The prom is just around the corner! (November 1st).
Do you have your tickets yet?
In talking about this event we’ve gotten some GOOD questions
so here are some GOOD answers!
I haven’t lost all my weight. Will I be out of place at the prom?
No! No matter what stage you are in (pre-op, new post-op, “veteran”)
you are welcome and WILL be welcomed at Bariatric Prom. We don’t you to think
of this as an “after” event (as in before/after) but a chance to celebrate how
far you’ve come so far. We’re taking great pains to make sure this is a
positive event for EVERYONE who wants to attend.
Do I have to spend a bunch of money on an outfit?
This is a semi-formal/formal event but nobody is going to
boot you out if you aren’t wearing a couture gown. We are a community and we
lift each other up, not tear each other down! Your outfit is your choice, but
know that it is a more formal event and most people will be sporting evening
wear. However, there will be no jeans, sneakers, etc.
What are the ticket costs going toward?
Thanks to our generous sponsors (Celebrate Vitamins, Berries
by Quicha, Bariatric Foodie, GIBNC - Nancy Lum, Morganview Apartments, Cakes by Cynthia, Century 21, Cruise One, Malkhia Relations, Bariatric Boot Camp, Lifetouch) we were able to
get started planning this event. Your ticket sales will be used to help cover the
costs of the event AND to help plan next year’s event. We are starting final
preparations, so get your ticket soon! You have until October 12 to purchase a
ticket (or two!).
If this event happens next year will it also be in November?
Not necessarily. It was in November this year because that
gave us an adequate amount of time to plan and get support for this event. If
we have great turn out this year, we’d have a bit more flexibility in when we
have future events because we can start securing venues, etc. So the best way
to help this event move forward and become the event you’d like it to be is to
get your ticket and come!
I went to my first prom and I had a good time. Why should I come to
this one?
In the beginning we spoke a lot about how Afrikus and I,
Nikki, didn’t have such great prom experiences and how we looked forward to
reliving them now. But that’s not ultimately the goal of this event. The goal
of this event is to have a purely social opportunity for post-ops across the
Baltimore metropolitan area to come together, socialize, have fun and affirm
their healthy lifestyles.
So you keep talking about how positive this event is going to be. How
so?
We don’t want to give everything away but here are just a
few things.
The Before/Now Slide Show: This will be a slide show
that runs throughout the event. Soon we are going to put out the call for
attendees to start submitting their before and now photos. This is NOT
before/after because we are in a lifelong fight against obesity. But we want to
celebrate how far we’ve come and where we are today.
Everyone’s a Post-Op on this Night: There will be no
plates larger than a salad plate. So even if your hubby is a linebacker he will
have to eat how we eat for a night. (Note to hubbies: you are allowed to get
seconds!) Plus all the food will be WLS-friendly.
A great motivational speaker: Our keynote speaker is
Ms. Ernestine Shepherd. Ms. Shepherd once held the Guinness World Book of
Records title for “World’s Oldest Female Bodybuilder.” What’s most amazing is
that she didn’t start her fitness journey until she was in her mid-50’s! Now in
her 70’s she is healthy and fit, proving it’s never too late to start the
journey. We thank her for agreeing to be our speaker and hope you get a lot out
of meeting her.
So those are just a few of the questions we’ve gotten – and some
answers! If you have other questions you can leave them in the comments or send
an email to bariatricprom@gmail.com.
But the bottom line is this: We want YOU there. Yes you. In
particular. So get your tickets today! We’ve actually applied a coupon to
ticket sales, reducing them by $5 (because we know it’s back-to-school time).
That’s a limited time offer, so get yours at the reduced price today!