“The Optavia diet has totally changed the way I think about my meals – and I lost 55 pounds”

Women’s health

My name is Lynnette Grimaud (@iamnettyyy), and I am 33 years old. I’m from Edison, New Jersey, and I’m responsible for contracts and proposals. I wanted to be as healthy as possible for my son, so I tried the Optavia diet and changed the way I think about food.

I always felt like the tallest girl in the class growing up, and constantly struggled with overeating. I was raised by a single mom and had to eat whatever was affordable for me and my siblings, which was usually not very nutritious. I didn’t always feel worthy of being loved or accepted – and that was mainly because I didn’t like the way I looked. For years, it was pierced in my head: “Lose weight!” Being raised in a Hispanic family, weight was a cultural concern for me at every big party.

As I grew older, food became my comfort. It did me good. However, I was so embarrassed by my eating habits that I would “eat” meals. I would go to Wendy’s and have a number six with a lemonade and a double stack on the side with cheese. And let’s not forget a five piece chicken nugget with a double chocolate chip cookie.

When I was 25, I got pregnant and am a single mother myself. I fell into a depressed state. So many changes were happening in my body, and life was not what I thought it would be. My pregnancy eating habits crept into the postpartum period, and I’ve grown taller over time. I again treated my sadness with food.

Over time, I realized that my son needed me to be strong and healthy to be a part of his long term life. He is my why.

I also think back to February 2019, when I went to a close friend’s wedding. I didn’t want to be photographed, but they surprised me in a frank moment. When the photo was posted I was so shocked at my height. I couldn’t believe it was me. It was time for me to take back control.

My sponsor contacted me and told me about a weight loss program called Optavia. She had become a coach through the company and really wanted me to sign up to try the meal plan. I was skeptical at first, but decided to try it for a month – and lost 15 pounds. I loved it.

The story continues

Optavia is essentially a diet plan that ships prepackaged mini-meals and snacks right to your door. (It costs money, FYI!) It’s designed to be low in carbs and calories, and you also eat lean meats and vegetables as part of your meals. Meals are called refreshments, and the plan has changed my whole outlook on food. I now consider food as supplies! With Optavia, it’s convenient and easy to take and take out without having to worry about what to eat. Overall, I try to eat lots of vegetables and lean protein.

I started to feel healthier, more confident, less bloated, and had more energy on a regular basis. I even sleep better and, everywhere, I don’t hang out like I used to. My blood sugar is balanced and my blood pressure is in a healthy place. It was important to me, given the diabetes and high blood pressure in my family.

This is what I eat in a day.

• Breakfast: Egg whites with onions, peppers, spinach and half a cup of oatmeal.
  

• Lunch: Half a sweet potato with ground turkey.

• Having dinner: Lean meat and green vegetables.

• Snacks: Optavia Decadent Brownie or their Cinnamon Cheesecake Swirl. Their Crisp Bar supplies are also good. When I go out, I make sure to take them with me.
  

• Dessert: I usually save dessert when I go out for dinner every now and then.

I first focused on my nutrition, then I started to focus on training.

I wanted to start feeling stronger and fitter, so I started taking cycling and Zumba classes (I love dancing!). I made my own Zumba playlist and danced for cardio for an hour, five days a week. Then I also added 45 minutes of resistance training for my muscle growth.

Getting into the habit of exercising was tedious at first, but I enjoyed the stress relief and the feeling of accomplishment after I was done. I felt my body was grateful for taking the time to work on the weakness!

These three small changes had a huge impact on my overall weight loss.

• I changed my mind and learned to be patient with myself. I really needed to understand that the time was going to pass anyway, and I needed to stop setting hard “stop dates” for myself. I would feel so disappointed if I didn’t meet the “deadline” I set. So, I changed my way of thinking and started to speak positively on a regular basis. I started to tell myself that I liked what I saw in the mirror and that I really accepted myself.

• I made my trip public for others to follow. I decided I wanted to help women who struggle with the same things, so I became an Optavia health coach myself and developed my Instagram page to invite people into my health journey. This platform is designed to encourage, motivate and empower – and it also holds me accountable.

• I started making the gym a priority. I work towards my fitness goals because it keeps me motivated and sane during the tough times we are going through. It has been a vital part of my journey because I am able to see the differences in myself as well as the differences between those who are watching me. I love to be that motivation.

I have lost a total of 55 pounds.

I want women to know it wasn’t easy, but it sure can. You always hear that consistency and discipline are essential. And it’s true, but be patient with yourself and your individual process. The reason so many people give up on healthy eating is that they want the results of yesterday. Start by taking small steps that lead to long term results.

Drink lots of water, replace donuts with fruit bowls and change that mindset can not at can. I’m so glad I went through this trip because my strength was shown when I finally got out of that dark place and was able to smile confidently and say, “Yeah, I did that!”

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