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BariatricPal Local Chapters…a New Way to Connect!



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I love the idea and my surgeon is a 2 hour drive from my house so unless they do virtual support group meetings it will impossible. So I will be looking for something.

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I would love something in northeast Dallas.

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I'm very interested in this. I would love to help organize or lead or co-lead. I'm in Louisville, KY.

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YES! WE HAVE NO SUPPORT GROUP IN MY AREA OF ANY KIND AS FAR AS I KNOW.

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I think it's a great idea and I'd love to take part. My surgery is tentatively scheduled for May and I think support is very important.

My only suggestion is to be sure to hold the meetings in a handicapped accessible location as I am in a wheelchair. I think some folks who are still at the start of their journey may also have mobility problems.

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Alex, great idea for local BP chapters, meetings, etc.

As a physician and as a VSG patient, I could assist in this process. Also, my surgeon is one of the leading surgeons/Bariatric surgeons/ endoscopic pioneers. Maybe there's some way to partner. How might this discussion be furthered re: "details," once you might have some?

Again, great idea.

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Sounds terrific!! I would love to be a part of this!!

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Would love one in southern ma/ri border !!

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I wouldn't mind hosting any online/virtual support groups as well. That's a really fantastic idea!

I love the idea and my surgeon is a 2 hour drive from my house so unless they do virtual support group meetings it will impossible. So I will be looking for something.

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I'm in 100%

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Hi everyone,


Thanks so much for your responses and helpful suggestions! I really appreciate your enthusiasm and feedback. Your positive reactions have made me confident that BariatricPal Local Chapters can become reality in the near future.


Below, I’ll try to answer a few questions that were raised in this conversation.


Can BariatricPal provide help finding local venues where meetings can be held?


Yes! We can provide a general list of suggested places to try, such as local church buildings, schools, parks and hospitals. We can also provide a letter or email that you can send to local contacts to ask if you can hold Local Chapter meetings at these places. We can work with you more if you need it.


How long is each meeting?


It depends on the meeting’s agenda and on the group dynamics set by the group leader and the meeting’s participants. A meeting with a simple lesson and discussion might be as short as an hour, while a meeting that includes a group walk and a cooking lesson might take two or more hours.


Are “+1’s” allowed?


Spouses and other close supporters are absolutely welcome at special events, such as any national meeting or cruise that BariatricPal might sponsor. Some weight loss surgery patients are uncomfortable having non- weight loss surgery patients or candidates present at meetings, so we are still deciding whether they are welcome at regular Local Chapter meetings. What are your thoughts?


How will we know if meeting locations are accessible?


Since many weight loss surgery patients may be dealing with mobility issues, accessible Local Chapter locations will be marked with a special icon to indicate that they are wheelchair-friendly.


You have suggested a lot of great ideas for BP Local Chapter meetings! These are some of the activities that it looks like you may be interested in.

  • Grocery store visit
  • Lessons led by your group leader. Topics may include:
    • Reading nutrition and ingredients labels
    • How to start and keep a food journal

    • Getting back on track and how to battle plateaus and weight gain.

    • Replacement and transfer addictions

    • How to beat mental/emotional hunger (“head hunger”)

    • What to do when your friends or family are not as supportive as they could be

    • Food choices: what to eat, what not to eat, and healthy meal ideas

    • Workout support: how to start exercising and stay motivated for the long-term.


  • Meet at restaurant so that everyone can work together to figure out healthy food choices

  • Lectures from a visiting expert, such as a bariatric surgeon, nutritionist, skin removal surgeon, or psychologist.

  • Periodic clothing exchanges

  • Outside activities, such as walking for fun or training for charity runs/walks which your entire Local Chapter can participate in together.

The consensus so far seems to be that most of you would like some guidance on agendas for Local Chapter meetings, but some flexibility would be helpful, too. That way, BariatricPal Local Chapters everywhere can feel more unified and group leaders are supported in their efforts, but Local Chapters can have the freedom to customize their meetings to their members’ needs.


Again, thank you for the discussion and your enthusiasm. Please keep the ideas coming!

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I'm excited. Regarding +1s -- I like the idea of the meeting being closed and just for people who have had the surgery and then having special days for friends/families etc where group members know in advance.

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I would be interested. There are several bariatric surgery groups in the St. Louis area that regularly hold support meetings.

Edited by ribearty

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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