Surround Yourself With Support This Holiday Season
By Cathy Wilson, ACC, CLC
Support is an important component in the foundation of our weight loss surgery success. When you have a strong team of support, you are better able to meet any challenges or difficulties that come up in your life. With the holidays fast approaching, the need for support increases. What are your challenges this holiday season? For many of us, we strive to stay on track and dealing with tempting holiday food choices and the overabundance of food and drink can be quite stressful. Often times, being around people that you prefer not to be around, attending holiday get-togethers, and enduring the time crunch to get everything done (along with financial fears!) weigh heavily and increase our need for support.
Pick a support team that you can count on for support. Your support team would consist of people in your life that understand, truly want the very best for you, help you up when you fall and cheer you on when you achieve successes. Your support team could consist of any or all of the following:
1. ObesityHelp message boards with other OH members.
2. OH Groups provide online support in smaller groups than on message boards.
3. Loving family members.
4. Trusted friends.
5. Your ObesityHelp Support Group Leader and support group members.
6. Co-workers and business associates.
7. Your surgeon and bariatric staff, primary care doctor.
8. Professionals such as registered dieticians, mental health professionals, exercise specialists.
9. Religious leaders
10. YOU! Draw on your personal strength to obtain the support you need.
ObesityHelp and OH Groups are here for you 24/7. All you have to do is log in for immediate support. You have the choice of reviewing and posting on any of our hundreds of message boards or reaching out to the members of any OH Group. You can belong to as many OH Groups as you?d like.
Below are examples of some OH Groups you might be interested in.
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Group: Crossing To Transfer Addictions Description of Group: This group discusses the issue of transfer addictions (also known as cross addictions) after weight loss surgery. For a number of us, when we give up overeating, it leads to the adoption of a new compulsion. Addiction transfer occurs when someone is unable or unwilling to rely on one compulsion (for us, it was food) and therefore switches to a new compulsion (alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, shopping, internet, porn, etc.) due to not having dealt with the underlying issue behind the compulsion. |
Group: Back On Track Together Description of Group: This group is especially for weight loss surgery post-ops that want to get back on track, stay on track and discuss any topics concerning weight loss surgery post-operatively. The purpose of this group is to provide one another with support , motivation, inspiration and to share ideas and strategies for change to incorporate healthy habits into our life. |
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Group: The Loser's Bench Description of Group: This group is for members who have had or are considering Weight Loss Surgery (WLS). This groups goal is to provide a place where members can come to seek support via social networking. |
Group: Overcoming Binge Eating Description of Group: This group is a place to talk about your eating disorder, share information, and ask for support. If you feel out of control with your eating habits, join this group. |
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Group: Weight & See Support Group Description of Group: This group was founded in an effort to help us ALL along our journey. The group is open to pre-op's, post-op's, no-ops and to all types of WLS surgery. You are invited to blog, discuss and chat with each other. "WLS is a journey not a destination...it is a road that we must travel daily to succeed." |
Group: Military Spouses Sharing Experiences Description of Group: A place where military spouses, men and women, can talk and chat in a secure and supportive place online. To talk about their experiences with military insurance and military procedures. |
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Group: The Chronic Illness WLS Support Group Description of Group: This group was specifically created for WLS candidates and post-ops who face the unique challenges that living with a chronic illness may often present. As individuals with a chronic illness, they often face greater challenges that the typical mainstream weight loss surgery patient may not face. 'Sometimes we feel left out of the loop as we read about others who are doing certain activities that we are no longer able to tolerate." |
Group: OH Mini Challenge Description of Group: Membership in this group is limited to those who are participants in the ObesityHelp mini-challenges. The mini-challenge is a weight loss challenge hosted by Lea2Be. It is run in rounds of anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks in length. Everyone who participates posts their info and sets a goal weight that they'd like to reach by the end of the challenge round. It is ALL about accountability and interacting with other individuals who are working towards a common goal. "We become quite close to our fellow challengers! We provide each other accountability and support that you may not be able to find elsewhere!" |
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Those are just a few examples, there are many more for you to choose from. Click here to find a group that best suites you. If you can't find the perfect group that meets your interests and support style, you might be interested in starting your own OH Group. The cycle of support is composed of give and take. When you give support, you actually get support for yourself as well. Reach out to your support team this holiday season and see the difference it will make for you. Happy and Healthy Holidays!
The drawing will take place on December 31, 2009 using random.org. Your placement in the comments section will determine your entry number. The total number of comments received at the time of drawing will be entered and the winning number will be selected. Watch our blog and main message board sticky post area for winner announcements. |
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