My Story

Hello, my name is Jennifer Dickman. First, I would like to thank you for stopping by and taking time to visit with me. Check out my other recipe blog: BeCreativelyHealthy.com 


My story is similar to so many others in the world today. Growing up in a family of 7, on limited income, we ate what we were told. My dad was morbidly obese, my mom's weight was up and down. Dad tried to lose weight and even went through OA and therapy along with Gastric bypass in '89. He lost a lot at first then went back to his old eating habits.

As a kid, I was skinny until I reached my teens years. Throughout high school I started to pick up a little bit of weight and there were a couple of kids who would ridicule me about my weight. Because of this, I would try this diet or that trend. Lose some, gain more. Anyone remember the cabbage diet from the 90's? Tried it. I would get sick a lot when I ate or when I tried protein diets but kept trying them anyway. A few years later I finally found out I was allergic to legumes which include peanuts and SOY.(Soy is in virtually everything these days. Especially as a main ingredient in Protein Meal Replacements)

I was an active single mom of 2 working full-time and struggled to keep the weight off.  During my first 2 pregnancies my starting weight was 299 lbs. A couple different doctors wanted me to do the gastric bypass but I didn't want that. After all, it didn't work out for my dad, so how would it work for me.

In July 2001, I injured my back the day after work and became disabled. I was nearly bedridden and immobile. What had been a 1-2 pounds a month weight gain, for me, while extremely active, became a 10-15 pounds a month gain due to immobility. The added weight made it worse.

In 2003, when my husband and I got married, I was around 350 lbs. I was limited in mobility but started being active again but with one huge problem...I was still gaining weight. I continued over the next 10 years to gain 200 more lbs. (After 15 yrs together, my husband is 6'4" and only weighs 175! He never gains anything!) But, I GAINED more than my husband WEIGHS!

For our 10th anniversary we planned to renew our wedding vows and host a reception. I was determined and set a goal to lose weight. My friend and now Optavia Health coach, Jessee Baldwin, told me to go to her doctor who specializes in Cardiology as well as weight management to reduce the risk of heart disease. That was the first real effort I took outside for help. Through the doctor, I set up a meal plan and lost 80 pounds in 4 months. Did I keep it off? NO. As soon as my Anniversary passed, so did the "diet".

Over the next 2 years I gained 25-30 pounds. then the rest was gained throughout the next 2-1/2 years. I was back to where I started. I have known Jessee for over 20 years now and watched as she transformed on her journey. Over the 2 years of her being on the program, she had asked one question, CONSTANTLY. "Jenn, Are you ready, yet?" (I am so grateful she didn't give up on me.)

For so long, I made excuses for my bad health choices. I made excuses why I couldn't start. I blamed others for my own behavior. I stressed over weight, then I would stress eat over the weight gain. Where's the logic in that? I didn't feel worthy to live. I was in pain all the time. I was complacent and tolerant about being in pain, daily. I was killing myself and did not care if I was going to die. I was being SO selfish  not to look beyond myself at what I was doing. I was not a good example to my girls. My oldest is struggling with her weight and I feel responsible for that example I set.

It breaks my heart that all the fun times I had when my oldest two were little, I never was able to do with my youngest daughter due to my weight. In all reality, I don't want to leave my baby girl without her mom! I want to be able to do fun things with her while she is still young. I want to play at the park, take her for walks, go camping and hike to a waterfall. I want to be able to play around and teach her the things I want to by showing her, not just trying to talk her about how to. Most important, I want to be able to show by example that a healthy life is more rewarding.

The Optavia program has given me HOPE. I can lose weight, THE RIGHT WAY, and learn how to keep it off by making healthy choices. March 14, 2017 I made the choice to LIVE! With this program I can work on more than just food. Optavia  has given me the tools to make better overall choices. Since starting my journey, I have released 110 pounds!! YES...I have a long way still to go. NO...it will not be easy. YES...I  have to work at it. NO...I did not always stay true to plan. YES...I got right back on track. NO...I will not give up. YES..I will accomplish my goals. BECAUSE...
I DO NOT want to give up anymore! I DO NOT want to die! I DO NOT want to fail!
I DO NOT want to be in so much pain every day and be complacent with that!

But, WHAT IF... I didn't have to be?
WHAT IF... I could get the weight off in a healthy, positive way?
WHAT IF...I could retrain my brain to make the best choices possibly?
WHAT IF...I could learn to cook and eat healthier?
WHAT IF...I could find a way to cope with the stress and emotions that triggered my bad eating choices?
WHAT IF...I could inspire others to do the same?
WHAT IF...I could help others change their lives or help them make the choice to LIVE?
WHAT IF...you could too?
WHAT IF...YOU COULD OPT 4 LIFE? Message me if you would like to learn how I transformed my life's Journey with just ONE OPTIMAL STEP.

#BeCreativelyHealthy
#Allergy2SoyNoProb
#MySoyFreeJourney
#opt4lifewithjenn

To see how you are doing in your overall health, take a quick survey by clicking this link:  Wellness Evaluation

If you would like information about this Amazing Journey or how you can have your own Free Personal Health Coach Email me: becreativelyhealthy@gmail.com

(Average weight loss for Clients on the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan^™ with support is 20 lbs.)

My Story shared at my local meeting July 2017

My Progress Celebration with Dr. A