Support group ideas

I just found out about an hour ago that the 2 leaders for our local support group won't be able to make it for a few months and they wanted to know if I would lead the group. Well sure but what do I do? We are not a very organized group and don't have regular speakers or topics. Can any of you give me ideas that we can do at our monthly meetings. I won't have much for tonights but if you help me I can maybe get more organized and have something for the next couple months. I know with your help I can appear smarter than I am. Thanks A bunch. Cindy

Cindy, I just got home from the Cedar Falls support group meeting & this month Angie (Dr G's PA, who runs the meetings.) usually brings in a speaker but this month decided to just ask us to share our stories & before pictures. I really enjoyed it as it was fun to see where everyone had come from & to realize just how much we have in common. We had a very large turnout tonight & the meeting ran a bit long but it was definately worth it. Next month a counselor is coming in to talk about body image feelings. Last month they did makeovers on a couple patients. I don't enjoy them as much, maybe I'm just jealous. We had a chef demonstrate some foods. He also had the surgery so knows what we can eat. We've had psychologists talk, plastic surgeons talk, the dietician, oh, in a couple months the trainer is coming & will do body fat tests a well as exercise with us. She's great & usually they have her twice a year. Our surgeon rarely comes to the meeting but I think he is scheduled for June for a Q&A session. Hope this gives you some ideas. Dixie

Thanks Dixie this really helps. We don't really have many of these people around here. And our support group seems to be getting smaller. The ones that are a couple years out aren't coming any more. But I am going to try to get my psychologist and the hospitals dietician to come and talk if they know anything at all about weight loss surgery and we do have a fitness club here so I bet they would gladly come and talk some month. I talked to the 5 that showed up last night and they really aren't to excited one way or another to have speakers so we will just have to see. I am going to try to recruit more people also. I know of several in this area that have had the surgery and are trying to do things on their own when we could be of help so I am going to put up some posters at our medical centers to tell them when the group meets. I think it is an important thing to keep going. It just needs some effort put into it. Thanks for your help. Hope you are having a great week. Cindy G.