Women’s Health
My name is Lynnette Grimaud (@iamnettyyy), and I am 33 years old. I’m from Edison, New Jersey, and I’m a contract and proposal manager. I wanted to be as healthy as I could for my son, so I tried the Optavia diet and changed the way I think about food.
I always felt like the biggest girl in the class as I grew up and constantly struggled not to overeat. I was raised by a single mother and had to eat any food that was affordable for me and my brothers, which was generally not very nutritious. I didn’t always feel worthy of being loved or accepted – and it was mainly because of how much I didn’t like how I looked. For years, this was stuck in my head: “Lose weight!” Having been raised in a Hispanic family, the weight was a cultural focus on all the important holiday events for me.
As I grew up, food became my comfort. It made me feel good. However, I was so ashamed of my eating habits that I used to “eat sneakily”. I would go to Wendy’s and buy a number six with 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.
At the age of 25, I became pregnant and I am also a single mother. I fell into a depressed state. So many changes were happening to my body, and life was not what I thought it would be. The eating habits of my pregnancy dripped into the postpartum period, and I got bigger and bigger with time. I dealt with my sadness again through food.
Over time, I realized that my son needed me to be strong and healthy to be part of his life in the long run. He’s my why.
I also remember February 2019, when I went to the wedding of a close friend. I didn’t want to be photographed, but they caught me in an honest moment. When the photo was published, I was very shocked at how big I looked. I couldn’t believe it was me. It was time to regain control.
My godmother came to me and told me about a weight loss program called Optavia. She had become a trainer through the company and really wanted me to sign up to try out the meal plan. I was skeptical at first, but decided to try it for a month – and I lost 7 pounds. I was loving it.
Optavia is essentially a diet program that sends mini-meals and pre-packaged snacks straight to your door. (It costs money, for your information!) It is designed to be low in carbohydrates and calories, and you also eat lean meats and vegetables as part of your meals. Meals are called supplies, and the plan changed my whole perspective on food. Now I see food as fuel! With Optavia, it’s convenient and simple to grab and carry and not have to worry about what to eat. In general, I try to eat lots of lean vegetables and proteins.
I started to feel healthier, more confident, less bloated and with more energy regularly. I even sleep better and, around there, I don’t drag myself like before. My blood sugar levels are balanced and my blood pressure is healthy. This was important to me, considering diabetes and high blood pressure common in my family.
Here’s what I eat a day.
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Breakfast: Egg white with onion, peppers, spinach and half a cup of oats.
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Lunch: Half a sweet potato with ground turkey.
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Dinner: Lean meat and vegetables.
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Snacks: Optavia Decadent Brownie or your Cinnamon Cheesecake Swirl. Their Crisp Bar supplies are good too. When I’m away from home, I make a point of taking them with me.
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Dessert: I usually save dessert when I go out to dinner now and then.
I focused on my nutrition first, then started to focus on exercise.
I wanted to start feeling stronger and more fit, so I started taking cycling and Zumba classes (I love dancing!). I created my own Zumba playlist and danced to cardio for an hour, five days a week. So I also added 45 minutes of resistance training for my muscle growth.
At first it was tedious to get into the habit of working out, but I liked the stress relief and the sense of accomplishment after I finished. I felt that my body was grateful for taking the time to work on my weakness!
These three small changes had a big impact on my overall weight loss.
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I changed my mindset and learned to be patient with myself. I really had to understand that time was going to pass anyway, and I had to stop putting hard “stop dates” on myself. I would be very disappointed if I didn’t meet the “deadline” that I set. So, I changed my way of thinking and started to speak positively on a regular basis. I started telling myself that I loved what I saw in the mirror and really accepted me.
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I made my journey public for others to follow. I decided that I wanted to help women struggling with the same things, so I became an Optavia health coach and developed my Instagram page to invite people on my health journey. This platform is designed to encourage, motivate and empower – and it also keeps me accountable.
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I started making the gym a priority. I am working to achieve my fitness goals because it helps me stay motivated and is during the difficult times we are facing. It has been a vital part of my journey because I am able to see the differences in myself and also in the people who are watching me. I love being that motivation.
I lost a total of 55 pounds.
I want women to know that it was not easy, but it is definitely possible. You always hear that consistency and discipline are paramount. And that is true, but be patient with yourself and your individual process. The reason so many people abandon healthy eating is because they want yesterday’s results. Start by taking small steps that lead to long-term results.
Drink plenty of water, replace fruit bowls with donuts and change that mood can not for I can. I am so happy to have gone through this journey because my strength was shown when I finally left the dark place and was able to smile with confidence and say, “Yes, I did it!”
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