One of Spring’s biggest holidays is this weekend – Easter! This is a holiday that can sometimes spread out over a couple of days, so make sure you have a plan for the days you are eating clean and enjoy your Cheat Day! 

One of the main things to watch out for this week is Easter candy. There is a time to indulge and a time to say no. Maybe you buy some candy early to fill easter eggs and baskets, so make sure you aren’t snacking before your day to indulge. And once the holiday is over, no more! Don’t over buy so that you have leftover candy lying around. We sometimes do this when we have an reason to buy candy and treats, using a holiday as an excuse to have them when we normally wouldn’t. We think, one more piece of chocolate or candy on Monday won’t hurt, I don’t want to waste it. I’ll get rid of it tomorrow. Or, I’m saving it for the kids. No excuses! The weather is warming up and summer is around the corner. Now is not the time to fall off the wagon. Last week it was St. Patrick’s Day, this week it is Easter and Passover is in just a few short weeks. Whether you celebrate some or all of those holidays, now is the time to be on your toes. Think about your goals. Is it a certain event or time that you have in mind – Spring break, summer, or a birthday, anniversary, wedding, or other event approaching? Or do you just want to achieve your goal for personal reasons – confidence, pride, achievement, strength. Whatever it may be, now is the time to be on your best behavior. 

Planning is the key. Think about the treats you want to enjoy and think about your schedule for the next few days. Maybe you are attending or hosting a family dinner or a party. If so, plan to make or bring healthy dishes so you have options. You can make a festive veggie platter:   

Or you can make these adorable carrots and hummus cups: 

Or jump into spring with a fresh fruit salad. You can add sprigs of mint (shredded) for a delicious flavor, or juice from a lemon or lime for more flavor and to help preserve the fruit. Combine fruits of your choice in bite sized pieces. Use fresh fruit when you can, or if you buy canned fruit make sure it is in 100% juice and is not sweetened.  

Maybe your kids have a school event or an Easter egg hunt, which is great. Getting outside and enjoying the weather with your friends and family is an awesome way to spend the holiday. Walk as much as you can and plan other activities, such as arts and crafts or games. 

Planning ahead can only help. Enjoy the holiday and make this most of this week. 

Happy Easter!

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday that celebrates St. Patrick, the foremost saint of Ireland – although this holiday is much more well know for its parades and festive food and drinks. It is a fun and cheerful holiday that is celebrated by all people, but because of its emphasis on food and drinking especially, it can be hard for us who are eating clean to stay on track. Here are some ways to help you stay clean and enjoy the holiday. 

Keep it simple – If you don’t plan on celebrating big, keep things clean and simple. You don’t have to skip the holiday, there are smart ways to celebrate. Start your day with a green omelet, packed with your favorite veggies like spinach, broccoli, peppers, asparagus and more. Or try this Shamrock Protein Shake: Blend 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk, 1/2 cup fresh spinach, 3 tbsp fresh mint, 1 frozen banana and 1 scoop vanilla protein powder. It’s a healthy shake with a fresh twist. Keep going with the green theme and include the traditional cabbage in a green salad for lunch with lettuce, cabbage, avocado, cucumber and more. You can go even further with the colors and make a vegetable pizza or vegetable platter like the Irish flag using broccoli, peppers, cauliflower, carrots, snap peas, mushrooms or any vegetables you choose: 

Pay Attention to Drinks – Drink in moderation. Unless it is your Cheat Day™ alcoholic beverages are still one snack each. This means that 4oz of wine, 1oz of alcohol or 2 light beers are each a snack. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. 

Choose Your Cheat Day™ – Since St. Patrick’s Day is on a week day, some people might not celebrate until this weekend. This can be tricky because it extends the holidays and makes it hard for us to stay clean. Choose your Cheat Day™ wisely and stick to it. 

Enjoy the Celebration – If you have the time, a St. Patrick’s Day parade is a great way to get the family out of the house and doing something fun and active together. If you drive to a parade location, try and park a couple blocks away and enjoy the walk. 

Be Safe – This is our most important tip for everyone today whether you are all out celebrating or just trying to avoid the chaos. No matter how safe you plan to be, today is a day where you should be extra careful. Many people will be drinking and celebrating in large crowds, so just be careful when going out, watching a parade and driving home.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick 

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018

Although the first official day of Spring isn’t until next weekend, it is already starting to feel like winter is over. Yesterday it got up to 72 degrees in New York, the sun was shining and the parks and streets were filled with people enjoying the weather, and today will be the same. 

Spring means a lot of things. For many of us, it means Spring Break. Whether you are traveling or not, a week off from school or work can disrupt our routines and we have to plan for that. If you are traveling, what you plan to eat is just as important as what you plan to wear and where you plan to go. If you want to stay as clean and healthy as possible, plan ahead and give yourself all the preparation you need. Losing over vacation is difficult but possible. But if you want to enjoy the local food and drink, enjoy it. Maintaining is just as much of an accomplishment. But no matter what you choose, it’s back on track 100% when you return. If you are not traveling, it can sometimes be even harder to keep ourselves in check. We are at home with a house full of food, and if we aren’t occupied we could end up snacking all day long. A relaxing week at home is what many of us may need, but if you don’t keep some kind of control it will be hard to come back from it. Give yourself some peace of mind and make a plan for Spring Break. Decide now and follow through. 

This season can also mean Spring Cleaning – out with the old and in with the new. Maybe you need to mix it up and try new things. Maybe check out a new restaurant or recipe. Get outside and go for a walk and explore new streets and neighborhoods. Sign up for a personal trainer or a class with friends. Even the smallest change can invigorate your routine and your motivation. Going through the motions every day can become boring and monotonous, and makes us vulnerable to going off plan. We look for something, anything to excite us. Make it something healthy and positive. 

Spring can also mean growth. Flowers bloom, the leaves grow back on the trees and the grass is green again. It is a time to blossom and thrive. It is a perfect time for gardening. Plant vegetables and herbs and use them later for a delicious and healthy meal. The days are already becoming longer, so take advantage of the extra sunshine. Spending just a couple minutes outside will give you that little bit of Vitamin D our bodies crave. It will boost your mood and give you a moment to breathe and help you manage stress. Try having lunch outside or go for a walk in the morning. 

With each season our daily lives and routines can change. Make it a change for the better. 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018