Where Are You and What Are You Doing?
This Monday April 10th 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.
MAINTAIN:
If you want to have a Cheat Meal on any of the nights of Passover then you must stay clean all day and only go off at night. If you choose this option you will have a Maintenance Week. All other days must be clean and on program. You can only do this if you give up your Cheat Day and replace it with cheat meals for the week.
Remember, when you go off at night it doesn’t mean you have to eat everything in sight. In fact, a great way to enjoy is to take a large spoonful of everything you like. This way you get to taste everything but you won’t over do it. Sometimes a taste is all you need to feel satisfied and not stuffed.
*If you are going away on a trip during the holiday week it might be best to plan to maintain to limit your confusion and stress. Many of us start a vacation with the best intentions but when we get there we can’t stay in control. Eat clean all day then treat yourself to one off meal, dessert OR drinks. If you do this you should give up your one Cheat Day and have only cheat meals throughout the week when you need them. REMEMBER: It’s a meal, dessert or drinks each day. Not all three. Choose what works for you and stick to it. You can still enjoy everything about your trip and be able to come back and get back on track. You can even switch it up each day and choose which option to cheat with (drinks one day, meal the next, etc.).
WEIGHT LOSS:
If you decide you want to keep this Passover Holiday a Weight Loss week then you must stick to only one day cheat day. On the remaining day(s) that you celebrate Passover you can incorporate some of the suggestions below to keep you on track and stay true to your holiday traditions.
Green Shakshuka

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!
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)
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.
Root Vegetable Medley

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
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.
Lemon Mousse

Ingredients:
•One 4-serving size package of Jell-O sugar free 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. 1/2 cup serving is one dessert/snack.
CAN I HAVE MATZAH?
Yes!
Try 1/2 sheet original Matzah with 1 tbsp peanut butter (or sun nut butter if you cannot have peanuts) with or without 1 piece or 1 cup of fruit as a meal.
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.
You can also check out our previous blogs for some more recipes here and here.
Have a Happy Passover and Safe Travels to everyone going away!
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
211 E 43rd Street Manhattan, NY 10019

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE INNOVATION 2017 WINTER WEIGHT LOSS CONTEST



IT’S THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING AND A GREAT DAY TO BE AMAZING!!
Meal
Spinach Burgers
Ingredients:-1 bag of thawed and well drained, chopped spinach-2 egg whites-1 whole egg-1/4 cup diced onion-1/2 cup low fat shredded cheese-1/2 cup unprocessed bran-1 tsp red pepper flakes-1 tsp salt-1/2 tsp garlic powder
Directions:-Mix all ingredients into a bowl.-Shape into 6 oz patties and cook over medium high heat in a non stick skillet sprayed with Pam.-Patties are done when they are golden and firm, about 4-6 minutes.

Dessert:
Jello Jigglers
Ingredients:-1 6 oz box of Green Jello Gelatin-1 1/4 cup boiling water
Directions:-Place gelatin in a glass bowl. Add boiling water and stir for 3 minutes. Place water gelatin mixture into pyrex glass baking dish.-Refrigerate for 3 hours. Place bottom of dish into warm water for 15 seconds.-Cut jello into shamrock shapes with a cookie cutter.

For many of us, one of the reasons why we want to lose weight is to live longer and healthier. We want to look and feel amazing at any age, see our children and grandchild grow, enjoy retirement and much more – all while living life to the fullest. Though there is no way to guarantee health and a long life, there are steps we can take to ensure we are doing everything we can to take care of ourselves. In this case, we mean “steps” literally – there is an ancient Chinese proverb that says if you take 100 steps after each meal, you will live to be 99 years old. Basically, it is the idea that if you take a short walk after a meal it’s good for you.
It’s something that many of us may have felt before – you eat a big meal and then you want to walk it off. Or sleep it off. One option makes you feel better, one makes you feel worse. When you get in the car, then drive to the restaurant, sit and eat a big meal, get back in the car and drive home then sit on the couch – there’s no question why it doesn’t sit well. As soon as we finish a meal our body gets to work digesting what we just consumed. Walking helps your body regulate blood sugar and will increase your gastric fluids to help you digest. This is especially good news for people with diabetes as it can help regulate blood sugar numbers. On the other hand, staying stationary or even lounging or laying back not only make us feel like sick, but it can even trigger physical pain and discomfort and acid reflux. For those of us who have a sedentary job where we spend a lot of our time at a desk or sitting we also know this feeling. We find ourselves snacking and feeling heavier and heavier in our chairs. Taking the time to walk around the block, to the car, or around the office, or house or up and down the stairs will give you that boost to make you feel better.
Even this short walk will help you with weight loss, even if you don’t participate in any other exercise. It kicks starts not only your digestion but also your metabolism. You can’t walk off a bad meal or snack, but when you are doing the right things and making smart choices it can only help. Walking after a meal also helps suppress the increase of triglyceride concentration – triglycerides are unhealthy fat particles that can lead to cardiovascular problems. We have explored how sleep is connected to weight loss in previous blogs – and walking can help with sleep as well. Walking after a meal can help reduce stress and promote circulation which are both important to having a good night’s sleep.
Overall, walking after a meal is a great habit to get into, especially for many of us who were stuck inside these past few days because of the snow. It benefits your body in so many ways and promotes a healthy lifestyle. It’s something that everyone in the family can enjoy and can even become a family tradition and a way to spend time together.
FOR MY NORTHEAST PEOPLE IT’S GOING TO SNOW SNOW SNOW…how much, nobody knows!!!!
While we wait and prepare for what is to come there are a few things I want you to think about…
I hope you don’t think we forgot about the challenge! We didn’t! We were just trying to give everyone a chance to settle back into the routine again after the Winter Break! Looks like everyone is back on track and moving along nicely. With only 3 weeks until Spring and 2 weeks left of the challenge it’s a great time to think about where you are today and where you thought you would be.
WHERE WILL YOU BE TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY?
WEIGHT LOSS, WEIGHT GAIN OR THE SAME…
Whether you are in the challenge or not take a moment to reflect on how you have been doing – and where you are today. Is it where you thought you would be? Think back to when the Challenge started in January. You thought by March you would have lost at least 5 or 10 lbs, and many of you hoping for more! If you didn’t start or you keep yo-yoing back and forth, you better start taking it serious because it’s only going to get harder as the nicer weather approaches.
I can tell you the very first thing you have to stop doing – STOP MAKING EXCUSES and just DO IT ALREADY! Seriously, it’s something you want and something that’s going to make you happy so why are you not doing it? The time is now…It’s not tomorrow, it’s not next week and it’s definitely not next month. The only way you are going to get your life, your health and your happiness in a good place is if you start with your weight. Because it’s the first thing you think of when you wake up and it’s the last thing you think of before you go to sleep. So start making your days happy and stop putting off what needs to be done. You are the only person who has control of this. You see your friends, neighbors, co-workers all on plan and losing weight. You should be losing it too! There are no excuses except the ones that you give yourself.
It is so much easier to do it and stay on it
then to spend the minutes, hours and days contemplating when you are going to start again.
It’s March! Don’t even think about putting it off again. Work hard and keep looking for reasons to get back on program and remember those reasons to stay on program.
Always remember everyone has their struggles – you just have to work hard to get through yours.
Just like all of these contestants worked hard to get through their days of struggle. And because they didn’t quit – Look at these amazing numbers.
Whether it’s 3lbs, 5lbs, 10lbs or 15lbs what is most important is you are all on your way to making your spring and summer amazing, happy, healthy and fun!
With 2 weeks to go you are all doing absolutely fabulous!!!! Stay strong, follow your menu and you will keep seeing amazing results.
IF YOU CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT
THEN DON’T STOP FIGHTING FOR IT
CONGRATULATIONS – 2 WEEKS TO GO….
Andrew S: 19
Aaron T: 17
Beth M: 16.6
Joann B: 14.6
Mike R: 14
Alison A: 12.2
Steve K: 12
Sheryl G: 9.6
Troy M: 9
Mike N: 9
Sandra W: 8.8
Raquel R: 8.7
Marlie G: 8.5
Dorey K: 8.5
SEO: 8.4
Paul N: 8
Scott S: 8
Amanda C: 8
Lauren G: 7.4
Kimberly S: 7
Cara B: 6.4
Dena E: 6.1
Samantha M: 5.8
Donna F: 5.5
Shari K: 5.3
Jamie K: 5
Melanie B: 5
Bonnie K: 5
Alyssa M: 5
Dawn S: 4.6
Lori N: 4.6
Emily D: 4.4
Theresa G: 4.2
Leslie O: 4
Dana S: 3.6
Deirdre C: 3.6
Jamie H: 3.5
Beth F: 3.4
Robyn M: 3.3
Heather C: 3.2
Ann C: 3.1
Jillian G: 3
Stacey B: 3
Jessica M: 2.4
SS: 1.5
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
It’s Monday Morning. It’s not like I’m telling you something you don’t already know. It’s a day where we begin a week – our week of work, school, sports, eating healthy and clean and being the best we can be. While some dread Mondays – others embrace it. The feeling of eating clean and knowing by next weekend you will be even less weight than you were this past weekend. The feeling of being the best you can be and no one can stop you or get in your way because you are the only person who has control of it. Monday mornings are a brand new start every week and when you do the program 110% it’s also a day that your body believes is starting over, it’s going to work it’s hardest today because it’s struggling to get back and get rid of the Cheat Day.
We are now on UBER EATS 7 days a week for your convenience