Hello and Support Group Announcement!
Hello all! I hope everyone is doing well and although I don’t come around these parts on a regular basis anymore I wanted to inform the locals in Richmond (or any other surrounding area residents willing to travel) that I have started up a weight loss support group for 3 years+ post-op graduates with our esteemed Mary D. by my side. I’m hosting the group through www.meetup.com. The group can be found at http://www.meetup.com/RVAWLSGrads. Please contact me privately if you are unfamiliar with Meetup and need help accessing the site, setting up a profile and joining the group.
Meetup is JUST what it sounds, a place where interest groups join together and create “meetups", aka events, to join together with like minded individuals. I’m an Asst-Organizer for two other groups on Meetup and find it to be a wonderful way to network locally and meet new people.
Mary and I have discussed for years that there was a lacking need in the Richmond area for a support group geared for long term post op and the struggles we have as compared to pre-surgery or newly post op patients. I hope to see a great response and to begin, I will be hosting the support group out of my home. As we get our membership numbers up, we will be offering all kinds of different meetups to include other meeting locations around Richmond, group exercise activities, social time on the town for eats, coffee, etc. ALL IDEAS ARE WELCOME. The first meeting will be held Wednesday May 25th at 630pm. SO CONTACT ME TO GET INVOLVED!
As for an update on me, things are going good, I saw some maintenance and accountability struggles during my period of unemployment but am kicking it in the bud and getting back on track. Life is good, I am now living with Keith, my uber wonderful boyfriend, planning a trip to his homeland, Newfoundland, this summer and loving on Nemi and Cali our fur-baby cat’s. We plan on adding a dog to our fur family later this year. :)
I’m very active in my two meetup groups, one an activities and events group, the other a singles group. I have made many wonderful friends, some that I consider close like family. I completely attribute meetup and them for my successfully venturing out of the box and being a social butterfly again after my divorce. I am a lucky gal for sure!
I hope you are all doing well and pop me a line to let me know how you are doing! Kudos to all the newbies on the board. Hold on for the ride of your life! And a long embracing virtual hug to the veteran VA Board members that I miss so much. I will try to be better about checking in more frequently. The VA Board was absolutely an integral part pre and post surgery and it was always my home base on OH. It makes me a bit sad to see the activity level not anywhere close to what it was 2-3 years ago. BUT HANG IN THERE EVERYONE, there are wonderful people to share life with here even if they don’t stop by all the time. :)
Lauren
Meetup is JUST what it sounds, a place where interest groups join together and create “meetups", aka events, to join together with like minded individuals. I’m an Asst-Organizer for two other groups on Meetup and find it to be a wonderful way to network locally and meet new people.
Mary and I have discussed for years that there was a lacking need in the Richmond area for a support group geared for long term post op and the struggles we have as compared to pre-surgery or newly post op patients. I hope to see a great response and to begin, I will be hosting the support group out of my home. As we get our membership numbers up, we will be offering all kinds of different meetups to include other meeting locations around Richmond, group exercise activities, social time on the town for eats, coffee, etc. ALL IDEAS ARE WELCOME. The first meeting will be held Wednesday May 25th at 630pm. SO CONTACT ME TO GET INVOLVED!
As for an update on me, things are going good, I saw some maintenance and accountability struggles during my period of unemployment but am kicking it in the bud and getting back on track. Life is good, I am now living with Keith, my uber wonderful boyfriend, planning a trip to his homeland, Newfoundland, this summer and loving on Nemi and Cali our fur-baby cat’s. We plan on adding a dog to our fur family later this year. :)
I’m very active in my two meetup groups, one an activities and events group, the other a singles group. I have made many wonderful friends, some that I consider close like family. I completely attribute meetup and them for my successfully venturing out of the box and being a social butterfly again after my divorce. I am a lucky gal for sure!
I hope you are all doing well and pop me a line to let me know how you are doing! Kudos to all the newbies on the board. Hold on for the ride of your life! And a long embracing virtual hug to the veteran VA Board members that I miss so much. I will try to be better about checking in more frequently. The VA Board was absolutely an integral part pre and post surgery and it was always my home base on OH. It makes me a bit sad to see the activity level not anywhere close to what it was 2-3 years ago. BUT HANG IN THERE EVERYONE, there are wonderful people to share life with here even if they don’t stop by all the time. :)
Lauren
369/175/136
Highest Weight/Goal/Current Weight
233lbs LOST!!
Maintenance going strong!
I didn't realize you moved! What a doll baby you are holding down the VA Board fort still. I've always held you in such high regard for being the one person who was a constant on this board in the last couple years when membership slumped a bit. KUDOS! your advice, wisdom and welcoming prescense is definately noticed. HUGS! And thank you for the best wishes on my new venture. :)
L
L
369/175/136
Highest Weight/Goal/Current Weight
233lbs LOST!!
Maintenance going strong!
I am the Mary D. who Lauren referred to above. I just had my 5 year WLS anniversary on Mother's Day and am really looking forward to the formation of this support group. Maintenance is HARD and it gets REALLY HARD after 3 years out, which is also when most hospital support groups stop being relevant. Please spread the word! In the meantime, I'm posting a couple of pictures of my WLS journey. Thanks!
The first is my "day of surgery" (260 pounds) and "five years after" picture (142 pounds). I had a 36 pound gain over the last couple of years from a lot of stress in every direction, but I have taken all but 12 pounds of it off and know I will get back to original goal weight again soon!
The second one is a before and after with my son, who will be 18 next month (see reference to stress above, haha). We have both changed a lot in the last 5 years!
The first is my "day of surgery" (260 pounds) and "five years after" picture (142 pounds). I had a 36 pound gain over the last couple of years from a lot of stress in every direction, but I have taken all but 12 pounds of it off and know I will get back to original goal weight again soon!
The second one is a before and after with my son, who will be 18 next month (see reference to stress above, haha). We have both changed a lot in the last 5 years!
Mary D.
Pre op: 260 lbs, 5'3"
Goal reached 14 months later: 130 lbs
Regain over next 3.5 years to a high of: 166 lbs
Current weight: 135.8 lbs and heading back to 130 lbs!!
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