Elle Meyer is one of that rare breed who doesn't watch television. Her kids had left home, and she found herself with a lot of free time. So she decided to write a book.

"I took it up almost as a hobby," Meyer says. "I wanted to share with other people how best to maintain your weight once you've lost some."

Meyer lost about 20 pounds 10 or so years ago. Since then, she's collected recipes and adapted them to decrease the calories, carbohydrates and fat.

"I have a very picky husband, so the recipes have to be tasty, too," Meyer says. "Since I always seem to have other things to spend my time on besides cooking, I look for quick and easy-to-prepare meals."

Finding herself with all those recipes, she also starting asking friends and family members about their experiences keeping weight off.

She combined what she learned in "Living the Thin Life: Creative Ways to Maintain Your Weight For Life," which she self-published this year. The book is priced at $14 and is available at the Borders in Chesterfield Mall and online at www.livingthethinlife.com.

The book begins with disclaimers noting that Meyer isn't a doctor or nutritionist and that her advice isn't intended to replace professional advice. Rather, the book is a compilation of ways various people have lost weight and kept it off — and a recognition that the motivation and strategy for getting and staying thin is different for everyone.

"Sometimes I got completely conflicting stories," Meyer says. "Some people said they didn't eat as much at night, and some said they didn't eat as much in the morning. Some had positive role models and some had negative role models — people they didn't want to be like. People need to discover what uniquely motivates them."

Meyer's recipe for Chili Tabasco Fish was inspired by a meal she had last spring.

"I asked our waiter for the recipe, but all he would tell me is that the sauce contained chili sauce over a glaze," Meyer says. "It was the perfect combination of sweet and heat, so I tried to duplicate it at home. Using Tabasco Sweet and Spicy gives the fish its slightly sweet flavor."

jbonwich@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8133