Welcome to Healthy Habits Vermont
At Healthy Habits, we brainstorm weight management, mindset, and activity approaches that solidify into healthy, lifelong strategies. We know that small changes can make a big difference – and nothing feels better than breaking the cycles that keep us from feeling good about our bodies and ourselves.
Meeting location and schedule:
Address
Allard Square Community Room, 146 Market Street, So. Burlington.
Contact
Meeting Times
Fridays at
9:30 and 11:00 am;
Saturdays at 9:30 Optional weigh-ins begin 30 minutes before each meeting
WHAT TO EXPECT AT MEETINGS
​The meeting format:
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Welcome
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Check-in and optional weigh-in
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Acknowledgement of milestones and non-scale victories
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Review of recent changes in behavior that are becoming habits – for better or for worse!
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Discussion of weekly topic; most focus on activity, mindset, food, or sleep behaviors
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​Closing message
Beginning of Meeting
Each meeting lasts about 45 minutes. A staff member greets everyone upon arrival, and helps guests check-in and get settled. To help learn each others’ names, we ask each participant to wear a name tag.
Weigh-in Time
Members may choose whether or not to weigh-in; a professional Tanita digital body weight scale is available for all to use. Our Healthy Habits Advisor records members’ weights and stores them in a secure location.
Group Discussion
While meetings are based on group discussion, each member can participate according to their own comfort level. Usually, our discussions are robust and animated!
What About The Cost?
Healthy Habits Honor System
Welcome to the Healthy Habits Vermont honor system! In our group, you can choose the amount you are able to pay to attend meetings. The general idea is to make meetings accessible for all while generating enough income to keep the doors open! The cost is on a sliding scale, with a suggested fee of $50 each month. If $50 is too high, choose an amount that works for you. If you are able, please consider making a bigger payment to help cover the cost for those who cannot manage the entire fee. All financial arrangements are kept confidential. Whatever payment amount you choose is due on the 1 st of each month. Ours is a strict NOTAFLOF arrangement: No One Turned Away For Lack of Funds! Come check out a meeting and see if Healthy Habits is a fit for you.
FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
At Healthy Habits, we help members follow through on recommendations provided by their health care providers. We encourage members to develop healthy habits around eating, exercise, sleeping, and mindfulness. We support their efforts to change and we do not provide medical advice.
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Each week, we explore the habits members are forming (ie the changes they are making) and the habits that are challenging for members to form.
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During our weekly meetings, we are on a constant lookout for indicators of progress! We celebrate non-scale victories such as improved blood pressure, lowered cholesterol results, increased energy levels, reduced joint pain, and better sleep. We also celebrate members’ weight loss achievements. Our approach is action-oriented, helping members identify the changes needed to improve their health. It can be summed up in a nutshell this way:
"If you focus on results, you will never change.
If you focus on change, you will get results."
- Jack Dixon
Healthy Habits Leader
Leslie Dunn
I love the power of groups.
Healthy Habits groups are comprised of like-minded people who share common goals of managing their weight and improving their health. I facilitate meetings where members help members become healthier. While discussing food choices, activity level, and mindset, we learn to substitute healthy behaviors for unhealthy behaviors. Each time we make a healthy choice, we come one step closer to developing a healthy habit.
I have a bachelor's degree in education from UVM and a law degree from Vermont Law School. I was an Outward Bound instructor for 10 years and a Weight Watchers coach for 10 years. Healthy Habits is where Outward Bound meets Weight Watchers: challenging and rewarding!
Healthy Habits Advisor
Annette Laquerre
My weight loss journey began in 1970: I lost 40 pounds back then — and have managed to keep it off since!
I have worked in the weight management field for over five decades. During that time, my passion has been to work alongside members and help them create healthy weight management habits – and cheer them on as they achieve their goals.
Over the years, I have seen many weight loss programs come and go, and Healthy Habits is unlike any group I have known. I love supporting our members and enjoy working individually with them.
Healthy Habits Advisor
Laura McVey
I am proud to share my success in healthy eating and improving my lifestyle with so many wonderful men and women at Healthy Habits. My goal is to maintain my weight and my health – and motivate others to do the same.
I love being part of this process for each and every one of us!
Healthy Habits Videos
All Videos
All Videos
All About Sugar Part 1
Popcorn Video
All About Sugar Part 2
