Hello! i am in King George and am looking to add a few more friends to my lap band life! There is also a great support group for wls and a seminar by another national forum in May in northern VA. Should be so much fun! If anyone wants to keep in touch or find out more about the seminar, let me know! there will be 2 plastic surgeons there doing free consultations as well as a catered lunch and all sorts of little surprises!

Hey! I'm from Williamsburg. I know, not exactly next door neighbors, but I thought I'd say HI! And I'd love more info about the May seminar you mentioned! I'm a good year away from plastics but the current state of my "apron/dunlap" and "terodactyl wings" are already inspiring me to consider more surgery! Never mind that "the girls" have sunk to new lows... Saggy-baggy or not, this surgery was the best thing I've done for ME in a very long time!

Hi Suzanne! The seminar is in Ashburn Va, and I will jsut cut and paste the info here. It's sponsored by Obesity help (dot) com another GREAT resource.

2008 - Ashburn, VA ObesityHelp Event

ObesityHelp Regional Conference

Quick Links: Purchase Tickets Topic List Schedule Sponsors

0.5 km

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When:

May 3, 2008, All day.

Where:

Embassy Suites Dulles - North/Loudoun

44610 Waxpool Road

Ashburn, VA

Hotel Website

1-800-EMBASSY

Lodging:

Embassy Suites Dulles - North/Loudoun

44610 Waxpool Road

Ashburn, VA

Hotel Website

1-800-EMBASSY

About the area:

The newly built Embassy Suites Dulles - North/Loudoun, VA hotel is located only three miles from the Washington Dulles International Airport, near the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum - Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Ashburn Ice House, Old Dominion Brewing Company, Dulles Indoor Sportsplex, Dulles Town Center, Washington Redskins Park and the corporate headquarters of AOL, Verizon Business, Airbus and Orbital Sciences. This full-service upscale all-suite hotel is just minutes from the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Reston Town Center and Tysons Corner.

Guests of the Embassy Suites Dulles - North/Loudoun, VA hotel stay in spacious two-room suites and receive a complimentary cooked-to-order Breakfast and a nightly manager's reception. Wireless and high-speed Internet access is available in all guest suites and public areas of the Embassy Suites hotel (daily surcharge applies). The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle to and from the Washington Dulles International Airport.

Announcements:

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

To make your reservations, please call 1-800-EMBASSY and give them the code "OBH". Room rates are $109 per night and prices are valid on the nights of May 2-4. Reservations must be made by April 11th, 2008.

For ease, you can CLICK HERE to reserve your room!

Event Host

Jackie Thodos is a Gastric bypass post-op, ObesityHelp Support Group Leader and co-founder of Obesity Freedom. Since her surgery, she has been very committed to the bariatric community, and helps people succeed everyday in her successful support group in Fredericksburg, VA and beyond. A Motivational speaker, Certified Back on Track facilitator and Life Coach, Jackie has inspired audiences large and small on transforming your life through weight loss surgery. Jackie combines her true passion for coaching fellow weight loss surgery patients with years of event organization and staff development. Her latest book, Idle Hands = Active Mouth: A Grazer's Journey to Weight Loss Success, will be available in early 2009. Jackie lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia with her husband and son, her greatest supporters. For more information on Jackie, visit Bringing Freedom from the Restrictions Associated with Obesity.

Schedule:

General Schedule for Saturday7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Vendor Setup Time8:00 AM - 8:45 AM Registration and Time to visit with the Vendors8:45 AM - 9:00 AM Opening statements and introductions9:00 AM - 9:45 AM Dr. Mitchel Krieger9:55 AM - 10:40 AM Dr. Andrew Goldberg10:50 AM - 11:35 AM Dr. Denis Halmi & Dr.Daniel Tran11:35 AM - 12:15 PM Break - Visit the Vendors12:15 PM - 1:15 PM lunch & Schedule Update1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Guest Speaker - Heidi Ecker2:25 PM - 3:10 PM Jeremy Gentles, BS, CSCS3:20 PM - 4:05 PM Speaker 4 - TBA4:15 PM - 5:00 PM Closing Statements and Prize Giveaways

Speakers / Topics

Special Guest Speaker - Heidi Ecker - from ABC's Extreme Makeover

"Laugh it Off: Tales of a 100 Pound Weight Loss"

-from ABC Extreme Makeover Cast Member Heidi Ecker

Join Heidi as she takes you for a speedwalk on her awesome journey as an always-overweight 270 pound 32 year old woman who one day decides to transform her life by eating healthy and exercising and loses over 100 pounds and six feet of fat in less than a year!

Heidi will take you on a hilarious review of five a.m. curtain calls at the gym, eating enough eggs to lay one, and being so sore from working out just sitting on the toilet felt like competing in the Iron Man!

You won't want to miss this exciting review of how she exchanged Washington's scales of justice for the scales at the gym going from a size 24 to a size 4, a story ABC believed in so much she was then selected for an Extreme Makeover that aired last year. She's launched a website community to bring her vision to others in the battle against obesity. Her website, Heidi Hype - Heidi Ecker, is where America is laughing together and losing together!

Dr. Mitchel Krieger, Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Krieger is a plastic surgeon specializing in the art of aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. He prides himself on the excellent care he and his staff provide their patients. A former military surgeon, Dr. Krieger completed surgical training in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. He brings nearly 20 years worth of experience in treating bariatric patients. Dr. Krieger offers a full range of cosmetic surgery services with an emphasis on plastic surgery for post bariatric weight loss patients. He is a skilled surgeon sensitive to the needs of patients who have lost considerable weight. He is currently co-authoring a new book on plastic surgery following massive weight loss. It is expected to be released this summer.

Providing body recontouring surgery options to patients who have recently undergone bariatric procedures, he is able to help people more fully enjoy their new, slimmed-down bodies. His involvement with Fair Oaks Hospital has given Dr. Krieger unique experience to help optimize your surgical results. Adroit in a wide array of available procedures for patients, Dr. Krieger readily consults with patients to bring them the latest techniques suitable to their needs and desires. He looks forward to the opportunity to meet with you.

Dr. Krieger's presentation will include:

-Mid and Lower Body Recontouring After Weight Loss

-Bodylift and Thighlift Surgery

-Answers to common questions related to recovery afer plastic surgery

Dr. Krieger will be providing private, one-on-one consultations during the conference. Registration for the spots are limited and will be available the morning of the conference.

Dr. Andrew Goldberg, Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Goldberg is an accomplished cosmetic surgeon trained in both aesthetic and complex reconstructive surgical procedures. Washington Checkbook and Northern Virginia magazines along with multiple other groups have consistently listed him as a Top Physician. He is fervent in his belief that plastic surgery can improve one's self-esteem and confidence. He hopes you will give him the opportunity to help you reach your goals.

Dr. Goldberg's cosmetic surgery practice covers a broad range - from facelift, breast enhancement, and body contouring to laser and minimally invasive procedures. His colleagues trust of his experience and knowledge are evident by his position as the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at FairOaks Hospital and by his membership on the Board of the Medical Society of Virginia.

Dr. Goldberg's Presentation will include:

-Breast/Arms/Facial Rejuvenation After Weight Loss

-Answers to common questions regarding plastic surgery

Dr. Goldberg will be providing private, one-on-one consultations during the conference. Registration for the spots are limited and will be available the morning of the conference.

Dr. Denis Halmi, Bariatric Surgeon

Denis J. Halmi, M.D., F.A.C.S. is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is designated as a Center of Excellence Surgeon by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

Dr. Halmi has performed over 1,500 gastric bypass surgeries and over 150 laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands. He is one of the pioneers in the field of weight loss surgery with more than 15 years of experience in treating overweight patients. He is well known nationally and internationally for his clinical and scientific work; he has contributed numerous research papers in this area. Dr Halmi regularly attends professional meetings as a speaker on the surgical treatment of obesity.

Dr. Halmi has special interest in long term weight management after bariatric surgery and in minimally invasive revisional weight loss surgery utilizing the latest technologies. Currently, Dr. Halmi is the Medical Director of the Virginia Weight Loss Surgery Center – a multi-specialty medical center dedicated to provide physician supervised services in weight loss, diet education, exercise, behavior modification and plastic and cosmetic surgery. He is also the Medical Director of the Weight Loss Surgery Center at Potomac Hospital in Woodbridge, Virginia, a designated Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery.

Dr. Halmi will be providing private, one-on-one consultations during the conference. Registration for the spots are limited and will be available the morning of the conference.

Dr. Daniel Tran, Bariatric Surgeon

Daniel D. Tran, MD, FACS Bariatric Surgeon, is a board certified general surgeon who completed his residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California. He received subspecialty training in trauma and surgical critical care medicine at Yale University School of Medicine.

Dr. Tran has special interest and expertise in minimally invasive weight loss surgery. Prior to relocating to Virginia, Dr. Tran was the medical director of the Bridgeport-Yale New Haven Health Weight Loss Surgery Center in Connecticut. He has performed over 300 laparoscopic gastric bypasses and over 200 laparoscopic gastric bands.

Dr. Tran has special interest in the latest surgical technologies: endoluminal surgery and robotic assisted surgery. Dr. Tran is designated as a Center of Excellence Surgeon by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Dr Tran is the Director of Bariatric Surgery at the Virginia Weight Loss Surgery Center performing a high volume of laparoscopic weight loss surgery procedures.

Topics being presented:

-Key factors of success in long term weight loss after bariatric surgery

-Long term side effects/risks of different weight loss procedures

-Latest surgical options if all else fail (weight regain, complications)

Jeremy Gentles, Fitness Expert

Jeremy Gentles, CSCS, is ObesityHelp's staff health and fitness expert. Jeremy studied Exercise Science at East Tennessee State University and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

In his presentation, Jeremy will arm you with the knowledge to safely participate in a self-guided exercise program to assist you in achieving long-term success after weight loss surgery. He'll offer solutions for overcoming a multitude of obstacles that can get in the way of enjoy a full, active life. By helping you understand the why's and how's of exercise, Jeremy will empower you to knock down those obstacles, allowing you to become healthier through exercise. Come explore the benefits of having a healthy focus and learn how to properly and safely implement a weight/resistance training program.

It's your journey....Train for it!

I know the registration was getting close to being full, i registered for two spots, but am not sure if my friend will be there or not, so once i find out, if you are interested in going I can give you one of my slots.

That sounds like such a good event...and thanks for the offer because it IS sold out! Unfortunately, I just found out that I'm gonna be out of town that weekend. (My newest goddaughter is being baptized in NJ! I can't wait to meet her!) Oh well...