New meeting HELP

Hi. I just got a meeting place and need help and ideas for my first meeting. I want tohave a successful meeting and need any help/advice I can get. thanks regina [email protected]

Regina, is this a support group? I live in Boynton Beach and am looking for a group, if so can you give me some details? I dont have help/advice otherwise. Sorry. John

John, Hi and yes it will be my first support group meeting thru obesityhelp.com./ it will be fro all wls pre and post op. i am an rny 2+ out and down 150 pounds. my best friend is lap. you can go to the website lighterforlifepalmbeach.com for the info on the meetings. Here are a few more in the area if your interested. The third Monday of the month from 6"30 to 8:00 at JFK Hospital. It is a support group for lap but I go there and it is helpful. The one I have been going to since my operation is the third thursday of every month from 6:00 to 7:00 at wellington regional hospital. you can contact the bariatric dept. 798-8587 and they can give you more information. And my meeting is going to be the first thursdy of the month at the royal palm beach libray on civic way. Are you going to the OH conference in Ft. Lauderdale. i will be there. Hope to see you there if I dont see you eairler. Regina

Regina, did you go through or going through the OH leadership program? I'm search on how to go through it myself. But anyway they have suggestions and stuff for meetings. But some common issues to discuss are 1. What Is Everyone Eating and Suggestions to Stay on your surgeon's program, 2. Relationships. 3. Exercise/Activities And there is always Sex! Will you all be at the Conference, there will be plenty of suggestions there plus in the OH Magazine. See you Lighter Later, Mike

Mike, thank you for the advice. i will defientely keep that in mind. I am going to the conference in Ft. Lauderdale. I hope to see you there. Regina

Regina, I took my training thru OH and started my group before I was banded. We've been meeting since last October and in January I bought a house just for the purpose of having a meeting place where we could have a clothes exchange and product exchange without having to lug everything everywhere all the time. Our meetings started out at the library from 10-1. We moved to the house and the meetings got longer and longer. No need to rush. We were in what we now call The Safe House. Secrets stay there and we all feel "safe". Our last meeting went from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM but the time flew. We all bring breakfast/lunch/snacks and come and go at our leisure. I have found from going to other support group meetings, that people like unstructured meetings. They like to come in and introduce themselves, tell their story and listen to everybody else's. This being your first meeting, you'll get to know people and their story and next time you'll give them a quick introduction and let the newbies be the ones talking. Always be ready to jump in to the conversation when thing**** a lull. Remember to have topics ready to discuss like: what's your favorite crunchy food; sweet food; salty food; protein shake; solid protein; ....well, you get the picture. And another good topic is: best part about the surgery; worse part about the surgery. People always want to hear the good and the bad. I suggest you set up tables for the meeting. Chairs in a row or a circle make it far too formal and tables allow your attendees to put their water bottle there in front of them AND allows them a place to put any food they brought so there's no excuses about "I didn't have time to eat and then get to the meeting". Bring it with you. The hardest part about meetings is having a large number of people in the room and separate conversations get started and people start missing what other people are saying. Get you a gavel or a whistle of some kind of attention getter to keep the group focused. Good luck to you. You're really going to enjoy this. My support group is my rock and the center of my universe, so it seems. I know you'll be able to relate. People just need support....and I am no exception. La Wanda 3098/238/200