About a year ago, I felt a need to meet people who were like me…on their healthiness journey and who knew what the fight was like. People who understood that, day after day after day, it was flippin hard. Sure, I had amazing friends, but I knew that my life-long healthiness goals needed even more support. It was around that time that the idea of for the first PriorFatGirl Get-Together came about.
It actually started out as just a lunch – but at some point, we got too many people and the restaurant couldn’t handle us anymore. Carlos mentioned a coffee shop he had stumbled on, one that had a huge space — so I sent out an email with a date and asked for RSVP’s. In March of 2010, over 40 amazing women showed up – it was a beautiful morning. We talked about fears, shared experiences and built relationships.
PriorFatGirl Get-Together ~ February 2009
Months later, people started emailing and asking when the next get-together would be. I had not intended on coordinating another but thought it would be fun. Around this time, I met a women named Stacy from KitchenWerks. Stacy had lost weight and started company that helped others on their healthiness journey navigate healthy eating. It felt like fate – I so strongly desired to share Stacy with my friends and so the One Breath, One Step Get-Together in October was born.
One Breath, One Step: A PriorFatGirl Get-Together ~ October 2010
It was a morning full of 2 wonderful speakers, beautiful friends and amazing sponsors. The event had sold out about a week prior to the event and I started to get emails asking to be put on the waiting list for the next event.
We are now less than a week away from the One Breath, One Step: A PriorFatGirl Get-Together on January 15th and I am more excited than ever to share with you the speakers.
The speakers have worked together as a team to set up a two-count knockout:
SETTING IT UP: The first speaker, Paul is a registered and licensed dietitian. He will be sharing the scientific breakdown side of eating – what makes a “balanced” meal and how it might not be what we thought. Paul will be going into detail about the nitty gritty – the deep down dirty side to help us TRULY understand why we have to do what we have to do to be healthy.
KNOCKING IT OUT: Stacy swoops in after Paul has set the stage to carry it home. She builds on everything that Paul has introduced but brings it down to a “here’s how that looks” kind of visual. As in..Stacy will show us how to implement what Paul explained. So not only do we understand why but the how.
SHARING AN EXPERIENCE: I have to admit, these events started because I needed them. But both times, I got feedback that people wanted to hear more from me. I was surprised at first, I mean…I talk here on the blog, I assumed people would get tired of hearing me! But nonetheless, friends asked to hear more. After Paul & Stacy talk about the eating side, I saved some time at the end for me to talk about how I lost the weight without losing my mind.
This is what I need. As much as I’m looking forward to meeting everyone, being surrounded by people who are fighting the fight, I need to be encouraged. I need the continual knowledge & learning so that my journey can move forward.
A GIVEAWAY
Do you want to join me and my friends on January 15th? For a 2nd time in a row, an anonymous donor has offered to donate a ticket to be given away. Donated to someone who needs to needs to be there, someone who truly needs this help and encouragement while on their journey.
Enter to win a ticket to this upcoming Saturday, January 15th’s event by leaving a comment with why attending is important to your journey. (Need more details? Click here for location/time.)
Fine Details: One comment per person. Entries must be received by Monday, January 10th at 11pm CT. Winner will be announced Tuesday morning. Winner does not have to be local, just has to be able to make it to Minneapolis for the event.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I actually have never been a first commenter!
I just want to meet you, is that so wrong!
WOW…that is so cool that you put this together. This is coming from someone who can honestly tell you that without all the support I have received from this blogging and twitter community, I would not have made it as long as I have. Thanks for this site and all the support you have payed forward!
The event sounds amazing – a definate place to make connections/friends (which I desperately need) and to gain information. This would be important for me to be able to find some other supports, and to learn more about having a balanced diet. I have been calorie counting, but would love to learn more about maximizing my intake with nutritious choices.
I just started my own blog to use as a tool in my new resolution to become healthy. I found PFG through my friend, Ann. I live in southern Minnesota and would love the chance to be able to attend this event. I think its what I really need to kick off my new lifestyle!
I would love to have the opportunity to win a ticket to this event! The help and support of this website is amazing, but to actually meet others would be a spectacular thing! Lots of things have happened in the past few years and it’s made the weight loss journey difficult. Hearing how others deal with their losses helps me with mine – unemployment, death in the family, and so much more. Thank you to the anonymous donor and I would LOVE the opportunity to attend this event. It would be a great gift to myself.
I would LOVE to go to the event on Saturday. I’ve debated buying a ticket for awhile now but have not pulled the trigger. I’m doing this whole weight-loss-thing on my own, which I know that you did too. It would be nice to hear from real people, connect with other real people and know that I’m NOT alone, despite what I think.
It is so amazing that you host these, congrats on reaching your second event! I really wish that I was living in Minnesota already so that I could attend.
Great agenda by the way – very interesting topics!
Ok… I would love to have a ticket. I have some major social anxiety issues and have talked myself out of buying one several times, both this time and at the last event. So… if I win one I wouldn’t talk myself out of it anymore… I’d have to go. I have finally changed the outside of me, but am still working on the inside, and this would be a great way to continue making me an all around healthier person.
Thanks anonymous donor!
I wasn’t planning on attending this weekend because I have to work..I went to the one in Oct and LOVED IT! and was planning on going to this one and then the date was announced and I knew I had to work. now I worked the last one too BUT that was only scheduled till 11 pm and this one is till noon, BUT the past few weeks I’ve been really wanting to go..and well this is ALL so helpful (saving money- thanks donor)!!!!!!!!! So if I win it would be a sign that I was TO GO again and enjoy the speakers and well when I saw that YOU were going to be doing MORE talking that’s when I really decided I wanted to go agaiN! I want to hear about your journey so bad! you inspire me everyday and I’m paying it forward to EVERYONE I talk to about my weight loss!! so you will have more readers !!!
oh and of course if I win and come I could see your RING!!!
yeah!
Well, I tried to buy a ticket last time, but they sold so fast I didn’t have the chance to.
I just plain old haven’t had the money to buy a ticket for this time around and would love to win a ticket to attend.
I need it because on my own healthiness journey I ban myself to so many foods and I know I shouldn’t. I will continuously eat only the same things because I know they are safe. I need help with resources of how to branch out while being safe. I’ve been having a lot of self esteem issues lately. To the point where I don’t even want my husband to put his arms around me (around waist level or so) because I’m so ashamed of the fat stomach I have. He also always tries to make me sit on his lap but I never will because I feel too heavy. My personal life is lacking because of my body issues. I won’t even go out anymore because I don’t have clothes to wear. Yes, seriously.
Jen,
I wasn’t able to make it to the last event, though i would have loved to. I have been at a weightloss stand still for several years now, I feel like i eat as healthy as i can but still don’t budge. I have had a hard time making exercise a consistent part of every day with my commute, family, fatigue(due to MS) and work schedule. I know that in the past when i have exercised consistently i felt the best. I neeeeeeed something to get me motivated again!!!!!!!
I would love to attend!
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