Starting A New Support Group In Southeast Missouri!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A new support group is forming in Southeast, MO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First Meeting will be Monday January 8th, 2007 at 7pm. Cobalt Village General Baptist Church 1010 Marlowe Fredericktown, MO 63964 Our new Support Group is for both pre and post-op patients. We welcome patients, support members, family members, and the general public. You may be a part of the group regardless of where your surgery was performed. Our new Support Group is Non Hospital or Physician Based, which means that there is no "governing or sponsoring" body. We are purely patient based, patient organized, and patient led. We stress that your support members are not only welcomed, but encouraged to attend. We WILL discuss food issues, ideas, recipes, as well as all issues regarding Bariatric surgery that arise. And it we do not have the answer for the question that night I will personally try to find the answer before the next meeting. We will hold the meeting in an open format. Each group will be different, depending on the needs of the individuals in attendance. We are not bariatric surgeons, but we are bariatric patients, we are not nutritionists, but we are been-there-done-that Bariatric nutrition experts, we are not exercise physiologists, but we know what work-out routines have/have not worked for us, we are not Social Workers, Psychologists, or Psychiatrists,but we know FIRST HAND the emotional issues surrounding Bariatric Surgery and food addiction, and are willing to share.) I am new at all this, I have never been a leader of a support group. But I am a WLS patient and I know the experence first hand. Together we can learn and be a support system for each other. I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday, the 8th! Please be sure to bring a notepad and pen. If you have recipes to share please bring them! We will be meeting in the church fellowship hall, coffee and water will be available. If you would like to bring snack food to share that would be great! Also, if you'd like to bring your favorite protein mix, supplements, or other things you'd like to "show and tell" we'd all love to learn what others are using and enjoying. We would love to see before and after pictures. Also we will be asking for suggestions for a name for our Group, so starting thinking!! Please contact me for directions. Brenda Minks Home Ph. 573-224-3750 Cell Ph. 573-561-4884 e-mail : [email protected] Hope to see you there!

Brenda, Congratulations on your new support group. Exciting!! I'm glad you'll be providing a group in your area. Being a support group leader is very rewarding and fun. You'll have a great group! We have such a strong network of support groups in Missouri. The more the better for everyone to obtain support. Let us know how your meeting goes. I'll be thinking of you. Call me if there's anything I can do to help. Cathy

Cathy, Thank you so much for your offer of help!!!! Love Brenda