PNC group (last night)

Hey guys, About food journaling: The book I use and "usually" carry with me everywhere is "Diet Minder Personal Food & Fitness Journal" You can get it at Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $14.95. For me it works well because I can't usually get on the computer.

I have this journal also and love it. I really wanted to go to group last night but forgot that I had a mandatory confirmation thing with my daughter. Did I miss anything important??

Well let's see...  Barb started a "cuss cup", tossing in a quarter every time she swore or said something sarcastic.  Another month or so and she'll be treating us all to massages. There were several new folks, a couple of "older" WLS folks, and overall it was a GREAT GROUP!  I wish I could recap everything for you, but there was a handout that added up the mindless calories one might consume over the course of a day, and how that can add up to some pretty significant numbers.  Pretty eye-opening, I'm sure Barb would share that with you if you see her anytime soon.   My daughter's last confirmation class was last night, she gets confirmed on Saturday - when is yours?

Bet that cup will get filled fast . Mindless eating...wow...never done that before....gee, how did I get MO. I hate missing group. My daughter's is a week from Saturday.  Good luck with yours....party?

We were prepared for a bigger party, but most of the sponsors, aunts & uncles aren't able to be there, so it'll just be us, my brother's family of 3, and my mom.  So to heck with cooking and cleaning - we're taking the 8 of us to Timber Lodge!

Ok, who keeps talking about OLD folks???? LOL Poor Barb, we need to slip her a few quarters - at this rate, she will be in the poor house!   I can't believe that anyone would find her offensive in any way.  She makes group FUN and informative, the way it should be.  The real testament is the fact that even at 18mos-4 years out, people come back to group.  If it wasn't valuable, we wouldn't return (or come all the way from Boston)!!  It was great seeing so many lovely ladies last night and all of the great successes.  We should all give ourselves a pat on the back, no matter where we are in the journey.  It certainly was great to see Tracy again, even though hunky Greg couldn't make it.  I miss seeing you two, please try to come back this summer!!!

Group last night was great!! I think we all need to write Teri, Barb's supervisor and tell her that 1 person out of a whole bunch does not mean that a significant change needs to be made by Barb. She makes this REAL---- Shows us how hers worked, failed, worked, was a real paing and NOW REALLY WORKS!!!! That continuing to fight the fight, no matter how you say it, is the GOAL of this process for the rest of our lives.  I agree with many others, that I would never have come so far without Barb's sarcastic kick in the arse when I needed it, (which is alot  ). We all trust her and I think personally we all have better relationships with her than any of the other facilitators because she CARES MORE!!!! Thank you all for your love of Nemi and I was so proud of her last night beiong a big girl and behaving super good for 18 months. Laurie sends her love and affection and thanks also.  Oh Nemi has her own ID, Princess Nemi.  Hehehe

Love, Karen, Nemi and Laurie

Karen, I couldn't possibly agree with you more.  I wrote a 2 pager to Teri letting her know how I feel about the whole PNC program, particularly our precious Barbie Doll.  No one can be expected to please everyone.  The complaints of that one individual don't even come CLOSE to reflecting what the vast majority of us feel!   If anyone here wants to write a letter in support/praise of Barb, pm me.  I can share the address, and even the letter I wrote if ya want.  'Cuz I ain't afraid to shout it from the rooftops, I think Barb is a GODSEND to those of us committed to making the most of our WLS!  My analogy is that she's the swim instructor who is in the water with us, showing us how to swim while she does the same - not standing on the side of the pool, barking meaningless instructions.  She's knowlegable, serious, funny, and REAL.  Exactly what we need to keep going!

Ooooo -- I'm definitely writing to her.  Someone who shows up once in a while doesn't compare to those of use who go all the time and need to have Barb's personality to get us going!!!  She is the reason I went with Svendsen (okay ~~ his looks didn't hurt).  I knew I wasn't going to be seeing him for the follow up -- it was the nurse -- and Barb was the one I connected with on SOOOOO many levels.  And for every 1 negative comment made by a chosen VERY few, I'll be there are 100+ positive comments. XXOO

Darla, I am planning on writing my letter tonight.  I really hope that with all of us sending in letters they will see what aprecious gem they have in Barb.  I think that is a great analogy about the swim instructor, because it is so true, I would much rather hear about how to live and be successful with WLS from someone doing it than from someone who has just studied about it.