AZ Grads Group! Finally!

Announcing the newest support group!

FOR: all ARIZONA GRADUATES of Weight Loss Surgery who are 1 year or more post op from their original surgery.  Revision pre-ops & post-ops are welcome as well. This support group is under the direction of Joyce (Certified O.H. Leader) who will share the facilitating duties with Peers and guest speakers.

Phoenix St Luke's (the Bridges Education Centre) has offered to host us.  We will meet in the Education patient area of the new College Wing.  It's a lovely facility that is wheelchair and Bariatric accessible.  Parking is well lit and very close.  Security is abundant and helpful.  The address is 1800 E. Van Buren Street in Phoenix.  No worries with the area.  I've been attending this area at night for years!  (You may want to ditch the light rail idea for the ride home though; maybe catch a ride with someone home?)

We will meet the 1st Tuesday of every month at 5:30 pm  Those of you who wish to join the main support meeting at 6:30 can step out to join that group or you may choose to linger longer with the Grads.

Our format will be casual and chatty and our topics will be "Graduate" themed.  If you want to know how much water you should be drinking or if exercise is good for us then we suggest you stay at home and reread your basic nutrition guidelines!  This group is for the LIFETIME achievers; those who want to be serious about making lifestyle choices for success.

Bring your weight gain, bring your food journals,bring your goals, bring your frustrations, bring your buddy, bring your successes and we'll SHARE!!!!

Upcoming topics:

Spanx, Belts, Scarves, Shoes, Jewelery  - Enhance your changing body with style!
Back in the Social Swing & Beyond!
Not at Goal Yet?  Accept, Adjust or ATTACK????
Maintenance is NOT a Four Letter Word!
Low Carb LIfestyle, Atkins, Weigh****chers, Mediteriannean - Does Diet still have a place as a Graduate?
Humanitarian Goals that can Give back to you!  Let's enter a walk together & other exercise ideas!
Pink Elephants and Blue Hippos? 
Step out of the old suit and polish the new you!  Embracing your new image!
Hot and Sexy comes in all sizes and shapes!
Getting Back on Track!  5 Day Pouch Test!  Protein Fast!  Induction!  Back to Basics!
Meal Mania!  Sharing meal plans, shopping lists, top 10 pantry items, top 10 kitchen helpers!
Pity Party!  Bring your pathetic excuses!  We'll purge and replace!  Appropriate Refreshments will be served!
Photo Shoot (dress hot and do your hair) and Success Stories with O.H. Editor for Magazine
Article!

Just for clarity:  FREE to EVERYONE whether you had a sleeve, band, etc....whether you are female or male or not sure, whether you had your surgery in Chicago, Mexico, Russia or even at St Luke's *winks*

*****the only RULES:  there will be NO surgeon bashing, NO program bashing, NO procedure bashing.....but, we're grown ups and discussions of every type will be invited!!!!

....occasional Grad events can be scheduled as members agree with and desire!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!  See you at the very first AZ Grads of WLS Support Group Meeting on Tuesday, February 3rd at 5:30 pm 

Note:  You can join the AZ Grads O.H. support group by clicking on the link in my signature line.

This does not replace any of the other existing support groups in the valley.  It is meant as an addition support option.

I have to ask what does Pink Elephants and Blue Hippos? entail...

and how are you feeling.  I hope you are doing better.

take care!

Hi there Happy Girl!
IF someone tells you not to think about Pink Elephants then that's all you think about UNTIL they tell you NOT to think about Blue Hippos!   Pink Elephants can = a cookie, a pretzel, a tub of buttered popcorn, etc.  We have to come up with our own Blue Hippos or CHANGE our Stinkin Thinkin!

LOL!  Now you know the agenda for "that" support meeting! 

Thanks for asking about me.  I'm back into my pre-Holiday routine of focusing on nutrition and am doing much better.  I find I need to have a nutritional intake of some type (balance a protein with a healthy carb) every hour on the hour to keep my blood sugars regulated and my energy up.  I've gotten my weight back up to 110 so am hoping I can just keep pushing ahead on my own without having to take another trip to the O.R......

I'm feeling luck for 2009!  How bout you?