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Healthy TipsLifestyleUncategorized
March 9, 2015By Josephine Fitzpatrick

Are You Ready For Spring?

This past weekend we sprung forward for Daylight Saving Time and also the weather slowly started to creep out of the 30’s and up toward the 50’s. The snow is finally melting and the warmer weather and longer days we have been waiting for will be here by the end of the week. Now is a crucial time for your weight loss. You probably felt like the dark, cold winter days were filled with monotony and low motivation. During these long winter months it felt like the light at the end of the tunnel was so far away that it would never come – but now is the time that you should be feeling and looking amazing, not just day dreaming about it.

 

Use the improving weather to jump start your motivation. Recently the weather has been a hassle with mounds of snow and layers of ice, but now you have so many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and boost your mood. In fact, it’s a scientific truth – a study published recently shows that people who engaged in outdoor activity had elevated mood and self esteem after just 5 minutes. Whether you are switching from snow shoeing to jogging or just trying to energize your exercise routine after months of work out videos inside, you will notice a big change with just one work out.

 

Your goals are closer than you think and making them even more of a reality can help get you in the right mindset. As you prepare to pack away the heavy coats and sweaters remember that you won’t be able to hide underneath winter layers any more. If you have lost touch with your goals and your progress, strengthen your commitment. Now is the time for you to start enjoying all the hard work you have already put towards your goals and to keep pushing yourself. It hasn’t always been easy but that’s what makes it worth it. It’s time to embrace the shorts and t-shirts!

 

Prepare yourself for this transition. Warm weather may take you out of your comfort zone but that doesn’t mean you have to spin out of control. Maybe it’s the first time you’ve worn a tank top or a bathing suit in a long while, so you have to work on your confidence as much as you work on your weight loss. Don’t just focus on the things you still want to accomplish or how far you still have to go – think of all the things you have done to make yourself proud.

 

This is an exciting time when you get enjoy the benefits of your hard work and take your weight loss to the next level. In the winter there is little satisfaction in your efforts when you’re covered head to toe. The shrinking number on the scale can put a smile on your face, but when you put on summer clothes for the first time this year and go to the beach or out with friends you’re going to love your healthy lifestyle even more.

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018

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FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyleUncategorized
March 5, 2015By Josephine Fitzpatrick

Snow Today – Gone Tomorrow

While the snow is falling and stacking up in inches, they are already calling for next week’s weather to be in the 50’s.

 


Daylight savings time is less than a week away. With a 50 degree forecast next week, make sure that when you are reaching for that extra snack or sabotaging yourself in any way that you will be seeing the spring weather next week.

50’s will feel like the 80’s and you know how we jump into seasons. You will be sure to see the shorts and t-shits on people around every corner. Who will be wearing them? Those who worked hard and did not let winter and snow storms determine their food choices.

Think about the choices you are making and the consequences they will cause. Every time you go off program it determines whether you will lose weight or maintain. If you really go off then you will gain.  Look at your Weight Loss Path for what it is. It’s a new way of life, and realize that everything you do and every decision you make is in your hands. If you stay on your path and not let everything around you get into your way you will succeed. Here are some helpful hints to you keep you on track today:

1) Think before you act and make sure that you are eating because you are hungry and not bored. If you ever took a speech class in college you would have learned that before you speak it’s always best to pause, think, then speak. Use this same rule when reaching in the cabinet. Pause, think and then act.

2) Go into your refrigerator and cut up lot of veggies and put them in bags. Or place them on a platter for you to grab when you feel the need to mindlessly munch. If you don’t have them ready you will be grabbing for unhealthier choices that you will later beat yourself up about.

3) Surf the internet for spring and summer clothes.  Summer shorts and bathing suits.  What do you want to see yourself in?

4) Go into your closet and try on the clothes that you want to be in this spring and summer. Do they fit? are they close? Keep them out and try them on every week. You will see that you are closer and closer to reaching your goals.

5)  Workout video – Yoga, workout, aerobic or weights and get your body moving. Indoor videos don’t have to give you the best workout of your life, they just have to give you enough to sweat a little and keep you away from the kitchen.  The combination of the two can make the differennce between losing and gaining.


Remember that how you feel and the control you have over yourself, what you eat and who you are, all go hand in hand. You can make the decision to grab and eat or simply say NO. I am not saying it’s easy. Yes it will be uncomfortable. I get it, you are stuck in the house and you want it. But it is shot term pleasure that will lead to long term unhappiness. No one feels good when they don’t have control over what they are doing. You know that if you choose the wrong foods and make the wrong decisions it will make you unhappy, and if you know that being healthy, thin and in control not only feels good but it also makes you happy, then it’s up to you to make it happen. It’s up to you to say NO and walk away, and it’s up to you to deal with the uncomfortableness of saying NO. It’s only food and you will not let it control who you are, how you feel and what your day will be. Stop making excuses and remember that if you do the right thing and make the right decisions your results will be the prize. Stay your path…make the right decisions…and don’t let anything get in your way…

KNOW YOUR HAPPINESS

IF YOU KNOW EATING HEALTHY, CLEAN AND BEING THIN AND IN CONTROL MAKES YOU HAPPY – THEN DO IT

MEMORIAL DAY GOALS

13 weeks until memorial day – gives you the opportunity to lose anywhere from 13- 26 lbs
                                                                                                               

1 lb a week = 13 pounds

2 lbs a week = 26 pounds

1-3 lbs a week = 30 + pounds



NO MORE EXCUSES – IF YOU HAVEN’T STARTED DO IT NOW

IF YOU STARTED – STAY STRONG AND STAY YOUR PATH


WHAT YOU DO TODAY AFFECTS YOUR TOMORROW!

IT’S UP TO YOU!

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018

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FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle
March 2, 2015By Josephine Fitzpatrick

Start Thinking About Shorts Season Now

Yesterday it snowed several inches again on Long Island. It seems like winter is never ending, but now that we have transitioned from February to March, shorts season is right around the corner and Spring Break is just a couple weeks away. Now is the time to put in that extra effort toward reaching your goals, not in May. As soon as the temperature starts to increase and little bits of green grass start to replace the inches of snow, you will wish you has started thinking about spring and summer sooner. 

 

 

Focus on the habits that will get you there. Choose to eat a healthy breakfast every morning, pack healthy snacks for during the day, exercise consistently, make a healthy grocery list, plan your week on Sundays or any tasks you want to take on. Don’t worry if you can’t get everything right at once – that is why you are starting now while there is plenty of time to build healthy habits and get results. Instead of saying something vague like “eating right” make it more specific and attainable, like cutting back on sugar or snacks, having fish a couple times a week, switching coffee for tea in the morning, etc. These little changes are your building blocks for not just summer weight loss, but a sustainable fitness plan that can become your healthy lifestyle. 

 

 

The last thing you want to do is wait until it’s too late and then go on an extreme quick-fix program. These programs not only instill an unhealthy relationship with food and exercise, but they seldom work or offer long term solutions. If you try to make an extreme change in a short amount of time, you will be more likely to gravitate back to your old habits. Slow and steady wins they race, and also continues to feel the benefits long after crossing the finish line. Working hard for your weight loss goals will not only ensure your good habits stick, it will also make you less likely to back track when you remember all that you went through to get where you are. When you go on a quick fix diet you don’t experience the value of hard work and realize what you are capable of. The journey is just as important as the destination. 

 

 

Whether you are new or coming back to exercise and healthy eating, even beginners will experience great results. You have the time to get stronger, build endurance, develop technique, and change the way you eat little by little, all while losing weight. For those of you who are already hard at work and on the right track, now is the time to put in the extra effort. When it’s time to put on that bathing suit or summer dress, you will be glad you did. 

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan NY 10018

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FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle
February 23, 2015By Josephine Fitzpatrick

Make Healthy Eating A Way Of Life

Right now you are eating healthy and clean as part of your weight loss plan, but there are so many reasons why you should make these healthy changes permanent. You will experience many health benefits when you lose weight and eat healthy, such as arthritis relief and the prevention of diabetes and heart disease. Don’t think of healthy eating as a just a way to get that number on the scale to shrink. Think of your weight loss plan as a way to change your eating habits for good and make them part of a healthy lifestyle. 

 

 

One of the worst parts of any diet is being hungry. With clean eating, portions aren’t smaller – they’re healthier. When you take the time to eat at the right pace and let your body register when you are full, you will realize that a healthy amount of food at each meal will always keep you satisfied. This is why clean and healthy eating is so effective – it’s not about eating less, it’s about eating right. Healthy eating will keep you feeling full throughout the day and keep you away from unhealthy snacking. Other diets restrict you and even eliminate entire food groups just to help you shed weight, but they don’t offer any long term solutions. Healthy eating is a way to lose weight that is sustainable. It will make you lose weight without depriving your body of anything it needs.

 

It may feel like you have to work at it every day, but the small changes you make are actually making a big difference. Each time you resist an unhealthy food you are craving, you are overcoming that feeling of need little by little. The same way you can’t lose a large amount of weight overnight, you can’t change your eating habits overnight either. It takes as much mental work as physical work to make your healthy changes permanent. 

 

This may sound crazy, but the last thing you want to do is try to be perfect. You can’t put too much pressure on yourself and lose your focus every time you slip up or hit a bump in the road.  You just have to get right back on track when you make a mistake. One unhealthy snack or meal won’t undo all your healthy efforts and it doesn’t mean you have to give up or start over. The same way you go back to healthy eating after a cheat day, you just have to go back to the plan after a misstep. Don’t put too much thought into it. Life is always full of ups and down, you just have to bounce back. You don’t have to be perfect to be healthy. 

 

Making healthy eating a way of life is all about eating with purpose. Don’t eat something because you crave it or because it is in front of you. Eat when you are hungry and eat to fuel your body. You chose to lose weight for a good reason – stay on that path and make heathy eating your lifestyle.  

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018

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FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle
February 20, 2015By Josephine Fitzpatrick

Losing Weight Can Be A Full Time Job

 

Adding weight loss to an already busy schedule can feel like an impossible challenge. It never feels like the right time to exercise and eating on the go usually means eating what’s convenient, even if it isn’t healthy. Work, family or school usually ends up being the priority, so why even try to lose weight? Losing weight can feel like a full time job: constantly having to manage what you eat, plan work outs and make the right choices when you’re craving the wrong ones. It can feel like weight loss is just as exhausting and mentally draining as full time job, so here are some ways to make things a little more effortless.

 

Make it a priority. Make the time. Get up early and make a healthy breakfast or fit in a work out. You are more likely to have a healthy day if you have a healthy morning, and as the day goes on you may find that work, social engagements, family, or homework take up the time you had planned to go to the gym. Don’t let other things get in the way. Even if you’re a morning person, it may be hard to become a morning exerciser but it will be worth it. Planning workout dates with others is also a great way to make sure you follow through. Working out with a friend or family member not only makes exercise more enjoyable, but you are less likely to cancel when you know someone is waiting for you.

 

Make it part of your routine. Once you get into a rhythm with exercise and eating healthy it will be second nature. They say that it takes 21 days to form a habit. For some, it may take a week and for others it may take much longer, but once you start feeling and looking amazing, you won’t want to stop. But if you do slip up or miss a workout, make up for it on the weekend. Working on your weight loss on the weekend may sound like the last thing you want to do, but avoiding the snooze button and continuing with your healthy routine with help you relax later in the day knowing that you did something healthy to deserve it.

 

Make it easy. Help yourself! Some people find it helpful to keep track of eating and exercise with a journal or fitness tracker. It takes some of the thinking out of meals and following your progress. This may sound like even more work, but planning ahead can make a week of healthy eating and exercise fly by without the frustration of piecing together last minute plans. Prep food, make meals and snacks that are ready to go, plan out your week – anything you can do on Sunday to have a plan for the week ahead will really pay off. Don’t leave it to chance. The same goes for fitness – make it easy on yourself and find a gym that is in a convenient location. Whether it is close to home, around the corner from the office or across the street from school, make sure a long car ride isn’t keeping your from your goals.

 

Work, school and family may make you feel like your hands are tied, but if losing weight is really something you want to accomplish you will find a way. When you make the time for your weight loss, you are investing in your future. What could be more important than that?

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018

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FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle
February 12, 2015By Josephine Fitzpatrick

Valentine’s Day Weekend

 

In a blog post last month we talked about avoiding excuses. This time of year there are excuses around every corner that will keep you from reaching your goals: I’m too busy, it’s too cold, I don’t feel well, etc. And soon Valentine’s Day will add even more of a challenge. Valentine’s Day is a special holiday for spending time with those you love, but unfortunately it tends to be more about showing you love someone through chocolate, candy and a big dinner. Don’t let another holiday be your excuse to indulge in food you wouldn’t normally eat just because everything is heart shaped or holiday themed.

 

Despite your best efforts, you’ll probably find yourself loading up on chocolate for your children’s Valentine’s Day party at school. We all remember those little Valentines with a little piece of chocolate or candy attached to it that each child hands out to their classmates. As fun as they are to give and receive, you’ll probably be the one putting them together the night before. And with all that candy in front of you, it wouldn’t be so bad to have just one, right? Or a couple? They’re so small, they won’t matter…this kind of thinking is never good. Keep healthy snacks around if you think you’ll be tempted and save the snacking for the weekend. And make sure left over candy doesn’t linger in your house.

 

Instead of putting the focus on food and gifts, make a plan to do something fun and meaningful with those you love. Luckily Valentine’s Day is on a weekend, so there are a variety of activities or special outings you could plan. Spending quality time with family and friends is the greatest gift – make it special even if it is as simple as a meal at home together. Make it more about what the holiday means and less about what you buy or give to each other. When it inevitably does come to gift giving, you may not be able to control what you receive but there are so many gifts other than a box of chocolates that are just as thoughtful and romantic. Putting in a little bit of time to give a gift that is truly meaningful like a photo album or that certain thing they’ve had their eye on will be so much more special and worthwhile. Even if you choose to make Valentine’s Day your cheat day, try not to make it a cheat weekend.

 

Holidays tend to make us feel like the rules don’t apply because we want to live in the moment. There’s nothing wrong with embracing a holiday, just keep in mind that that doesn’t always have to mean eating what you want and not caring until Monday morning. Just remember – the best parts of any holiday won’t disrupt your weight loss plan.

 

~ Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018

 

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FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyleUncategorized
February 9, 2015By Josephine Fitzpatrick

Healthier Valentine’s Day Treats

 

With Valentine’s Day coming up this weekend we wanted to share some healthier Valentine’s Day treats that will satisfy your sweet tooth and keep you healthier than typical sweets and candy. Make Saturday your cheat day and with these healthier recipes you can indulge without going completely off track.

 

This first recipe is simple, easy and can be made with a wide variety of ingredients. All it takes is a heart shaped cookie cutter and you can make Fruit Kebabs with watermelon and strawberry for a festive treat, or any fruit of your choosing for an adorable snack. You can keep the heart shaped theme going with almost any food – potatoes for a festive side and even carrots and cucumber to dress up a salad.

 

Screen Shot 2015-02-08 at 9.00.36 PM  Screen Shot 2015-02-08 at 9.01.11 PM

 

Another incredibly easy and tasty recipe is Raspberries and Chocolate Chips. Just place a dark chocolate chip inside each raspberry for a sweet and simple treat. Get double the antioxidants from the combination of raspberries and dark chocolate, as well as vitamins and minerals from both ingredients.

 

Screen Shot 2015-02-08 at 9.02.19 PM

 

Raspberries and chocolate come together again for this next recipe: Raspberry Chocolate Truffles. These treats will taste decadent despite their healthy ingredients. In a food processor combine the following: 6 dates, 1/3 cup raspberries and 2 tablespoons of water. After the mixture is well-chopped (about 30 seconds), place it in a small pan and simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add 1/3 cup melted coconut oil and 1/2 tsp of vanilla to the mixture. Put the mixture back in the processor and add 3 tbsp of cocoa powder, process until smooth. Refrigerate for about an hour then scoop out 2 tsp sized portions and shape into balls. Place cocoa powder on a plate and roll the balls in the cocoa powder.

 

Screen Shot 2015-02-08 at 9.04.11 PM

 

This next recipe combines healthy ingredients for a sweet treat: Chocolate Peanut Butter Quinoa Cups. For this recipe, combine 3 tablespoons of cacao powder, 1/3 cup of coconut oil, 1/2 cup of peanut butter (or any other nut butter) and 1/4 cup of honey (or maple syrup or coconut syrup) in a small sauce pan on low heat. Pour this mixture over puffed quinoa in a large bowl and stir until everything is mixed together. Spoon into muffins cups and freeze until hardened (about 10 minutes). You can add a fresh raspberry on top of each one as a festive garnish.

 

Screen Shot 2015-02-08 at 7.52.26 PM

 

For those vegans out there, this next recipe is made without dairy, and is also gluten free. This recipe for Strawberry Lemon Rice Crispies is a tasty treat that kids will love. Melt 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and 10 oz of marshmallows (you can use the brand Dandies for the vegan option) in a saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons of beat juice for color (optional) and the juice and zest from one lemon into the pan. Remove from heat and add rice puffs and 3/4 cup dehydrated strawberry pieces to the mixture. Press into a 9×9 square pan and let cool.

 

Screen Shot 2015-02-08 at 9.05.16 PM

 

Valentine’s Day isn’t complete without Chocolate Covered Strawberries. We recommend using dark chocolate chips in our recipe. Melt the chocolate on the stove with a double boiler (two pans that fit together – putting water in the bottom and chocolate in the top pan), or boil water in a sauce pan and place chocolate in a glass bowl into the pan. Dip each strawberry in the chocolate then place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. For extra flavor and crunch, finely chop any nuts of your choosing and place in a bowl. After dipping strawberries in chocolate, dip them in the bowl of nuts.

 

Screen Shot 2015-02-08 at 9.05.33 PM

 

~ Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018
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FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle
January 26, 2015By Josephine Fitzpatrick

Make The Most of a Snow Day

 

In the next few days New York will be experiencing a major blizzard that is projected to result in a massive amount of snow accumulation and high MPH winds. Several schools have already decided to close and many residents may not be able to get to work. If you find yourself stuck at home in the next few days, or any time you experience extreme weather, there are a couple things you can do to stay safe, healthy and occupied while unable to leave your home.

 

You can still follow your fitness routine even if you can’t get outside or get to the gym. Get in an at-home work out – there are so many options online or on TV for any type of exercise you are looking for. Try searching YouTube or OnDemand for a workout video, search online for blogs or websites with at home workout routines or flip through a fitness magazine to get ideas. If your family is home as well, get them involved. It’s a terrific way to be active and spend time together. You could also try playing a fun game together like charades, Celebrity or Cranium. You’ll fight boredom by being active and you’ll get a good workout from laughing as much as moving your body. You can also use your time to cook up something healthy. If you don’t normally cook it’s a great way to kill time and it can be an entertaining activity for kids. Find something fun to make like zucchini linguini or spaghetti squash, or something where they can add their own toppings like egg white muffins or veggie pizza.

 

When it is safe to go outside, there are so many fun winter activities that are also great calorie burners. Sledding, building a snow man, having a snowball fight, building a snow fort and making snow angels are just a few perfect options for families and smaller children. Ice skating inside or outside, or a game of pick-up hockey are great for older kids and teenagers. If there is a lot of snow, head to a park or bike trail and try snow shoeing or cross country skiing. Both activities are great for enjoying the outdoors and can burn 500 or more calories in an hour. You can even burn calories just from shoveling your driveway or side walk. But be careful not to overwork yourself – strenuous activities like shoveling snow can increase your risk of heart attack. When the temperature drops, our blood vessels narrow to prevent our bodies from losing too much heat. It’s our body’s natural reaction to cold temperatures outside, so when this affect is combined with increased blood pressure from demanding activities, it can put people with heart conditions and people involved in strenuous exercise or activities at greater risk. Here are some ways to prepare yourself before going outside:

 

  • Warm up with stretching or light activity before beginning any laborious activity
  • Layer clothes beneath a windproof and/or waterproof outer shell to maintain body heat
  • Take breaks to give your muscles (especially your heart) a rest
  • Try to always have at least one other person with you during any activity to ensure you are not alone should an emergency occur

 

Winter is a wonderful time of year that offers so many unique ways to enjoy the outdoors – and indoors! – with your family and friends. Be safe and enjoy the snow!

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 11730

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FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle
January 19, 2015By Josephine Fitzpatrick

Is Someone Trying to Sabotage Your Resolution?

We’re more than half way through the first month of the New Year and you have probably already faced many obstacles while trying to stick to your Resolution. Going back to school and work after the winter break means eating on the go and that healthy eating usually takes a back seat to a busy schedule. And it can be tough to make time for exercise, especially in the cold weather when it can be hard to find the energy. Difficulties like these can be combatted from within through motivation and encouragement, but sometimes you will find that challenges can come from another person. Your friends and family may seem supportive, but sometimes they think that steering you away from your weight loss will make you happy and more relaxed. They see you eating light and they hear of how you struggle sometimes, so they think that giving you a way out and convincing you to skip that workout or to have that dessert will solve your problems. It can be hard to say no to the people you care about and spend the most time with, but you also have to watch out for people that are trying to sabotage your Resolution.

 

Co-workers may mean well when they come by with that box of donuts or plate of cookies they baked last night, but you have to rise above being tempted in the workplace. The last thing you need is to start rewarding yourself with food when you complete a task or feel stressed at your job. Getting personal at work can be uncomfortable, but there are nice ways to turn down unhealthy food and unnecessary snacks. Just let people know that you don’t have room or just ate, or if you feel the need to take what they are offering, only take a bite or two. So next time your coworkers are passing around birthday cake slices at an office party, have a plan and get through the day without the extra eating.

 

If you don’t find temptation at work, you will most certainly find it at home with your kids and family. You may plan to eat healthy when you come home but your kids probably have something else in mind. They want what they want, and they want dessert too, and you won’t hear the end of it until they get it. Maybe they want to go out for dinner to their favorite place where you know you don’t have many options. It can be hard to juggle your own eating habits with your family’s. You feel like eating healthy doesn’t seem like a priority when you’re eating with other people. This can be especially hard when you’re at a relative’s table when food is personal. If you do feel the pressure to eat, use the tasting method. Just take one spoonful. And remember that when it comes to family meals, it’s about more than food. Don’t focus on what you’re not eating, focus on the time you spend together.

 

Your family and coworkers may understand your choices, but your friends may be your biggest obstacle. They want you to indulge and enjoy things with them. They want to go out for drinks or meet up at a cafe for coffee. When you find yourself in a social situation where eating or drinking certain foods is part of the get-together, you have to do the best you can. Don’t just give up because you think the situation is out of your control. Look for healthy alternatives or go for something that you know is a good choice. Meeting up isn’t an occasion to fall off the wagon. You can also plan accordingly when you have the time. If you know you’re meeting up with a friend for coffee, keep it simple (no sugary syrups or whole milk) and make it one of your snacks.

 

Navigating social situations is part of daily life so it will also be part of your weight loss. It can be tiring to combat your own temptations, and then to add someone else telling you that you should treat yourself to whatever food you want isn’t helpful. They may think that one meal or snack isn’t a big deal, but you work too hard to spoil your resolution. Make it something you are proud of and include the people around.  If they really want the best for you they will understand.

 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018

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FitnessHealthy TipsLifestyle
January 12, 2015By Josephine Fitzpatrick

Winter Recipes That Won’t Hurt Your Weight Loss

 

Just because this time of the year is associated with heavy winter foods, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t an abundance of recipes that won’t hurt your weight loss. There are many dishes that can be made in a healthy way, and some surprising ways to take advantage of fruits and vegetables that are in season.

 

When you think winter, the first food you may think of is soup. There is nothing like a warm bowl of soup after a long, cold day, but many soups are just as high in calories and sodium as some meals that you would never think of ordering while trying to lose weight. Keep it simple with a Vegetable Soup made from vegetable broth and your favorite vegetables like onion, celery, carrots, green beans, peas, tomatoes and more. Add just a teaspoon each of salt, thyme, and oregano and one bay leaf, and you have a simple, delicious soup that will satisfy your hunger without negatively affecting your weight loss.

 

Garden-Vegetable-Soup-550x365

 

Slow cookers are a great way to get a delicious meal without having to spend too much time in the kitchen. You can use a slow cooker for this recipe for Quinoa and Veggies: Rinse and add one and a half cups of quinoa to the slow cooker. Add one tbsp of olive oil then add three cups of vegetable broth, one chopped medium sweet red pepper, one cup of fresh green beans, one chopped small carrot, one chopped small onion and two minced garlic cloves. Cook on high for 2-4 hours or low for 4-6 hours.

 

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Salads are a no brainer when it comes to weight loss, and winter is a great time to mix it up with healthy and flavorful ingredients. Try something zesty and fresh with a Lime Marinated Grilled Shrimp Salad. Simply combine shrimp, two tbsp olive oil, two tbsp lime juice, 2 tsp lime zest, one tsp ground cumin, one tsp dried oregano, one tsp garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste in a medium bowl and toss until each shrimp is covered. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Cook each shrimp for about 4 minutes on each side then allow it to cool slightly. Serve on top of mixed greens with a vinaigrette dressing.

 

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Vegetable chips are a great snack and can be made from a variety of veggies and seasonings. When you’re looking for something to munch on, try Zucchini Chips. To make these, thinly slice one medium zucchini then lay the slices on a paper towel. Sprinkle the slices lightly with salt and then let them sit on the paper towel for 10 minutes (this will help draw out the liquid so they cook faster). Lay out the slices evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and sprinkle with seasonings of your choice. Bake for about 2 hours, let them cool, and enjoy!

 

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Smoothies may not sound like an obvious winter suggestion, but they are a great way to to get some fruits and vegetables into your day. Kale is a super healthy food that is currently in season that is great for smoothies. Blend one cup of kale, one cup of water, one medium apple, the juice of one lemon, two sprigs of mint and one cup of crushed ice for a delicious and healthy Green Winter Smoothie.

 

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~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

 

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