Many a New Year’s resolution revolves around losing weight and living more healthfully, but sometimes it’s much harder to put those resolutions into action. Not for Ruthy. Once she set her mind on a goal this year to lose weight and improve her health, there’s not much stopping her. Ruthy kicked-off her summer by attending all three of the Live Well classes offered through the Transition Network, a partnership skills training program between Boone County Family Resources and Columbia College.

“Ruthy has made consistent progress through the Live Well class this summer,” says Jeff Mueller, a BCFR Community Skills Specialist and one of the Live Well instructors. “She has been spotted exercising on her own outside of class, and has established a relationship with another participant that hopefully will turn into an exercise partnership.”

Through Transition Network classes, life and work skills are taught in a classroom setting on the college campus helping people transition to greater independence and productivity. Additionally, students enrolled at Columbia College and Service Learning students from the University of Missouri help complement the Transition Network classes by providing peer support to the participants.

The Live Well class teaches healthy habits and helps class members plan a sustainable health routine including nutrition and general wellness. Part of the allotted class time is spent walking together to help reinforce the importance of getting daily exercise. Donated water bottles from The Alpine Shop help remind participants to drink their water every day.

As a result of attending the classes all summer, Ruthy has increased her water intake and has reported feeling better overall. “I have more energy to do things,” says Ruthy. “And I just feel better. I’m keeping my food diary and trying to watch portion sizes.”

Now that Ruthy is off to a great start in the Live Well class, she has decided to participate in another Transition Network class offered this fall entitled “Healthy Relationships.” Additional courses scheduled for this fall include a “First Responder” class to teach emergency preparedness and a “Work It!” class which pairs each participant with a graduate level student from Columbia College who will assist with self-advocacy strategies designed to help them become more successful in the workplace.

“I liked the Live Well class and I learned a lot,” says Ruthy. “My instructors are really good. I’m looking forward to the Healthy Relationships class.”