Grad Party Ahead! Need help!

Bridges St Luke's will be hosting a Grad Seminar in September. They are in the process of getting the speakers and topics lined up. This one will be open to ALL graduates of WLS. (A Grad is someone who is 1 year or more post-op). They want you to find the help there that you are looking for! So, please take a second to respond and let us know your wish list for a seminar...... Fashion Show? Grad Pannel? (over 3 years or more and at goal)? Topics? Exercise? Behavioral Mod help? Food planning? If you have ever read an article and wished you could hear more then how about listing the topic here..... Maybe address your specific problems and we could line up some "self-help" classes............ What would make this a great weekend for you? Now's your chance to get what YOU want!!!! Please reply to this post OR...e-mail me at: [email protected] Thanks! Joyce

Can I go? I am 18 months out 16 lbs to goal. Do I qualify??? Please let me know the know details of when and where if I can attend. Ty Sandy in Tucson

Duh...I am year out!!!!! LOL Joyce......I think they should now tell us more the truth....In the ABC classes they said over and over...never to be on a diet again. Well, guess what. What is a 1,000-1,200 calories a day mean....means calorie resriction to me. Am I being mean again? Sandy

Sandy, I agree with you! I am 3+ years post-op and every day of my life is a "diet". But, so what? It's a journey and this is just a new stage to learn about. I don't think of the word diet as a 4 letter word like many folks do. It's just a word that describes the type of eating we engage in. Healthy diet? or Poor diet? ..... St Luke's first had a grad seminar 2 years ago after I did much whining about the different needs at around 6 months post-op and the lack of information available to the grads. There are so many grads that think they are broken around 6 or 7 months when they can consume a half to 1 cup of things when before they could only have a few bites. No one told them that was normal for a grad. No one told them that they had to switch their little soft food intake to solid dense lean protein so they'd stay full longer. My guess is that you have done a lot of your own research to find your way; as have I. Unfortunately it curls my toes to be around any of the Bariatric program's nutritionists who continue to tell people to get their protein from peanut butter and crackers and some powdered milk creation! ....Unfortunately...I can't guarantee that you'll hear too much different information from the St luke's crowd this time around. They do make an effort to evolve but their dietician has drawn the little picture for me two thousand times as to why we need 120 carbs in our diet! What?????!!!!! She's still not factoring in our malabsorption and our different needs. But.....I agree to help them out because I feel that all the grads need a place to come together to celebrate themselves! There will be some fun speakers but they may not be perfect. There will be some new information too ...but, mostly it will be a great gathering with a fashion show, a great finger food/appetizer buffet, etc. This event will be at a resort and will most likely have a dinner/dance the night before for those interested. St Luke's does a mailout to over two thousand people so it will be a good gathering. Last time, we could only have 100 people because they had it at ST Luke's. It was full in about 2 days following the mailout! There were people there that morning in line hoping that someone wouldn't show up so they could get their seat. I'll be pushing for some "guest" speakers in addition to the St LUke's folks! Maybe we'll have a few breakout sessions for member interests like "Hiking, and how to get started in AZ"......I think I know just who we'd ask to teach that one!!!! Hugggz, Joyce

Hi Joyce! The number one thing on my mind is nutrition. I keep hearing horror stories about people who are deficient in one thing or another. Is there a nutritionist *****ALLY specializes in WLS vitamin and mineral absorption? My doctor's office has a nutritionist but they keep changing their minds on what or how much of something you should be taking. I'd kind of like to see a REAL specialist it one exists. Also, any idea where this event will be? Dj p.s. welcome back.

Hi Joyce, How many people are you expecting? I'd love to go. As far as Ideas maybe some goody bags if there are any sponsors/vendors involved. How many people do you expect? Maybe people can copy their favorite recipes and we can have a recipe exchange. I will be happy to help unless it is September 30th then Im booked because I am a volunteer coordinator for the diabetes walk. That seems to take a bunch of my time. I volunteer all year with the ADA but this is one of the big events. I didn't know about the grad seminar before.I guess I need to get my head out of the sand. Well count me in and I will do the best I can to help out. Thanks Joyce

Moira, If they are able to secure an appropriate facility then they will most likely be able to get a couple of hundred easily. Last time we had 100 people signed up in just 2 or 3 days and the mailout went to a couple thousand! There is not a date or a place yet but we will post details just as soon as we get them! I'll forward everyone's suggestions to Kelly and Rainy (their marketing director). I'll probably just do the Fashion Show piece this time. (my favorite part! LOL!) Joyce