Barbara J. Hamby

Support Groups

Today I went to the now monthly meeting of the Kaiser Weight Maintenance Study support group I’m assigned to. When I was driving away, it occurred to me that I felt like saying, “I’m Barbara and I’m a foodaholic.” I might try that next meeting for a laugh.

I’m not sure exactly how many people are in this group—possibly just under twenty—and I’d say at least half have had good success with weight loss and maintenance. Each meeting now, we go around the room and share with each other how we’re doing and our facilitator adds her remarks. Some of us wanted to continue losing weight while in the maintenance period and a few have been successful at that.

This week, for the first time since I started my weight loss program fourteen months ago, I’m feeling unusually well. The digestive problems that have plagued me for years seem to be under pretty good control, my energy level is not bad for my age, and I’ve been able to reduce the amount of medication I take considerably. That reduction has occurred over time and with the approval of my physician.

There is still a problem with insomnia that I need to whip and I’m working on it. Anyway, overall, life is good. I’m not accomplishing all that I aspire to as far as writing is concerned, so that’s another area I need to focus on.

My T.O.P.S. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Group has been a strong factor in my weight loss success and the improvement in my health, as well. Having two support groups has been really helpful. By the time the Kaiser study is over, I should be able to continue, with the aid of my T.O.P.S. friends, to maintain my weight loss and better health.