birder

Any of you taken an Olivia cruise? We have been on many and we wonder if there are other bandsters we are traveling with.

Group is always on the third Monday of the month. Connie

Rockford support group is Monday Feb 16 which is President's Day for some of you but is not for the College of Medicine. The meeting is in room S-232 as always. Pre and post surgery folks and their families are welcome. This group is not connected with any particular hospital or physician. Info at 815-262-4517 Connie

Rockford, IL and surroundings support group will meet Monday May 19 at 7 PM at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine, 1601 Parkview Ave in Rockford. We meet in room S-232. Come in the front door with the three flag polls. Pre and post all surgeries welcome. Connie

Support group meets the third Monday of each month at 7PM in room S-232 at the Univ. of IL College of Medicine, 1601 Parkview Ave. The third Monday of Feb is Feb 16th. The meeting is open to all folks pre and post surgery, any obesity surgery, family members, patients of all physicians, etc. In other words, if you want to come, you are welcome! The guard at the front door will tell you where the room is. For more information call 815-262-4517. Connie

The next meeting will be Dec 15 at 7PM. Anyone pre or post surgery (any of the surgeries) is welcome. Some family members attend too. Please join us! Most of us hang out daily on the IL forum of obesityhelp.com Connie

Rockford support group meets tonight at 7 at the College of Medicine, 1601 Parkview Ave. The group is in room S-232 and is open to anyone pre or post surgery and their families. Hope to see you there. Connie

The Rockford support group meets on the third Monday of each month at 7 PM in room S-232 at the Univ. of IL College of Medicine at Rockford, 1601 Parkview Ave. For more info call 815-262-4517. The group is for pre and post WLS folks and their support people. I hope to see you at the next group. Connie

Please feel welcome to come to group. It is the third Monday of each month at 7 PM at the College of Medicine. There are more specific directions in an earlier post. The next meeting is Sept 15. Connie

You certainly may attend. It will be Monday Aug 18 at 7 PM at the UI College of Medicine 1601 Parkview (off Spring Creek by Anderson Gardens) The meeting is in room S-232. When you come in the front door you are on the second floor. The guard can give you directions. Anyone interested pre or post WLS is welcome. Connie

Absolutely! You would certainly be welcome at group. The next one is Aug 18th at 7PM. Many of us are on the obesityhelp.com website under the IL board if you want to get to know us in advance. Connie

Some of the things people in OA make amends for are: -eating other people's food (at work, home, kid's halloween candy) -numbing self out with food and being emotionally unavailable for family and friends, -some shoplift food, -focusing so much on food for you that you short your family their favorites when you grocery shop, -not enjoying friend's company because you are trying to figure out when dinner will be served, -choosing activities based on the food served, -not going to activities because of shame of size (like kid's school events) You don't need to cross this bridge until you WORK the steps which means you go over each one with someone who is ahead of you in recovery and who has also worked the steps. Hope this gives you more ideas. Connie

I think it's possible if you work the band rules. I have lost 67 lbs in four months and only now actually have restriction. But I followed the rules anyway and ate protein first and limited the rest. I actually have 256 lbs to lose and from what I've read on this board and on obesityhelp I think it's totally possible. Connie

We had twelve people at the first support group! Really amazing! I am so excited that so many people showed up! Looking forward to the third Monday in March! Connie:thumbup:

Support group February 18, 2008 7PM 1601 Parkview Ave Rockford 61107 This will be at the College of Medicine on Parkview Ave. which is directly across the street from Anderson Gardens south of Spring Creek and the first street east of N. 2nd St/251. As you enter the campus turn at the first left and come up to the top of the hill. There should be parking available there (including handicapped). Otherwise there is also parking down the hill. Come in the door with the red awning and to the left of the entrance there is both an elevator and steps that go to the second floor. You will be in the waiting room of University Psychiatric Services. I will be available by 6:45. Let's meet for about an hour and talk about if the space is adequate and whether or not people want to take turns presenting a topic or just chat each time about issues. Let's see what we need. There is no charge to use this space and we should have plenty of chairs. For questions, please PM at this web site. Connie LapBand 10/23/07 Dr. Garren Madison, WI

Support group February 18, 2008 7PM 1601 Parkview Ave Rockford 61107 This will be at the College of Medicine on Parkview Ave. which is directly across the street from Anderson Gardens south of Spring Creek and the first street east of N. 2nd St/251. As you enter the campus turn at the first left and come up to the top of the hill. There should be parking available there (including handicapped). Otherwise there is also parking down the hill. Come in the door with the red awning and to the left of the entrance there is both an elevator and steps that go to the second floor. You will be in the waiting room of University Psychiatric Services. I will be available by 6:45. Let's meet for about an hour and talk about if the space is adequate and whether or not people want to take turns presenting a topic or just chat each time about issues. Let's see what we need. There is no charge to use this space and we should have plenty of chairs. For questions, please PM at this web site. Connie LapBand 10/23/07 Dr. Garren Madison, WI

For the person who asked about making amends in OA. You make amends to people to whom you were dishonest, hurtful, manipulative, etc. For example, it may have more to do with my own negative attitude towards people when I was actually mad at myself. There were certainly times I took more than my share of family food or refused to do things with the family because I couldn't admit to being embarrassed about my weight. Or I was disrespectful to someone instead of dealing with my stuff. You aren't making amends because you are fat, but about your own behavior which is tied in with your addiction. Hope this clears it up a bit. This is also why you work with a sponsor who you can meet with in person and discuss this stuff. Connie

Support group February 18, 2008 7PM 1601 Parkview Rockford 61107 This will be at the College of Medicine. As you enter the campus turn at the first left and come up to the top of the hill. There should be parking available there including handicapped). Otherwise there is also parking down the hill. Come in the door with the red awning and to the left of the entrance there is both an elevator and steps that go to the second floor. You will be in the waiting room of University Psychiatric Services. I will be available by 6:45. Let's meet for about an hour and talk about if the space is adequate and whether or not people want to take turns presenting a topic or just chat each time about issues. Let's see what we need. There is no charge to use this space and we should have plenty of chairs. If you have questions, PM me at this website. Connie:)

The group is for anyone who has had any weight loss surgery. I have had the band, but the focus of the group will be on recovery. Connie

Support group February 18, 2008 7PM 1601 Parkview Rockford 61107 This will be at the College of Medicine. As you enter the campus turn at the first left and come up to the top of the hill. There should be parking available there including handicapped). Otherwise there is also parking down the hill. Come in the door with the red awning and to the left of the entrance there is both an elevator and steps that go to the second floor. You will be in the waiting room of University Psychiatric Services. I will be available by 6:45. Let's meet for about an hour and talk about if the space is adequate and whether or not people want to take turns presenting a topic or just chat each time about issues. Let's see what we need. There is no charge to use this space and we should have plenty of chairs. If you have questions, PM me at this website. Connie

Yes, it seems like that to me too, but I have seen so much success on this and other boards that maybe it will be possible. I have lost 52 lbs in 3 mo. so why not? I didn't start out to want a BMI of 25, but now I think maybe I will get that far. Connie

I had surgery in Oct and I didn't really have any pain afterwards. My partner crushed some of the pain medication so I could use it at night, but I never needed it. I felt like I'd done too much ab work but it felt like muscle aches, not pain. My partner had the surgery 3 weeks later and she had the same experience!