obesityhelp conference speakers oh2017 friday sessions 3

Announcing the 2017 ObesityHelp National Conference Friday Sessions!

May 25, 2017

Check out the Friday Sessions Full of Motivation & Inspiration!

Join us in Long Beach, CA, October 27th & 28th for two jam-packed days of education, support and celebration! We are thrilled to announce the 2017 ObesityHelp National Conference Friday sessions and speakers. Whether you're new to ObesityHelp Conferences or a repeat attendee, there are sure to be sessions and activities right up your alley.

You aren't going to want to miss the Friday sessions! Stretch your legs and take a walk together in the morning, enjoy a healthy cooking demo, listen to inspirational journey stories, ask questions at the Q&A panel and get your motivation revving with a workout on the Terrace Rooftop. Start checking out the Friday Agenda, and stay tuned for more announcements including Fireside Chat, free Plastic Surgery Consultations, and all of the Saturday Breakout Sessions. It also isn't too late to lock in the early bird price!

	Ms. Shell Wilson Stretch your legs and join Ms. Shell, our very own diva from Los Angeles! Ms. Shell had VSG in 2007 and has since become an ambassador to the Black Girls Run, Los Angeles Chapter. She has participated in 6 Half Marathons between 2014 and 2017 and is currently working on getting faster with her run pace. Ms. Shell will be leading an outdoor walk-and-talk excursion. The walk will be close to the hotel and at a comfortable pace. Celebrate your path to health and wellness while enjoying the beauty of Long Beach! Learn More: Rise ‘n Shine Walk & Talk with Ms. Shell!
	Dan Benintendi Join Dan as he shares his personal journey and openly discusses all facets of life that weight loss surgery may impact. Dan weighed 400 pounds with 59% body fat and had limited mobility due to his weight. He decided to change his life and had Gastric Bypass in 2008. Dan now weighs 215 pounds with 12% body fat! Dan went from a sedentary lifestyle to a four-time 140.6-mile Ironman Triathalon finisher, as well as an Ultra Distance Runner. In this session, Dan will share practical tools and insights that helped him to set proper expectations and goals when navigating life's roadblocks. Learn More: WLS & Living a Realistic Life: Keeping Roadblocks in Perspective!
	Janine Greenwood During this session, Janine Greenwood will discuss her journey with weight loss surgery and a lifelong battle with body image. Janine had RNY in 2003 and has since lost 258 pounds! Janine will be sharing the role that love and support play in her current life after surviving childhood sexual abuse and embarking on a long road of difficult relationships with men. Connect with Janine as she shares why even the toughest parts of her past have given her the strength to advocate for herself and others through sharing her story. Learn More: Worth The Weight: My Journey to Love, Beauty & Inner Happiness!
	Jo Diniz In Jo's session, she will discuss the importance of researching, choosing a surgery that is right for you, as well as staying connected to the bariatric community. Jo will also share insights from her 2001 Duodenal Switch surgery and how she turned the habit of saying no to life, into saying yes to life. Jo's life has transformed to a fuller, active, pain and medication free life. Her story is one of getting unstuck from the obesity self-image, weight loss longevity and staying on track. At 60, enjoys adventure, exploration, and zip-lines! Learn More: A Journey of Weight Loss & Life Gains
	Elizabeth Kilpatrick Join Elizabeth as she shares her story of what life used to be like for her at 400 pounds, including struggles with isolation, depression and suicidal thoughts. She'll discuss her decision to have VSG surgery and how that has helped her create a life that she now loves and is beyond anything she would have imagined for herself. Since surgery, everything about Elizabeth's life has changed. She has lost and kept off almost 200 pounds and discovered that she has an athletic side! She went from barely leaving her house to traveling for the first time in her life; she has now visited three countries and eight states. Learn More: Don’t Give Up - It’s Never Too Late to Change
	Rocky Alexander You won't want to miss Rocky's lively discussion on finding your new normal in the kitchen after bariatric surgery. There will also be a healthy cooking demo, where he'll be cooking up Thai Chicken Tacos. Rocky will also talk about his struggle with obesity, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure and a clogged artery. He'll share how bariatric surgery and losing 147 pounds has transformed his life in and out of the kitchen, including the creation of a vibrant 30,000 people strong support group called - Rock's Kitchen. Learn More: Finding Your New Normal in the Kitchen + A Cooking Demo Featuring Thai Chicken Tacos!

Q&A Panel: Post-Op Life, Lifestyle Changes, & Pitfalls to Avoid

Do you have a question about post-op life, lifestyle changes, or pitfalls that you should avoid on your journey? Then you're going to want to join Elena (Revision, Lap-Band to VSG), Patti (RNY Gastric Bypass), Dennis (Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy), and Heidi (Duodenal Switch)!

Each panelist has had a different surgery type and likely very different experiences, so raise your hand and let our staff bring the microphone to you! The moderator and conference staff will help keep the Q&A moving so that we can try and get in as many questions as possible during the allotted time.

	Panelist: Yelena Kibasova Surgery Type: Lap-Band (2008), VSG (2013) Total Weight Loss: 150 pounds Yelena Kibasova got a fresh chance at a healthy life after undergoing Lap-Band in 2008 and a revision to VSG in 2013 due to complications. Yelena found her passion after attending her 1st Zumba class. In 2014, she became a licensed instructor and now teaches Zumba, Zumba Gold, and Aqua Zumba. Learn More About Elena!
	Panelist: Patti Trevino Surgery Type: Roux-en-Y (2014) Total Weight Loss: 205 pounds Patti struggled with obesity for 20 years of her life. In October of 2013, she weighed 360 pounds and was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. She also had sleep apnea and chondromalacia in both knees. In 2014, she underwent RNY and lost half of her body weight. It was the best decision she has ever made, her energy is back and she is exercising 4-5 days a week! Learn More About Patti!
	Panelist: Dennis Veneigh Jr. Surgery Type: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (2014) Total Weight Loss: 150 pounds Dennis started struggling with his weight at just eight years old after being prescribed medications to treat Tourette's Syndrome. The struggled continued into adulthood and in 2014, after much research, Dennis underwent the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG), losing 150 pounds! Learn More About Dennis!
	Panelist: Heidi Brown Surgery Type: Duodenal Switch (2012) Total Weight Loss: 105 pounds Heidi struggled with trying to lose weight for years. A major turning point for Heidi was when her husband shared his concerns about weight impacting her health and lifespan. Heidi decided to seek help and had Duodenal Switch surgery with Dr. Ara Keshishian. She has since lost 105 pounds and gone on to have two little boys! Learn More About Heidi!