|
Support is the most important aspect of any weight loss journey, whether you are having weight loss surgery or are taking a diet approach. Weight loss surgery, in particular, is a life changing procedure that not only helps you change your physical structure and appearance, but it also has a large impact on your mental and emotional states. The changes to your body that you experience as a weight loss surgery patient are unique to you, and it is very hard for friends and family to even attempt to understand what you are going through. It is very hard and often complicated to seek support and advice from those who that do not share the same experiences as you, and who have not made a weight loss journey themselves. When Dr. Callery started performing bariatric surgery in 1991, he realized that comprehensive pre-operative and post-operative support programs would be necessary to ensure that people could prepare themselves for the surgery itself, and also keep their weight off and deal with psychological issues following their surgery. The programs that we have implemented and refined over the years include: - Weight Loss Surgery Forums
Online support forums are essentially dynamic message boards that enable individuals to post a question or issue, and receive comments and feedback from the rest of the community. Since Thinner Times Forum was launched in 2004, we have had nearly 300,000 posts on the forum, and about 35,000 users each month. These are people from all around the globe that are taking the same journey that you are on, and come together to receive the support they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Online Live Chat
The forums and message boards are great for many situations, however, there are sometimes times that you need immediate support or responses from your peers – and one-on-one interaction. The online live chat service is a place that you can come together with other WLS patients and discuss problems and issues in real-time. There are official weekly sessions that you can join, as well as any other time informally. This is especially helpful for individuals in remote areas, or who do not have access to in-person weight loss support groups.
* You must be logged into the forum to access the chat menu.
- Skype Chat
Thinner Times has taken support to a whole new level. For those who do require an additional dimension of human interaction, we support the use of Skype (voice chatting) to actually speak with others around the world. This is a great way to socialize, get real-time help and advice for problems that you are experiencing, and to get to know people that you otherwise might never meet.
- Support Group Finder
While the Internet has been a revolutionary tool in the delivery of content and support programs, nothing beats meeting with people face-to-face. Here you can begin to search for support groups in your area, or even start your own!
If you are one of Dr. Callery's patients, visit our Practice Information page to find our support groups. |
Support
