By Camille Diamond
If you’ve read this blog before you might have seen this post from last April about how I, through following advice in a book called “The State of Slim” lost 15 pounds and continued to keep it off. I paid attention to what I ate, made sure I got enough water and protein, and most importantly, kept exercising 6 days per week. I really got into it, it was a habit that simply was my life. It was actually everything that we at the 14th Street Y strive to provide for our members, a place where you want to come so that your fitness goals simply become your new reality.
Last year at this time, I just finished the recommended program and was in maintenance. I leaped into January feeling pretty great. I was so excited about the program that I started a class here at the Y, The STATE OF SLIM, every Monday night at 6:30PM. We had about 15 regular members come to try the program, discuss the challenges and victories, and really experience living healthfully. The class was so great it has continued under the leadership of Elizabeth Schneider, one of our great fitness instructors, along with member Suellen, who not only got healthy and fit by following the advice in the book, she became the person to ask about it.
I continued my life fairly healthfully, even revisiting the plan in September when I got on the scale and realized the scale and crept up 5 pounds, and it was my trigger weight to recommit to the amount of exercise, eating portioned food 6 times a day (so you don’t feel hungry) with a good lean protein with every meal. By November I was back where I wanted to be.
Then came December. Specifically, the last 10 days. I visited my parents in the mid-west and it was really, really cold, like stay indoors and don’t walk anywhere cold. Don’t even leave the house to go to the car. And while you’re there, have some more pie. Which I did.
So now, though I have not stepped on the scale, I know. I KNOW! It takes so little time to break good habits. Luckily, it can also take little time to build them up again. So today, I’m eating for health and energy. Today I am visiting our 14th Street Y gym. Today!
If you can relate to any of this, you should know that the STATE OF SLIM meeting is still happening every Monday at 6:30PM. It’s part discussion, part exercise suggestions and movement, and a great way to connect with people going through the exact same thing. Hope we see you there tonight! Or next week.
We’ll be here when you’re ready.
Camille Diamond is the Director of Community Engagement and Communications at the 14th Street Y
Thoughts + Happenings 
Me too! I lost 10 pounds participating in the State of Slim meetings and stayed pretty much at that weight until around October. Somehow my habits changed to full time indulging during the holidays, with the expected scale nightmare. So I’m back to better eating and more regular exercise again, as of yesterday. It’s helpful for me to think about it as habit rather than character. I can change my habits.
It continues….we’ll inspire each other!