Weight Loss Support Group Summary - June 2023
Our June support group meeting on June 26th was a patient driven night.
These patient driven meetings allow participants to raise topics and concerns of their own, so each patient driven session is different, reflecting the make up of the group and concerns of the time, facilitated by Dr Michele.
Here is Dr Michele Van Vuuren's report of the June meeting:
The support group was very well attended last Monday night with a mixture of new and current patients.
There were a number of long term patients including people who had surgery more than nine years ago.
It was a Patient Driven evening, which allows patients to both give and receive support from peers and ask questions, in a facilitated environment.
The takeaway message from the group was:
- Bariatric surgery is a process not an event and it is important to be kind to yourself along the way.
- Life changes and challenges may happen along the journey which may impact on or derail your progress.
- Seek support if you are struggling and reach out to your team.
- Attending the support group is a strategy to seek support and reinforce lifestyle and behavioural changes that are important to long term weight maintenance.
- The holistic team approach is valuable and attending follow up appointments with all our team members is important.
- Word of the night was "discerning".
- Strive to be a discerning eater which comes from an abundance not a deprivation mindset, with regards to developing a healthy relationship with food.
Dr Michele Van Vuuren, Pyschologist.
The July Support Group is on July 31st 2023 at North-West Private Hospital
To view the current Support Group schedule, please click here.
If you would like to attend the Support Group but are currently not a patient of Dr Lockie, avail yourself of the free, no obligation Initial Consultation here to become eligible.