“Today, I am not only grateful to be alive but to be living a healthy life, showing my family and future generations the power of resilience, determination, and the lifelong journey toward wellbeing.”

Throughout my childhood, I was told I was the girl with the pretty face. Deep down, I knew this compliment masked a struggle with my weight that persisted throughout my childhood and into my adult life.

Despite working as a labor and delivery nurse in healthcare, I continued to neglect my own wellbeing. Even resorting to gastric sleeve surgery proved to be a short-lived solution, as it failed to instill the habits necessary for long-term change.

But I kept my determination to prioritize my health, wanting to be there for my family, especially my three children, above all.

It wasn't until I discovered OPTAVIA® that I found both the key to achieving a healthy weight and the tools to transform my entire lifestyle.

I lost 73 pounds* with OPTAVIA, adding up to an incredible 139 pounds throughout my entire transformative journey. OPTAVIA taught me that accountability through community is crucial. My Coach and the broader OPTAVIA Community are constant pillars of support, reinforcing the importance of connection on this journey.

Eventually, healthy motion became a focus for me, and in 2022, I began training for the Broad Street Race in Philadelphia. Yet, just three days before the race, life threw me a curveball – a cancer diagnosis. Armed with OPTAVIA's tools and the healthy habits I built; I faced the setback head-on. I chose to be a warrior, actively fighting for my health and showing my kids the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. Throughout my battle with cancer, I continued to practice healthy habits by eating well and staying active. I didn’t want to have to fight the consequences of living an unhealthy life after beating a battle with cancer.

OPTAVIA helped me refine a strong WHY: being alive and healthy for my kids. I navigated challenges and emerged as a healthier mom, wife, teacher, nurse, and independent OPTAVIA Coach.

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