Reasons for Support groups/Info/Outlets

1. Accountability 2. Information 3. Support 4. Friendship 5. Encouragement 6. Cope 7. Hope 8. Relaxation 9. Identification (sense of belonging) 10. You get to see me!!! seriously though, does anyone else have any other reasons???

Research shows that support groups are important for maintaining weight loss.  According to a recently published study "patients who attended >5 support group meeting has an average of 55.5% excess weight loss at 12 months compared with 47.1% excess weight loss in patients who attended attended 5 or fewer support group meetings.

Plus - we get to see you.

 

I think you covered them ALL.  I so wish we had one close to me upstate!  That is one of the reasons I miss Long Island.   ~hugs~

where are you upstate?

I am in Mountain Dale, it is just over into Sullivan County from Orange County. I am about 80-90 miles North of NYC....

For myself it is about taking care of me, one way I can do this is to go to support group, and I can PAY IT FORWARD, I can not keep what I do not give away...
I feel honored and blessed to witness the transformation others undergo, it is totally gratifying to be a part of that change!

Sharing experience, strength, hope and support is not always/just measurable on the scale but it is the unconditional devotion of others that lifts me up, I feel in sharing my transparency and others theirs we are destined to succeed together!

Most importantly, I feel filled with validation and confidence that I can use the WLS tool to remain healthy, live long and prosper.

I also am continually and very powerfully reminded of all of the OTHER reasons to attend.....as you listed...

and such as remembering where I used to be, how far I've come, and how important it is to keep working my lifestyle....i.e. food and exercise programs so that I never, ever take a step back toward the morbid obesity that tortured my body and soul.

I feel encouraged, acknowledged, applauded and heard.
WLS Support Groups are such a blessing and gift for so many of us. Thanks for the topic!

ALL the other reasons....but ESPECIALLY seeing me!!

Yes how could I of overlooked that!?

I don't really know.....Oh, the SHAME! (grin) I was thinking about the saratoga support group today and prayed for all that I could remember. Thank you Jamie for always having helpful info to help us......namely, me.