Health and wellness are the largest factors that fuel the energy, focus, and quality of our lives. Taking responsibility of our health means we need to accept who we are with compassion and take action to reach our health goals. Here are some ways you can take control and full responsibility for your health:

• Find your WHY. We all need a reason or cause to motivate us to make a change. Making a list of the reasons why you want to live a healthier lifestyle will help keep you accountable and more likely to achieve your goals.
• Create a plan. Write down your goals and the steps you need to take to reach your goals. Having a written plan will make your objectives clear. When faced with a decision between a healthy or unhealthy choice, remember that making the healthier decision will give you a greater reward in the long run.
• Eat healthy. A healthy, well-balanced diet provides the energy you need to stay active throughout the day, helps prevent illnesses, and is a key factor for achieving a healthy weight. OPTAVIA’s Fuelings and Plans are designed to provide the right nutrition at every stage of your optimal weight journey.
• Manage stress. Realizing that you are in control of your life is the foundation for managing stress. Take charge of your thoughts and emotions by identifying the stressors in your life and utilize coping methods that are healthy and productive.
• Stay hydrated. Staying hydrated is essential to good health and helps fight food cravings. Aim to drink 64 ounces of water each day.*
• Get plenty of rest. Sleep plays an important role in physical health, brain function, and emotional wellbeing. It’s important to get between seven to nine hours of sleep each night so your body can refresh for the next day. Also, it’s important to schedule some vacation time from work to recharge.
• Reach out for support. As your OPTAVIA Coach, I’m here to guide you and help keep you accountable. Also, our Community of like-minded people offer valuable insight and empowerment along your health journey.

Ask me, your OPTAVIA Coach, about other ways to take responsibility for your health on your journey to Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit at a Time™.

*Talk with your healthcare provider prior to changing the amount of water you drink as it can affect certain health conditions and medications

While you may know that it’s important to exercise your body, did you know that it’s also important to exercise your mind? The brain’s structure allows it to change based on our experiences. As you learn new things, you are making your brain stronger and more adaptable to change. Here are some tips to increase your mental alertness and unlock the power of your brain:

• Do crosswords and puzzles. Challenging games and puzzles like Sudoku are brain stimulants. Answer all of the questions you know and look up any answers that you don’t.
• Memorize. Aside from it being a cool trick to recite your favorite poem or passage at a moment’s notice, memorization is an excellent way to strengthen your mind muscle. Set a goal to memorize a poem each week.
• Read slowly. In a technological world where we get bits of information at our fingertips, it is easy to miss details. Select an article or short story and take the time to read each sentence and process all of the information.
• Healthy eating. Vitamins such as B12 and folic acid help your brain function more efficiently and increases mental sharpness. OPTAVIA Fuelings and green leafy vegetables are a good source of these nutrients.
• Meditation. A few minutes for daily meditation can increase your focus, concentration, and creativity. Taking a few deep breaths also helps to replenish your blood-oxygen levels.
• Drink water. We hear all the time that our bodies are 70% water, but our brains alone are more than 85% water! Water helps optimize brain function along with maintaining hydration.

These are just a few ways to keep your brain refreshed and on point. Healthy Habits are rooted in the way you think. Strengthening your mind goes a long way towards making your health journey a success!

The Essential Tools

“I’ve struggled with my weight most of my life. My first ‘diet’ was in fourth grade. I lost 40 pounds, but my weight kept going up and down.”

In college, Whitney gained the “freshman 15” times three. She tried all the fad diets with little success. In 2010, she saw a bariatric physician. With his program, which included daily pills and a very strict eating regimen, she lost 40 pounds in four months.

“I met my husband that semester and quickly realized that the plan that had helped me reach my goal weight was not sustainable long-term. I gained 50 pounds in the next year, and 50 more after we had our son.”

Feeling like she was at a loss, Whitney decided to call her cousin who was an OPTAVIA Coach.

“She introduced OPTAVIA to me and I told her I would think about it. I was sure I could do it on my own.”

Two years later, Whitney and her husband decided they wanted to have another child. After consulting with her obstetrician, he recommended she lose weight to have a healthy pregnancy.

So Whitney tried a vigorous workout routine and would lose a few pounds here and there, but they would magically reappear after a birthday party or holiday.

“Finally, after seeing a picture of myself in my Halloween costume, I realized I was getting nowhere. I called my cousin back and said I was finally ready for help.”

With her cousin’s guidance and support, Whitney lost 45 pounds in three months.*

“The best news of all is we’re expecting a baby. And with OPTAVIA, I feel like I finally have the essential tools to have a healthy pregnancy and continue my weight loss journey once the baby is born. I’m a happier, healthier version of myself and I give OPTAVIA a lot of credit for helping me get here.”