Bariatric Support Group Meetings

Hello Everyone,

I picked up a flyer from the surgeon's office today and thought I would share the information on support group meetings.  Meeting are open for anyone regardless of procedure or location where surgery was done. 

MONDAY:  Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center, 9920 Talbert Ave., Fountain Valley
                    6:30 - 8:30 pm         Meeting Room "A"
                    First four Mondays.  No meeting on 5th Monday of each month.

TUESDAY:  Long Beach Memorial Hospital, 2801 Atlantic Ave.  Long Beach         
                     6:30 - 8:30 pm      All meetings are held in the H.R. Conference Room (in the
                     basement) with the exception of June 15th which will be held in Classroom 1,
                     also in the basement.  Meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month only.  
                     Parking pass provided after class.

THURSDAY:  Fountain Valley Regional Hospital,  11100 Warner Ave., Suite 112, 114, 
                         Fountain Valley  6:30 - 8:30 pm
                         First four Thursdays, no meeting on 5th Thursday of each month.

SATURDAY:  Corona Library, 650 So. Main St.  Corona     East Room  10:15 - 11:45 am
                        First and Third Saturday of each month.

WEDNESDAY:  Orance Coast Memorial Medical Center, 18111 Brookhurst St., #5700
                             Fountain Valley   The time is not posted on flyer but I am pretty sure it begins
                             at 6:30 pm.  Class held 2nd Wednesday of each month.  
                             Instructor:  Mary Seiersen, R.D., C.D.E.     714-378-7622

                             Topics for this class include:
                             June 9                      Grocery Store Tour-Meet in front of Albertson @
                                                                18579 Brookhurst, F.V.    Call for time

                             July 12                      Carbs - How much & what kind

                             August 11                 Portions - What habits should be lifestyle changes to 
                                                                 ensure proper portions.

                             September 8            Preventing Weight Regain - What to do if you start to
                                                                  re-gain weight

                              October 13               Protein and Fat - How much to have per mean & protein
                                                                  supplements

                              November 10           Vitamins and Absorptions - How much do you need & 
                                                                  how to avoid absorption problems

                              December 8             Cravings - What to do with cravings & calorie needs

So, there you have it.  Information to help you out if you are in fact looking for this type of information.  Hope this will help many of you out.



                            

We go to the Monday night meeting at OCMMC. Moderator is Diane Lamont, PhD. While she has never had bariatric surgery, she has worked in this field for 13+ yrs. There are more than a few folks with long term recovery but mostly newbies completing requirements to attend a support meeting.

We have been to the nutritionist meeting one time on the second Wednesday. The gal running it is probably size minus 2 and we got good info from the attendees because they are WLS folks but absolutely could not connect with the leader. This meeting is aimed at those who have had WLS and are looking for support in their new lifestyle. The topic that night was "What works for you?" Folks shared their 'snack' choices and quick menu items. We got a lot of ideas from them.

I want to thank you Annette for taking time to share this info with others. Support groups are essential in my life right now. One group not mentioned here is coordinated by Terry Row and meets the 2nd Saturday of the month at Kaiser Offices on Lewis St. in Garden Grove. This is hands down the most informative support group I have ever attended. Terry arranges guest speakers and presenters and we come away with tons of information. You do not need to be a Kaiser to member to attend.

And last, but not in any way the least, is our local Long Beach group meeting at Starbucks the last Saturday of the month at 10am. There is great fellowship there, plus a clothing exchange.

I am so grateful to have all these options in my area. My sister, now living in Texas, has been unable to find meetings in her area and another friend in South Carolina cannot find meetings in her area.

SoCal, we've got it all!

Linda