Between balancing meal planning and practicing the Habits of Health^® with your upcoming summer plans, developing a support system can be highly beneficial to both your physical and mental health.

A strong support system should include someone to reach out to for information, advice, guidance, or just listen instead of talk. By developing supportive relationships, you can find daily encouragement, a partner to lean on, and someone to celebrate all your victories along your journey to Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit at a Time^®.

Consider these tips for building and sustaining a healthy support system this summer:

• Get clear on your goals. Having clear health goals with objectives and action steps will help determine what type, or what level, of support is necessary. Look for support from a mentor with a particular expertise related to what you need guidance with, or a partner that may have already run the race you are currently running. Ultimately, a clear understanding of your goals and the action steps needed to move forward will help identify the specific support needed so you can go out and find it!
• Talk to me, your independent OPTAVIA Coach! It’s important for me, as your Coach, to pay it forward with helpful tips and insights as you continue to progress through the various stages of your health journey. It’s also important to remember that not everyone moves at the same pace. As your Coach, I love offering guidance and support, especially when a Client needs to reset goals and outline a new plan with achievable action steps.
• Reach out to family and friends. Your loved ones are also an excellent resource for encouragement. Sustain this support network by keeping in touch and updating them with your progress along your health journey. Sharing OPTAVIA and the Habits of Health with your loved ones can also help increase your success as you work toward your goal because you can try to work toward similar goals together!

Building connections and having a support system this summer will be vital to making progress towards your goals!

Please reach out to me, your independent OPTAVIA Coach, before summer gets into full swing. I, along with the OPTAVIA Community, am here to support and help YOU as you work towards optimal health.

Today is Memorial Day! Are you ready for a day of grilling, warm weather and even outdoor fun? 

Though it can sometimes be challenging to stay on track during this season, there are plenty of fresh, healthy choices available and by having a plan for every special occasion, it’s easier to stay on Plan while enjoying yourself at the same time.

Follow these tips for today’s holiday:

• Stick with lean proteins. Stick to lean cuts of protein like sirloin tips, flank steak, skinless chicken breast and fish. Lean cuts are high in protein but lower in fat and calories. Make sure that whatever protein you choose is not battered and fried.
• Remember, vegetables first. When filling up your plate, think vegetables! Skip the dip and fill up on non-starchy vegetables like salad, asparagus, broccoli, celery and cucumbers. Non-starchy vegetables are low in calories, a great source of fiber, and should be the majority of your plate, whether cooked or raw.
• Offer to be the head chef! Check out the delicious recipe below, from our partners at The Culinary Institute of America Consulting^* and make it for everyone! What’s better than a healthy and delicious recipe to kick off the start of summer?
• Focus on fun activities. Instead of making food the focus of the event, have fun enjoying time together with a new activity! Start up a game of backyard kickball or badminton!

Ask me, your independent OPTAVIA Coach, about other tips to help you stay on Plan today to ensure you continue your journey to Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit at a Time.

Creating More Time

The loss of his dad created an anchored “why” for Steven. Prior to his loss, Steven knew he needed to get healthy but could never fully commit to the journey. He’d seen years of crash diets modeled by his father, in addition to weight loss competitions where the “prize” for completion was a free trip to an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Steven searched earnestly to find something that was sustainable. Enter OPTAVIA. While on Plan, Steven was able to lose 60 pounds*, going from being labelled obese to achieving an optimal weight. Steven felt better and showed up as a more present father and husband.

“I like to say I’m a better everything because of that decision to start OPTAVIA.”

Steven recognizes his dad as one of his greatest encouragers on his journey toward optimal health. “He was proud of me and kept me going and I hoped for the opportunity to inspire him someday.”

Ironically, when Steven reached his goal weight, his dad received a life changing call from his doctor telling him he needed to lose weight, or he would run the risk of not seeing his grandkids grow up. Receiving this alarming news, Steven decided to change the relationship with his dad by becoming his OPTAVIA Coach.

Steven was able to support his dad’s journey toward optimal health in a remarkable way. He lost over 50 pounds* and instead of napping around his grandkids all the time, he was able to get on the floor to play and jump on the trampoline with them.

“He became one of my first OPTAVIA Clients. We had the healthiest version of my dad that I’d ever seen.”

Together, their combined stories helped so many people to transform their lives. Seeing a young person change his life, then circle back to pay it forward for his father truly moved others to act.

Unfortunately, Steven lost his father soon after. However, despite his grief he was filled with a renewed mission, to live a life less of comfort and more of healthy impact. Today, Steven continues to teach the habit of health to all his Clients.