How to Fix OPTAVIA Fuelings

HOW TO FIX YOUR OPTAVIA FUELINGS 

Fuelings come ready to eat, and as a powdered mix that you prepare before eating. Keep this process simple! 

Read the details here on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/myjourneytoahealthyme/posts/pfbid02m5afh3fPmscTkHCY7Z9nNb437iUC9JT8KBCSYUV4oCBUTbwKsRv15b1REqEP7vYAl

Cheese and Dairy on Optavia - How does it count?

Cheese is tricky! It can count different ways when you're on the Optavia 5&1 Program. Here are some guidelines on cheese and dairy options. https://www.facebook.com/myjourneytoahealthyme/posts/274369217817967

What do I eat on Optavia? Can I eat out?

 When you're following the Optavia 5&1 Program, here is info on what you can eat: https://www.facebook.com/myjourneytoahealthyme/posts/pfbid035Yw4STFavJ9u8kAyMjrJB3psaHVuxexpxGpJmq9JZvzhtMdUm68Ki59GXG6vMxpcl

How to Calculate Optavia Lean and Green

Lean and Green Nutritional Parameters

Read here:

https://www.facebook.com/myjourneytoahealthyme/posts/pfbid02BeZDRuyzQmc1UyN5pQYPTGwrWiw5iHqBLzvkTB8sEVoTQP958zqaB7FJ8tPX2iMFl

Here's a handy graphic to save with these guidelines, and bookmark this page!

Lean and Green Guidelines - OPTAVIA 5&1 - MyJourneyToAHealthyMe.com

Getting Enough Water on Optavia

 Optavia recommends drinking at least 64 ounces of water each day. My coach recommends 100 ounces of water. 

I've always drank a lot of water each day. I keep a 30 oz insulated stainless steel tumbler with me at home, and I drink from a stainless steel straw, which I think makes it easier to drink more for some weird reason. I'm home most of the days, so this works for me, because with my tumbler and straw, I don't have to worry about it spilling or tipping over just moving around the house.

I try to drink a full tumbler of water before I do anything in the morning, and that helps me get started off on the right foot with my water for the day. 

I keep a 90 oz tempered glass water pitcher at home to track my water each day. I refill it every morning and just leave it on my counter. I refill my tumbler with ice throughout the day, so I'm actually getting more than the 90oz in the pitcher when the ice melts, and it has been amazing to keep up with my water intake. This is the pitcher I have, and it has a stainless steel lid that can filter out infusions if I want to add fresh cucumber or lime or lemon to my water for a little bit of flavor.

If I'm not at home, my water containers are HydroFlask (I particularly like the lightweight ones) and I alternate which one I use and the lid/cap based on what I'm doing. They have different options, so it's easy to pick and choose what's best for the day - a cafe style lid if I'll be in the car, or a loop cap if I'll be out walking or hiking. I don't like plastic or silicone so I am very mindful of that for myself.

I've seen big plastic jugs that mark how much water is in them too, that would be helpful if you're out and about and need something to track it. The 3L or 1gal jugs of water at the grocery store are also helpful to keep on track with water consumption if you're out and about or traveling by car. 

Drinking this much water each day can deplete your electrolytes, so if you ever feel slightly off, I highly recommend drinking some Ultima Replenisher Electrolyte Hydration Powder mixed with water, or something else like Powerade Zero. It usually helps me immediately. Of course, if it is happening often, please consult your doctor!

What other tips do you have for getting in enough water each day? 

Optavia and my MUST-HAVE appliances/tools

One of the great things about Optavia is that you don't need anything special to prepare the Fuelings, besides a microwave and the blender bottle that comes in your kit. HOWEVER, we all know that there are some tools or appliances that can make your Fuelings a little more exciting, a little more fun, and a little more tasty!

Here are some of my must-have appliances and tools for preparing my Fuelings. Please know these links are to Amazon, and I definitely encourage you to shop around to find the best price! https://amzn.to/46kPlqm

I also created a handy dandy Amazon list of my favorite items. YES - you can find them in local stores, sometimes at better prices (sometimes not). You can add them to your own cart from this list for quick and easy purchasing though! 

Some of my must-have appliances and tools for OPTAVIA Fuelings

Dash Mini Waffle Maker is awesome at preparing Fuelings. I love to do the brownie, smashed potatoes, biscuit, and oatmeal in the Waffle Maker. It comes in different colors, and some of them even make the waffles into shapes (pineapple! snowflake! heart!)

Note: Here are the guidelines I follow when preparing my Fuelings in the Dash. Some are the same as the package, some are slightly different amounts of water. Nothing is quite so disappointing as scraping a failed Fueling out of the waffle maker and still eating it because you're determined not to waste a Fueling :) 

Dash Mini Griddle is amazing for the Chocolate Chip Cookies! It gets them perfectly crisp on the outside, and soft and gooey on the inside - the exact way I like cookies. I also use it when I need extra protein, to cook an egg - it's super quick and easy, and much faster than using my normal cast iron on my stove top.

If you don't already have a personal blender, I highly suggest getting one. I like the Ninja brand, this is the model I have in the current version. I like the individual cups the best, and they make your Optavia shakes super yummy if you blend them with ice and water (or cold brew coffee if you're feeling adventurous). There are tons of options for personal blenders, so be sure to choose something that is powerful enough to blend ice. Because my home blender is too big for travel, I also have a small Hamilton Beach personal blender that I keep in its box for when I'm out of town overnight or for the weekend. It is small enough to easily pack, and although it isn't as powerful, it does the job. 

My next suggestion is a frother. There are SO MANY CHOICES, but this is the handheld frother I bought and it has worked well. I don't use it often, but sometimes if I don't want to blend my shake, or use the shaker bottle, this does an excellent job of mixing it up with the water and it's super yummy - it seems like it makes it creamier, if that's possible. I also use it to mix up the Hot Chocolate Fueling with a little bit of cold water, before pouring the hot water into the mug - it seems to make it even creamier and more delicious!

I also suggest a mini whisk if you don't already have one. Mine is Pampered Chef, but you can find them anywhere. I often use a fork to mix up my fuelings, but the whisk is handy to have around. 

I couldn't resist picking up a little cast iron skillet either - I love it for baking the brownie or chocolate chip cookie, if I'm not using the Dash. It turns out so yummy! Follow the directions for baking on the Fueling packet, or shorten the baking time a little bit if you want it slightly gooey. 

My final recommendation is to get a good insulated container. I love my insulated Klean Kanteen Food Canister. I will often prepare soups or pastas (as directed on the package) when I'm making a different fueling, transfer it to the insulated container, and let it sit on the counter until my next fueling time. It really softens up the pastas and noodles. I've also made the soup by adding the Fueling packet to the insulated container, pouring boiling water over it, and then closing the lid and letting it sit for 2-3 hours. 

What other appliances or tools are you using for your Fuelings? Let me know in the comments!

Dash Mini Waffle Maker/Griddle + OPTAVIA Fuelings Guide

General directions to prepare Fuelings in the Dash Mini Waffle Maker or Dash Mini Griddle:

• Mix Fueling and mix-ins well
• Plug in Dash Mini Waffle Maker (to make a waffle) or Dash Mini Griddle (to make a "pancake") and wait for light to go off
• Spray both sides of Dash with nonstick spray BEFORE MAKING EACH WAFFLE/PANCAKE
• When the Dash stops steaming, or the steam significantly slows down, open to check for done-ness
• If you're pre-making Fuelings, you can store them in the freezer and then reheat in toaster oven or microwave
• Note: Some people use egg whites instead of water. I do not do that because I don't like to alter the Fuelings and have to track what I add to deduct from my daily Lean and Green
• I generally try to add just enough water to make the Fueling like a batter or thin dough. Too watery, and it will overrun. 

Optavia Oatmeal Fueling made in the Dash Mini Waffle Maker

Fueling and Mix-In Guide:

• 2 Tbsp water + Fueling = 1 waffle/pancake 
• Brownie 
• Biscuits
• Chocolate Chip Cookie 
• Cream Cheese Swirl Cake 
• 3 Tbsp water + Fueling = 1 waffle/pancake
• Sweet Potatoes
• 3 Tbsp water + Fueling = 2 waffle/pancake
• Pancake
• Shakes
• Smoothies
• 4 Tbsp water + Fueling = 2 waffles/pancakes
• Smashed Potatoes
• Oatmeal
• Prepare/cook as directed on packet with slightly less water = 1 waffle/pancake
• Mac and Cheese (make sure it's thicker than normal)

What other Fuelings have you made in the Dash? Let us know how you prepared it! 

Easy and Filling Lean and Green - Shrimp and Salad

Those asking what I eat...this was my big meal yesterday for my Lean and Green, and it was delicious. 😋 Lettuce (2c), broccoli (0.5c), avocado (3oz), shrimp (7oz), and dressing (2T). And let me just tell you, 7oz of shrimp is A LOT OF SHRIMP! It took me ten mins start to finish to cook the shrimp and get the salad together, and that was the most time intensive thing I ate yesterday. 

The best part about this program is that it’s ridiculously easy to follow. I eat six times a day, five small easy and quick meals or snacks, and one bigger meal. It has basically taken the planning and prep work of food out of my life. Before, I was skipping meals or snacking on something easy (and unhealthy) because I didn’t have time to do anything more, then overeating when I did eat. You guys, I am so happy I found this health program. It’s changing my life. Did I mention it’s basically foolproof? Follow the guidelines, see the results. If you are relating to anything I’ve said, please, let’s talk and see if this program might benefit you too. It’s too good and too easy to not share.

Optavia 5&1 Plan Tips - How to be successful on Optavia!

 Here are some tips I figured out over the past month, since I started the Optavia 5&1 Plan. If you're brand new to Optavia, or considering Optavia, or just getting started on Optavia, see this post for additional information! 

I had a few people ask about buying some of the products I use - here is a handy dandy Amazon list of my favorite items. YES - you can find them in local stores, sometimes at better prices (sometimes not). You can add them to your own cart for quick and easy purchasing though! 

• Eat what you're supposed to eat EVERY SINGLE DAY. 5 Fuelings. 1 Lean and Green. Water.
• I don't "hack" the fuelings. I prepare them as instructed, and eat them. Some of the fuelings I will cook in the Dash Waffle Maker (see my tips on how to prepare Fuelings in the Dash!) instead of the microwave (the biscuit, pancakes, mashed potatoes in particular) but I'm not trying to make it more complicated for myself by adding in parts of my Lean and Green throughout the day. It is SO much simpler for me to eat five fuelings and one full Lean and Green every day. 
• Okay, there is one thing I hack every once in a while - I will mix 4 oz of cold brew coffee with 4 oz of water, a few ice cubes, and a shake, and then blend in my single-serve blender. I don't drink coffee daily, so it's not an every-day thing, but every so often I like to do this. 
• If you don't really care for the taste of a fueling at first, set it aside for a week and come back to it. Your tastes will change. You might find that something you didn't really care for, is suddenly super tasty. Part of this program is the mental process to view food as fuel, not as comfort. 
• DRINK YOUR WATER. I bought a new pitcher that holds 90 oz of water, and I refill from that every day. A lot of people recommend the big jugs on Amazon that hold a gallon of water, and have lines marked up the side with times, so you know how much to drink in different blocks of time. 
• I have alarms set on my phone for 8 am, 10:30 am, 1 pm, 3:30 pm, 6 pm, and 8:30 pm. That's every two and a half hours, which gives me a few minutes leeway if I need it to prep something. Five of those times are for fuelings, and one is for my Lean and Green.
• I don't always eat my Lean and Green at the same time, because my schedule doesn't work that way. 
• Make sure you're eating the proper amount of healthy fats for your Lean and Green! I am happy to work with you to help figure this out as needed. 
• Don't forget to count your Condiments!
• Some of the fuelings (the chicken noodle soup, the mac n cheese, and the pasta in particular) I will cook according to the directions, and then transfer to an insulated container to sit until my next fueling. This softens up the noodles and thickens up the sauce a bit, and makes it super yummy. 
• Invest in a kitchen food scale that measures to the ounce. I use it EVERY DAY to weigh out my greens, healthy fats and protein. This is the one I have used for the past 5+ years, and it's only about $10. 
• Document everything you eat and when you eat it. At first I was getting confused on my times and fuelings. I tracked my first 30 days in my OPTAVIA Guide (it comes with your initial fuelings order, and helps you work on the mental stuff - so don't skip over this!) and I also tracked in an app on my phone called Lose It. 
• I have an Apple Watch, so I track my sleep at night. You can go back and see my posts on how much my sleep has improved - it's really incredible. This is probably my favorite "side effect" of the program.
• I love the Ultima electrolyte replacements. You can find them on Amazon or at some health-food stores, or directly through their website. You can have up to 3 servings per day. I buy the little packets because it's easy, but they also sell tubs that you can scoop from. Some people prefer Powerade Zero but I really like the Ultima and they're super portable - just mix a packet with a 16 oz bottle of water and you're good to go. 
• If you have a headache, or feel dizzy, or anything like that - your body is probably not used to all the water, and you will NEED the electrolyte replacement to help balance out, especially at first. Don't skip this! 
• I also take Natural Calm (the powder, not the gummies or capsules!) every night at bed. The raspberry lemon is my favorite flavor. I was already taking this before I started Optavia - because just about everyone is deficient in magnesium! - but I make sure now I don't skip it at night. 
• To prepare it, I boil water, and add 1-1.5 tsp of Natural Calm to a cup, then pour just a few ounces of boiling water over and stir. It will fizz, so stir until it's done fizzing and the powder dissolves. Then I add 4 ounces or so of cold water, mix again, and drink. 
• I weigh myself every morning before I get dressed. 
• I also use the app Happy Scale to see my progress. I like this app because it shows progress as trends and doesn't focus on the daily ups and downs as much as the overall trends. 
• I set mini goals within the app, so I can feel good about hitting smaller goals on my way to bigger goals. 
• Keep a fueling or two on you - in your purse or bag, in your car, whatever. There is no excuse to not be prepared! You don't want to find yourself stuck somewhere when it's time to eat, and realize you don't have anything handy. 
• Similarly, you can totally follow this program while traveling. It is SO EASY to pack your fuelings and be prepared. Plan ahead. 
• If you're dining out, here are some tips. 
• Take pictures! TRUST ME! You will want to see your progress. 
• If you feel like crap during the first few days, it's normal. Read back over my posts from Days 2-5 or so. Your body is adjusting to a whole new schedule and new foods, and (again) IT IS NORMAL TO FEEL CRAPPY. The best thing you can do is power through it - stick to the program, and it will pass in a day or two or three. 
• You'll also probably be gassy at first. Again, this is NORMAL. Your body will adjust!
• After those first few days of feeling like crap, you'll be in what we call "Fat Burn" and you'll feel AMAZING. Your energy will skyrocket, you'll be sleeping better, and you'll feel better all around. 
• Chill out on the exercise. Let your body adjust to this program. Give yourself three weeks, and do nothing but light walking for thirty minutes a day, at most. Then work with your coach on adding more strenuous exercise back in if you wish. 
• Give yourself grace. This is a lifelong health program, and your whole outlook on food and on life is going to change. You will be a different person inside and out. Just follow the program!
• USE YOUR LIFEBOOK! It should be part of your kit (I hope you ordered it!) and it is SO helpful at breaking down habits and helping you really assess yourself and grow. 
• As for cheating...if you "cheat" on the program, you're going to push yourself out of fat burn. It will take you 3-4 days to get back to fat burn. That's approximately $40 worth of fuelings. Is it worth it? Sometimes your answer might be yes, but make sure it is intentional. 
• I don't like calling it cheating. The only person who is affected if you choose to go off program, is you. I ask myself, "Is eating/drinking this going to help me reach my health goals?" and if the answer is NO, then I set it aside and give myself 30 minutes to think about it. I drink a cup of water. If 30 minutes later I come back to it and decide I do actually want to eat/drink it, I ask myself "What is eating/drinking this going to do for me? Will I feel better?" and then allow myself to make a choice. I have not yet encountered anything that passes this test. The books call this STOP. CHOOSE. CHALLENGE. 
• I have three apps I keep on my phone and use daily - I list those here (LoseIt, HappyScale, EatWise): http://www.myjourneytoahealthyme.com/2021/02/recommended-apps.html

This program is AMAZING. Reach out anytime to me with questions. If I'm not your coach, please reach out to your coach for support and advice. I am always available on social media or by text - my contact information is in the side bar of my page. 

YOU'VE GOT THIS! 

This program WORKS if you follow it. YOU are the one in control. YOU are strong and capable and YOU CAN DO THIS. 

I BELIEVE IN YOU! 

I had a few people ask about buying some of the products I use - here is a handy dandy Amazon list of my favorite items. YES - you can find them in local stores, sometimes at better prices (sometimes not). You can add them to your own cart for quick and easy purchasing though! 

If you have tips to add, please leave a comment below! 

Optavia Day 8 - 10/19/20 - WEIGH IN

 Today I started Week 2 of Optavia. 

First things first - I weighed in after finishing my first full week:

I lost 11.7 pounds! 

HOLY SMOKES! I can't even believe it. I started last Monday and I was super bloated so I'm sure that played a part in it, but WOW. Even with going to the mountains and being gone for almost 2 days and I still had this huge success my first week. I love it! 

I also looked at my sleep tracker on my watch and check this out. 

And that sleep rating is even with a night in a hotel room while traveling. I still can't believe how ridiculously easy this program is to follow. I kinda love it! Yay Optavia! 

Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan is 12 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks.

Optavia Day 7 - 10/18/20

 WEEK 1 and I'm finished with Day 7 on Optavia! I can't wait to weigh in tomorrow and take my measurements. I can't believe how stupidly easy this program is to follow. Even with traveling all day, I was able to stay on the program. I am not 100% sure about my dinner tonight but I followed the dining out guide and I think it was okay. That guide is super helpful. 

Today's fuelings were: chocolate cherry ganache bar, chocolate mint Cookie Crisp bar, honey mustard and onion sticks, creamy double peanut butter bar, and pudding. I had a #16 sub at Jersey Mikes with no cheese and no bread. It made me feel a little bloated (it's meat and I don't usually eat meat) but it was the best I could do while we were driving back from the mountains. 

I am really proud of myself for this week. I stuck to the program completely, with the possible exception of my lean and green today. I drank all my water. I made it through the feeling gross part of the first week and now I feel amazing. I'm really excited for this program and how easy it is. 

Optavia Day 6 - 10/17/20

 Day 6 and I had my first not-at-home experience with Optavia. We left late afternoon to drive to the mountains for the night, got a hotel room, so we can drive the parkway tomorrow. I was able to pack my lean and green and eat it in the car, and I did just fine! We ordered Chinese to be delivered to the hotel for dinner and I wasn't even tempted - I am so proud of myself for that. It helped that I wasn't hungry. I prepped a brownie for my last fueling before we left, so it was already cooked and ready for me when we were at the hotel too. 

My fuelings today were: cranberry honey nut granola bar, chocolate shake, chicken noodle soup, honey chili cranberry nut bar, and the brownie. My lean and green that I packed for the road was salad with salmon and tomatoes, and the Walden Farms dressing. Somehow I even hit all the water for the day, even though I had to use a port a potty at one of the parks we stopped at on the way to the hotel. I brought my Ultima powder with me too and that was good. I feel like I prepared myself well for today and tomorrow and I'm excited to see the fall colors tomorrow! The weather should be amazing. 

Optavia Day 5 - 10/16/20

 Day 5 is finally here and I feel SO MUCH BETTER today. My stomach isn't bothering me, although I'm still a little gassy. My headache is GONE, whew! I slept great last night again. And I really like all the fuelings I've tried so far. I was down 9 pounds this morning when I weighed myself - whaaaatttt???!!?? 9 pounds! That's so amazing! 

Today's fuelings were: chocolate shake, honey mustard and onion sticks, brownie, cheddar herb biscuit (I cooked this in the Dash waffle maker too - so delicious!), and a double peanut butter bar. My lean and green was salmon with lettuce and cherry tomatoes, and Walden Farms French dressing. I am still hitting my water goal every day too, go me! 

Optavia Day 4 - 10/15/20

 Optavia Day 4 - October 15, 2020

I feel like crap today. My head hurts, I'm gassy, I have diarrhea, I just all around feel gross. I'm sticking to plan though because this is what I was told would happen this week, just before fat burn kicks in. They said EVERYONE goes through this and then it's like a lightbulb goes off and everything is so much better.  I still am sleeping okay. 

Today's fuelings: chocolate shake, cinnamon crunchy o's, s'mores bar, oatmeal, and a double peanut butter bar. I had three Ultima electrolyte things today and it made a HUGE difference with my headache. My lean and green was shrimp, avocado, spaghetti squash, and tomatoes with some on-plan dressing. I like Walden Farms French dressing the best. 

Optavia Day 3 - 10/14/20

 Day 3 - today I was super hungry and had a headache. I made sure to drink the Ultima electrolyte powder and that helped. My coach said I could have up to three a day. I guess this is the transition to being in Fat Burn like they talk about - the crummy feeling before the amazing feeling. I stuck to the program though. My fuelings today were: cinnamon crunchy o's, smoky bbq crunchers, spinach pesto Mac and cheese, honey chili cranberry bar, and a chocolate mint Cookie Crisp bar. My lean and green was lettuce, with shrimp, avocado, and on-plan dressing. 

I've been sleeping better at night, which is awesome. Like sleeping soundly and waking up feeling refreshed. 

Optavia Day 2 - 10/13/20

 Day 2 and I was 100% on top of it! Yeah! Crazy that I'm eating so much more than I normally do, and so frequently. I guess I had all the knowledge on how to be healthy before, I just sucked at implementing it. This program is so easy and straightforward, it is ridiculously simple to follow. 

I am breaking the habits already. I was so used to taking care of everyone around me, that I forgot to take care of myself. I forgot to eat. I forgot to eat healthy foods especially, because the bad foods were easier. This program takes all the thinking out of it, and gives me easy and healthy foods to eat all day long. 

Today my fuelings were: maple brown sugar oatmeal, campfire s'mores bar, chocolate chip pancake (that I cooked in the Dash waffle maker - OMG delicious!), chocolate cherry ganache bar, and chocolate pudding (super yum!). For my lean and green, I had salmon with broccoli and cauliflower rice. And I nailed the water goal for today! 

Optavia Day 1! Monday, October 12, 2020

 Today is DAY 1 of my journey to health! I am so excited. I have alarms set on my phone for 8 am, 10:30 am, 1 pm, 3:30 pm, 6 pm, and 8:30 pm to remind me to eat - five of those are fueling times, and one is a lean and green time. 

I decided to keep it easy and I'm literally just following the plan. I see some people go out and try to split their lean and green into two meals and eat half at lunch and half at dinner, or try to "hack" their fuelings, but I'm not messing with all that. I'm eating a fueling by itself five times a day, and one full lean and green once a day. 

I don't really like meat, and meat doesn't really like me, so I'll probably have to eat a lot of seafood. 

The journal from the Optavia Guide is super helpful in keeping me on track so far. I started my day with a cranberry honey nut bar and then had a creamy chocolate shake mid-morning. I tried the rustic tomato herb penne at 1pm and then a creamy peanut butter crisp bar late afternoon, with my lean and green at 6pm with lettuce, tuna, avocado, and on-plan dressing. Before bed, I had a chocolate mint Cookie Crisp bar, and that was my five fuelings plus a lean and green for today. 

My coach checked in with me and I told her I feel like I've been eating all day long, but otherwise everything is good! I'm used to drinking a lot of water, so hitting 100oz wasn't a problem for me. 

She told me to dream big - average loss is 10lbs per month but she lost faster than that the first few months. 

Overall, it was a good day 1!

Optavia Day 0 - Sunday, October 11, 2020

Today is Day 0 - the day before I start OPTAVIA. I received my box a few days ago and I'm excited to get started. I had my kickoff call today for new clients and it was really inspirational to get my mind in the right place. I also worked through some of the Lifebook, writing down answers and trying to figure out my WHY. 

Some of what I wrote down...

I am a mom, almost 40 years old. I mastered my digestive issues and now I need to tackle the weight. I want something easy to follow that doesn't take a lot of time to prep and shop. My weight goes up and down by 10-15 lbs regularly. My sleep and energy are mostly okay, I try to exercise a few days per week - walking or kickboxing - but I don't always do that. I tend to skip meals and then overeat with large portion sizes. I don't snack much, and I drink plenty of water. My mental health is okay but I'm tired of the way I feel inside my body. I don't have a lot of extra money, I am working on paying off debt, although I also try to make time for fun especially for my kids but also myself with my friends. 

I WANT TO BE HEALTHY. I want to set a good example for my kids, I want to fit into my clothes again. I want to feel better about myself. 

In the future, I want to travel - Alaska, Scotland, and Ireland are on my list. 

My financial goals need focus. 

I AM GOING TO PUT 100% OF MYSELF INTO THIS PROGRAM. I NEED IT FOR MYSELF. 

I am ready to make a change. 

I am the heaviest I have ever been. 

I want to make a change. 

I am PSYCHED for this program. 

I am CONFIDENT in myself. I know I can be successful if I commit and don't sabotage myself. 

I want to make better choices. I want to lose weight. I want to feel better and fit in my clothes. 

Things I am going to do to start to install the Habits of Healthy Eating and Hydration:

1. Set a timer for fuelings

2. Drink 120 oz of water each day

3. Plan a lean and green meal each day

Things I can stop doing to help me eat healthier and hydrate better right now:

1. not planning meals

2. not tracking water

3. snacking on kids food

The beginning of my Optavia journey...

 November 13, 2018 

I messaged my coach asking about the OPTAVIA program. I had seen her progress online and was super intrigued and impressed. I'll be honest, the cost scared me away. She kept sharing her progress, and I kept thinking to myself, hmm I should really consider that, but I never made a move. 

Early June 2019

I am sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. I sent off for a food sensitivity test and it came back I'm basically sensitive to just about everything. I ended up ovo-pesco vegetarian eating gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, mostly soy free, plus avoiding a bunch of random stuff (artificial sweeteners, canola oil, apples, beer, most wine, mushrooms, black beans, yeast, celery, and probably some other stuff I forgot about). I spent over a year carefully adding things back into my diet and noting my body’s reaction. At the same time, I gained 20ish pounds, and my weight would fluctuate 10 lbs at any time (sometimes even within a day or two). I decided to keep up with the food process and not worry about the weight, because my gut needed time to heal. 

June 30, 2019

I messaged my coach again, asking for details on ingredients (specifically dairy and artificial sweeteners). Still didn't make a move forward with the program. Still saw her progress and maintenance of her progress online. 

April 20, 2020

My coach (who was not yet my coach) messaged me asking if I was interested. She followed up! I replied that I was still sorting through what I can and can't eat, what bothers me and what doesn't, and I wasn't quite ready to sign up (even with an amazing incentive). I was worried about the allergens and sensitivities I was still trying to sort out with my stomach, and even though I was doing mostly okay, I was worried about reintroducing foods I had been avoiding for months. It was still in the back of my mind though, because...

October 5, 2020

I messaged my friend and told her I was ready. My stomach and digestion issues had calmed down and I was ready to get going with OPTAVIA. I was done, absolutely done, feeling like I didn't even know whose body I was living in. I was tired of the extra weight, tired of being tired, tired of feeling sluggish despite eating all the "right" foods. I was skipping meals and then eating too much when I did eat. I was gaining weight despite not eating hardly any junk food or other unhealthy foods. I was tired of being bloated, and I was tired of feeling stuck. I ordered my kit. I was ready to do this. 

New to Optavia? Starting Optavia? Intro and Overview

Please read the content on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/myjourneytoahealthyme/posts/pfbid0VHREp66D7TPp6D7pgFnMTktzE9Mn2jsGKFLTLJiuhvmzDYzFmvHtomrkHzE14w5Ml

I had a few people ask about buying some of the products I use - here is a handy dandy Amazon list of my favorite items. YES - you can find them in local stores, sometimes at better prices (sometimes not). You can add them to your own cart for quick and easy purchasing though!