Conference rocks::weight_control

    Some how, diet clubs always seem to start off strong and then fade
    very rapidly.  Keeping everyone motivated and attending the meetings
    are the most difficult tasks.  For some reason, the knowledge that 
    X amount of dollars was paid out helps to keep most people  going
    to meetings regularly.   When it's free, most of us adopt a whole
    new attitude.  I'm not sure what to do about this.  Maybe a group
    outing when the collective number of pounds lost reaches N, or after
    every person reaches their initial goal.  Anything to make it 
    interesting enough to want to keep going.  That's it for me. 
    
    Have fun.

    Darlene makes some sense...maybe you could incorporate a reward
    for perfect attendence and/or a penalty for missing a meeting.
    
    It might be interesting to have one of the members take before
    photographs and after photographs.  
    
    Establishing goals can be a good incentive also.  Say you are going
    to meet for a ten week period and there are ten of you.  You might
    make a goal that each of you looses ten pounds.  Someone could 
    design a chart signifying the hundred pounds and each week you 
    could chart your progress by the number of pounds lost by the group.
    
    Another week you might have a Mary Kay party or a color party to
    discover the new you's.
    
    One more suggestion, at the first meeting have everyone write a
    letter to themselves...address it....seal it....and stamp it.  Give
    the letters to one of the members and have them mailed after five
    or six weeks to remotivate the group.
    
    Good luck...

    Thanks for all of the great inputs!!
    
    We had our first meeting last night.  Since we had a range of 20
    to 90 pounds to lose there were some that were more sub-conscious
    than others.
    
    We basically decided that we really had to WANT do this for ourselves.
    We also decided that the first week we would count calories and
    concentrate on writing down what we ate (become aware of how much
    we really stuff in).
    
    I am really psyched this time and have been good for two whole days,
    but the weekend is still coming.
    
    One note that really impressed us was about someone who lost by
    reducing his caloric intake by 300 calories at a time until he stopped
    losing.  Makes more sense to do it gradual than to put your body
    in shock and have to be fighting your body's natural desire to
    maintain.
    
    Thanks Again,
    
    Linda B
    
    I'll keep you posted on how we do.

    Had our second meeting this last Tuesday.  Only three showed up!
    But those that showed did well. One lost 6 pounds, I lost 5 pounds
    and my lighter weight friend lost 3 pounds.
    
    Those that showed up are dedicated.  The other are apparently "not
    ready" to lose yet.
    
    Linda B

    Two weeks later and we still are only three, but we are committed
    to the group.  Maybe we're not as committed to losing weight tho...
    
    The lady that lost six has gained back two, the other lady stayed
    the same and I have lost one more pound.
    
    Well, at least we have fun chatting, as for me I'm not losing for
    the group's sake or anyone else - only myself.
    
    Linda B

    We continue to be a group of three.  I have lost another two so
    I'm happy.
    
    Linda B