Starting a local support group: looking for ideas on what to do at meetings

(Serena Mollenkopf-Grill) #1

Hello Everyone! I am new to the Keto forum and here’s my question:
A few of us are starting a support group, we have meeting location figured out. What I am looking for feedback from other groups: what has worked, what to avoid? Any advice? This group is people who all know each other from our church.
We are starting with a low carb potluck. There will be about 7 of us, rotating hosting at our houses. Our first meeting is in two weeks.

I am so grateful that many of you like the two keto Dudes have helped me discover this lifestyle. I have been LCHF since Jan 1 and lost 55 pounds. (hoping for 30 more) But its not about the weight, I feel amazing and my Rheumatoid Arthritis seems to be in remission!
Thanks for your help!

Serena M-G

(LeeAnn Brooks) #2

I haven’t been part of one, but a couple ideas come to mind. For one, ask everyone in advance to bring a Keto recipie. Make sure they bring enough copies for everyone who attends and do a recipie swap at each meeting.

The second idea is to make it a Keto support group/book club. You could select a book such as The Big Fat Surprise. Have everyone read to a certain point and then discuss at meeting.

If you think that’s too much homework for everyone you could do a modified version of it by finding relative articles and having copies for each group member. The host could act as a facilitator for a discussion on the articles by reading ahead of time and highlighting points for discussion.

(John) #3

We have done several, we have a FB group local with a few hundred, though only a dozen or so show up to events in person so probably similar to what you have. We all bring a dish we haven’t tried before, it means we may not have a lot of good stuff but it keeps repetition down and lets you try a ton of new stuff. All recipes get posted so anyone can make them.
I did a tutorial on doing pulled pork on a smoker, something very handy for keto.
Next one is the gym, we have several people who are too scared to go, they don’t know how things work etc so we are all going as a group and they will meet the people, learn to use all of the machines and get a simple workout so they will at least be comfortable going and asking questions.

(Karen Parrott) #4

The low-carb Keto San Diego community is lucky to have a couple of prominent podcasters and practitioners in the group. The person who hosts owns a gym and he often speaks. There’s always time for a question answers. So far they’ve rotated around foods to eat, exercises, lab tests, and a potluck and food tasting is coming.

Will be headed off site to do some hiking this summer. We will probably break up into groups of different taking speed’s.

One thing that keeps the group multi generational and interactive is the invitation to bring family and friends and to leave time at the end for us to talk amongst ourselves so we can connect.

Best wishes.