seminar on thursday sept 13th

I just found this website and couldn't be more excited.  I was trying to research from someone who wasn't trying to sell me the surgery/products and finally found one!  Not only that- local people with local stories!!!  I am attending Dr Pohls seminar next thursday, the 13th.  I tried to beat the crowd and pre-schedule an appt for a consult today, knowing it would be well after the seminar anyway.  They said I needed a signed attendence slip from this seminar before I could even call- oh well.  I am wondering if anyone else is going to this seminar?  I have read a bunch of blogs speaking of it and am excited about it.  I am trying to drag my husband so I at least have some support, which, I am really not getting.  All I am getting from people is they think this is a quick fix- UGH!!!  It really frustrates me when people who have no clue think this is like having your teeth whitened or something like it.  This is truely a last resort for me.  I have tried so hard to lose weight and really can't.  My husband and I both tried the Atkins diet, I was soo strict in following it and barely lost 3 pounds in 2 months.  He on the other hand, cheated like a madman and lost 20 lbs in the same time.  So many other diets have gone this way for me.  The only one I ever did well on, losing 25 lbs on, was an insane trial diet I was involved in a study with that was called the One Day Diet.  You got to eat food only every other day, on the off days, you would drink water, could eat raw fruits and veggies in small amounts, and eat a flavored pill every hour that was supposed to fill you up.  Boy did that mess with my digestive system!!  Any way, I realize I am babbling, but, just wanted to say hi, introduce myself, and find out if anyone else was attending next week.

Hi Alexia, I attended the seminar back in April and now I am a week post op.  It is a great seminar and they give you so much information.  When I went I felt that I finally saw a way out of my obese life and it was there I made up my mind that I was going to do this. They spend three hours going over the different procedures, pros, cons, what to exspect post op and answer any questions you may have. If you can get your husband to attend that would be good.  You will need the suport and he will learn this is not a quick fix and find out first hand everything about it.  I unfortunatley went alone, as it was a last minute decision to go.  I wish I has brought someone for support to that meeting. Good luck and welcome to the board. ....dave

Hi!!  Quick fix...NOT!!!  My personal trainer told me I was cheating so I stopped going to her.  I hope you can get him to go with you...there is a lot of information.  But bring water, it is a long long meeting.

I know exactly how you feel, I tried to make an appointment with Dr Pohl before the seminar and had the same response. I'd missed the June seminar by 2 days so had to wait a month and attended the July one. The following day I made my appointment with Dr Pohl and cant get in to see him until Oct 29. After this next seminar they will be booking into Feb, so I would try to make your call early the day after the seminar as I remember I had quite a time getting through to the office. Good luck and keep us posted!

Hi and welcome to the boards! Dr. Pohl's seminar is long, but very informative. My husband was not happy about me getting the surgery at first, but felt a lot better about it once he attended the seminar and asked a bunch of questions.  Just FYI - I attended the seminar last October and had my first pre-op appt scheduled for January. I called every week to check for cancellations and ended up getting in to see him in November! So I would keep calling (after the seminar) and see if you get lucky. Good luck!

Hey Alexia,  I didn't go that route,  I'm not a patient of Dr. Pohl's so I'm not familiar with  the seminar. I didn't have to go through a seminar with my Doctor.   Just wanted to give my support to you to do what is best for you and not what others think is best for you.  I don't think you will find anyone here that would be against what you are planning to do. Good Luck Nancy 

Oh my Alexia!  You didn't do that extremely expensive ONE DAY DIET? NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I HATED IT!!  I WOULD STARVE MYSELF EVERY OTHER DAY DOING THOSE DAMN FLAVORED PILLS!! It put me so much off balance it wasn't funny! Lost not even 10 lbs on it and gained 25 back, even while eating right!

oh yup- I did it and was supposed to get $1000 for doing it, plus all the money I had invested back.  The pure fiber on the "diet days", ummm- lets say just wasn't a good thing after a while.  The plus thing I got out of it though was on those days, I would go walking on my lunch hour rather than sit and be around others eating.  I got to the point I was up to 3 miles!  That was the only part of it I think that made me lose the weight.  After almost 3 months- I had to stop because I was really starting to get sick with it.  Because I didn't complete the full trial, I lost my $ paid for the pills and my $1000 dream.  I lost 25 lbs, but gained it all back plus a little.  The weather got nasty and I stopped walking and joined a 30 min workout place instead, which I should have stayed walking!  Oh well- live and learn...

The other thing to consider is there is another doctor there who does the surgeries.  Dr Giovanni.  And becacuse she is new to the practice she is easier to get into see (for now).  I went with her and she was great.  Very easy to talk to, knowledgable, and very very thourough.  I am very happy I chose her.  You will probably meet her also at the seminar.

Of couse this is a total personal decision and you have to make the decision on what surgeon you want.  Just wanted to let you know that there is more than one doc at this group. .....dave

I just saw that she does this also.  She had very good reviews in the CT area- is she in RI now or did you travel?