“I owe so much of my success to OPTAVIA’s supportive Community.”

Since the 5th grade, I lived in a constant state of “diet mentality,” trying traditional weight loss tactics and programs — even losing 100 pounds on multiple occasions — but I never saw long-lasting success* until a co-worker introduced me to OPTAVIA®.

OPTAVIA helped me leave behind a world where I never prioritized myself. Up until then, I’d been a caregiver to everyone in my life, and lost sight of my own wellbeing.

I lost 190 pounds* through OPTAVIA, which was the catalyst for other true lifestyle changes. I left my high-stress nursing job and pursued my passion for pediatrics, helping kids adjust to the uncertainty and isolation throughout school closures and reopening’s during the pandemic.

Today, I’m an independent OPTAVIA Coach, proudly serving as an inspiration to others. I owe so much of my success to OPTAVIA’s supportive Community, which is why I’ve started my own Community, “PJs & Coffee,” which allows those going through similar journeys to connect, celebrate victories and motivate each other.

I truly believe we all have the power to achieve the goals we set for ourselves, no matter how ambitious they may seem. To reach my goals, I not only focused on my physical health, but prioritized my mental health, too. In addition to getting at least 20 minutes of healthy motion every day, I routinely practice gratitude by writing in Your LifeBook every morning, as well as conducting cancer research, and connecting with my Clients along with other members of the OPTAVIA Community.

I have been buying this issue of PEOPLE for the past 20 years, since it came out. In 2020, I put “be in PEOPLE magazine” on my vision board. Thanks to OPTAVIA’s holistic approach to health and wellness, I’ve fulfilled a dream two decades in the making.

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