Unforgettable
“I was obese, weighing in at 333 pounds with a BMI of 50.6 and a waist measuring 59 inches. My journey towards optimal health began as part of a ripple effect. My best friend had a friend who had an amazing transformation and had become an OPTAVIA Coach. She asked me if I'd like try the Plan with her and if we could be each other's support system.”
After watching her friend lose 30 pounds*, Colleen decided to give OPTAVIA a try and she never looked back.
“I ripped the bandage of fear off and told myself this was my time! I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions of my life. Each day I ate my five Fuelings every 2-3 hours, prepared a lean and green meal, and only drank water. My clothing became baggy, my body shrunk and I could move more. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could lose 100 pounds*.”
After one year of being on Plan, Colleen was thrilled when she stepped on the scale and saw the number “1” as the first digit.
“I had made it to “Onederland”! The goal of a healthy BMI was in sight. I had to keep going.”
Soon after, Colleen had lost an additional 60 pounds* and was half of her original weight. She took her first plane ride since she began her journey and was in awe of how much room the seat had and how the seatbelt fit her comfortably. She no longer hid in photos and began enjoying shopping for clothes in her new size.
“I decided to celebrate reaching a healthy weight by running a half marathon. The girl that used to get doctors notes to get out of gym class was going to run 13.1 miles. Just like my weight journey, it was challenging but rewarding.”
As Colleen entered the final stretch, her legs began to burn. She turned around and saw another woman like her, exhausted and determined to cross the finish line.
“I thought about my health journey and how if I hadn't locked arms with so many people, I wouldn't be where I was today. I held out my hand and looked a total stranger in the eye and said ‘let's cross this line together’ and we did. That moment was like the day I reached my goal, unforgettable.”
Collen has been maintaining her healthy weight for over a year. There are still struggles, but she has her support group to inspire her and healthy habits to keep her going.
“I enjoy racing my nieces down the giant slide at the amusement parks, I continue to run, and I found love. There will never be enough gratitude for what this Program, Dr. Andersen, my best friend, my OPTAVIA Coach, and the OPTAVIA Community have done to inspire me. As an OPTAVIA Coach, I’m now paying it forward and encouraging others to find health and happiness.”
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