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 Fitzpatrick 

Hi everyone. Welcome to the Love to Live Healthy show. I’m Josephine Fitzpatrick. Today’s topic is priorities. Yes, we all have them. And for many, they are the same – And for some, they’re very different. Now, of course, if we look at the true definition of priorities, it means something that is more important than other things that need to be done or dealt with first, or something that is regarded as more important than something else. 

But priorities and daily priorities are two different things, right? Even though some may overlap. So like when we talk about priorities as a whole, like example, my priorities in life are my family, my health, my clients, my career. Those are like my top priorities. But then when I talk about my daily priorities, of course, again, it’s my family and it’s my food for the day, my exercise, my chores, and my work. So even though some overlap, you still have your overall priorities and daily priorities.

And it’s so important that you know your priorities and what is most important to you. In a perfect world, of course, we would want to do everything and give our full attention to everything every day, but it’s impossible. That’s how we get overwhelmed. I’m constantly reminding my kids, when life gets overwhelming, list your priorities and follow through with them. Not every task is equally important, even though you may feel like it is.

Put the most important tasks that have to be done closer to the top of your list. And when you prioritize, you’re allowing yourself to identify the important tasks at that moment. And you give those tasks more attention, more energy and time. It allows you to spend more time on the right things. You know, we face multiple demands on our time and energy every day. And it’s often these demands that we didn’t schedule that override the original schedule and that results us with the feelings of losing control. 

Now it’s usually when this happens that you grab something you shouldn’t be eating, right? Something comes into your schedule that you weren’t planning on, that you had to do or you have to do. And now it has disrupted your list of priorities. So what do you do? You grab something, you eat it, and now you feel out of control because now you’re like, okay, I just went off my program. I’m off my program, so I might as well eat something else. And now you realize, you’re prioritizing how much more you’re going to eat today instead of focusing back on your original list of priorities. 

Now, what I want you to understand through this is don’t grab and eat when things go a little bit crazy in your life. Okay. Because what you have to remember is when you stay focused, this is when you really need to stay in control. That’s what’s going to help you get through that dilemma. That’s what’s going to help you get through that extra priority or that extra challenge that has reached into your list and decided, I need to be on this now. 

Remember, the most important priority to keep you at your best to get you through everything else you have to do and get you through the unforeseen demands, the answer is always going to be eating on program. Eat on program, follow your meals and snacks, get your exercise in. I promise you, when you do that, it is going to help you with those list of demands you have, and with those list of priorities and any extra challenges that come on your path. 

Eating clean, staying on programs, sticking with your exercise, sticking with your meals and snacks always has to be one of your top priorities because when you can feel in control with that, everything else is easy. While family, work, school, exercise, friends, party, celebrations, the beach, whatever it is, it’s right at the top of the list for that day, eating on program is what helps you be 100 % with all your top priorities. 

Why? Because when you’re on program, you feel great. And when you feel great, you are a better mom, dad, wife, husband, son, daughter, worker, friend, whatever it is, you are better at it, or all of them. When you’re eating on program, you feel healthy, fit, strong. You can think better you react calmer and you give better advice to those who need it. You enjoy so much more in life when you feel good. When your jeans are fitting you or when your jeans are loose or your clothes just fit now, your whole world could be falling apart and you feel like, it’s good, I got this, I put my jeans on, I feel great today. But when your jeans are tight, you can’t fit in your shorts, your world is falling apart, you are falling apart with it. 

Now, of course, I’m just using the clothes as an example, but we know how much it means to us to feel good in our body. If you want to really be there and be strong and take care of everything in your life 100%, you have to take care of yourself first and make sure you are in a good place. Because only then will you be able to take care of everything else properly 100%. When you are on program, you’re feeling amazing. You’re the best you can be for yourself, your family, your friends and for your job. You will even exercise better and more often when you are eating on program. So at the end of the day, eating on program helps you stay focused so you can perfect all the other priorities in your life. 

So how do we really do this? Well, one tip is put yourself in a driver’s seat when it comes to your time. If you don’t plan out how you want your day to go, it’s very easy to end up in the reactive mode. This is why I’m always talking to you about the importance of planning and preparing. If you don’t plan and prepare, when you get hungry, you will react. When something goes wrong in your day, you will react. You’ll grab anything in sight. 

But when you plan, and when you know what you’re doing, you don’t have to think about it. Whether you’re doing the five hour, the detox, the regular innovation, you have your food set. You know where you’re going. You know what you’re doing. You know what you’re eating. You know you will stay on your game and be able to put a hundred percent into all the other priorities and feel amazing at the same time. You have to remember you are responsible for you, no one else.

Remind yourself frequently that you are ultimately the one who is responsible for how you use your time, your effort, your energy, how it’s all spent is up to you. Like many others, you will still get off track at times and have to deal with surprises that pop up. We all do. This happens to us all, whether it’s in family, career, personal life, whatever it is, regardless of what pops up in your life, you will be able to handle it. 

Harsh times will occur throughout our lives. We can’t control that, but it’s up to us how we react to them. I want you to always remember this, it’s not what happens in life that is as important as how we react to it. And if you are on program, you’re in control, you’re feeling good, you’re feeling strong, you’re feeling healthy, you will truly be able to handle things so much better than if something harsh comes up and you are already in a negative place, both mentally and physically. 

For those of you who have been on program and are currently on program, you know exactly what I’m talking about. We have had hundreds of clients return this past month. It happens all the time. Summer’s coming, people fell off, or they just need a little check -in, or they just want to get in a little better place for the summer. 

For me, I’m truly grateful when clients return because it makes me happy they know I fully understand how life can get in the way. And it doesn’t take much to get you off your path or just to have a little extra. I never judge. To me, it’s all about moving forward. Don’t dwell on the negative, don’t dwell on the past, but instead move forward in the positive. Because moving forward positive is the only thing that is going to get you to where you want to be. That’s all that matters. 

There is nothing I want more for my clients then to be the best they can be every day and feel the best they can every day. I know how feeling good can literally affect everything else in your life. I love when I get the messages, they are so happy to be back on program and how when they are on program, they just feel so much better, happier. They love when everything starts fitting again and they absolutely love that feeling of being in control. Being in control of their food, the day, of their life, and their priorities. Nothing truly compares to that feeling.

You know, I’ve talked to so many clients lately about priorities, and the scale is always one of the priorities. It shouldn’t be though, it should be the way you feel, but we know how important that low number is too see. We know when we step on the scale, at the moment it feels like everything, but the truth is when you are on program, you’re eating clean, in control, in control of your day, your life, that’s what really makes you feel amazing. So whether you are at your lowest number now or not, it doesn’t matter. What matters is, when you are back on program, you feel so good. You’re in such a mentally and physically great place and in control. And that is really what’s life changing. I tell you all the time, the scale will follow. My final thought to you is we have to remember, we are not given a good life or a bad life. We are given a life and it’s up to us to make it good or bad, happy or sad. 

When you’re in control, I promise you are going to feel like you have a really good life no matter what’s going on. 

Okay. I hope this helps. I hope everyone has the most amazing happy healthy week. Hugs and love for me to all of you.

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick 

WWW.INNOVATIONHEALTHYMARKET.COM

WWW.INNOVATIONWEIGHTLOSS.COM

INNOVATION

8025 JERICHO TPKE

WOODBURY, NY 11797

516802-5055

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, Stephanie Luft from Merrick. I’m going to bring Stephanie in now. Hi, stephanie, hi, how are you? How are you Good? So thank you for joining us. I’m so excited. 

Stephanie (Guest)

Oh, my pleasure, take it easy. 

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

It’s so funny how that happens. 

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

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

Josephine (Host)

Yes, exactly, a big difference.

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

(Both Laughing)

Josephine (Host)

Yes. Right. So Funny.

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

Everyone has them

Stephanie (Guest)

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

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

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

Josephine (Host)

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

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

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

Yeah. You are right. 

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

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

Stephanie (Guest)

Yes totally. 

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

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

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

Josephine (Host)

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

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

Stephanie (Guest)

Yes, I really do.

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

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

Josephine (Host)

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

Stephanie (Guest)

Thank you so much. 

Josephine (Host)

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

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

~Love to Live Healthy With Josephine Fitzpatrick

Josephine (Host)

Hi everyone, welcome to the Love to Live Healthy show. I’m Josephine Fitzpatrick. Today we have two very special guests, Tracey and Jennifer from Westchester. So excited I’ve not even met them visually in person, only through online, and I’m really excited to meet them visually myself. So let’s see if we can see who’s waiting to come in first. I think Tracy’s waiting. Let’s see. 

Tracey (Guest)

Hi, hi, how are you? Oh, there I am.

Josephine (Host)

Good, how are you? This is so great.

Tracey (Guest)

Sorry, I was actually getting my hair colored and it just ran later than I expected. 

Josephine (Host)

Well it looks beautiful. 

Tracey (Guest)

Thanks. Thank you, well, it’s nice to meet you.

Josephine (Host)

Me too!. I love it so great. It’s so funny because for so long I deal with people I feel like I know them and then when I see them I’m like, oh this is amazing

Tracey (Guest)

Well, we definitely feel like we know you because I’ve listened to your podcast and I follow you on Instagram, and love to Live healthy. . But it’s more of a surprise for you because you don’t hear our voices. 

Josephine (Host)

Yes, exactly, exactly. It’s so funny, even when you were doing the program, like when you send your weight, I’m like I always know everyone’s feet. Lol But I never see their face. 

Tracey (Guest)

(Laughing) That’s funny, 

Josephine (Host)

Okay So we are waiting for Jen, so I’m gonna bring her in. 

Jennifer (Guest)

Hello, yes hi, how are? 

Josephine (Host)

Hi. How are you. I love this so much. So, you’re both from New Jersey, right? 

Tracey (Guest)

No, Westchester. 

Josephine (Host)

Westchester. Okay, why did I say New Jersey, I think Jeff told me that. 

Jennifer (Guest)

Then he’s sending all our food to the wrong place. 

Josephine (Host)

Hahaha. No that was totally my mistake. (all laughing) I blame Jeff for everything. 

Tracey (Guest)

(laughing), So funny. that’s a good thing to blame the man for everything (all laughing).

Josephine (Host)

Okay, tell me everything you want to say. It’s just free talk. 

Jennifer before you came in I was telling Tracy I feel like I know you guys forever, 

Jennifer (Guest)

Because we nag you (laughing) 

Josephine (Host)

No not at all. I love hearing from you both. It’s why I feel like I know you both so well. I always feel like I know clients forever then they will say to me, NO, it’s only been in like a 6 months or a year. And I can never believe that. I am like that can’t be I feel like we know each other forever. 

Tracey (Guest)

Josephine how long have you been doing this

Josephine (Host)

I have been doing this for over 15 years

Tracey (Guest)

What about the food and store

Josephine (Host)

Over 12 years. Yea, it’s been a long time. 

Tracey (Guest)

Yes it has been a long time. Wow.

Tracey (Guest)

Sorry, Jen, you were going to say something. 

Jennifer (Guest)

I was saying Tracy’s the reason why, how we got to you and because she’s more social media savvy than I am. And I said to her I can’t lose weight post covid. I did a post COVID diet and I got my weight down but only because I was exercising a ton but then it came right back. But you know, like north of 50, it doesn’t come off the same. So, tracy’s like literally like my sister from another mother, I was like I just can’t get a hold of my weight. I don’t generally have a weight issue but you know, with you know menopause and all that. 

Josephine (Host)

Right. I get it

Jennifer (Guest)

And I just felt like, should I just get accustomed to being a bigger person? And that didn’t feel right to me. So, you know, I kind of reached out to Tracy and Tracy said well, I’ve been following, Josephine Fitzpatrick and I think this is something we should try, And so that’s when we connected with you. Instagram really was really instrumental. 

Josephine (Host)

Love to hear that. Makes me so happy. That’s awesome. 

Tracey (Guest)

And I would say that you know, for me I was. I think I told you in the beginning that I used to teach a class called SLT, which was also on Long Island right, but I taught it in Westchester for eight years and then last year I had a really bad back issue and I couldn’t work out and I was really nervous. I mean, I had gained a little bit of weight over covid and like Jen I felt like oh, maybe you know this is my new norm now that I’m not teaching anymore, my activity level went down and so I just, you know I’m not going to be in the shape that I was in with my back. I couldn’t do anything with my back and I was scared because, to be honest, I always worked out. I know you can’t out train your diet but I always kind of was able to be okay.

Josephine (Host)

You maintained your diet because you at the time you weren’t overweight or anything and you didn’t have any issues. So you worked out and maintained your weight even if it wasn’t the weight you were 100% happy with. Then when you hurt your back I remember us talking about how you wanted to lose your coivd weight but also you were scared you couldn’t do it without working out because of your back. 

Tracey (Guest)

I was scared and really your diet, was the way for me. It’s very simple and easy to follow, first off and second it really retrained my feeling towards food really for the first time. And both Jen and I have tried things together we work out together. We’re the best of friends and have very similar mentalities. When we gain weight, we don’t let ourselves get past a point, but for us both, after covid we felt like we were heavier than we wanted to be. A little bit goes a long way, you know, and you and your diet just really connected with us. 

I think for both of us, but for me especially, that it’s really about your diet and learning you know to have to eat in the calorie deficit. Weight loss, for everyone I mean, it is a roller coaster. I think it continues to be a roller coaster for us, right? 

Josephine (Host)

Yes absolutely it’s a roller coater for everyone that is all part of real life.

Jennifer (Guest)

For me, I mean, I almost wouldn’t call your plan a diet per se. I think we’ve all been on like diets (air quotes).  I think it’s a way to have a better relationship with food, Because, you know I tried everything. I even did intermittent fasting before you and then, as soon as the fast was over, I ate everything in sight and I always couldn’t understand why I was not losing weight. (Laughing).  

And so, you know, with your fast, it helps me to structure my food intake and, you know, even with the regular innovation I felt like the food and choices never got out of control for me. 

In the past like I would just pick, pick, pick, pick, pick, and it was just like a blob of eating day and this structures with the innovation or the fast is like, okay, this is my snack, this is my morning meal, you know, this is my breakfast, or this is my lunch and this is my dinner, and I get another snack and It’s just a better relationship with food regarding portions and structure and I know what I am always doing. 

Josephine (Host)

I love that. That’s great. And I do agree because I do think the control that you get from innovation, the 5 hour fast or the detox is what helps you the most because its not so many choices you know what you are doing and that’s it. Because sometimes it’s not just the amount of food, but it’s also all the choices, because when you know like, okay, this is it, this is what I am having – it does give you that sense of control. 

And that is really why I think you said it perfect Jen, the relationship with your food is so much more because you’re actually enjoying what you’re eating instead of thinking like what am I gonna have next? Sometimes all we think about is what is next instead of enjoying what we have in front of us. So when you know this is it. Well this is it.  

Tracey (Guest)

I love that and OMG your muffins. 

Jennifer (Guest)

I mean your muffins. 

Tracey (Guest)

I mean, those muffins are so super filling. I just actually, even before this call, today I’m doing the cleanse (detox) and I had my juice earlier. And it’s interesting, Jen and I we talk all the time. Part of this journey is that we have each other, which has been very helpful, And so we talked about this. But she, you know, drinks her juice quickly. But I actually, you know, like I started my juice today at 11 30 and I didn’t finish it until 145. I drink it slowly and I drink water in between, but then right before getting on this call, I hadn’t eaten. You know, 3:45 pm. I was hungry, and I ran and I had my muffin and now I’m so full. There’s something about those muffins that are so filling they are so amazing.  I don’t know that I’ll ever live without them. 

Josephine (Host)

That makes me so happy that you enjoy. I know you listen when I say – if you’re eating less, you better love what you’re eating. You know really love it and look forward to it and it has to fill you. You know it has to fill you to a certain extent. And that makes me so happy when clients tell me how filling they are. 

Tracey (Guest)

You know I have a sweet tooth which I’ve never, ever, really get over, no matter how many times I’ve tried, I’m always gonna have a sweet tooth. It’s just ingrained in me. And you, I don’t know how you make your products, but you know you make them great and they really work.  

And I would say the other thing that I think is really impactful, at least for me, is that you know you’re kind of in my brain. I don’t always follow it, but you’re in my brain, in when you one of your podcasts a long time ago talked about, if you cheat and even when we were working together, you would text us and say those little cheat bites are going to make a difference and you’re not going to get to where you want to be. And it’s a hundred percent true, because when I follow your program, the program to a T, it is, it works 100% . And when I have a little bite of this and a little bite of that, I think it’s nothing. The scale doesn’t move. It’s amazing. 

Josephine (Host)

I love that is so great. You don’t understand, like right now, everyone that’s going to be listening to this it makes such a big difference when they hear it come from you more than me, because they always hear it come from me but when they actually hear that you say it and have experienced it. That makes all the difference. 

Tracey (Guest)

It’s amazing. We don’t realize how just the little bites makes a difference, but it really does impact you and if you just stick and be more mindful about eating these things, it works and it is filling and satisfying. j I have tried other diets and you know, once I try it I can’t go back to it. And this is the only program me and Jen can go back too. Like when we fall off we can’t come back but we are excited to come back to Innovation. 

Jennifer (Guest)

Yes. It was nice to go into the holidays, you know, feeling like you always say I can enjoy, and then, knowing that, okay, I’m going to enjoy and then go back, and it’s funny my husband said to me you really earned those extra pounds this holiday season. Because I really enjoyed myself. But I knew that when I returned I was going to go right back to my innovation and, you know, work on it and get myself right back and get the number right back down. it didn’t feel hard and I didn’t feel deprived. I was never out of control or like I was on this merry-go-round of up and down.

This really is so easy to do. And, like Tracy said that you know the muffins are amazing. I’m on the cleanse but I didn’t get to my muffin until like 245 today, just by virtue of my schedule, right, but I mindfully ate my muffin. I’m, you know, satiated. I’m drinking my water and then, you know, have my juice, probably in an hour, and my dinner, and you know that’ll be it. 

Josephine (Host)

Right, I love that. That’s great. I love that you said mindfully ate my muffin. 

Jennifer (Guest)

I savored it. it was delicious. (Laughing)

Josephine (Host)

That is so important. I love that. 

Tracey (Guest)

Josephine I think you talked about once that you eat the crumbs off your muffin.

Josephine (Host)

I do I actually just had mine before the call

Tracey (Guest)

I actually cut my muffin into five thin slices and I eat a slice at a time and sometimes I don’t eat it all at the same time. I’ll eat like maybe two or three slices and then wait a bit. So it’s really been helpful listening again to listen your podcast and hearing how you enjoy the muffins, and like how you eat these innovation foods. I’ve learned so much from you really. 

And one of the other things that I was going to just say is that during the holiday time, both Jen and I, you know, we go out a lot. We go out to dinners a lot, and you know I like my cocktails. 

Josephine (Host)

Yeah, that’s great you have to live that’s a big part of it. 

Tracey (Guest)

And you know, but we were very nervous that you know we were starting to gain a weight that was going to be really hard to come back from, and so we collectively said let’s start doing what we did with Josephine and let’s text each other in the morning and at night the way we did with you. Right, Try to keep ourselves just on track. And it helped. 

Josephine (Host)

I absolutely love that. It’s great. It’s really great because you’re motivating each other, which honestly there is nothing better than that and nothing makes me happier. 

Tracey (Guest)

So I think that for me, especially when it comes to trying to lose weight, which I think is probably one of the hardest things to do, I think actually having someone else to be able to talk to and not be alone in it is really, really helpful. Because, you know, jen and I both have the same situation. We still have kids at home that we have to make dinner for. We have husbands that we’re making dinner for and my husband is never gonna say I wanna do this with you. So, and neither are my kids, although I do have to put a sticky when I would take a muffin out of the freezer and leave it on my counter. 

Jennifer (Guest)

(Laughing) I also have to put a sticky that says do not touch, so my children don’t touch it either. Or when I’m eating them, they’ll say, ooh, can I have some of that? And I say no. Do not touch my food. I only get this much to eat (laughing) 

Josephine (Host)

Yes you only have this much you can’t share (all laughing)

Tracey (Guest)

But having each other and having a friend is helpful and helpful really in the hard times, because there are hard times. It’s not easy. You’ve said that. 

Josephine (Host)

There’s always going to be hard times. You know there are days when it’s easy and days when it’s tough. You have to take advantage of the easy days and try your best on the hard ones.

Jennifer (Guest)

Yes we are doing really well with them.

Josephine (Host)

Yeah, when you can control the days it’s amazing. So Jen what are you doiing now the cleanse (detox)

Jennifer (Guest)

Me. Yeah, I just started the cleanse (detox). I was a not sure about the cleanse because I’m not like the juicing type. And I can’t drink a green juice. But Tracy said no, they’re really good. And so I took the plunge and I had the banana strawberry, yeah, and I like gulped it down. It was so delicious and I’m going to do the apple fire after today.

Josephine (Host)

Okay, good, let me know what your favorite one is. 

Jennifer (Guest)

I will. I’m trying them all. But Tracy’s like the juice person. That wasn’t me. But I started it yesterday and I found it to be very easy and also the juice also very satiating. Did not really feel hungry. I’ve been enjoying that too, and it’s nice to switch it up, because I was doing the five hour for a while and getting a little bored with it, and then maybe this weekend I’ll do the regular innovation. 

Josephine (Host)

Right, right, good, I love it. I love how you mix them all up. Tracey, you’re doing the juice too this week, right? 

Tracey (Guest)

Yeah, well, I actually I think from one of your recent podcasts, when you talked about doing Doubling Down the five hour fast for three days and then the cleanse for two days, and so that’s what I did last week and that’s what I’m doing this week again. It’s really working great. So I did the five hour fast the first three days of the week and this is the second day of the cleanse and I guess for the weekend I will do the regular innovation. 

Josephine (Host)

Perfect. I love that. What would you say is the best advice you can give someone. That’s listening. 

Jennifer (Guest)

You know what I think, and you’ve said this many times and this occurred to me. You know I work but I, like you know, I also exercise in the morning and then I play tennis sometimes and I remember doing the five hour fast and wondering can I get through all the exercise ? You know, like you know, it was one of those days I was light on work and heavier on physical activity and, you know, during the match I’m wondering can I survive on this? And I basically whizzed through everything and didn’t feel like you say this often, I did not feel like I was in deprivation at all and I think it makes you realize you don’t need as much food as you think you do, and you say that a lot. So I would just say you know, try, you know, start with regular innovation and to mix it up, the five hour fast is a great way to show yourself that control. 

Jennifer continues: 

And you say this all the time, and I catch myself with this is one thing is I catch myself wanting to go for food and I say do I need this or do I want this? So when I realized that 99.9% of the time I just want it because there’s nothing else going on, it’s an easier way to stick to the program and walk away from it, because if you really think about stop and mindfully say, do I need this or want this, and you answer that question honestly, you can really stick to the program quite well

Josephine (Host)

I absolutely love that. Wow that is really great. What about you Tracey what would be your advice.?

Tracey (Guest)

I would say two things. The first I would say is to trust the program, to trust the process, because I think that’s the hardest part for people is to really trust, like, a new program that it’s gonna work, to really buy into it. And then the second thing I would say is to not be too hard on yourself, and I think that was the one things that was so important with working with you, is that you were there for accountability, but you were supportive and you were constantly telling me not to beat myself up if I had a bad day, but to try harder next time. And this is what I should be doing. 

Tracey Continues (Guest)

And I think that I tend to be the type of person that if I fall off, and I do think this is common you know, I would go dark and I would avoid the scale or I would go away, as opposed to regrouping and saying, okay, big deal, so I had a bad weekend. I need to move on. So fften it’s a weekend right, not just the cheat day and it’s okay. And now I’ve gotten to a point where I know, if I’ve had a big weekend, and I’m not going to get on the scale on Monday, because that’s only going to make me feel badly and I’m going to get up on Monday and go back to innovation and I’ll weigh myself on Tuesday. But I think that those two things are the most important thing, because I think a lot of people fall into that of having a bad couple of days and then feeling like I got to throw my hands up and I’m done. 

Josephine (Host)

That’s great. Both great advice. I love it. Thank you .

Jennifer (Guest)

Oh my God. Well, it’s all from you. 

Josephine (Host)

Oh, thank you so much makes me so happy to hear that. It’s so, so wonderful.

So now are you guys going away together at the end of the month. 

Tracey (Guest)

I wish Jen was coming. She has to go visit her son at college. 

Jennifer (Guest)

Yeah, it’s Traceys big birthday but it’s also my son’s mom’s weekend at college with his fraternity, and there are only so many of those in life, so I felt like that’s right. 

Josephine (Host)

Yes absolutely you have to go with him. I’m sure you’ll have many celebrations with Tracey in the future. 

Jennifer (Guest)

That’s right. God willing, we’ll be around for many, many more years

Josephine (Host)

Yes, absolutely. Well, that’s so exciting. So you’re ready to go Trace. 

Tracey (Guest)

Well with the weather here in New York. Yes!. That’s the other thing I would say. It’s very hard. Where we live, you know, being it’s cold in the winter. I tend to be a person that when it gets cold and I think a lot of people feel this, you know you feel like you need to eat more becuase it’s cold out, right. So it’s been very hard to stay really on program, you know fully, but I’ve gotten to a number that I’m really happy with. 

Now. I have two weeks and I’m just really like trying to stay really good for the next two weeks and not cheat, and I’ve actually did one thing that was a choice to just not drink this month, and I think that is very helpful, because that’s the other piece of this is that I think when I do have a drink even though I love that the program allows me to have a drink I often will have two, and then that leads to not having as much discipline. 

Jennifer (Guest)

We have to make it out to to you to Innovation on Long Island, we have to make it out to see you. 

Josephine (Host)

OMG I would love that. You both haven’t been in the old store or the new store right?

Jennifer (Guest)

No We haven’t. We’ve got to get out there. 

Tracey (Guest)

Oh my God, I want you to open a satellite store in Westchester, so your stuff would be here and would sell great. Your next business?

I do have a one question for you. so, like Jen, and I never really know, like, what maintenance is, and I feel like you haven’t really talked so much about maintenance. So like I know it’s like you can be a little more, but I’ve never felt that I’m at a maintenance point even though we have both made it to our numbers because we aren’t sure what maintenance is,

Josephine (Host)

Right, okay, so that’s a great, great question and it’s definitely something I should incorporate more, even when I’m doing like my little talks on instagram, I think you are right it would be helpful because a lot of people have been with me for a long time and are in maintenance, you know, but everyone does it so differently and you have to see what works for you.

I would say this is probably the majority Monday through Friday clients are 100% and Saturday and Sunday they’re not full out cheats, but they kind of like are mindfully cheats through the weekend and they go through the weekend and have what they want and enjoy. You know, that’s definitely probably the most popular as far as maintaining. If you do that, remember you may not be the same number on Monday, but you should be the same number by the following Friday. So every Friday your number should be the same if you’re going off on the weekends and then go back on 100% program Monday through Friday. 

Jennifer (Guest)

Oh okay that makes sense so every Friday it should be the same

Tracey (Guest)

Also can maintaining be for someone like me and Jenn the innovation 3 meals and 1 or 2 snacks. 

Josephine (Host)

Yes, absolutely that would be a great maintenance. Im going to do a podcast on all the ways to maintain but those are two great starts

Tracey (Guest)

Got it Okay. 

Josephine (Host)

Have you guys been, you’ve been on vacation doing the program. Or when you went on vacations while you were on program, did you go off completely? 

Jennifer (Guest)

I think I haven’t, I think I haven’t gone on vacations on program.  You know, on it, I usually, like you know, buckle like Tracy’s, like buckling down preparing for vacation. Then I go and I, you know, just, I try and be mindful and make choices but not, you know, like I’ll have a few cocktails, right, and then, knowing that you know I’ll, I’ll reel it in, you know, when I get back. So I don’t weigh myself when I get back, I wait, you know, I wait a few days and then get a baseline and see where I am and then adjust from there, 

Josephine (Host)

That’s perfect, okay. Good. What about you, Tracy, when you go away? Do you ever stay on it? 

Tracey (Guest)

I think that what I do is try to wait to eat my first meal, if I can on vacation and I’m not where you know, my family is having breakfast every morning I will be mindful to make my first meal at lunchtime, you know. So not quite the five hour but a version of it. 

Josephine (Host)

Right. A version of it. That’s good.

Tracey (Guest)

So that I know that I’ll have less control of what my choices are, but I’ll have less meals. So in my mind, that’s still eating in somewhat of a deficit, definitely, without a doubt. I learned so much from your program and Instagram stories, 

And now with the meals and snacks the info you sent me with whats a meal 1,2 or 3 and a snack. I felt like I was always asking Jeff, you know what is this? Is this a meal, is this a snack? Before, and now it’s very well and clear. So thank you for sending that

Josephine (Host)

Oh good, I’m glad. Of course makes me happy that it helps.

Tracey (Guest)

Yes, I have everything printed out, all in different places around my kitchen. And I’m like oh, I’m not doing five hour. Where’s the cleanse (detox) ? 

Jennifer (Guest)

or where’s my regular innovation? (All laughing)

Tracey (Guest)

I need to make a notebook with it now it’s just all in one place. I love it all because of you. Because I love that you really talk about being able to switch it up and going back and forth. That’s what I think, honestly, is the greatest thing. It isn’t just one plan. It’s really like three different options and you can go to either one of those options and have success or keep switching them up as much as you want.

Josephine (Host)

Right, right, which I’m glad. I’m glad that you feel that way, because it’s easy to get bored. And you can’t be bored with weight loss. That’s why, even with the innovation food, I’m constantly changing the food, because you know, when you’re trying to do the right thing, you need the change, you need to feel like you have other new options and it’s something different, you need something new to look forward to, or just something different to look forward to. I realized it’s really important for my clients and customers. I guess if you really think about it that it’s actually the whole name behind innovation. That’s what Innovation means. It means new and change. 

Jennifer (Guest)

Absolutely. Yeah, well, you’re doing that. Thank you, my other piece of advice would be use Josephine. 

Josephine (Host)

Oh, thank you, Thank you. 

Jennifer (Guest)

Consult her, ask her questions, and you’re always so kind and you know, like Tracy said, so you know, when we’re not forgiving with ourselves, you are forgiving with us, Like that means everythinggggg….

Josephine (Host)

Zoom what are you doing to me? Okay, for some reason Zoom cuts us off just while she was saying all these amazing things about me 🙁 How horrible zoom!. 

But I really, really appreciate it. I really appreciate you both. I appreciate you both for being on. Thank you so much. I probably had the time set wrong and it gave us a half hour instead of an hour, but I really do appreciate you both being on. I appreciate all kinds of words. You both look gorgeous, amazing, you’re doing so wonderful and I’m so happy that you feel so good in your body and that you are loving and living the innovation program. Nothing makes me happier all the way from Westchester. So thanks again and I will be talking to you both soon. And happy birthday, Tracey. 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

What is your MARCH GOAL?

With Spring and Summer around the corner – March is a month of Irish kisses and Shamrock wishes and an amazing month to focus on a goal. Yes ONE goal that you want to achieve in March.

What is a goal: A goal is what a person is trying to accomplish, it’s the object or aim of an action. It is usually something that is difficult to achieve, but doable. We know that waiting, wanting and hoping for a goal to happen – does not make it happen. You have to visualize, define and plan your goal. You have to put the work in to get the results. But before you can do that you must know what your specific goal is.  

Your goal must be clear and well defined. Vague or generalized goals are unhelpful because they don’t provide sufficient direction. Your goal should be very specific. The more specific, the easier for your brain to achieve it. Your goal should also have a deadline – in this case our deadline will be March 31. What do you want to achieve by March 31? 

Why only one goal: Choosing one goal will allow you to decide which area you want to work on first to best improve your life! What is most important for you to achieve right now? What will make you happy? What will make you feel good? What will improve your life both mentally and physically the most.  

When you make the decision to go after one goal with a deadline it will also help you gain a sense of purpose. With purpose, we can better focus on what we want to accomplish in our day – knowing each day is attributing to this one goal. This purpose gives us drive and motivation to keep pushing! 

TIP: you want to keep the goal doable. It’s one month that you have to achieve this goal. So think of it like a mini goal each month that will keep adding up and contribute to your big goal.  

So what is your specific goal for March? 

Here are some examples: 

• Fit into a specific size pants by March 31
• Fit into your favorite shorts or bathing suit
• Maybe it’s to clean up your weekends and only have one cheat day a week and not 3 mini ones.
• Stick to your meals and snacks without eating in between
• Fasting and eating only in the 5 hour period each day. 
• Exercise 5 days a week
• Run 1 mile everyday 
• Text Josephine EVERY night
• Lose 10 lbs (2 lbs a week) 

Once you figure out what your ONE specific goal is – then you can put all your focus on achieving it.

Goals should always be challenging, they should force you to leave your comfort zone. Contrary to what may seem, when a goal is difficult it actually generates more concentration and is more likely to be achieved. Of course they also need to be realistic and doable. They have to be possible.

Once you decide on what your goal is for March – now you have to put the work in. Any goal requires determination, discipline and a lot of hard work. Like I mentioned earlier – you will never reach a goal by just wanting or wishing for it.  

Bottom line is Action: You know your goal now you plan each day for it. You prepare how you are going to achieve it and you follow through everyday with your plan. If your goal is to do the 5 hr fasting — then you know it will require you to plan your hours that you will fast – and you have to know what you are eating each day and you have to follow through with that plan.  It’s always going to be more than just having a goal and all about putting the action in to achieving that goal.  

Final thoughts……Know your specific goal — put all your focus on it and work hard everyday for it – you will feel so accomplished and thrilled when March 31 comes around (so quickly) and you have one of your mini goals achieved and you will be ready to plan your next goal for April. 

“The difference between who you are and who you want to be is What you do”

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick