your program and weigh-in, and keep yourself accountable. Even 3 lbs can make a big difference on how you look and feel. So make the commitment today to stop thinking and start following.

 

POSITIVE THINKING
LET’S FOCUS ON THE COUNTDOWN:

 

3 WEEKS UNTIL BREAK  
1lb a WEEK = 3 lbs – SNAIL 
2 lbs a WEEK = 6 lbs – SHARK 
3 lbs a WEEK = 9 lbs – KILLER SHARK

 

Don’t think – Just follow. Sometimes keeping it simple is all it takes to be successful. 

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
211 E 43rd Street Manhattan, NY 10019
FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle

Make The Right Choices Today

 

If I had to give you any advice today it would be stay off the scale and get back on program 110% today. I can’t stress enough to you how important the week after a holiday is…

 

Here is why: 

 

Mentally you need to get back into the mindset of how important it is to get back to feeling good. How much better you feel when you are doing the right things. Just knowing that you are back in control can change your outcome. If you sit and start to feel sorry for yourself for the damage you did it can very easily snowball and before you know it you are sabotaging another day, week or month.

 

Frustrated and Upset: Don’t even bother being frustrated or upset with yourself. If you know you were off and you cheated then you don’t deserve to be frustrated or upset. That is for people who have done amazing all week and for some reason the scale didn’t move as much as they wanted or expected. It’s not for people who cheated and want to turn back the clock. You just need to put the time in now and pay the price and if you do it, and you stay on program – one week will make all the difference…

 

It only takes one week: I promise you regardless of how terrible you feel today it will only take one week for you to get back to the weight you started before Thanksgiving. I know for some it sounds unrealistic. You feel like you have done so much damage. But the truth is, there are steps to weight loss. You have Weight loss – Maintain – Weight Gain. When you are On Program you are in Weight Loss. Eating less than your body needs. When you go off program and you start eating more it can feel like so much more than it really is because it’s so much more than your weight loss days. But when you are eating more you still have room between maintaining and gaining. So while you feel like you gained – I promise a lot of it is “fake weight” and you maintained more days than gained. Although the scale may not show that today – so stay off it! After one solid week back on program you will see the “fake weight” gone and you will either see your pre-Thanksgiving weight or very close to it.

 

The key is to have a solid 110% On-Program week after a bad week and that is what will get the numbers right back down.

 

For most of you, you know the Drill for this Week:

 

MONDAY – feeling horrible – bloated – not happy
WEDNESDAY – feeling okay – not the worst but not the best – just happy to be back and in control
FRIDAY – already thinking of the Cheat Day and looking forward to getting back on the scale. Knowing regardless what it says you are back on your path and feeling good again. Yay!

 

SOME MAKE CHOICES AND OTHERS MAKE EXCUSES

 

I want to say and address the clients who have done exactly what they said they would. There are so many of you who really set a path of what you wanted to do and you followed it. I am so happy and thrilled for you who stayed true to what you wanted to do and how you wanted to feel through the holiday and today. Yes, because you did it and accomplished it, but also for many of you it’s because it shows how much you have changed from when you started. You did something that when you first started would have been nearly impossible for you to do – that is amazing and you should be really proud of yourself today. Whether the choice was to maintain or continue to lose – so many of you did exactly what you planned and stayed true to what you wanted and what you knew would make you happy. We all know how hard that can be and the choices and decisions that had to be made in order for you to stay strong and on your path. You deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged. Your reward is how you feel today, and how happy you are with yourself and how you will spread that happiness to all those around you (although some that did not stay on program may not be in the mood for sharing it today).

 

My final advice for today is to think about where you are – and where you want to be. Get rid of the frustrations and don’t be upset. No negativity – keep positive. When you change your mindset into positive it can change your outcome. But you are the only person who can do it. If you give yourself excuses you will never reach your destination. Don’t focus on last week – it’s already gone. Look ahead and keep the focus on today and tomorrow. Because each positive On Program day will turn into a better one and the great days will turn into a great week – the great weeks will turn into great months and the great months will turn into an amazing year. Your life, your choices – Make sure you make the right ones.

 

LIFE IS A MATTER OF CHOICES
AND EVERY CHOICE YOU MAKE
MAKES YOU

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
211 E 43rd Street Manhattan, NY 10019
FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle

The Weekend Is Almost Here – Are You Ready?

 

Are you ready for one of the biggest Holiday Weekends of the year?  Did you know that a majority of people who do not watch what they are eating – or those who do not plan for this weekend – will gain anywhere from 7-10lbs.  Sounds unbelievable but I have seen it first hand and it’s all too true. What is even worse is it’s on foods that they claim to not even like or need. Here are some tips so that doesn’t happen to you:

 

HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS FOR THANKSGIVING WEEKEND – DECIDE WHERE YOU ARE AND WHO YOU WANT TO BE:   Sometimes we can start with the best intentions but it only takes one to two things to trigger it into a snow ball effect – and before you know it you are out of control. It’s important to always HAVE A PLAN! I can’t say it enough, if you plan you will have so much more success than if you don’t.

 

If you want to be a SHARK: You will cheat one day this weekend and only one day and the other days you will have planned and you will follow them 110% and you will have the very best weight loss week. Remember, your plan must include all days not just the day you know you are cheating. Sharks know what they are doing at all times – everyday. They plan and they follow it. So if you want to be a shark and have the best weight loss this weekend, you need to know exactly what day your cheat day will be and know exactly what you are eating on your non Cheat Days. As you know, it’s important to plan your cheat day but when we are not on a regular schedule like this weekend – it’s just as important to plan your weight loss days which are your NON-CHEAT DAYS. Know what you are eating and what your choices will be, and you will come out of this like the SHARK that you are.

 

If you want to be a SNAIL: You will split the cheat days and be clean all day and cheat Thanksgiving dinner and one night over the weekend and you will lose like a Snail. Again, make sure you have the non-cheat days planned and even plan the cheat dinners knowing exactly what you want to cheat with.

 

If you want to be a SLUG:  You will taste and have little cheats through the whole weekend keeping the days clean and only tasting and having little cheats each night and you will most likely maintain. If you are happy with not gaining and not losing, and also not over doing anything and just kind of staying in one place, then a slug might be a good option for you. A good way to control being a slug is to try tasting each item that looks appealing to you and bypass anything that you wouldn’t normally eat. Tasting one large tablespoon of each thing you like is sometimes more than enough. When you are a slug you want to stay on your path and make sure no one steps on you  – so each night decide in advance what you are tasting and what you are bypassing. Sometimes when others see we are not 100% they think it’s okay to pull you into the dark side, offering more wine/food than you need or planned –  but if you know what you are tasting and treating yourself to and you stick to it you will come out of the holiday feeling okay and still in control.  Yes, Monday you will feel the weekend bloat and not feeling your best but you won’t feel the worst either. Slugs usually come out of the weekend needing one full week to get back to the pre- holiday number but still feeling okay with their decisions.

 

Being a slug is very common for many people over the holidays and vacations. And it works great if this is where you want to stay – as long as you know what you are tasting and treating yourself to each day you will do great. If one night it’s drinks and the next morning it’s bagels and maybe one night a meal – it’s all good.  But to be a slug still means that 80% of the day is clean with 20% cheating each day.  Find your balance and what works for you and what’s worth it –  And never ever eat just to eat or cheat just to cheat. Make sure everything that you do is worth the results. Being a slug is fine to do and you should have no guilt when it’s over a vacation or holiday weekend.  The only time being a SLUG is NOT OKAY is when you are living like this everyday and never really getting any where. Make a choice and stick to it. If you feel you deserve to be a slug this weekend then go for it and enjoy it.

 

If you want to simply MAINTAIN:  You can keep it very simple and have one cheat dinner and one full cheat day and that will keep you maintained for the week.  And you will come out of it feeling great and controlled and be able to stay on your weight loss path feeling great. Again very important for the cheat dinner your day needs to be super clean and your non cheat days need to be 110% planned weight loss days. This will keep you on track for a maintain week and in a very good place come Monday morning.

 

If you decide to be a GLUTTON and eat from the time you wake up until you go to bed over the course of the weekend then you will be one of the very unhappy people who wake up Monday morning trying to squeeze into your clothes that will make you feel more like the stuffed turkey and sausage that you consumed over the weekend. At that point I promise you will look back and not be happy with your choices and you won’t even remember what you ate and drank that got you to this point. THINK BEFORE YOU GRAB AND ALWAYS REMEMBER EVERY CHOICE HAS A GOOD AND/OR BAD CONSEQUENCE.

 

My final thoughts for you this Holiday Weekend – there is always a choice and if you make the one that works for you this weekend – then come Monday morning you will feel so much better than any EXTRA food or drink you would have tasted.   There is no better feeling than waking up Monday morning knowing that you followed what you planned. You enjoyed – you feel great and you fit into your clothes. Remember me saying this – wherever you are right now, today, this moment – you want to be in a better place come Monday morning. You can enjoy the weekend, the food, drink and the treats and still do the right thing. You want to enjoy those you love, and remember the holiday is about being grateful for what you have and who you have in your life. It’s not about over indulging and gluttony.  It’s about happiness, being grateful and feeling good both mentally and physically. You need to figure out and plan what that is for you this coming weekend and what plan will make you feel the very best starting Wednesday night and waking up Monday morning.

 

“Inner peace begins when you choose not to let what is going on around you affect the outcome you have already planned”   ~Me

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
211 E 43rd Street Manhattan, NY 10019