Spring is right around the corner! With longer days full of more sunlight, now is the time to incorporate outside activities into your healthy lifestyle, like:

• Planting a garden. Imagine running out to the garden for a mid-afternoon healthy snack! Once the weather warms up a bit in your area, try planting tomatoes, cucumbers or radishes — they’re the perfect addition to your Lean & Green meals!
• Enjoying a picnic in the park. Break out the blankets and picnic baskets and head to your local park to enjoy Fuelings or a Lean & Green meal in the fresh air with friends or family.
• Spring cleaning. Take advantage of NEAT, or Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis, and dedicate a day to spring cleaning. Gather your family on a Saturday morning and turn cleaning into a family fun event. Instead of delegating tasks, have everyone take turns trying a little bit of each chore.
• Going for a nature walk. Nature walks are a great way to merge healthy motion with healthy surroundings. If you have children, encourage them to look for new plants and wildlife.

Looking for additional ways to kick off a fresh start alongside the change in seasons? Let’s connect!

As we continue on this path toward Lifelong Transformation, Making a Healthy Lifestyle Second Nature, let’s talk about the power of commitment – it’s not just a promise, it’s a dedication to our wellbeing, our energy and our future selves.

Commitment is the backbone of our journey. It’s about deciding that our health is a priority and sticking to choices that move us closer to our goals, even when it’s tough.

At OPTAVIA, we understand how crucial commitment is for reaching optimal health. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been at it for a while, consciously committing to your health can give you that extra boost to keep pushing forward.

What does it mean to commit to health?

It means fueling up with good nutrition – food that’s packed with the nutrients we need to thrive. It means being active, moving our bodies, knowing that exercise isn’t just about looking good but feeling good too. It means making self-care non-negotiable.

Committing to health is also about mindset. Choose progress over perfection, be okay with the ups and downs, and give yourself some grace along the way.

Wherever you are in the journey, here are some tips to help you lock in that commitment to health:

• Set Clear Goals: Figure out what health means to you and set realistic goals. Whether it's shedding some pounds, upping your fitness game, or just feeling better overall, having clear goals keeps you on track.
• Build Your Community: Surround yourself with people who’ve got your back. From connecting with the OPTAVIA community to sharing the journey with family, having a support system makes all the difference.
• Stay Consistent: Consistency builds habits. Make healthy habits part of your routine so you’re better able to stick with a healthy lifestyle even when distractions call your name. Small, consistent steps add up to big changes over time.
• Stay Flexible: Life throws curveballs, and that’s okay. Move past setbacks with the tools you need to adapt and bounce back when things don’t go as planned.
• Celebrate Wins: Take time to pat yourself on the back for the progress you’ve made. Whether it’s hitting a new milestone or just feeling more energized, celebrate those victories – you earned it!

Committing to health is a journey, not a sprint. It’s about making the choice to live our best lives every day. Let’s lock in that commitment, support each other along the way, and crush those goals together!

Here’s to committing to health and taking on whatever comes our way. We’ve got this!

In February 2020, Susan embarked on a new journey with OPTAVIA, determined to overcome unhealthy habits and transform her lifestyle. Weighing over 320 pounds, Susan found inspiration in the success of a close relative who achieved visible and impressive results through OPTAVIA, and she decided to give it a try.

By 2022, Susan shed 178 pounds^*, inspiring others in her family to join OPTAVIA under her guidance as their independent OPTAVIA Coach. Together, her family collectively shed over 400 pounds*. Beyond the physical transformation, they experienced profound growth in other areas of life too – from better sleep to increased physical activity. Their newfound confidence also translated into greater appreciation and gratitude for one another within their family unit.

Susan and her family’s progress caught the attention of others, including medical professionals like her primary care nurse, who became an OPTAVIA Client after witnessing Susan's consistent weight loss, which was a stark contrast to the pandemic-induced weight gain many others were facing at the time.

Susan’s influence extended beyond personal connections, as she and her family's journey inspired many on social media. From church members to neighbors and friends, people were curious about the program, drawn by the Swenson family's transformative story.

Central to their experience with OPTAVIA was the cultivation of tolerance, kindness and self-compassion. Embracing the philosophy of allowing individuals to own their results and progress at their own pace, Susan and her family fostered a culture of collaboration and support within their OPTAVIA Community.

Guided by OPTAVIA’s Habits of Health, Susan’s journey with OPTAVIA not only transformed her life physically but also enriched her relationships and worldview, leaving an enduring legacy of resilience, compassion and community.