Obesity Freedom's 1st Annual BBQ Meet and Greet Observations

Ok...please note that I have renamed it to include the 1st Annual part.  I really hope that's a BIG hint to the gals!!!! A few observations: The day was TOTALLY AWESOME!  Everyone had a great time, you could tell because of all of the laughter that was going on from room to room.  There were LOTS of smiles everywhere. Jackie and Sue, founders of Obesity Freedom, did an OUTSTANDING job putting this together.  The gals from Isotonix were very informative with all of their information on vitamins and the had plenty of research supporting their product.  Defiantely gave many food for thought of their own vitamin routines. The food....well all I can say is that it was very well thought out.  Everything Jackie and Sue provided was pouch friendly as was all of the extras that the attendee brought (including the wedding cake that Melinda brought - which was a piece of heaven and especially since it was sugar free.  Can't wait for the wedding!).  I love the fact that several of us brought sides and desserts that we enjoyed before with full fat and sugar, but have changed the recipe to make them pouch friendly (Ambrosia Salad and the Southern Banana Pudding come to mind).  And there were SO many options...(Mary, step away fromt he table - haha). The recognition awards was...well...I'm still speechless.  It was such a great idea (not because I received on), but it was nice to be recognized by your peers for just being you.  And Sue....I LOVE the pasties - haha!  I will wear them with pride - haha! And the prizes....Oh my Lord.....Cathy A did a fantastic job getting prizes for the social.  Cases of Power Crunch Cereal, Bariatric Advantage Vitamins, Tote Bags with Pedometers and other samples....Along with the backpacks we received when coming it.  Cathy....you did a GREAT job handling this area.  Once again....mind blowing! And the food....awesome!  Lots of great choices.  Very well done. (Mary...step away from the table - haha). Anne - thanks for teaching us to hula.  It was SO much fun and such a great way to exercise "outside of the box" and to show people that they can get in their physical activity by doing something such as this and it's effective.  Thank you * Thank you!  There were lots of laughs and tears (from laughing so hard).  Tammy...I am SO going to go and look at that camera.  I don't need it....I have 2 Sony Cybershots that I love (one that I JUST got - it's small enough for my pocket), but am definately going to go and look (who am I kidding....BUY - I NEED it for my scrapbooking - haha).  So, be prepared to teach me how to use it - haha! The food was wonderful.  There were so many healthy options, including sugar free sweets (Mary...step away from the table). It was great to meet the people we chat with each and every day.   Sarah...you are SUCH a stitch. You are EXACTLY the person I imagined.  I cannot wait until Wednesday.  You are SO going to ROCK!!! Theresa....OMG!  Such a Sweetheart.  Thanks for everything.  You are a riot and can't wait to see you again! Cameron....Such a good sport.  You came and spent your Saturday with all of those adults instead of other kids, playing ball.  Your Mom owes you BIG TIME!  And your hula skills RAWKED! Melissa....I am SO sorry that we did not get an opportuntiy to chat.  But, I am really glad that you made it out, and with your daughter.  Such a cutie! Betty.... Hang in there, Honey.  We will find something for you.  But, you are doing great.  Keep up the great work, and enjoy your vacation. Jackie....My Angel.....I was really happy to see you there.  Glad we actually got a chance to spend some time together, too.  We need to hang out more! Rickie....You RAWK!  I swear, to look at you no one would EVER know that you had had the surgery.  You look great and I just LOVE you sense of humor.  Can't do the golf, but I can drive the buggy - haha!  And don't ever let anyone tell you that you have too much pink!  HAHA! Lauren...you look great.  I am SO proud of you.  And, of course...I just adore your sense of humor.  So much fun and glad that we were able to spend time together. Velda...you are an honary member of this board.  You are such an inspiration and there are no words to describe your passion.  You are going to be a wonderful leader and anyone attending your support group will be beyond lucky.  I KNOW that you will accomplish your future plans....I saw determination.  I cannot wait for the invite (Sue, Mary and Jackie....ROAD TRIP TO CHARLOTTE) to your support group. Jen...funny how we had to go to Fredricksburg to hang out - haha!  Had a blast and "when are you coming home" - haha! Anna....you are ADORABLE!!!  Such a tiny thing.  Good luck with your plastics! Anne....I love ya, Sweetie.  LOve hanging out with you and just laughing.  Hang in there! Kat...No words...you know how I feel.  Always here for you. Pat....Good to see you.  Glad we chatted, now get back on track.  It's hard, I know.  But, you've gotta do this for you.  I love you and can't wait to see less of you the next time around. Cathy...Thank you so very much for what you did for this gathering.  As always, you're a trooper and a champ.  Thank you! Mary...step away from the table! HAHA!  "You really bought that????" I love you, girl.  You are a stitch and I cannot wait for a girls day away (hint*hint).  We laughed, we cried (from laughing) and just had a FANTASTIC time....as always!   Jackie and Sue....OMG!  This was a GREAT gathering.  Once again, your professionalism and fun shined though.  Everyone had a great time and I'm sure wondering when the next event will be - haha.  You made this about all of us and for that...I thank you.  Now, you have some ideas for the next go round....let's get it scheduled - haha.  I love both of you and miss you already (see comment above to Mary for a girl's day away - hint*hint). I am terrible with names, and I know that I enjoyed everyone's company.  Good luck to those of you with upcoming plastics and I had a blast with EVERYONE! Ok...this became a lot longer than I had planned.  So, until the next gathering......

Good morning, Happy Hips!!!     I'm gonna horn in on your thread title to send out my kudos.  Congrats to all our award winners...Lord knows you deserve recognition.  I'm afraid I arrived too late for the Isotonix demo but I was able to observe how helpful & informative they were & quite popular based on the crowd around them.  The food was amazing...I don't think I could pick a favorite & I can't wait to grab some of the recipes.  Little Cameron...your Mommy should be so proud of you.  You were polite, charming, well behaved...& a darned good dancer!  Yougo boy!!  I hope you'll make it to my house next weekend.  I was so glad we all had name tags...we go through so many physical changes in our journey that it was like my eyes were playing tricks on me.  My mind would say "hmm...I know her...I think.  OMG!  It's ...."  I'm horrible with names too.  This event was well planned, easy going, laid back, fun, welcoming.  Huge applause for my dancers!!!    Pat, who knew you could move like that!!  Christina, Jill, Sue, Mary, Cameron,Jen & all the rest (I'll have to watch the video to refresh my memory)...I truly am impressed with how quickly each of you picked up & performed the steps.  I would love to teach you all again...maybe choreograph a complete dance & send you home with the music for it?  And those of you that "observed" ... you'll be up on your feet next time!  I have to admit that I was very nervous about dancing for ya'll.  I haven't performed in probably 20 years!  But within a few seconds I was back in my element again so I think I'll be dancing at home more often.  Next time I hope to demo tahitian, complete with full costume!  Jackie, Sue, Kathy A, Jeannie...what an amazing job ya'll did.  I & mine felt welcomed from the moment we crossed the threshold.  Thank you so much for all the hard work & time ya'll put into this event.  Jackie & Bill...how awesome you are t continually open your home to us all as you do.  Bill, I'm sorry we never got a chance to chat...next time, for sure!  Kat, you just rawk, girlie!!!  Only YOU could have gotten Nino's shirt off!!!!    I'm afraid there was just so many wonderful things going on & so many beautiful people to acknowledge that I'm surely forgetting someone & something.  Suffice to say I rode home with a silly grin on my face.  I can't wait for our next gathering.  I love you all!!

Hi Anne,

I am so glad that you made it out here with your son and the Italian Stallion lol!!  I agree - the food was really really good!!

Cameron is a little sweetheart and such a credit to his mother.... we all loved him! I am glad you had a really good time Anne - it was a fun time being with you!

Jackie

 

Jill thank you for all your kind words and I am going to get back on track and will get smaller. I had the best time, I like learning to dance the hula and got the sorest hip from but was worth it. Jackie and Sue you did a fantastic job and everyone enjoyed theirselves. We need to do this again real soon. Thank you everyone for saying all that you did about Kat she was totally shocked. Jim it was so nice seeing you and you have done great 25 lbs gone forever. Good luck at the doctors this week and check with him on what you should be eating and keep up the good work I am proud of you. I was so glad that I came and saw all my friends and even met new ones.

Thank you Pat!!  We are so glad that you had a good time!  Jackie

I am sitting here this am still processing yesterday. I want to fully admit I'd considered not coming because of my mood but I woke up Saturday am and had a convo with one of my besties and he reminded me that I owe this to myself to get away and enjoy, that I deserved to smile! I wouldn't have missed it! I had a really wonderful time. Jackie & Sue both of you ladies are truly amazing and I was so honored to be there. Thanks for opening your home to us and your hearts and welcoming us. Everything came together really smoothly and with all the hard work behind this it really is one of the best events yet! I liked the Isotonix gals and their matter of fact explanation of things. I'll be researching for sure regarding all they talked of yesterday. The taste personally of what I sampled wasn't great but wasn't bad either. It would be doable but I'm a curious gal and need to have my facts and such. There was such a wide variety of foods available to us and I really enjoyed several of the dishes there. I would like to know who made the chili and what's in it? It was tasty for sure.  There was definitely something there for everyone pre-op, post-op, non-op! I'm so glad we've come together and right down to desserts everything was great! I am a PROUD winner of one of the 2008 Obesity Freedom Hall of Fame awards & I was floored and was sincerely touched and honored. I know I was fussing a little bit but I wanted to say I am really blessed by everyone there yesterday to have been able to stand up there 10 months + sober and see all of your faces looking back at me and me FINALLY realizing that I am doing great things and sharing my experiences and it really helps and touches people. I am truly thankful for sobriety and for YOU! The prizes and such are fantastic! Thanks Cathy for snatching up the bags and the various products and information sheets we got. I am really happy about AchievOne's new flavors which they've been talking about for several months now. This am I've tried the Chocolate and really enjoy it. I look forward to trying the Mocha & Vanilla as well. There was talk of Strawberry but I'm not sure that's come to be. Rest assured I'll be checking. Thanks for the extra handouts Cathy so that I might pass them along to others. Mom I am glad you came with me and I'm also glad folks gave you an ear full and hope that you took away from all this a lot of tips and advice and love and support and understanding. I know that you can do things to better your health/life if you try. I love you and nuff said. Melissa it was nice meeting you and your daughter! You're doing wonderfully and I'm really happy ya'll came. Your gal is quite the dancer! Do keep us posted on how you are doing! Jeannie it was so nice seeing you again too! How could I forget you! I really loved that you & I got to talk yesterday. That meant so much & I so proud of you with your weight loss. Congrats on the upcoming wedding and hope things go smoothly. :) Anna it was so nice to sit there talking with you and Scarlet and Tammy amongst others (Melissa, Kimmie, Melinda & others) about plastics. You've added yet another great testimony to my memory banks regarding Dr. Krieger. I am thinking of you and wishing you the best for your surgery in July. As always its nice to see you Melinda! The cake is all right. Just very sweet to the taste for me but I'm not a sweets gal anyway! Looking VERY forward to the wedding and cake and all that jazz! Was really good seeing you. Sorry I missed saying goodbye. Tammy and fam was good seeing you again and I'm so stoked about upcoming things and was nice to meet Kara & Adam and how cute! (Vomit I know lol)! Glad ya'll could make it and thanks for listening to me. :) Lauren it was so nice to see you again as well (and here again shortly). You are really doing wonderfully! I'm glad you came for sure! Jen R & Leo I must say I was so happy to meet the both of you! Jen your pics just don't do you justice (not that any of ours really do)! You are so beautiful and your hubs Leo is VERY handsome and I enjoyed talking to him. He's a hoot! Cannot wait to make a visit to the beach and hang out. I really & truly enjoyed seeing you Ann and Matt & Nino! What a treat and YES next time I promise to get up there and ATTEMPT some hip action. (MAYBE, darn I promised didn't I?) Thanks Nino for taking off your shirt. I know it was a big deal but I have this thing for tats! Ann you RAWKED it girl! I LOVE the videos I've captured of your dance and you teaching others. I sincerely think you should consider teaching again. :) Jill we didn't get to catch up like I hoped either. I was all over the place but it will happen. We've gotta get plans in place to chat and catch up and I cannot thank you enough for your kindness and support you continue to give me. Last pm meant a lot to me and I am blessed to have you and all these amazing folks in my life. You are really looking beautiful and I'm inspired once again another person who Dr. K's done great work on and I really & truly cannot wait to get on with my re-constructive journey. Mary I so am gonna bring more of that freak flag outta ya! You are such a riot! I am so glad we are in one another's lives! I loved talking with you among other last pm and listening and just laughing and making jokes and cutting up so much. My heart was singing for sure. Christina you are looking so great and I LOVED that dress you were wearing yesterday! I enjoyed very much hanging out and talking and catching up some. Thanks for listening to me last pm late in to the pm. It meant a lot and I'll be keeping in touch more and seeing you in a few days. :) Theresa & Cameron it was really great seeing ya'll and lets not wait so long in between getting together again. Cameron the girls would love to get together at the park and tear it up again. Theresa keep your chin up girl and start living your life for YOU a bit more! That Cameron of yours is smart and fun and is really happy/proud of his momma! Time to let THERESA shine through a bit! Michael, Bonnie, Mary Jo, Ruth & Kimmie it was nice seeing all of you again. I hope to come back to another one of Melinda's support group meetings and we are looking to plan more group events and I will be sure to ask Melinda to pass them along to everyone. :) Sarah my darling its always wonderful to see you! Hope you had a kick butt time seeing your friends RAWK out last pm! I really enjoyed talking with you and your sense of humor is awesome! I am so stoked about your upcoming surgery and I will be there WE will be there I should say (Tammy, myself and who ever else we can wrangle up) to spoil you! Many hugs to you! Diane it was so nice to see you again! I am just really thrilled at how well you've done and really look forward to getting together with you again. Your hubs is a riot too! Thanks for talking to me (previous to this event since this time we didn't get much of a chance) about your plastics as well. What a wealth of knowledge! Hope your toe gets better! Sue I loved the shirt you were wearing and I'm STILL laughing at the "note!" I know its promised to Ann but I heard you say you got it at Target (LOL the shirt I mean) so I'm gonna see bout finding the yellow one you mentioned. Really enjoyed seeing you and talking to you and grabbing a few pics. You are so beautiful! Jackie sincerely loved seeing you and Bill and he's such a riot. I am still amazed at how wonderful and accommodating ya'll are each time I'm welcomed into your home. You are really looking beautiful and yet another testimony of Dr. K's work! Thanks for letting us close down the house! It was great to sit around talking and listening and really coming to understand that I'm surrounded by such an amazingly beautiful, loving, supportive group of the BESTIES (as my girlfriends & I call one another). I laughed so much and had such a good time yesterday! I hadn't cut up like that in a while. There were some kinda serious convos that happened and I wasn't sure I could do well with them but I found such a sense of release/relief and coming to learn even more I'm not alone has been the best kinda therapy and feeling for me. Knowing that others have experienced things the same and even a bit different really helped me to come learn & understand others and myself. This is what I love so much about these events. I can come there and be myself, cut up, carry on, make jokes, be a LOT silly, leave stress and such out of the equation (for the most part) and really & truly have a great time. I'm so glad I am afforded these opportunities and I hope that in the future NO I KNOW in the future we will have the BEST times and we'll just keep topping ourselves! I personally loved every minute of people watching, learning, listening, laughing, enjoying, silliness, goofiness, flirting, playing, etc. So, thank YOU to everyone who made yesterday such an amazing day for me. Ok, so I take the award for Long Winded Cuppa Vixen! But, I also know that its deserved and ya'll are TRULY BLESSINGS and I don't want you thinking any different. Until the next time .... Hugs ............ PS I have pictures and videos. Provided no one takes issues with them being posted I'll be glad to create an album and do so.

WOW - What a great, great day yesterday!!!!!!! I LOVED meeting everyone and had the best time. Everything about the day - including all of the people that I was meeting in real life for the first time - exceeded my expectations by far. Kat and Jill are so much better at this than me - I'm not even going to try to begin to list all of the great people that I talked to.

And, for me, the timing couldn't have been better. With my surgery coming up in just 3 days I can't begin to tell you how supported and encouraged I felt by everyone!

Jackie and Sue - maybe you should give hostess lessons along with Ann's upcoming hula lessons! You made everything run smoothly, which I know was a lot of work!, but at the same time were able to take time to talk to people and make them feel welcome.

Ok, I have to get up from my computer now. But a big huge THANK YOU to every single person that I talked to yesterday. I think you guys are the best and I can't wait to see you again!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol! Yes we are taking the hint! We will plan other days like this I promise! We are so glad that you enjoyed yourselves when you were here - the object of the day was for everyone to have a good time, get to know one another better, learn some nutritiuon and eat some good food......and if you all did that., Sue and I are happy. It was a hectic day for me but I did my best to try an get to chat with everyone and enjoy some fun.....    if I missed you out please don't take it personality  - it was a crazy day!!  I am so glad that you enjoyed it Jill!

You deserved the award Jill - for everything you did!  It was from your peers recognitions statements and they recognize what you are doing......We will be putting all the recipients on our web page soon....... Thanks for your company and the great kudos you gave us - we really do appreciate you coming - it would not be the same without you... Jackie

Ladies and Gents, First and foremost, THANK YOU Jackie for opening your home to all of us crazies! My very handsome husband,Leo, and I had an awesome time! The laughs, conversation and comraderie came so naturally.  The food.....so many great tasting wls friendly foods.I can't wait to have the recipies on obesityfreedom's web site. Hey Jill...my son wasn't even home when we got here. He called and asked to sleep over a friends house. So I called him on Sunday morning and asked him when he was coming home! LOL For fear of missing someone, I will not thank you individually, but as I have said before...y'all are the best and I truely value your friendships.

It sounds like everyone had a great time, had I known Jen & Leo were going, I would've stuffed myself in the trunk! Maybe I'll catch you guys next time. I think the local beach ladies and I are gonna try to have lunch with Corny on Wednesday, if she's feeling up to it! We need to do something soon that's for sure! Talk to you soon, A