In Element 04, Building a Healthy Mindset, we examined your relationship with yourself and prepared you to make challenging decisions along your transformation journey. Now that you are equipped with the tools to take full responsibility for your health, it’s important to understand the dynamics of your relationships and interactions with others, as these play an important role in your wellbeing.

Here are some tips to optimize your surroundings and improve your relationships:

• Identify your supporters. Identify the people in your life who continuously support your efforts to reach your health goals. Make this a real priority, as you remember that having like-minded people around is a powerful motivator.
• Identify your stressors. Taking some time to identify your stressors is the key to optimizing your surroundings. Once you recognize a situation that is challenging for you, plan your response by making adjustments that will reduce your anxiety. Doing this will prepare you to conquer this difficult moment so that you can continue being your best self.
• Be conscious. Being aware of the importance of your surroundings and relationships, as well as how they affect your overall health and wellbeing, is critical. One way to raise awareness of these topics is by having conversations about them with like-minded individuals.
• Be competent. Competency starts with making deliberate efforts to better yourself and eventually, your surroundings. After a while, the practices you’ve implemented will become second nature.
• Be patient. Try to remember that these changes won’t happen overnight. Once your environment receives a proper detox, you will see a positive change in yourself.

Ask me, your Independent OPTAVIA Coach, about other ways you can enhance your surroundings and relationships while on your journey to Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit at a Time^®.

St. Patrick's Day is almost here! After putting together your favorite St. Patrick's Day outfit – it's time to get the festivities going with some healthy food and at-home activities.

Check out these tips for some healthy and festive activities on St. Patrick’s Day:

• Plan a scavenger hunt. For an extra-fun activity with the whole family, set up a scavenger hunt around the house with clues that lead to some fun prizes. Who knows - you might just find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!
• Plant shamrocks. Why not start an annual St. Paddy's Day tradition of planting shamrocks in your backyard, or growing them as house plants. Not only are these clovers perfectly festive for the holiday, but they also last a long time.
• Watch an Irish movie. Get your family together for a fun and cozy movie night. Check out some of the best Irish movies to watch and pick your favorites!
• Learn the history. St. Patrick's Day has a history dating back more than two centuries. With this rich background, there's a lot to learn about the holiday.
• Make a healthy meal. Check out the Shepherd’s Pie with Mashed Cauliflower recipe below, or other potential lean and green meals on OPTAVIA’s Pinterest Page for another healthy Irish meal!

No matter how you choose to celebrate, these activities will get everyone in the spirit of the holiday!

Ask me, your Independent OPTAVIA Coach, for additional ways you can celebrate holidays on your journey to Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit at a Time.   

Rising Above

After experiencing her daughter's tragic death, Deborah entered a depressed mental state and started eating to cope with her grief.

“Eating out was the best thing when I didn’t feel like cooking and junk food became my comfort food! I always had a diet Dr. Pepper with me and usually some kind of candy or snack cake.”

Deborah’s self-esteem was at an all-time low. When shopping for clothes, she often left the store crying and upset by her physical appearance, and she was unable to live an active lifestyle.

A couple of years later, Deborah read about a Facebook friend’s success with OPTAVIA. After giving her friend a call, Deborah started as an OPTAVIA Client and soon became an Independent OPTAVIA Coach.

"I’ve lost 75 lbs^*! My health is great! I feel better, have more energy, and can do things I never thought were possible, like challenging myself with mountain hiking, zip-lining, and even snorkeling. Recently, I rode five miles on my bike a few weeks ago! “Not only have I reclaimed my life, but I am also paying it forward to friends and family by sharing all that OPTAVIA’s Program and Plans have to offer”.

After joining the Coach Community and experiencing success of her own, Deborah’s husband also joined her as a Client.

“My husband has lost a total of 130 lbs*! For this, we are both so grateful!”

Deborah is excited about what the future holds with her husband and sons in her new healthy mind and body.

“Thank you, OPTAVIA and my independent OPTAVIA Coach, for giving my life back to me!”