Sign up to recieve our newsletter!

X

Support

Before recommending gastric bypass surgery, we require that each patient make a commitment to improving and maintaining his or her health by fully participating in the aftercare program. We consider strict adherence to a gastric bypass diet and a tailored exercise plan absolutely essential to the overall success of the procedure. That’s why the Pacific Bariatric staff is devoted to assisting you throughout your entire experience and beyond. 

Education

We provide ongoing education so you know exactly what steps lie ahead. It begins with an in-depth review of the potential risks and benefits of the procedure. If you decide to move forward, a Pacific Bariatric Evaluation Panelist performs an Internal Medicine Evaluation, as well as a Psychiatric Evaluation to gather information necessary for the procedure and recovery. Once the surgery is complete, your surgeon will advise you on your follow-up care. The patient is required to schedule post-op appointments and obtain post-op labs at one week, one month, six months, and one year, and annually thereafter.

Diet 

It is important to remember that the quality of your diet will change along with the quantity. Your stomach’s smaller size will limit your food intake, so what you eat is critical. Detailed nutrition guidelines for your gastric bypass diet put an emphasis on high-quality protein and should be followed precisely.

Exercise 

Incorporating some form of exercise into your daily life will drastically improve and can even speed up the weight loss process following gastric bypass surgery. For instance, walking, cycling, aerobics or swimming can help you feel and look great even before the surgery.

Informational Seminars 

We provide free informational lectures with insights to keep you motivated and help you achieve your weight loss goals and maintain good health after the gastric bypass surgery.

Ongoing Support

For many, our bariatric surgery support groups are one of the most valuable aspects of Pacific Bariatric’s program. In addition to monthly group meetings, members are available to support each other informally by phone. We provide a newsletter that includes recipes, news, success stories and other general information. And, each year, a special reunion event gives all of us the opportunity to celebrate each other’s successes.

 


 

Support Groups

Support Group Coordinator:

LaVerne Chavez (512) 248-2444 or (619) 994-8841
Email: laverne22@austin.rr.com

Support Group Information

If this is your first support meeting, please contact the appropriate leader or assistant leader

Bakersfield, CA

Regular Meeting: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Leader: Woody Colvard (661) 746-5555
Email: wcolvard@khsd.k12.ca.us
Asst: Yvonne Colvard (661) 746-5555
Email: Lightnin1959@ncinternet.net
1st Mon of month (Except when it falls on a holiday, then it is the 2nd Mon)
Doubletree Hotel
100 Camino Del Rio Court

top

Campbell, CA

Regular Meeting: 6:30 pm
4th  Wed  of  month
Leader: Judith Icasiano (408) 947-1413
Email: jcasiano@yahoo.com
Leader: Ken McLaughlin (408) 529-5111
Email: kenmcl@aol.com
Back On Track:  6 :00 – 8 :00 pm
3rd Wed of Month
Leader: Ken McLaughlin (408) 529-5111
Email : kenmcl@aol.com
Leader : Judith Icasiano (408) 947-1413
Email : jicasiano@yahoo
Kaiser:  220 Hacienda.com Ave.
Conference room 1A

top

Carson, CA

Regular Meeting: 10:00-11:30 am
1st & 3rd Tues of Month
Leader: Diana Vogel, M.S.,
Marriage & Family Therapist Intern
Doctorate Candidate
(562) 646-7401
Email:Vogeldd@yahoo.com
www.dianavogelmft.com
Ohana Wellness Center
441 E. Carson Street, ste J

top

Corona/Riverside, CA, see Riverside

top

Fresno, CA

Leader: Elaine Moore (559) 665-2852
Phone support for Fresno

top

Hemet, CA

Regular meeting: 7 pm - 8:30 pm
2nd Wed. of the Month
Leader:  Wini Mellor   (951) 925-7175
e-mail:    miniwini1@yahoo.com
Assist:  Kathy Mitchell  (951) 685-6299
E-mail:   PBHemetsupport@aol.com
London Spires Mobile Park
725 W. Thornton Ave. Hemet (2 blocks West of State St.) enter thru gates, lobby is straight ahead.  We meet in the exercise/meeting room  (behind the mail boxes) limited parking around
lobby/office, parking on Thornton (watch signs)

top

High Desert (Hesperia), CA

Regular Meeting:  6:30 pm
3rd Tues of month
Leader: Don Hernandez (760) 912-3153
Email: pastordonh@gmail.com
Back on Track:  6:00 – 6:30 pm
1 yr + post-op
Leader: Brenda Travis (760) 961-8597
Email: btor92308 @verizon.net  
11153 Tenth Ave. (In Fellowship Hall)
Hesperia 

top

Imperial Valley/El Centro, CA

Regular Meeting:  6:30 pm
2011 dates and location are the same as the Pacific Bariatric lectures
Leader: Linda Dollente (760) 356-4792
Email : lindadollente@yahoo.com
Holiday Inn Express
350 Smoketree Drive
El Centro

top

Los Alamitos, CA

Regular Meeting: 6:30 – 8:00 pm
1st & 3rd Thurs of month
Leader: Diana Vogel, M.S.,
Marriage & Family Therapist Intern
Doctorate Candidate
(562) 646-7401
Email:Vogeldd@yahoo.com
www.dianavogelmft.com
3801 Katella Ave, #301

top

Moreno Valley, CA

Regular meeting: 10:00am - 11:30pm
Your 1st meeting, please arrive 9:30 am
4th Sat. of the Month (3rd Sat. in May, Nov & Dec)
Leader: Kathy Mitchell   (951) 685-6299
E-mail: PBMorenovalley@aol.com 
Back-On-Track: 9:30am – 10:00am
Leader: Kathy Black    (951) 787-0345
Moreno Valley Senior Center
25075 Fir Ave. Arts and Crafts Room
Take the 60 Frwy to exit #62 Perris
Blvd. go south on Perris Blvd. to Fir Ave., east on Fir Ave. 1/2 block on the right.
PLEASE PARK IN BACK LOT

top

Oceanside/Vista, CA New Location

Regular Meeting: 7:00 pm
2nd Wed of Month
Leader: Carol Matthews (760) 431-2603
Email:cam1945@sbcglobal.net
Scripps Coastal Medical Center  
130 Cedar Road, Suite 350
Vista, CA 

top

 

Orange, CA

Regular Meeting: 9:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Back-On-Track: 8:15am – 9:15am
2nd Sat of Month 
Leader: Terry Row (714) 553-7166
Email: ocwlsgroup@hotmail.com
Asst: Marlys Campbell (714) 349-7572
Email: mecampbell4@juno.com
Kaiser Permanente
Health Pavilion
200 N. Lewis St.

top

Pasadena, CA

Regular Meeting:  6:30 to 8:00 pm
2nd Mon of month
Leader: Nancy Bland  (818) 353-4131
Email: pasadena.wls@gmail.com 
Asst: Barbara Hunt (626) 286-6181
Email:  MadiganMay@aol.com
Kaiser-Walnut Center, 393 E Walnut Street, Room 1B
**Note: This is not where the Pasadena medical clinic facilities are located, Room 1E (First Floor) Entrance to parking structure is on the Los Robles side of the street. Push call button and tell security you are attending a meeting.

top

Riverside/Corona, CA

2nd Sat. of Month (note: 1st Sat in Oct)
If this is your 1st support meeting please
be there by 9:30am

Pre-Op: 9:30am (special presentation)
Leader: Ayeshah Dickerson
Email: coronasupport2@aol.com
Regular Meeting: 10:00 – 11:30 am
Leader: Kathy Mitchell (951) 685-6299
Email: newme705@aol.com
Back on Track: (1yr + post-op) 9:15 – 10am
Leader: Vickie Curiel (951) 782-9165
Email:  artnvic@charter.net
EMERITUS at Villa de Anza
5881 El Palomino Dr.
Riverside, CA 92509
15 Freeway exit Limonite - east on Limonite approx. 5 miles.  Left (N) on El Palomino Dr.(signal) 1/2 mile turn left into parking lot (just before stop sign) take back sidewalk (behind bldgs) to rear entrance - conference room on 2nd floor take stairs or elevator

top

San Bernardino, CA

Regular Meeting: 6:30 – 8:00 pm
3rd Wed
Leader: Ching T.  (909) 887-8848
Asst: Vickie Ward (909) 864-6564 Email: vickieward@aol.com
Back on Track: 6:15 pm
3rd Wed
Leader: Cathy Jennings (909) 806-9315
Email: cmjrdj@yahoo.com
Asst: Rosalie H. (909) 882-4533
Ballard Rehabilitation Center Hospital
1760 West 16th Street
From 215 North, exit Muscupiabe then
Left on Highland, Left on Medical Center Dr. , Right on 16th Street
From 210 East, exit State St., Go left on State,  then left on 16tth Street

top

San Diego, CA

Regular Meeting: 7:00 – 8:00 pm
3rd Wed of Month
Leaders: Monica Barry ( 619) 851-0297
Email: monica.barry@gmail.com
Leaders: Faedra Sick (619) 770-9665
Email: freedom92210@gmail.com
Back on Track: 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Leaders: Monica Barry (619) 851-0297
Leaders: Faedra Sick (619) 770-9665
Scripps Mercy Hospital
4077 5th Avenue
Rooms 5A and 5B

top

Vacaville, CA

Regular Meeting: 6:00  – 7:30 pm
1st Wed of month
Leader: Diane Downing McGraugh (707) 446-2565
Email: ixelvis@sbcglobal.net
Asst: Nancy Nelson (415) 290-3939
Email: Nnelsonrn@gmail.com
Back on Track:  6:00  - 7:30 pm
6  months post-op
Last Wed of month
Kaiser Facility
1 Quality Drive, 3rdfloor
(Check Board for Conference Room)

top

Victorville, CA

Regular Meeting:  7:00 – 8:30 pm
2nd Tues of Month
Leader:  Gloria Street (760) 265-1719
Cell: (760) 244-3861
Email:  HIDESFYRECHICK@aol.com
Asst: John Lawerence (760) 240-3744
Cell: (760) 221-5757
Email: Desertstar3@gmail.com

Gold West MobileHome Park Clubhouse
15252  Seneca Road
Directions: From Interstate 15 take the Roy Rogers off ramp and head West where it will turn into Hook Blvd.  continue  to Amargosa Road, turn left
On to Amargosa Road to Seneca turn right Enter the park, continue going straight Ahead to the Clubhouse/Comm. Center If gate are closed, Find Carol Haynes name and enter the 3 digit number to call her and she’ll open the gate. onto Seneca.
 

 

top

Walnut Creek, CA

Regular Meeting: 6:00 pm
1st Tues of month
Leader: Sandy Miller (925) 939-9234
Email: smiller@wcsd.k12.ca.us
John Muir Hospital
Sterns Conference Room

top