How was the OH Meet??

I really did want to go, but family obligations with the game really made it impossible for me....so how did it go? Were lifelong friendships born? Was the water park WAY fun?? I hope OH comes back because I will definetily go to the next one!! Anyone want to share details??

Hello Princess, This was my first conference I went to here.. and it was wonderful. The speakers were very informative and the giveaways are always nice. Lunch was included which was excellant for me since I am almost 7 months out.... but a few that were there, that were just a month out weren't as happy. The hotel was beautiful as well as the water park. Altho we didn't stay for the waterpark fun, its looked as if we would have all enjoyed it! I went with 2 other ladies and we all enjoyed ourselves. Hope you can go next time! Judi

i'm glad someone finally asked! i was wondering too!

Lots of great information. Some things I already knew and other things I learned. I went really to hear the plastic's doc. and I got a world of information and loved that he gave everyone one of the books he wrote. That way my family can see and learn about what I am going to go through in the near future. As for the lunch, it was ok for me but not for most. I was a little dissapointed in it. I know that there is a budget but we just came from a seminar that was stressing protein and well the only protein they had was tuna and chicken salad, which I and others can't eat and there was salad and fresh fruit, that some can't tolerate also. I did ask for them to put out some cheese which they did so we all did get some protein. I would suggest for the next time they do more of a hot lunch with cooked veggies and some meats (chicken and beef) afterall we are paying $40-$50 dollars for this day. Anyway, I did have a great time meeting friends and just talking to people that understand what I am and have gone through. Can't wait till there is another one, maybe here in Cincinnati next. PLEASE............ Pam 314/124

Princess.. You sure missed out on a great weekend.. I met the most amazing group of ladies and had the best roomate ever. The conference itself had lots of information. I loved Dr Strickland and all of the nutritional information he gave us. Dr Curry is so down to earth and gave a great talk about lap banding. He didnt even make me feel stupid when I asked him if it is possible to lap band over a gastric bypass down the road. I wanted to know that the option was available if my tool ever stopped working for me. I also was able to put in perspective the fact that this really is just a tool, and how much its success or failure depends on me and my EVERY CHOICE. Bo and Monica were INCREDIBLE motivational speakers. Both brought tears to my eyes many times when they hit the nail right on the head. It was as though both of them were speaking directly to me and my day to day struggle one year out. I would love to see at the next conference an arrangement made with the hotel dining room that we could have "Our size" menu portions at a reduced cost. This should be worked out before hand, so we dont have to debate it at the eating establishment. No way should we have had to pay almost $10.00 for a substandard breakfast buffet. And the lunch could have been better. A choice of meat and veggies would have been nice. A snack break would have been a good idea as well.. But other than that it was so worth while. I tried to go around and introduce myself to as many folks as possible, forgive me if I didnt get to you. I think it would be very nice if there would be a "social" introduction breakfast . This would give everyone a chance to introduce themselves and feel more comfortable together as a group. It took a lot of guts for this shy lady to walk up to people in a bar the night before and ask them " If they were one of us"? But I am so very glad I did. I met some adorable funny loving people that night. Many of us on the journey, some just getting started and some there supporting friends. I feel like I really made some new friends and reunited with some old as well. I hope I havent said anything too negative about the conference, that was not my intention. Because I truly feel reborn in my journey again. I discovered many things about myself and that I am not the ONLY one struggling a year + post op. We are all feeling so many of the same emotions, and still have so much to offer to one another. I have vowed to myself to stay very connected to the group.. Becoming more aware of everything that I put in my mouth, and whether it is worth it. I also learned that white bread is the devil.. LOL and that it will never cross my lips or hips again. Thank you Dr Strickland. Monica, Bo, Dr Curry, Dr Strickland.. You guys rock...!!! I feel so fortunate that I was able to make it to the conference. Tabitha, My girl.. You are an incredible amazing, beautiful loving caring friend. Thank you for letting me bunk with you and share this weekend.. Keep surfing the waves !!!!!!!!!! Bo, Cheryl, Judge Judi, Marty, Debbie, Deb, Earl, Tabitha, Sharyn, Brenda, I had a hoot of a good time with you at the "After Meeting wrapup party. I hope I didnt giggle and talk too much, I tend to do that when I am liquored up on 2 tsp of wine. What a cheap date I am. LOL I will post more as I think about it.. I am still letting Bo's talk sink into my thick skull. It was on "Riding the wave of wow moments and compliments" And how to deal with life after people quit saying "OMG you look AMAZING".. This talk really hit home with me. Thank you Bo and Cheryl for letting me rock that sweet baby girl of yours, she is too precious. Over and out for now.. Reporting in from Byesville Ohio Miss Laura ( Off the sin wagon )

Loraine May, You are just too cute ! We really didn't talk much. You were just sharing some of the fun you had the night before. Your smile and giggle are contagious! Keep it going !!! My husband and I enjoyed our day. Good Information. And we even had time to see our WONDERFUL BUCKS WIN !! gayle

Gayle, I enjoyed talking with you as well. I did have a really nice time and need to start getting out more socially. I hate to say this but I am pretty much a homebody. I work and come home and do the mom thing. I have decided that I am going to allow myself to be an adult woman now and again. That way I wont go sooo wild when I do get out with adult human beings. LOL Speaking of the Buckeyes. My brother in law Don was Coach Tressels personal bodygaurd at the game on Saturday. My sister is so proud and showing off all of the pics. You take care and Keep on making those Wow moments for yourself.. Hugs Miss Laura

I really enjoyed it, I brought my mom and she and I really enjoyed hearing about the plastics and the bariatrics. I had the baby with me, so I did not get to meet many people until after wards, but I really enjoyed myself, especially because with a little one, I hardly ever get to go anywhere. The waterpark is wonderful, I did not think the food was bad because I have been on protein shakes for so long, that any food is better than liquid. The only complaint that I had was the elevators were slow and there were not enough of them and that is not anything that OH can do anything about. Cheryl

It sounds fantastic, and I am suddenly feeling very envious. I do hope another comes to our area soon...because I will likely go. Sounds like they can improve on the food situation, but thats a good lesson learned....not much talk about the water park...wonder if it was good? So can you get a lapband over RNY if hte tool stops working???

The Conference was such a great time!! I met sooo many great people and learned something from each, the conference itself was great too and I learned alot from that but what I learned from everyone I met was sooo much more then what I expected!!! What I learned the most is we are all going thru the same things with our eating and emotions...those of us that are a year plus out. I roomed with Laura and we didn't do tha****erpark...we walked in to take a look and that was enough for us...there were kids everywhere....I mean everywhere, running and screaming...I can have that at home, its a shame they don't have an "Adult Area ONly" like with a jacuzzi and sauna, now that would have been nice, but if we would have went we wouldn't have met Dawn, Deb, Debbie, & Brenda, so it worked out perfect. I just wi**** would have been more of a weekend thing...a way for people to really get to know each other and share our stories, I wish there was a time in the conference where if people wanted to..they could stand and say their name, when they had surgery and how much they lost, there seemed to be alot of people with not to good attitudes....some wouldn't even smile and say hi if you did, It made feel very sad in away, I figured if anywhere I went and was around alot of people that this conference with people like me, I wouldn't have felt like an outcast by some, and I know I wasn t the only one who felt like that!!! Well I can't wait till the next conference in Ohio...I will definely go!! Overall it was a blast!!! Oh and the OSU MICH game after the conference was a blast too!! Tabitha