WLS Monthly Meetup in Chicago

Hello!!

I am five years out and find that I still face challenges! I am organizing a monthly Meet Up for anybody who's had weight loss surgery. Come make new friends who know what you've been through. Hopefully we'll also organize social get togethers. Get info and sign up at Meetup.com

http://www.meetup.com/Life-After-Weight-Loss-Surgery/

Hello Dagny-

Glad you found the IL board.  We are one big family and I hope you find the support you are looking for.  Join in for the daily roll call if you can so we can get to know you.  The IL board does meet from time to time at various locations.  Randy just had the last get together at his home yesterday.

Best of luck w/ your journey.

Christina

I'm not looking for other groups...I've organized my own! During the last few years I have hosted various blogs and people have often sought my advice. I have stayed in touch with folks I first met through OH back when I had my surgery. It's interesting to notice how things have evolved for all of us as the years now go by and we are further out. I think it's very beneficial, even as you work to distance yourself from your past, to stay in touch with those who understand what you've been through. I hope my MeetUp group can provide that for some of the many, many people in the Chicago area who've had the surgery.

Welcome to the IL board and thank you for posting. There seems to be a little bit of a misunderstanding between you and Christina with your first sentance back at her in your response above. She was just trying to be friendly and give you some info. On the IL board we have several "Meet and Greets" during the year. These meet and greets are informal get togethers in a member's home and it is pot luck.

So it is just a matter of understanding of your title of a "Meetup" -  your formal monthly group and the board member's usage of "Meet and Greets". Keep coming back to post info on your Meetups as there are new members that find the IL board all the time.  

 

 &

 I am a member of a few MeetUp.com groups and they are so great. Such a wonderful way to reach out and find people with your similar interests. As the years have gone by I have found myself sought out by people who are looking for exercise program ideas and motivation and I'm always so happy to share and spend time with anyone.

In this New Year time of resolutions, people often think about doing something new---changing up their nutritional plan or exercise routine. There are quite a few MeetUp groups for weight loss and exercise but as WLSers we have our own special and unique perspective. As the years go by I have found that "my work is not done" and I have to remain vigilant about my nutrition and exercise. When I wanted to do something new for the New Year I thought about the many, many people here in Chicago who've had WLS. I bet there are thousands of us here in the city! I would love to be able to put together a group of any size, even just 10 or 12, of people who want to become friends and work together to keep advancing the positive transformation we've brought into our lives. So come on Chicago people! Find this thread and go check out my group!! Click the link below for more info....

Light & Strength!
Dagny

Dagny, sounds like you have a great concept and good luck. Maybe someday my DH (we both had RNY) and other members of the IL board will be able to meet up with you in person at one of your group meetings. You are more than welcome to come and meet up with many of the others that have become close on the IL board. Some are as far south as the vicinity of St Louis, Springfield, Central IL, Rockford area then up to the 'burbs of Chicago. Check in often at the Daily (insert day of week) Roll Call - participate and see what is going on in all of our lives and we look forward to learning and knowing more about you and your new Meetup group. Your group is so needed in that so many doctors do not even have support groups that coincide with their practice.

CB

Your grou****o needed in that so many doctors do not even have support groups that coincide with their practice.

What got *'ed out up there???

People like me are not in contact with our surgeons anymore and I doubt that any surgeon's practice continues to provide services specifically geared toward serving the interests/concerns of people several years out. By this point I just see my PCP for the usual annual checkups and we do periodic bloodwork to be sure everything's where it should be.

It's been weird for me just to come back to OH.com, it's not really relevant for me anymore. I just want to find some kindred folks to get my group jumpstarted along with the promotion that MeetUp.com does. I'm actually not expecting to find too many people many years out but maybe some two-year people.

As an example---For me, a major issue is actually keeping my past in the past! I feel challenged to decide how much of my past I want to include in my present and make known to people who didn't know me "before." Only my WLS peeps can relate to that sort of thing! I have a very low threshold for the messageboard thing. I'd rather meet people in person and make real connections.

Well, actually there are many doctors in the NW burbs and my doctor who is in the Downers Grove area that do have relevant support groups and they are very active with meetings for pre op folks,  RNY and bandsters. And as you put it  -  What got *'ed out up there??? Well, acutally nothing. Three of us tried to welcome you but you did not see it that way.

 Your broad generalization that you refer to that "I would doubt that any surgeon's practice specifically is geared toward serving the interests/concerns of people several years out" is so incorrect. I would challenge you to come with me this Thursday as my guest to my surgeon's support group and see if what you write is correct. My doctor, his staff  and guest speakers regularly attend or present the discussion topics at any of our over 17 a year support groups. Dr Rosen polls his pre op and PO patients yearly for discussion topics to be presented. http://www.lifeweighbariatrics.com/  And just so you know if you did not check my surgery date I am over 6 years out RNY and so is my DH. There are several people on this board that have been around 2, 3, 4 + years.  Some do not always come on the board on a daily basis, but they are out there. Just look at the member list. Take a good look at **willow** the first in the list who is 7+ years out and is also an OH support group leader. And oh by the way there are many newbies out there and pre ops.

Me, Christina and Nancy have tried to welcome you. You also need to take into consideration that this is a holiday weekend and some are busy or out of town. You have a great concept and we are trying to say to you to be a part of the IL board and to keep presenting your meetup group because it is so needed. There is room for all of us on this board. This is a great outlet for you to get the word out that you have an "in person connection" via a meetup group meeting and maybe others will take you up on it.

Come back soon and get to know the rest of us that call this board home.

Oh I'm being "challenged"???? How about we all just chill! I hope you enjoy your group, have fun.

hey Christine, i think your doc works with my doc,