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Tag: josephine fitzpatrick

Choicesdieteatcleanfeel goodgoalshappyhealthyHealthy TipsLifestyleMotivationSUMMERweight loss

COMMITTED TO YOUR GOAL NOT YOUR EXCUSES

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]ARE YOU COMMITTED TO YOUR GOAL OR YOUR EXCUSES? [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]What does the word commitment suggest?  It usually evokes a strong sense of intention and focus. It typically is accompanied by a statement of purpose or a plan of action. Very often, we utilize this word in regard to promises we may make about the seriousness of something like weight loss, work or relationships. The difficulty is when it comes to weight loss we sometimes ignore the process necessary to achieve that goal. If we learn to commit fully to the process then the outcomes will be what they should be. But, if we commit to the process only to give in to temptation and excuses – then you will be left frustrated and uncomfortable in your skin. So I ask you again – are you committed to your goals or your excuses?[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]You know what the best thing is about the Innovation program? You can literally go back on and follow your menu and within a couple of days you already feel lighter and healthier. You instantly get that self control back and you know that if you stay on, then in just a couple of weeks you will lose weight and feel great again. In fact, the program works so well that many times you go on and as soon as you start losing weight and feeling great you start to find excuses why you need to go off again. So  the issue isn’t how to lose the weight – we know we can go on program lose the weight and feel great – the issue is how to keep doing the right thing and stick to the commitment and walk away from the temptations and excuses.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]There are many reasons we lose our commitment: We all have insecurities and doubts. The temptations and excuses are always there so that anytime they can sway you from doing good to bad. Your doubts and anxiety are there because life is hard and it’s just so much easier to give in then to work hard everyday and do the right thing. But you always have to remind yourself – is that what you want? Yes, it’s easy to give in – we can always find more excuses to go off program than stay on program — but only after you give in and you find yourself in the place of uncomfortable misery of being bloated, thick and over weight is when you realize it’s not easy anymore. In fact, now you made it harder than it was before. You see, the truth is when we are hungry we want to believe that eating more will make it better. But it does’t. It’s as soon as we eat “ off program” that we realize we only wanted it because we couldn’t have it. Once we eat it we don’t feel better – we actually feel worse. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]OFF AND ON: In the moment you believe that you will just go off and then go right back on. But reality is there is no “off” and “on” there is only “six” and “one”. Six is to stay on program and be the best you can be. Stay mindful, make the right choices, lose weight and when temptation hits and the little devil on your shoulder tells you to do the wrong thing that is when you have to be the strongest – you need to be a SHARK. It’s at that time that you have to remind yourself that it’s not the food that you want. What you want is to fit in your bathing suit this summer and go to the beach without feeling like you wish you were someone else. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]LIFE IS EASIER ON PROGRAM: The truth is life is easier when you do the right thing. I know so many of you know this. Even when the scale doesn’t move as much as we want we just feel so much better- in control – lighter and healthier. We have no stomach aches and our body feels like it’s running properly. So it should be a no-brainer to stay committed to what makes us feel so good. Yet, temptation will always be knocking on the door……. and it will always be easier to make an excuse to do the wrong thing. Everyone can come up with reasons and excuses to cheat. But what you have to remind yourself is not everyone does. That is the moment that separates the successful from the unsuccessful — and the committed from the excuse makers. The clients who are successful keep it to one day. No matter what – it’s one day off. When temptation came they fought hard and remembered what their own commitment to their goal is. They Cheat one day a week and do not find reasons why they deserve more. They don’t give in. They know what is important to them and it’s not the food on the table. They know eating off program is not the answer to their happiness. That doesn’t mean it’s not hard. Life is hard and success is harder. But they fight for what they want and they stick to it and stay on the healthy path. They know that if they see something they really want they will save it for their Cheat Day. They walk away from the temptations and never give the excuses the time of day— because they love to live healthy. They love to feel good. They love to feel in control and they love that their clothes fit them. And most of all they never have to worry about when they are going back on program – because they never give excuses to go off.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF:  Obstacles will naturally arise that will try to knock you off your path. But being true to yourself means facing all obstacles, fighting through them with good decisions and continuing on your path even in the face of the most difficult adversity. You must continue to be guided by what you want your outcome to be. No matter what is happening you have to ask yourself is this worth going off program. Is this going to make me happy. — Choose your hard. Is it harder to walk away and be hungry? Or is it harder to give in – eat it and deal with the fact that you gave in to the temptation & excuses (and most likely still be hungry).[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]WALK AWAYIT’S ALWAYS EASIER TO WALK AWAY
AND THE OUTCOME IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE BETTER[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]One thing we all know is that when you are in a good place mentally and physically you are a happier person.  When you are committed to living healthy and eating clean and feeling amazing in your body – it’s life changing. I see it everyday the transformations that take place week after week. It’s the most amazing sight to see someone who goes from being unhappy in their body to loving how they look and feel. — And if you want to feel that – there is absolutely no reason you shouldn’t have it.  The only thing that is stopping you is your commitment to yourself. You have to stop making excuses. You have to work hard and give it 100% everyday. Because your health and happiness is one thing that is always worth working hard and staying committed to everyday. Love the mind and body you live in.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]RESULTS COME FROM COMMITMENT NOT EXCUSES.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small] 
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
eatcleanExercisefeel goodgoalshappyhealthyHealthy TipsLifestyleMotivationweight loss

HARD WORK = RESULTS

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]KEEP IT SIMPLE 
NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU WANT
HARD WORK = RESULTS[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Think about this past week whether you were on vacation or home – how did you feel? Did you work hard to get to where you want to be and felt amazing? Or did you wish you would have been in a better place? Do you wish you would have worked harder and followed stricter? You see when it comes to weight loss, the closer you follow the more you lose. So when you do the right things that’s when good things and great changes happen.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE STRUGGLING THIS WEEK – HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO GET RIGHT BACK ON TRACK: [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]1) Go back to your menu! That’s right, go back to your meals and snacks and stop looking for things to be exciting. Pick one of your snacks a day that you look forward to and promise yourself that if your day is 110% then you will have that last on program snack. Whether it’s the chocolate nuts, or a glass of wine. Have something that you look forward to just like you look forward to your Cheat Day at the end of the week – look forward to your on program snack each day. That one thing will keep your day clean and on program, just like the Cheat Day keeps your week clean and on program.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]2) From More to Less: Whether you are just starting the weight loss program, returning to it, or coming back from vacation — going from eating more to eating less than your body needs is going to feel like a little torture the first week back. This is when your mental power needs to set in and you talk to yourself everyday reminding yourself what your goal is and how good you feel when you follow and stay on program. Remind yourself that while it will feel really hard it will get easier and you will FEEL BETTER both mentally and physically by the end of the week. Remind yourself that the Cheat Day only works and is only worth it when the other 6 days are 110% on program.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]3) Have a reason, have a goal! Why is this important to you? Is it your health – the way you feel – the way you look. It doesn’t matter what it is — as long as it’s import to you. If it’s important to you then you will do whatever you have to in order to get there. Do you want to wear a skinny jeans, shorts, bathing suit this summer – NO COVER UPS? Taking your shirt off at the beach? At the end of the day, no one can do this but you. So whatever your reason is— it has to be important to you.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]4)  Have a specific goal, long term and short term: Your short term goals will help you reach your long term goals. If you are 147 and want to be 110 don’t look at the entire weight that you have to lose. It’s too over whelming. Start with the short term that you want to get to the 139.9 and get out of the 140s. It’s easier to focus on and you know while it’s not the true goal you will still be beyond thrilled when you see it. When you reach 139.9 your next goal is 129.9, and so on. It gives you realistic expectations that are very doable in a faster pace. You will feel like you are reaching your goals quicker, and at the same time these short term goals are taking you to your long term goal. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]5) Have a Vision: Know what you want and take a few minutes everyday to visualize yourself in that position. Reminding yourself everyday and visualizing what you want and how you want to look and feel is an important part of reaching your goals. Our mind is so mentally strong. When you keep telling yourself what you want and that you can do it – you will believe it. Visualize how you want to look and what you want to wear. Think about yourself on the beach this summer or in a specific outfit when you are attending a special event. Stay focused on anything that will keep you motivated.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]6) Keep it Positive: I have said it over and over that you need to be positive. Don’t focus on what you don’t want – ONLY focus on what you do want – it’s a key to any success. Don’t follow the negative or the negative people. There are plenty of people who don’t want to put the work in and who don’t want you to either. You leave them to their own misery and don’t fall prey to the “misery loves company”. Stay strong and stay positive and you will overcome. Positive thinking will take you twice the distance as negative thinking. “I will do this! I want this!! I can’t wait to wear that!!! When my jacket comes off this spring I will feel amazing! I love feeling healthy!! I am not afraid to go to the doctor and see my numbers, I’m actually excited to see and hear the results of my blood work!”[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]7) People don’t become successful by accident: Always remember that no one is successful by accident. 99.9 % of people who have success in their life work for it day and night. Whether that success is in your family, friends, work, weight loss, health… to have the very best and be the best – you need to work at it, think about it, plan for it and keep working at it. It takes dedication, it take perseverance and more than anything it takes want.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]FINAL THOUGHTS: It’s easy to give up, it’s easy to gain, it’s easy to blame, and it’s easy to make excuses – any one of us can do any of those things. But none will make you happy. Just because your vacation is over – your life isn’t. Keep working hard everyday for what you want because that’s how you will see continued results and that’s when you feel your best. Work hard =happy; Plan = happy; Feel amazing = happy; Clothes fit = happy; Results = happy! If you want to be happy, put the time and work in like everyone else. It all comes down to what you want and how much you want it and how hard you are willing to work for it. Always remember in order to really enjoy the playing you have to make sure you have the work in – and this goes for every area of your life not just weight loss and health. At the end of the day, we are in control of what we want and what we are willing to work for. If you want to be amazing – be amazing! If you want to feel fabulous – then work for it and feel fabulous! If you want to be happy then work hard at what will make you happy. We are all very lucky because in almost every area of our life we have the ability to work hard to get what we want. Don’t look back in a month or three months and say I should have, I could have – why didn’t I?[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]THERE ARE ONLY 24 HOURS IN A DAY
USE THEM TO WORK HARD FOR WHAT YOU WANT
MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT WASTING ONE SECOND ON BEING ANYTHING BUT
LOVING, CARING, POSITIVE AND MOTIVATED![dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
Choicesclean eatingdieteatcleanExercisefamilyfeel goodgoalshappyhealthyHealthy TipsholidaysLifestyleMotivationweight loss

Choose Your Battles

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

Passover Week

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]This Saturday March 27th, marks the first night of Passover. This week long holiday is a celebration of freedom in the Jewish faith, with traditions including celebratory meals and symbolic foods and restrictions. This can be a tough time for many of us, trying to navigate the dietary changes, staying on program and also being faced with huge feasts. Many of you will choose one of the days this weekend as your Cheat Day, but as usual the celebrating will probably last for more than just one day. Now is the time to plan out your week, weekend and be ready to get back on track next week. Don’t let things surprise you – you should have your family dinners and holiday celebrations planned so there is no reason for you to be unprepared. Some of us may be more restricted than others for the holiday, but it’s always possible find healthy and clean alternatives that fit into your Passover plans, such as these suggestions and recipes below.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]

Green Shakshuka

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Shakshuka is a middle Eastern dish traditionally made with poached eggs in tomato sauce and spices. In this clean version, it features egg whites, onion, spinach and spices. Perfect breakfast option![dt_sc_hr_invisible_small] [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Ingredients:

•1 onion

•1 lb bag of spinach (fresh or frozen)

•1/2 tsp paprika

•1/2 tsp cinnamon

•1/2 tsp coriander

•2 tsp cumin

•Salt to taste

•1 tbsp oil

•Egg whites (depends on size of skillet)

 DIRECTIONS:

1. Dice the onion.

2. Heat skillet and add onions and spices. Cook until onion is soft.

3. Add spinach and allow all to cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Make spaces in the spinach to hold the egg whites so they don’t run all over. Cook on low-medium heat until eggs are cooked thoroughly.

5. Remove skillet from heat and serve. 4 egg white is 1 meal serving.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]

Root Vegetable Medley

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Bring together traditional root vegetables in this new way for an exciting and delicious festive dish.

Ingredients:

•2 red onions, diced

•2 cloves of garlic, chopped

•2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

•1 lb carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces

•1 lb beets, peeled and cut into wedges

•1 lb celeriac, peeled and cubed

•Zest of 1 lemon

•Zest of 1 orange

•2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme

•2 tbsp chopped fresh savory

•1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon

•Salt and pepper

•1/2 tsp ground coriander

•Cooking spray

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 375 F and coat large casserole dish with cooking spray.

2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, spray with cooking spray then add onions and garlic. Sauté until soft and starting to brown, about 10 minutes.

3. Transfer this mixture to a large bowl then add sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, celeriac, lemon zest, orange zest, thyme, savory and tarragon. Season with salt and pepper and toss. Spoon into casserole dish.

4. Bake for 1 hour, or until vegetables are tender. 1/2 cup serving is one side.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]

Lemon Mousse

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Ingredients:

•One 4-serving size package of Jell-O  vanilla pudding mix

•2 cups skim milk

•1 packet Crystal Light Lemonade powdered drink mix (the size that makes 1 pitcher)

•One 12 oz container of low fat Cool Whip

1. Add pudding mix and milk into a medium bowl and beat until smooth and thick.

2. Beat in lemonade mix until combined.

3. Fold in Cool Whip.

4. Chill before serving. 1 cup serving is one dessert/snack.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]CAN I HAVE MATZAH? YES!

MATZAH – 2 Matzah with 1 tbsp of peanut, almond or Sun Butter,  light cream cheese or 1/2 avocado = meal

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

fruit or 1 cup of fruit = meal

MATZAH AND EGGS – one Matzah with 3 egg whites = meal

•1/2 container Light tuna or chicken salad or egg white salad with 1 matzah = meal

• 1 slices of low fat cheese or 1 light part skim cheese stick with 1 Matzah  =. Cat 3 Snack or you can do 2 slices with 2 matzah as a meal 

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Matzah is only once a day and remember never eat just to eat. If you don’t need it, don’t eat it. You don’t want to end the night feeling bloated and sick. Like you over did it and you regret it. Instead, you want to end the holiday feeling amazing and in control. You will enjoy the food, but also what is really important – the company and the celebration.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Have a Happy Passover and Safe Travels to everyone going away!

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]

clean eatingdieteatcleanExercisefeel goodgoalshappyHealthy TipsLifestyleMotivationweight loss

IT’S ALL ABOUT CONTROL

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]IT’S ALL ABOUT CONTROL[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]YAY! The CLOCKS have changed! What does the time change mean? It’s the first sure sign that the warmer weather will be approaching. Might not be today, this week or even next week— but it will be soon. In NY we will go from 30 degrees today to 70 by next Saturday. It happens so fast that even after such a harsh NY winter- many of you will still wish you had more time. But the truth is – you do have more time. Every day is more time. Every day adds on to the great day you had the day before. Even when you haven’t been perfect, the consistency of when you decide to start being 100% will make all the difference. Just don’t let another day go by with pushing it off and having that last extra thing or starting tomorrow. Because the difference from doing it today or waiting another day or week will show the results in the scale. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]HAPPINESS: If I noticed one thing this past week more than anything else it’s the happiness and excitement of all of you who are doing so well. Maybe it’s because right now with spring approaching you are all so excited to take the coats off and show your hard work. Maybe it’s the excitement I feel through the text when you have hit the next number or feeling the sense of control that you have over what you are doing and the choices you are making. Maybe it’s because you love when I post your results on Sundays — maybe it’s all of the above. What I will tell you is I love it. I truly love to hear you so excited about where you are and where you are going. . It’s such an amazing feeling to have so many clients text that they are in such a great place. It’s life changing when you can wake up and feel that control over what you are doing – the control over the scale – the control of staying on program. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]There is no reason that you should not be one of these clients. I know this program is so very doable. I’m not telling you to do something that you can’t do. You have the tools, the support, the food and the Cheat Day. Every client that has been successful on program all say the same thing – the program is so doable and they found it so much easier than anything they have 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.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Quick little story: This past week I was talking to one of my clients who has reached her goal. She is going away at the end of March for Spring Break, so she was just so beyond excited to be able to feel good in her bathing suit. We were talking about when she started and the best way for me to explain it is — it was like standing at the bottom of the mountain. She couldn’t see the top but she wanted so much to get there. But the mountain was steep so every time she did a quick fix diet she kept sliding back down to where she started. But once she started the Innovation program and her first initial weight loss week where she lost 4lbs, she continued and went to 1-2 lbs a week. Slow and steady and most important in control. Well that is easy to say now but at the time she thought she would never see the top of the Mountain. The thing is slow and steady takes patience, and we know how hard that is when it comes to weight loss. The reason patience in weight loss is so hard is because [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]1) We want to see immediate results.  We have committed to the program – now we just want the weight off. But we know it doesn’t work like that. Just because you decided to lose weight – doesn’t mean it just falls off your body. Once you commit now the real work starts. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
 [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]2) Often times deep down we want it to be over so we can go back to our old habits. We just want all the weight off so we don’t have to be in that controlled state of losing weight. But we know that control can never end because once you go back to the bad habits is when the weight will come right back on.
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]I can’t even tell you how many times she cried real tears because she would see 1lb and she felt like she just worked so hard for that 1lb – and she did work hard. Every 100% week on program is hard work. But just because you are working so hard — your body has to get rid of body fat and it takes time and consistency. I explained to her we are not dealing with water weight anymore we are dealing with real fat and that’s why the program works so well. You either keep playing with the same 3 lbs losing and gaining water weight — or you work consistently hard and get rid of the real fat. But it takes a slow and steady process to get rid of real fat. And some weeks that is just hard to handle. And trust me she threw every excuse in the book – it’s her kids, it’s because she went through menopause early, it’s her thyroid …. And yes the truth is somethings in life make it harder —  but not impossible, and that is what she had to keep believing. Even though it was hard every week she trusted me and trusted the program. And slowly she climbed the mountain and now with 2 weeks from Spring Break she has lost 36.5 lbs. and looks absolutely amazing. She looks 10 years younger and she feels 10 years younger. She is at her lowest weight in her lifetime- even before she had kids. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]THE PROCESS: What I found so interesting through the process that I saw with her and often see with so many of you – is the change throughout the program. This is the part I really want you to remember especially if you are struggling now or new to the program. The beginning of anything is always difficult. You are mentally trying to get back to healthy eating, you are eating less than your body needs so you are hungry, and to top it off you are seeing 1-2 lbs a week so it feels like it’s going to take forever. But then all of a sudden I see the shift. The shift is the feeling of control I start to see in you – when you recognize the balance you have created in your life with the 6 on program days and the 1 cheat day. When you recognize and feel the 1-2 lbs a week adding up and all of a sudden it’s all okay. You realize how life changing it is and how you feel so good in your body and on this path where you feel excited and happy all the time. And most important I see that you recognize your own capability and strength on what you can accomplish and how you are mentally and physically in a strong place – you are no longer doing the program you are living the program and you love it. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]FEELING GOOD: I can tell you I see it everyday and when you are feeling good with where you are and how you are eating and in control and feeling just lighter healthier thinner – you are a different person. You are different to yourself, your friends, your family, your spouse – you are just happy. When you are happy things don’t bother you like they would when you are unhappy. It makes perfect sense when you think about it. Something someone says to you that may not be nice when you are feeling out of control and heavy is going to affect you a lot differently when you are in a good place – and you are in control and feeling healthier, lighter and happier. When you feel good you are even happier and kinder to yourself. My point is, you have the control to be happy, you have the strength to be in control and to make sure your days are good and you are choosing the right things and feeling good about yourself. No one has that control except you. When you approach the world and the people around you whether it’s work, family, friends or just acquaintances and you are in a healthy, happy control state of mind you will respond that way. And of course when you are not – and you are out of control with your food, and not feeling healthy or in a good place and feeling heavy and thick – you will respond to those around you the same way you feel. At the end of the day, the way you act and present yourself to the world is the way you feel – and the way you feel is a result of the way you are taking care of yourself and feeding yourself from the inside out. Make the right choices and it will change your life [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]IT’S HERE AND NOW: If you want to be Happy then make yourself Happy!! If you want the control of your day then follow the program. At the end of the day it’s your actions, your will and your want that will decide the outcome of what you do. I will tell you this – it’s here and it’s now and if you haven’t started then you should start and if you have started but have not been 110% then it’s time to be 110% – because spring is here and summer is coming and it is not going to wait for you. Do not waste these months and this time you have right now to do the right thing.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]WHEN YOU ARE HAPPY
AND YOU HAVE CONTROL
IT’S LIFE CHANGING[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
Choicesclean eatingExercisefamilyfeel goodgoalshappyhealthyHealthy TipsLifestyleMotivationweight loss

Are you ready for March?

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]ARE YOU READY FOR MARCH?
YES YOU ARE….[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Spring is coming and everyone has lots of different emotions…. happy, sad, determined, mad, excited, disappointed… You name it and I am addressing it with clients. What we have learned so far is when you are in quarantine and go through something like Covid most of the time the results have not been pretty. It was a given that at some point you didn’t do the right thing for longer than a moment. How big or bad was very individualized across the board. However, while many of you got right back on in the Fall and Winter and have tried your best – some still struggle everyday from the affects of it all. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]I want you to first know – it’s okay. Whatever you did or where you are the most important thing right now is to put it behind you and get back on program – no excuses, just do it. Get back on your program and fight hard for what you want. You have 5 weeks of March that will give you an amazing start and if you do the right things can take you to a very happy place. For those of you that have been amazing – keep going you have the head start – don’t stop, don’t look back – stay mindful and enjoy and be motivated by the mental and physical changes you are making everyday. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Short Term goal – where do you want to be April 1? 
One pound a week = 5lbs
Long Term goal – where do you want to be Memorial Day?
One pound a week = 18 lbs[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]We all need goals – they are motivation to take us where we are today and where we want to go. Our short term goals help us reach our long term goals. But you have to start now the more you put it off the longer it will take you to get to where you want to be.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]FOOD AND EMOTIONS: Don’t let the past hurt your efforts today. Food plays with emotions and feeling in the most drastic way. It can make you ride an emotional roller coaster that if not thought out can ruin your efforts quickly. I have seen the most dedicated people cave after one drink. I have also seen the most dedicated eat out of fear and boredom from quarantine. What you have to remember is when you emotional eat that also gives you negative emotions. You eat because of your emotions – and then you over eat more because you are sad your emotions made you eat. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]It’s not the food that made you gain – it’s what you are doing with the food and how you are abusing it that creates the emotional roller coaster and results. The best thing you can do is learn from it. What made you feel good and what made you feel instantly bad. And most important how you feel today. Where are you and where do you want to go…[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]STAYING IN YOUR POWER: We have been talking a lot about the importance of staying in your power. Your power is your choices. When you make the choice to stay on program and follow your menu and exercise – you are staying in your power. When you make the choice to go off program because of stress, anxiety, alcohol, just simply in a bad mood – then you are giving your power away to your emotions. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Being in your power means mustering up the ability to handle your emotions mindfully. It means breaking free from anything that holds you back and makes you feel mentally and emotionally powerless. Staying in your Power is a kind of mental toughness that we need to bring to every situation. It’s the ability to take decisive and deliberate action toward a desired goal. It’s about living life intentionally with a sense of purpose and effectively managing your boundaries and fighting through the unhelpful thoughts that often sabotage your progress[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]How do you stay in your power:[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
  • Control your mindset. We have spoken about it in the past – you need to be mindful at all times if you want to reach your goals. Staying in your power requires having the ability to adapt to changing conditions and circumstances. It requires being proactive and staying mindful of your thoughts, choices, and actions. Only when we’re mindful can we see things clearly, and therefore adapt accordingly to the conditions of our life. When you are mindful you are not grabbing and eating – instead you take that one second – that one breath to think about if this is what you really want to do at that moment.
  • Take responsibility for your life: Don’t blame others, and absolutely do not cry about your weight. No one wants to hear it. Everyone is crying about their own problems. Instead take responsibility and work hard for what you want. Don’t talk about it – show your results with actions. Plan, Prepare and follow through and work hard everyday for what you want. There are no short cuts- just hard work and no excuses. When you take responsibility for your life and circumstances, you naturally feel empowered no matter what happens.
  • Choose to be happy: Everyday is a choice to be happy. When you choose to stay on program and do the right thing it’s the same thing as choosing to be happy today. We know when you follow your menu and stick to your meals and snacks you feel your very best. When you text me and say I had a great day today – that means you chose to be happy today. You knew doing the right thing was going to keep you in a happy place. You followed your menu and when your head hit the pillow you felt great – which made you wake up happy. The choice to be happy is your choice everyday to make and you do it by following what makes you feel your best [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]My Final thoughts…. No matter what’s happening around us, doesn’t change what goes on inside us. When you have clarity about what’s most important to you it helps you stay grounded and focused when temptation comes your way. And it will come – temptation will always be there. But when you are mentally ready for it – there will be no stopping you. When we are able to stay mindful and stay in our power, we naturally feel more confident and in control of our lives. The control is what is most important. When we are in control is when we see and feel the best results both mentally and physically. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible]You are ready for March! Don’t let the days slip away – make the most of each one and choose happiness.[dt_sc_hr_invisible]
You can not make positive changes to yesterday 
But you can make them today tomorrow and the next day.
~Love to Live Healthy With Josephine Fitzpatrick
Choicesclean eatingExercisefamilyfeel goodgoalshealthyHealthy TipsLifestyleMotivationweight loss

MINDSET – BE OBSESSIVE

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]MINDSET
BE OBSESSIVE[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]With February coming to an end and beautiful Spring approaching we are going into MARCH with a Healthy Positive Mindset of OBSESSION.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]When you hear the word OBSESSIVE – you may think that’s a bad thing. But that’s only true when you’re obsessing over something that’s not healthy. The truth is obsession is an absolutely positive quality when it comes to improvement – and that is exactly the case when it comes to your mind, body, health and weight. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]If you want to be successful you have to be obsessive about it. Obsession can be a powerful and positive mental state. An obsession, by definition, is something that excessively preoccupies the mind. So if you are asking yourself is it healthy to be obsessive about something the answer is absolutely – especially if that obsession is an obsession to improve yourself – it’s not only healthy it’s also very motivating[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]We have all seen the obsessive people. You know the clients who are “on program” every week. If it’s not their cheat day they don’t cheat. They don’t make excuses and they don’t look to blame others – they own it. They are okay with being uncomfortable. They know what they want and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. They are aware everyday of how much this means to them and they are willing to work for it every day.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]So how do we become obsessive about what we want. Most of us are naturally goal-striving. We experience more satisfaction and joy from striving to achieve our goals than we do from actually achieving them. When we check the scale at the end of the week and see that all our sacrifices paid off in a 1-2 pounds loss, it feels amazing. Small successes are motivating, and they help us stay focused. These small successes also feed our obsession to keep striving and improving. So start with small goals and be obsessed about reaching them.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Here are some tips on how to become obsessive to achieve your dreams and goals:
  1. Make your dreams deeply enrooted and emotional. Making a committed decision about who you want to become and then working every day to become that person. It has to be emotional to you. Once you start living in harmony with your emotions it will create the actions needed, you’ll no longer have to rely on willpower. Because it’s so emotionally important to you – you’ll know what you need to do and just do it. The time you used to spend thinking if you should or shouldn’t will not exist. When you are obsessed about it – you just do it.
  2. Don’t let yourself get distracted. Obsession with improvement means that every day, without fail, you will relentlessly focus on completing your day and reaching your goal. You will do whatever it takes.
  3. Your obsessions should be what you are craving for. You know when you have a craving – your focus becomes on satisfying the craving. Let’s say you wake up in the morning with a craving for a latte. It’s the only thing you’re currently concerned about. As a result, you grab your keys and head to your local coffee shop to satisfy your craving.  Successful people have this feeling on a daily basis. But the cravings are on their dream and goals. When they want something, they devote their entire focus and energy to making it a reality. Until they achieve their goal, they’re not focused on anything else. Make your obsession your craving. If you want to lose weight don’t only want it crave for it. Crave for it like you would anything else in your life big or small. Make it your obsession to reach it.
  4. Make yourself a priority and stop blaming time: One of the  most common excuse people will often make is, “I don’t have enough time” but the last time I checked everyone lives by the same 24 hours. So why is it then that some people are able to accomplish so much more than others? The answer is because they live by their priorities and do only that which is most important. So make yourself a top priority. It’s not selfish it’s necessary.
  5. Stop the Excuses. I can never say this one enough…. like all other thoughts, excuses are only our perception of reality. They are not the truth, but rather just the reasons we tell ourselves for why we did or didn’t do something. Excuses are the little stories we try to make ourself believe why we decided not to do something and why we didn’t follow through with what we planned. Stop making them.
[dt_sc_hr_invisible]My Final Thoughts: I suggest that you become obsessed about living the life you want – otherwise, you are going to spend a lifetime being obsessed with making up excuses as to why you didn’t live it. It’s important to stop waiting for success and instead start approaching it as a duty, obligation, and responsibility.  The people I know who are at the top of their game didn’t get there by wanting to be better, they are there because they are obsessed with wanting it. And listen I know there are a lot of people who will disagree with me, and that’s okay. Everyone has to have their own beliefs and thoughts on what is important to them. But from what I see – when you take care of yourself and feel your best it gives you confidence and courage to live the life that makes you the happiest. And because of all the temptation in the world – you have to be obsessed about your goals and dreams because there is just too many distractions to take you off your path. And before you know it months and years have gone by and you are still trying to accomplish the same thing. Don’t do that to yourself. Be obsessive about what you want and reach that goal. When you reach it then you can move on to the next goal and next dream. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]I’ve learned it’s always a choice – your choice.
You can tell yourself all the excuses in the world about why you can’t do the things you supposedly feel are so important, but no excuse exists that can or will get you what you want. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
ChoiceseatcleangoalshealthyHealthy TipsLifestyleMotivationweight loss

CLEAN SLATE – OPEN PATH

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]NEW YEAR – CLEAN SLATE[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]A fresh start, a clean slate, a New Year. Such ideas hold great promise for everyone. Surely the world yearns for the ability and the occasion to start anew. When you have a clean slate you are moving forward and leaving the past in the past. You have the opportunity to leave mistakes in the past and focus only on the present. While it’s a thrilling concept we must remember it only benefits us if we actually do it.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]FOCUS: You have started fresh this week and now what you do from here all depends on you. Only you have the control to achieve what you want and to reach your goals. Your clean slate has put you on an open path. But we can’t forget life will always be life and that comes with challenges. You have to stay focused and remember that some days the path will be blocked and shrouded with uncertainty. Other days, the path will be clear and you will move forward and everything will feel right. The difference between those who make it and those who don’t is the ability to stay centered and stay on the path even on the uncertain challenging days. When you keep moving forward even if it’s a little slower you will eventually end up where you want to go. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]SOMETHING EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT:[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]We have 30 weeks until 4th of July. If you only lose one pound a week that is 30lbs less than where you are today by July 4th.  That’s not only very doable it’s very exciting.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]It’s 15 weeks until April 21st. If you lose only 1lb a week by April 21 (which is just about one month into spring) that’s 15lbs. Again very doable and very exciting. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Now let’s double it. If you have a lot of weight to lose and you do 2 lbs a week that is 60lbs by July 4 and 30lbs by April 21.  WOW! Super Exciting.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]The reason Im listing these is because I want you to see it written down. This is what you have the ability to do right now with your clean slate. This is where your clean slate and your open path can take you if you let it. Sometimes when we are eating for weight loss but you only see the healthy 1 or 2 lbs a week loss you may think you are not getting anywhere, when in fact you are on your way to success! I want you to understand the importance that consistency is and where that 1- 2lbs of weekly weight loss is going to take you if you consistently put the work in. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]We live in a society that prefers instant gratification and pleasure. 
But the real results come in time, patience and consistency. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Here are some tips to help you through the challenging days and keep your slate clean:[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]WHY? Getting out of your comfort zone is, well, uncomfortable, and the tendency is always going to be to retreat back into what is familiar and comfortable. When we feel a little hungry In order for you to feel motivated to push through the pain of change, and for it all to be worthwhile, you need to know why you’re doing it. That means being very clear on your reasons why. What are your specific goals and why is it so important on you reaching them. Write them down. Do you feel uncomfortable? You want to be healthier? Are you unhappy? Or maybe you remember last summer when you were in a cover up and promised yourself you were going to not be in one this year. Whatever the reasons – be clear in your mind on “why” this is so important to you and how you will feel this Spring and Summer if you don’t do it.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]WHAT’S THE WORST? Consider the worst case scenario – what if you don’t do it this year? What if you keep letting the temptation get to you and every day at some point you give up only to restart again the next day. What’s the worst case — you will either stay where you are now or most likely you will slowly keep gaining. How will that make you feel? Think about this Spring and Summer – how will it affect your mood, your thoughts, your days? Considering the worst case scenario can help you determine how important this is to you and how important it will be if you don’t do it.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Final Thoughts….Don’t fall into the trap of becoming comfortable with simply existing. You must want and love putting the work in to get results. It’s okay to feel both the pain and pleasure of working hard for something. For example let’s take weight loss – It’s uncomfortable and there are days you have to walk away from what you really want. I think we can all agree there is pain involved. Both mental and physical pain. It’s not easy to walk away from something you want. But the results of doing it are beyond amazing. The feeling of waking up healthy, light and thin. Grabbing anything in your closet and it fits and feels good. Your confidence is high and your days are always great. You feel healthy. You feel like you can face anything and get through it. And you feel this way all because your body and mind feel good. When your body is in a good place your mind is in a happy place. When you feel good you are happy and when you are happy you always look amazing. There is nothing more beautiful then a happy confident person. When you are comfortable in your own skin – it makes all the little uncomfortable times worth it. But in order to get to this amazing feeling you need to work hard and feel the little pains of being uncomfortable. I promise you if you stay strong and walk away the pain will pass and the results will show. It all starts with your clean slate and open path.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Whatever your past has been –Your future is spotless.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
familyfeel goodhappyHealthy TipsholidaysLifestyleMotivationweight loss

WINTERPAUSE

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]How can one week be so easy to stay on program and then next week be so hard?! Everyone is struggling this week between Christmas and New Years and that is okay. We are in a time of transition. One year is ending and another beginning. Holidays, kids home, mini vacations…. All fun things but hard to stay on program when you are not on your normal schedule. When you find yourself in this pattern you need to just continue moving forward. Stay mindful and continue to make the very best choices that are available. Even if they are not as good as you would like, they will be better than if you are not mindful at all. Stay positive and remember a 50/50 day is better than 100% off program day. Remind yourself this is the week where we have happy times and hopeful times. It’s about family, love, laughter, health and a little down time to rest the brain. But it’s also not about treating everyday like a Cheat Day. This is the balance that we will always strive to master. Sometimes it’s easy sometimes it’s the most difficult thing to do. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]If you find that you have let yourself make bad or hasty decisions in the last couple of days or weeks – you need to let it go and just move on. Don’t waste energy or time on things you did wrong or how good you did and then ruined it. Focus on the here and now. It doesn’t matter if it was two minutes ago or two days ago. Don’t waste your energy on things you can’t change — you need to put that energy on the here and now and on the things you want for today and tomorrow and next year. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Let it go… and move on to better choices and stay on your path. Maintaining is better than gaining. If you are not in a position to be perfect, then be mindful. Your healthy program will keep you on path and when you fall off you get right back on and it will always take you back to the place that you want to be. It will take you to where you are in control, happy and feel good…. but in order to do that you need to let the past be the past and the future be the future. You can’t change yesterday but you can change this moment right now. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Don’t waste time… One thing I notice that we all take for granted is the time that we have and what we do with it. We focus so much on where we are going and what we are eating that we forget to focus on what we are celebrating and why we are there. We spend time on what we did wrong instead of what we can change to make it right… It’s what I call wasteful energy. You must keep your energy positive and keep moving on to a better place. Every minute that you worry or waste on what you should have or could have can be put into the energy of what you are doing right now. Let all the wasteful negative energy go and focus on the positive and happy energy of today and tomorrow. Make sure that you are making the memories of today better so when you look back tomorrow you have less regrets than today. It’s all about being mindful on what you are doing right now. And in order to do that you have to let go of whatever you did wrong yesterday. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]We all know how short life is… We all know that there are so many out there that have “real” problems that many of us could never ever imagine or want to imagine. We sometimes forget how lucky we are to be able to plan for the future. . It’s easy to forget and take for granted the simple things like how lucky we are to be healthy to enjoy these moments. When I tell you to stay mindful it’s not always about food. It’s about life. The idea is to stop focusing on food as your main attraction and start focusing on life as your main attraction. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]You need to focus on the happiness. There will always be weeks like this and you don’t want to confuse the happiness that is going on around you with you being miserable because you didn’t choose the right foods or because you had an extra snack or you woke up a little bloated. Change the day immediately and move on to whatever better choices you can make today. We know we have easy weeks and hard weeks, and an easier on program weight loss week will be around the corner – but for now some weeks will just be like this and you have to look at them for what they are – busy happy weeks that you are doing the best to stay mindful and make the best choices you can so you can enjoy and maintain. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]DON’T WAIT FOR THE PERFECT MOMENT
MAKE THE MOMENT PERFECT[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

clean eatingfeel goodhappyhealthyholidaysLifestyleMotivationweight loss

Integrity is the Essence of Everything Successful

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Integrity is the Essence of Everything Successful[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]

[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]This weeks theme is to stop complicating our own lives. It’s amazing how easy it is to do that. It all starts with our mental strength. When we are mentally strong we can get through anything but when we let ourself start to weaken, get overwhelmed, stressed…. we can turn a good day into a bad one in seconds. For example, when we talk about the holidays or snow days we think it’ so challenging to stay on program. Yet, we know that staying on program makes you feel the best? So where is the challenge? When you don’t do the right thing you don’t feel great. It should be a no brainer and yet, somehow the temptation to do the wrong thing can overcome us in a heart beat. But the truth is, when you are mentally strong and in a really good place you will stay strong. When you are seeing the results you will stay strong, and the longer you love to live healthy the easier it is to stay mentally strong. The temptations will always be there and they will only win if you let them. It’s you against them. It’s feeling good against feeling horrible. It’s feeling thin against feeling thick. When it comes to doing the right thing and feeling your very best it’s simply making the right choices against the wrong. Most of you know what they are and you know how to stay on program and what works for you – It’s all about doing it. And when you know it makes you feel the happiest, lightest and thinest then there should be no thinking about it and no complicating it – you just do it. [dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]When we stop doing the wrong things
and start doing the right things, life is simple.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]If you look at those around you and see the clients that make it look so much easier than it is and wonder how do they get through the snow days and how do they stay on program continuously through holidays without fail? It’s because they already went through the challenges that you are experiencing but they learned very quickly that not being on program or doing the right thing makes them feel out of control and unhappy. Once you come to realize that is not who you want to be – or how you want to feel – especially over food – then you will start saying “no thank you” and realize that saying “no” or simply walking away is such a better feeling than eating something that you didn’t need or want.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]Here are some tips to keep you Mentally Strong:[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
  • Stop making emotional decisions. – Before you grab something because you are upset or overwhelmed. — start by taking a few steps back so you can think things through. When you’re caught up in the moment and your emotions are soaring, you’re bound to make poor decisions that will lead to regret. The best advice here is simple: Don’t let your emotions trump your intelligence. Slow down and think things through before you grab something in front of you. Just give yourself 60 seconds to think it through and then make a decision.
  • Stop waiting for things to be perfect. – The perfect day, the perfect week, the perfect month and year. You will have those perfect days but many days will just be off. The best advice here is don’t throw in the towel every time you don’t have a perfect day. Keep it simple and just keep going. Because moving forward on non-perfect day will make you mentally stronger when you get through them. You just get right back on your path and keep moving forward. Don’t throw a whole day away because of one trip-up. Instead focus on the next positive step forward.
  • Stop obsessing over the past and concentrate on the present. – Start being present. Paying more attention to the current moment can make a huge difference in your mental strength and simplifying your life. You can’t change yesterday and you can’t get upset over what might happen next week — but you can do the right thing today. The best advice here is to let go of yesterday, anticipate tomorrow and realize the importance of enjoying and having control of your today.
  • Stop doing things simply because you can. – Start being honest with yourself and plan, prepare and follow through with doing the right thing. When you do the right thing it is a less complicated way to live. Integrity is the essence of everything successful. When you break the rules you invite complications into your life. Keep life simple and enjoyable by doing what you know in your heart is right for your mind and body. My best advice here is to don’t just do what you can — do what is going to make you happy. Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Have the courage to do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to success.
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]My final thoughts.. Positivity. The very best way to keep yourself mentally strong is to stay Positive. Because the power of positive thinking is remarkable. In fact, studies show that when you think positive it provides self confidence in one’s ability to perform and make decisions in a healthy mind. Your  mind and how you think can change your world. Healthy, happy people think about what they want, and how to get it. My final advice here is stay positive because a positive attitude can truly change your entire life[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]If you are tired of starting over…. stop giving up.[dt_sc_hr_invisible_small]
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick