Moving Towards Health - Sullivan County Democrat

When you know it’s time to make a change, fully lean in.

Keep moving

Over the last one hundred and forty three weeks, we’ve talked about every aspect of health I could think of. From macronutrients of food to strength training, to sleep and supplements, … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 3/25/25

Being able to move my body is something that’s always on my gratitude list, even when it’s challenging to accept where I’m currently at in my injury-recovery journey.

Benefits of practicing gratitude

Living in the present moment is one of the most challenging things for us to do. Moving towards health is an ongoing journey, where our past choices are represented in our current health reality. … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 3/18/25

Instead of looking at health choices as good or bad, consider how you can tweak your habits to better align with your goals and feeling well.

Healthy ways to consume caffeine

One of the most commonly used stimulants in the world is caffeine. According to recent research, over 90% of adults use it regularly to improve alertness, energy levels, and their mood. There are … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 3/11/25

Eating well-balanced meals helps me feel my best, and I’ll never be skipping a non-alcoholic fun drink or a dairy-free dessert.

Wellness on vacation

Traveling is one of my favorite activities. I love exploring new parts of the world and living life outside of my everyday routines. While the experience is usually wonderful, maintaining a focus on … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 3/4/25

Strength is built with consistency over time. The best time to start working on it is now.

Why being strong is so important

The human body is meant to spend the majority of its time moving. We currently spend most of our time being stationary, and this leads to problems such as chronic diseases, like metabolic disease, … more

Maggie Fitzpatrick | 2/25/25

Moving our body is the most powerful way to change our mental state.

Enhancing wellness through the mind-body connection

Our mind and body are deeply connected. While it used to be common practice to view, evaluate, and treat them as separate body systems, new research is showing that this approach may not be best in … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 2/18/25

I’m excited to get back to playing softball, but recovering my hamstring comes first regardless of how long it takes.

Don’t rush results

Seeing results quickly is something we all desire. Whether the outcome we’re looking for is related to reaching a new fitness goal, getting back to where we were before, or returning from … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 2/11/25

If it’s too hard to do it for you, do it for them.

Face your fears

Spending a Saturday with my sister and niece was a common occurrence when they lived nearby. On one of these occasions, our girls’ day included some shopping, lunch at Chipotle, and a two and a … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 2/4/25

Reactions happen on their own. We must choose to respond.

Power in the pause

Do you ever feel like the world is moving so fast around you that it seems impossible to keep up? When this happens to me, it’s usually in combination with feeling stressed and … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 1/28/25

Instead of waiting for motivation to find you, go find it.

How to motivate yourself

If you set goals for the new year and you’re still making progress towards them, congratulations! You’ve made it past “Quitter’s Day.” The second Friday in … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 1/21/25

Wishing you a Happy New Year and success in all you set out to do and who you set out to be in 2025.

Intentions for the New Year

I’m not usually a New Year’s resolutions or “new year, new me” type of person. Most of the time, I lean towards setting new goals and changing habits as soon as I … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 1/14/25

It’s okay to use a little external motivation to get you moving, but don’t expect it to last forever.

Challenge yourself

I can’t even deny it - I used to hate fitness challenges. You know, the ones that generate a lot of hype and then are over after thirty days or so. As a coach who prioritizes longevity, … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 1/14/25

Chocolate chip cookies are a staple in my household, and are best enjoyed when I’m with people I care about.

Enjoy every bite

As the year is coming to a close and the ground will hopefully be wrapped in a blanket of snow, many holiday treats are being made, decorated, and consumed. My sister found a fantastic … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 12/24/24

Adding more fun activities into my exercise routine is one of the best ways for me to stay consistent and be grateful for my ability to move.

The missing ingredient

I started skiing when I was in first grade. Once a week during the winter, I would board the bus at the end of the school day full of kids heading to Holiday Mountain for our ski club trip. We … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 12/17/24

To sleep like a dog

My dogs are the best sleepers I know. Two of them are laying in my office at this moment, snoozing and snoring away. While sleep is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle of health, it can be … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 12/10/24

Dogs keep life simple. All they want is for you to be with them. Deep down, people feel the same way.

Be the gift

I love receiving physical gifts during the holidays. In fact, giving and receiving gifts is one of the top ways I feel loved, according to Gary Chapman’s book The 5 Love … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 12/3/24

Walking is a small thing that always helps me get closer to my big goals.

The small things

I’m sure at some point you’ve heard someone say, “If you take care of the small things, the big things will take care of themselves.” This quote is attributed to American poet … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 11/26/24

Choose for yourself

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and how we choose to approach it will look different for each one of us. When I think of my ideal Thanksgiving experience, it includes enjoying delicious … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 11/19/24

The more I travel, the more I realize how important my health is. It’s not only for my physical capacity, but as a foundation for me to enjoy myself and be able to learn new things.

It’s more than fitness

I’ve always been fascinated with self-actualization. When my college advisor asked me what I wanted to do with my degree in Clinical Exercise Science, I said I wanted to help people … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 11/12/24

Focusing on simple strategies like drinking water, eating vegetables, and eating protein help even when we are out of our own environment, like when we are out to eat.

Focus on food to feel your best

In last week’s article, we talked about how challenging it can be when we feel as if we have to start over on our health journey. There can be many reasons why we may feel this way, and … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 11/5/24

I’m grateful for all of the time I got to spend having four (and eventually five) dogs, learning something new from them every day.

Back to the basics

One of the most challenging parts of health is feeling like you have to start all over again from the beginning. This happens to all of us at different times for different reasons. Life can present … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 10/29/24

Discipline can be extremely frustrating at times. Whether you’re putting in practice at a game you love or striving for a goal that isn’t as fun, staying true to our commitments is the best way to reach our desired results.

Keeping promises to ourselves

I’ve always loved the quote “Commitment is staying true to what you said you would do long after the mood that you said it in has left” by Inky Johnson. I strive to live by this … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 10/22/24

Spending time outside is always better with my dogs, whether it’s a few moments on the deck, playing in the yard, or adventures on a walk or a hike.

Spend time outside

While morning routines can be a very impactful part of our day, sometimes it’s the smallest pieces that have the greatest impact. Each day when I wake up and get out of bed, my dogs … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 10/15/24

Showing up for others is always more impactful when we are the best version of ourselves.

Choose Yourself

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you wish you didn’t say yes to attending an event or doing a favor for someone else? Receiving invitations and opportunities to help … more

10/8/24

Preparing for a long race requires training runs to be much lower in intensity and shorter in duration than the race itself. Training at too fast of a pace and long of distance wouldn’t have given me as good of results.

Improving exercise consistency

Writing a great workout requires careful consideration of many factors. While all of them are important, intensity and duration play a great role in our consistency of exercise, and therefore our … more

Maggi Fitzpatrick | 10/1/24