Every day we are faced with choices.

According to Co-Founder and independent OPTAVIA Coach, Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen, we face these three types of choices on a daily basis: primary, secondary, and fundamental.

• Primary choices decide the one thing we want most, such as optimal health.
• Secondary choices define the daily actions that support our primary choices, such as eating one Lean & Green meal each day.
• Fundamental choices define our state of being, or our choice to find lifelong transformation.

The best part is that YOU are empowered and fully responsible for your actions. You don’t have to let circumstances drive your decisions because you are in control.

This means there is really no such thing as "cheating," because you decide what will impact your long-term health and wellbeing. That said, it’s important to be forgiving of yourself as no one is perfect and occasionally you will have the urge to revert back to old habits.

The easiest way to stay vigilant in making healthy, positive choices is to practice Stop. Challenge. Choose:

• Stop. Take a slow, deep breath to help control your emotions. Recognize that you are triggering an unhealthy habit. Pausing and taking a breath helps to regain control.
• Challenge. Think about why you are responding to the situation the way you are. Remind yourself of your goals and the choices that can help you reach these goals.
• Choose. Make the healthy choice that gives you a similar reward but is much better for your long-term health.

Remember, it takes time to form new habits and turn unhealthy choices into healthy habits, so it will take equal time to practice and then implement new, healthy habits. By practicing Stop. Challenge. Choose, you will train your brain so make healthy decisions becomes an automated response.

For additional tips or guidance on how to go about developing healthy habits, please connect with me, your independent OPTAVIA Coach!

Sleeping plays an essential role in our lives. It allows us to reset and rejuvenate our mind and our bodies, and feel refreshed at the start of each day.

A well-rested mind and body are essential to achieving optimal health and wellbeing. Practicing the Habit of Healthy Sleep on a daily basis can also lead to a better mood, memory, and health, in addition to these added benefits:

• Reduce stress. Tackle stress more efficiently. Practicing healthy sleep, along with other stress reduction exercises, like deep breathing, can help improve your quality of sleep.
• Increase productivity. Staying well-rested is a key component to being productive. You will benefit by tackling a larger workload, while having extra energy to spend with your family and/or children in the evening!
• Prevent weight gain. A full eight hours of sleep alone won’t result in losing weight, but it can help your body by increasing a myriad of hormones that can lead to a decreased appetite.
• Prioritize sleep. Implement a strict bedtime routine and sleep in a dark room with the correct temperature. And, ensure your room is free of electronics. These practices will help you stay consistent so you secure eight hours of sleep every night!

Now that you know the benefits of sleep, how do you actually incorporate them into your daily routine? Reach out to me, your independent OPTAVIA Coach – let’s partner to ensure you stay consistent by incorporating these benefits.

Found Happiness

After years of working a job that was not contributing to her happiness and neglecting her physical and mental health, Karen realized it was time for a change. Her doctor advised the key to becoming healthy would be to develop healthy habits, including weight loss.

“That was a wake-up call for me. At that moment, I decided I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

A friend introduced Karen to OPTAVIA and told her the program was more than losing weight, but more of a holistic change in lifestyle. Karen decided to say “yes” to taking care of herself and started on plan.

“I lost 60lbs^* and have maintained my goal weight! Beyond that, I am healthy, happy, yet I still continue on my journey to optimal health and wellbeing.”

Based on her success, Karen became an independent OPTAVIA Coach and loves being able to help others on their health journeys.

“I am able to pay it forward by helping to transform the lives of others. And I lead by example by exercising regularly, eating healthy, sleeping well, volunteering at my church, and helping others by sharing our mission of lifelong transformation.”