Question:
Any Ideas of what to have for topic at support group meetings

Have tried to get nutritionist to speak but all say they are not qualified to talk about the by-pass nutrition. Do not have weight loss surgeon in our city. Any other ideas about what to have for program.    — john59501 (posted on November 25, 2003)

November 24, 2003
John first no offense but your profiles color choices are the most invisible I have ever seen:( You REALLY need to fix it. <P> Why not call your nearby surgeons and find who there nutroinists are? Plastic surgeons are always of interest. So are psych docs, and the vitamin people. Having a post op talk is another good one, heck invite the surgeons or their staff. Here are online support group meetings you can watch they may give you some good ideas.<P> http://www.upmc.edu/obesitysurgery/monthlySupportGroup.htm <P> Make them a SOCIAL occasion, like a pot luck, people can bring their favorite sugar free foods and exchange recipes. Picnics are wonderful. At our last one I took a sno cone machine and sugar free syrups. This should get you started and make them FUN! WLS is serious business but you will get more attendees if people come away feeling better aboiut themselves! Try invoiting authors of WLS books like Barb Thompson, her book info is on the very bottom of my profile.
   — bob-haller

November 24, 2003
How about someone from a local gym or a personal trainer trying to drum up business? Maybe someone who does colors and makeup (if you have guys, maybe they'd like to know what colors work best for them) Have member take turns - longest post op can share experiences, someone who's really into the Atkins or South Beach Diet could tell the benefits of each. Have each member write a suggest for a topic or speaker. Good luck and have fun!
   — JoSyrNY

November 25, 2003
Hi John, One group I go to had a local chef who also had WLS. She runs an outfit that contracts to serve a whole week of meals to individuals. Wish I had the bucks for that! Also, ask the people in your group to list topics of importance that they want covered. Raffle off a makeover that is done during the group meeting (it doesn't have to be makeup only, men can have makeovers too, just watch Queer Eye for the Straight Guy to see that).
   — Carole V.

November 25, 2003
A friend of mine in another support group had an image consultant or sytlist come in. One person won a free 1-on-1 shopping trip with the gal (of course the person who won still had to pay for any clothes he/she purchased) I thought this is a neat idea to help us since most of us pre-op have not been wearing the latest fashions.
   — jmusser

November 25, 2003
At out support group metings we all go around and introduce our selves tell where we are in the process, dr, how much we lost....etc. Then sometimes we have questions from people who have problems or issues to discuss. We also have a clothing exchange, sometimes we taste proteins and things like that. Hope this helps a little!
   — Saxbyd

November 25, 2003
We have a very small support group in my area but we have managed to have some really nice speakers and we have a topic at each one too. Some speakers we have had: support group leader that traveled in from a larger group, yoga instructor that taught us breathing and relaxation techniques, a counselor that talked about food addiction and depression, we had one session at the local YMCA and one of their trainers walked us through the site and gave us excercises to do at home. All of those were either free local sources that wanted to give our members their business card, or they had a minimal speaking charge (usually 20 or 25). As for topics we have discussed all sorts of issues. Generally there are 2 of us that do some research and compile our findings into 1-2 handouts. (However we also encourage everyone to write down their ideas for topics as well as ask them if they would like to present one) We then pass them out and share our findings asking for experience and feedback from the group. Topics can really range all over the board. Two that we have done are holiday/restaurant/buffet eating and then defining success and setting goals. There are so many other topics that can be covered too. Also some ideas are to have a set social time, Q&A time, clothing exchange (we do our every 3-4 months since its a small group), topic presentation/discussion, we also have anniversary and century club celebrations, we have had a protein testing, and we are planning "field trips" to visit other support groups. Some of us got together and went to a lecture on plastic surgery after weight loss surgery. Best of luck with the support group! :-)
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 26, 2003
Howdy!! I started a local group, and I subscribed to Barbara Thompsons online newsletter for topics. She allows you to use any of her information as long as you give her credit. here is the link: http://www.wlscenter.com/E-Newsletter.htm She has back issues of newsletters, so if you want to subscribe now they are sent out bi monthly, if you need info NOW, just copy some info from past issues to use. I usually base my topics on what she is talkin about. WORKS FOR ME!!! GOOD LUCK
   — Leslie N.