In Element 13, we’ll explore the tools needed to assess your progress on your journey to optimal health and wellbeing. The key is to track details and experiences you completed throughout the day, while also applying your learnings to plan for the future. You can easily identify your patterns and behaviors to make corrections early on by tracking these results.

Your LifeBook creates an interactive structure that allows you to fully immerse yourself in what it takes to achieve optimal health. In addition, co-founder and independent OPTAVIA Coach, Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen, provides a daily log template to make it easier to learn and implement those healthy habits. The daily log and checklist are designed to help you, and me, your independent OPTAVIA Coach, to identify areas for improvement so I can support you in the best way possible.

Here are some tips to motivate you as you record your progress:

• Create realistic goals. Drastic change does not happen overnight, which is why it's important to implement small, healthy habits, and create a realistic timeline to achieve your goals. Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint!
• Reward yourself. Discover what makes you happy that does not involve food, and reward yourself for reaching small milestones along your journey. For example, treat yourself to a movie night after eating five Fuelings and a healthy Lean & Green meal every day for a week.
• Ask for support. Your support system can help you handle difficult situations, find resources, and motivate you to succeed. Reach out to me, and/or the OPTAVIA Community for support and advice on achieving the necessary milestones involved in your journey.
• Use visuals. Sometimes we need visual reminders to keep us motivated. Find pictures that symbolize experiences, feelings, or even new items you want to have in your life. A vision board, desktop screensaver, or mobile phone background are great ways to keep your goals top of mind!

In addition to the daily log, it is important to track your weekly and monthly progress. The weekly tracker in Your LifeBook allows you to measure trends without overanalyzing daily results. In comparison, the monthly tracker allows you to see the progress and transformation you’ve made throughout the year.

Discuss this Element with me, your independent OPTAVIA Coach, and let’s make a plan to start tracking your progress today!

Self awareness is one of the key elements of personal growth. By gradually building self awareness, you will better understand what type of interactions you should have with others. In short, self-awareness will help you create and maintain the healthy life you want and deserve.

There are two kinds of self-awareness, internal and external, both equally important. Internal self-awareness is the conscious knowledge of your own character, feelings, motives, and desires. External self-awareness will make you aware of how other people see you.

Building and creating your own self-awareness will allow you to make intuitive decisions without thinking twice. Here are some simple ways to help you build self-awareness while on your journey to optimal health and wellbeing:

• Self-reflect. Self-reflection is the ability to look at yourself and your actions in an unbiased way. Looking back at your actions before, during, and after situations without judgment is difficult, but can build long-term emotional intelligence.
• Journaling. Writing down your feelings can help you reflect upon a situation, past or present. Simply write down your thoughts and feelings in Your LifeBook, or a journal, then revisit these events and feelings to help you better understand yourself.
• Get an outside perspective. Seek input from trusted family members, friends, or from a professional counselor. Ask what words describe you? What is their perception of your strengths and weaknesses? This honest feedback may be challenging to hear at times, but it can help you identify when you need to change or stay the same, building your whole picture –who you are, what you recognize, and how you take responsibility for your actions.

Ask me, your independent OPTAVIA Coach, about building self-awareness on your journey to Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit at a Time^®.

Directing Her Own Life

Jill spent more than 20 years working in Public Service. She gained great satisfaction from helping her staff learn and grow within their careers and over the years, Jill was promoted regularly. At the top of her career as a director, she had to resign from her position after dealing with health issues.

Jill’s first step after leaving her job was to lose the weight she put on throughout her career. Eventually, Jill found OPTAVIA, connected with her OPTAVIA Coach, and got on plan!

“Not long after I started on plan, I realized that this was SO MUCH MORE than a weight loss program. It has been a complete transformation of my life shifting my focus from losing weight to achieving Optimal Health.”

After her own success, Jill became an independent OPTAVIA Coach herself to pay it forward and help others, just as she had in her previous career in Public Service.

“Being an independent OPTAVIA Coach has changed my life. On my personal journey to optimal health, I have had many non-scale victories, but so far, the most impactful victory was choosing to become an independent OPTAVIA Coach”.

Jill gives credit to Dr. A, OPTAVIA, her OPTAVIA Coach, and her Clients for being able to live her best life to the fullest.