“Over the next three years, I would go on to lose a miraculous 167 pounds.* I credit the support from my independent OPTAVIA Coach and the OPTAVIA Community for helping me make this incredible transformation.”

One of my earliest memories from childhood is tipping the scale at 140 pounds at the doctor's office when I was just 10 years old. As I grew older, I grew heavier. Eventually, I had kids. I could barely bounce them on my lap.

In 2007, I was training to be an ultrasound technician, which involved practicing on ourselves. I saw firsthand that my organs were covered in fat. This picture of the inside of my body was the scariest of them all.

I was a mother of two tiny children who looked up to me, and I wanted to be my healthiest for them — to be around for them and set a good example for my family. Over the next few years, I tried just about everything to prioritize my health and lose weight — from meal prepping to exercising. I couldn't understand why I kept failing, even though I wanted to change so badly.

In 2015, I met my independent OPTAVIA Coach who introduced me to the program. He showed me how OPTAVIA helps you learn to recognize unhealthy habits and create new, healthier ones. But I was still skeptical. Why would this work for me when nothing else had? Well, it did. I was able to radically change my mindset around food and redefine my daily routine.

Over the next three years, I would go on to lose a miraculous 167 pounds.* I credit the support from my independent OPTAVIA Coach and the OPTAVIA Community for helping me make this incredible transformation. I needed a positive community to influence me — friends to hike with instead of eat tacos at night with. This support was critical as I worked to change my mindset and build healthy habits.

As the pandemic took hold, I refused to let my progress go out the window. While most people gained weight during this challenging time, I went the opposite direction and reached the lowest weight of my adult life!

Now, I’ve gone from a dress size 22 to 2.* My weight loss journey was just the start of me redesigning my life. I started sharing my journey online and championing other women to dismiss the stereotype that “it's all downhill after 40.” I posted workout videos to inspire others to embrace who they are, love their bodies, and encourage them to keep working at it. More than that, I take advantage of life now. My favorite workout is rebounding fitness, and I just became a certified instructor through the Kangoo Jumps program.

Read more about Monica’s story on People.com.

*Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan^® is 12 pounds(5.4 kg). Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks.