HAPPY TUESDAY! Yes, it’s back to life and back to reality. I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend. I have to say I was very very impressed with the amount of clients this year that stuck to the PROGRAM and the one Cheat Day and followed the other 6 days 100%. Even with the long weekend they set their mind to it and did it! I love love love it because I know how much better you will feel today when you wake up and get back to real life. It doesn’t mean you enjoyed any less, in fact for many of you I think you enjoyed more. You were thrilled with your numbers and nothing was going to get in the way of that. I am super proud of you all.

For those of you who have not done the right thing for yourself this past weekend…For whatever excuse you have told yourself that – “I got sucked in :(” – “I thought I had control but I drank too much and it was too late ;(” – “One chip ended in a two day binge ;(” or if you just weren’t great and just feel horrible…If you see yourself in one of the previous descriptions I want you to think about something. I want to think about all the places you were this past weekend and all the people you saw. Think about how you treated your weekend with food and alcohol. Be honest with yourself because at the end of the day –  this is really between YOU and YOU. Did you do the right thing? Could you have done better?

TAKE A MOMENT AND REFLECT: I want you to think about all the people that you have come across this past weekend at the parties, clubs and BBQ’s that you attended. Whether you were in the Hamptons, the shore, or Fire Island. Did you see a person or people walk into the party, and you saw how good they looked and felt. They are the people that everyone automatically looks at when they walk through the door. They are the people who everything looks good on them regardless of what they wear. It could be a stranger, friends, family member. They are the ones that have confidence just flowing from them as they walk in. They are the people who you look at and think WOW they really have it all together! You know the person I am talking about. When you see them – what is the first thought that comes to your mind – YOU WANT THAT! And you should want that! Why wouldn’t you want that! Why wouldn’t you want to look and feel amazing in your skin and clothes and feel so good that it radiates when you walk in room. When we see someone so healthy, fit, in shape and full of confidence you have to ask yourself – what is more attractive than that? They are the people everyone want to be around. And it’s not only because they are thin —— it’s because they are happy and they feel good and it’s contagious to whoever is in their presence. They are like magnets that you want to look at and be near. They radiate health, happiness, success – all the things we all strive for everyday. When you think – THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO LOOK AND FEEL LIKE and that is how I want to act and that is how I want people to look at me — Then you have to understand just how possible that is.

I will tell you first hand it’s possible – because what you don’t know about that person or people – is they have their struggles and they have their weaknesses just like you do. You just don’t see it. And you don’t see them because they fight everyday to get past them. Just like everyone else, some days are easier then others. But they don’t let their food control who they are and what they want. They don’t let their stress make them eat into a frenzy. They are disciplined and strict with their one day off and six days on. It’s not that they don’t want the indulgences any less than you do, but they love to look good want to feel good more. Because they know that when they eat clean and stay on program it keeps them in control and that’s how they love to live. The way they feel and look is more important to them then any food or alcohol can temp them. They fight on their weaker days and they make it a priority to stay on program even when the path is bumpy. Even when they have hungrier days they reach out and we figure out how to get around it or what their best options are to get through it. They know and have learned these weaker days are temporary and everyone has them. They have their struggles in life but they make sure no matter what comes at them their priority is their health and the way the feel.  Because they know and have learned when they feel great they can fight anything else that comes their way. And when you look at them wishing you had that strength to get to where they are  – I am telling you that you do. I know better than anyone they were once you. But they fought, and learned, and kept fighting to get what they wanted and to feel how incredible they do today and everyday. Yes, you do have that strength – you just have to want it as much as they do and you have to want it all the time. You have to get past the tough days and understand they will always be there. We will always have long weekends and parties and stress. It’s all part of life. But you just need to stick to what you know at the end of the day gives you strength and happiness which is eating clean and feeling good in your own skin. When you learn that feeling healthy, thin and fit makes you happy and that happiness helps everything else in your life, that is when you will make it a priority everyday.

What it all comes down to at the end of the day is – It’s always a choice – YOUR CHOICE – Do you want it or do you want to talk about it. Do you want to sit and think about it or are you willing to work hard at it everyday. Every possibility is out there for you. No one can make you be overweight and no one can make you be successful – you have to want it, work for it and fight it. Don’t make excuses – you are no different than anyone else. If you are willing to fight for what you want and put the work in everyday then you can have it too. First decide what you want in life, what makes you happy –  and then go after it. You need to want it and work for it everyday. It will never just happen if you are not working for it consistently. So if you want it, plan it and make sure you are ready to put the work in 110%. Successful people don’t work at things when they feel like it or when it’s convenient for them – They work all the time – 24/7 that’s why they are successful. While you are sleeping they are working out. While you are watching TV – they are preparing their meals for the next week. Success is about putting in 110% and getting 110% out of it.   If it sounds like a lot then you don’t want it enough. If it’s something you really want eventually it won’t even feel like work. It will be a part of your happy life. Start now – life is short make sure every minute of your day counts toward something that is important to you and your future.

 

 

 

 

I know many of you think you have this under control. Just like all the other holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years…you get my picture? But this holiday is not one you want to play around with. Because what follows Memorial Day weekend?… SUMMER! This is not a holiday that if you go off for 5 days you will have time to reverse the damage. NOPE! This is a holiday that when it’s over – it’s really just beginning. The very last thing you want to do is throw away everything you have worked so hard for. And we all know it doesn’t take much to do that. Listen, I would love to tell you that you can go and enjoy your weekend and not worry about your plan – go ahead and eat whatever you want, life is short. But you can’t because you will not only gain the weight back that you lost but you will be miserable come Tuesday morning. Not only will you be miserable, I can guarantee if I asked you to tell me what was so amazing that you ate you wouldn’t be able to tell me. Because truthfully, if anything is amazing that you “NEED OR WANT” then you will have it on your Cheat Day.

Having fun, celebrating and doing all the things you want to do this weekend can be done without over eating. You need to have a plan and stick to it. Because if you don’t and you try and wing it I can promise you that Tuesday morning will come around and you will be miserable looking for some quick fix (that doesn’t exist) to make it all better. Instead, let’s try to do the right thing that will work for you the whole weekend.

DRINKING: If you are drinking – and it’s not water 🙂  – you save your snacks for the alcohol. If you know that you lose control after two then only sip one through the night or have two far apart with lots of water in between. Losing control with the alcohol is not good for you, your weight loss or the people that are trying to enjoy the party around you. If you want to be the talk of the party then make sure the only thing they are talking about how great you looked.

ONE CHEAT DAY: If you want to continue to lose this weekend and treat it like any other weekend then you will have ONE CHEAT DAY and you will be very mindful through the other days. You will go and have fun and enjoy and do all the right things like it’s any other day that you are celebrating with family and friends that you love. But you will not eat like it’s a cheat except for one day over the weekend. It is very doable and you will continue to lose if you follow this.

Do you want to maintain through the holiday weekend? Maintain can be tricky because you need to know your boundaries. You choose to eat clean all day and only go off for dinner and dessert or dinner and drinks or just drinks. Remember, just because it’s a cheat doesn’t mean you can’t order a beautiful clean fish and steamed vegetables and just enjoy your wine or ice cream. Cheats don’t have to be all out cheats, they are supposed to be special.  Make sure you are cheating on things you love and miss. Never cheat just to cheat. If you follow this and do it Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – or Saturday, Sunday and Monday then you will maintain and when Tuesday morning comes you will feel like you stayed in control and you are not starting over but just continuing on to your weight loss week.

GAIN? Do you want to gain through the holiday weekend? This sounds so simple right! But what is really disturbing is that it’s even easier than it sounds.  You can’t have a Cheat Day and then cheat meals. You can’t do cheating throughout each day with no plan. Trust me, you will forget and think that you weren’t that bad – when in fact you were really bad. While every one of us is different and what we can tolerate is different, when it comes to weight gain I can promise you that if you are overdoing it every day and lose control you will gain weight and it may be more than you can imagine.

 

 

We made it through another Holiday and now our focus should be strictly on Memorial Day and the start of Summer. We have 6 WEEKS until Memorial Day and approximately 10 WEEKS until the FIRST DAY OF SUMMER. Summer shorts, bathing suits, dresses and wearing them to the beaches, BBQ and vacations. 10 Weeks is a long time and a lot can be done. But just like any other time of the year, you have to focus and decide what you want and what you will do to get there.

NO MORE HIDING: There is one thing about summer – regardless of how much weight you gained, you are not hiding under clothes anymore. Summer makes you put out there what you have done. Good or bad it’s for all to see. This is the time – right now – to make a difference.

LONG TERM: One of the things I notice so many people do is they think long term. Which is great when you are planning your savings account but not for your weight loss. It’s too overwhelming. You think – “I can’t eat like this forever” or “It will take me so long to lose the weight”. Instead you should be thinking short term and follow your menu and lose the weight. Don’t think about long term because as you lose the weight your thoughts and body change. You physically need less and will want less but right now every day is a struggle. Your body is used to doing what it wants and now you are training it to do what you say. Just take it day by day and you will see the changes and that will make you motivated to keep going. We can all do the right things to make sure we end up in the place we want. But in order to do it you have to be willing to put your words into actions. It’s easy to say it – now you have to prove it and you have 6-10 weeks to do it.

 

You know how I love to break down the numbers because sometimes when you see what each week can get you it makes it real. What happens in our crazy life is we are so busy that the days and weeks pass by so quickly we don’t spend them as wisely as we should. It’s all about multi-tasking. While you are working at home or the office; while you are planning parties, or events; while you are taking the kids to school, sports, and end of the year celebrations; and while you are planning your next trip. Whatever you are spending your time on in the next 10 weeks you should also be eating clean, eating healthy and losing weight. It’s that simple. You need to do it – you want to do it – so stop making excuses and make it happen. If you do – this is what you can accomplish in 10 weeks:

* This is so beyond doable.  Follow your menu with your meals and snacks and have your ONE cheat day a week and you will absolutely lose 1 lb a week resulting in 6 lbs by Memorial Day or 10 lbs by Summer! Consistency is key – if you want to get off that roller coaster ride then do it every week and it will add up.

 

*Still very doable.  Follow your menu of meals and snacks and simply cut out a snack when you don’t need it. The current menu that you have that you are following, either take it back one snack a day or one less snack every other day. It’s usually that snack that you know you don’t really need but have it anyway – get rid of it and it will change the numbers. Make sure everything else is 110% to menu consistently through the week!

 

*Challenging but doable. This requires your meals and one snack a day and no mistakes at any time. It requires you to follow and do the right things for the next 6 or 10 weeks without fail. You need to feel a little hungry everyday. Not starving but hungry. One Cheat Day a week and your other 6 days super super clean with no bites, sips or crumbs. You need to be mentally strong and on program and this has to be the most important thing to you at all times. If you treat the program like it’s a job that you want to be amazing at then you will see this kind of amazing loss every week.

 

 

WILL YOU BE CHARGED WITH ONE OF THESE OFFENSES THIS WEEKEND?

EUI – Eating under the influence!

EWI – Eating while impaired!

      BWI – Binging while intoxicated!

It has arrived…Memorial Day Weekend is the first holiday weekend that kicks off the summer fun. The parties are planned, BBQ’s are ready, and the pools are all open. White shirts, shorts and sandals are out of closets and ready to be worn…For some, it’s super exciting!! For others, not so much 🙁

It’s the time when layers start peeling. You are either ready or not!

If you are ready and have been doing the right things then you must be super excited! It is just super fabulous and you should be so proud of yourself for putting in the hard work when you needed to!!! You know you will do fine this weekend because you are already in control and have learned what it takes to get to where you are today. Yay!!!

If you are on your way or have recently started or re-started the program – that is super awesome too! It doesn’t matter when or how many times you need to do it, as long as you end up in a great place. So don’t let the weekend get you carried away. Stay on your course and continue to do the right things so come Tuesday you will feel as successful as you do today!

If you haven’t started and wish you had, or you stopped and wish you didn’t – don’t be too hard on yourself because honestly what’s done is done. You can’t go back so you might as well go forward. Have a plan to get back on track 100% on Tuesday and get through the weekend— but don’t over do it because you have been off. Try and make the best choices and do the best you can. It will make starting on Tuesday a much better place to begin.

“TOMORROW IS A NEW DAY WITH NO MISTAKES IN IT YET”

DRINKING: Are you drinking this weekend? If so, make sure you know the maximum number of drinks — When do you lose control? After 1, 2 or 3 drinks? You should know in advance when you should stop. Don’t let the situation control you – you must always control the situation. Drink water in between to stay hydrated. If you use a drink as your snack you will be fine. But don’t lose sight that too much of anything will make you gain weight.

If you need another reason to watch how much you drink, you should know excessive drinking does more than just make you over eat. Too much alcohol (wine, beer included) stops the fat burn. It doesn’t only slow your judgment – it actually slows everything in your body. That’s why it’s important to be eating super clean when you drink. If you over do it with the food and the alcohol – it’s not a good mix and you will have a not so happy weight gaining day. Make sure to  keep the food choices clean. The alcohol should be your dessert and your meals should be clean then you will continue to lose instead of maintain or gain.

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018

When it comes to weight loss, I know more than anyone how difficult it is. Seeing client after client struggle with food choices. Losing weight is a job. So if you already have one job you are putting a second full time job into your schedule. It’s something you have to think about all day – every day. There is no magic pill, it requires thoughts, actions and most of all, DISCIPLINE.

If you go through this weekend and you are not disciplined then what are you left with…what are your alternatives? Your alternative is to live with the REGRET of not doing the right thing, of caving in out of peer pressure. REGRET is about NOT remembering you are more important than the food. Tempatation is around us everyday in all forms. YES, waking up and doing the right thing everyday can be challenging. Yet it’s what we teach our children and family. Regrets are simply burdens that interfere with your present happiness and restrict your future. Unproductive regret WILL KEEP you from moving forward and reaching your goals.

We know DISCIPLINE is the bridge between goals and accomplishments, so why do so many view discipline as a negative and not a positive? Because being disciplined in a world full of temptation is really hard to do. But when you learn to live with discipline it can change your world and teach you to live with strength and empowerment. Living with discipline gives your world structure and control. It stops the questioning of “Should I?” When you live with discipline there is no “should I” —there is only I WILL!

CHOOSE YOUR VOICE THIS WEEKEND
and live by it!

THE VOICE OF REGRET: I shouldn’t have had all that food. Why did I have that second drink. Why did I eat all those desserts. I feel horrible and sick. I ruined another week. Why do I keep doing this to myself.

THE VOICE OF DISCIPLINE: I will eat clean today. I will do the right thing today and I will do it because it makes me happy and keeps my world in control of who I want to be and what I am all about. I will not let food control my life and not let alcohol paralyze me into someone I am not. I will not let temptation step into my world. There is a time and a place for indulging and it’s when I choose it to be.

Becoming and living like the person you truly want to be is the best gift you can give yourself and your family.

THE STAFF OF INNOVATION WEIGHT LOSS WISH YOU
A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SAFE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

~ Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018