So wow - this Vegas trip sure is being stretched out due to my lack of updates, what was less than a week has suddenly become over 2 months.......So I will speed things us as I really need to get to blogging about how I am doing and to keep myself motivated.
So I will try and some up the rest of the conference in this post and in the next couple of days I will do the final Vegas part and then Colorado.
So after the main day of the conference, we had the Gala Dinner, which turned out not so much of a gala dinner. We ended up getting our own dinner and rushed back to the event as I was told I was getting an award for having traveled the furthest distance. That didn't happen. Actually I was not really acknowledged officially. Sure some people knew there was someone from New Zealand, but as for htem "making a big deal about it" like they told me they were going to.....just didn't happen, so unfortunately alot of missed opportunities to connect with alot of people, simply as they didn't know who I was.
Here is a couple of pics from the event.
A couple of us headed up to one of the girls hotel rooms and we ended up chatting till about 1am. The thing about Vegas is that you hardly need to sleep.I am sure they put something in the hotel air conditioning to perk you up........it truly is a 24 hr city though......always something happening. Amelia had some of the largest strawberries I think I have ever seen.
So the next day was the final morning of the Meet & Greet and it was just breakfast, a photo and goodbyes were to be had. Unfortunately by the time I got to the buffet they had run out of breakfast. They decided to also do the photo an hour earlier than advertised so some people missed out and some of course had already left town. The photo only shows about 1/2 of the people who were actually there. They also didn't publicly give away the items I had taken over from Eatme to giveaway, I believe that they had an issue with the name of the company, although they didn't actually tell me that. So another let down really. All in all I don't think I would go back to the Meet & Greet, well certainly not for the event itself, but to catch up with some of the wonderful people I met.......absolutely.
After the conference ended there was just enough time for a rest and then it was off to the Billboard Music Awards. We had to be seated by 4pm as it was live on television and due to the timezones it started at 5pm. We didn't get to see anyone famous up close and actually for most of it I watched through binoculars.....mind you the sound was soooooooooooo amazing, and I can say that I have seen some amazing stars live.....like, Kelly Clarkson, LMFAO, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, The Wanted, Justin Beiber, Chris Brown, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry........was pretty amazing really. I would pay to get seats closer next time.
After the awards I went out to dinner with some of the people still in town after the Meet & Greet. Man - The turkey I had so was succulent and tender. I wish we had turkey here more often and we knew how to prepare it.
So next time I will move onto my last day in Las Vegas spent with amazing people.
Sorry for the lack of updates. I misplaced my journal that I had recorded details of my trip to Las Vegas in, but I just found it this week, so I can continue with summing up how things were on my trip.
I was up to the main day and recapping the speakers. The other speaker I managed to catch up with was Katie Jay. It was so good to see her in Las Vegas. I managed to get some time with her the day before the conference began for a 1/2 hr catch up before racing off to dinner with some of the others.
Katie was on just after lunch, so the numbers to start with were quite, low, but people tricked in and I heard from others that they thought her talk was outstanding.
Anyway, Katie was speaking about - "Playing the odds after Weight Loss Surgery" and Why following your gut instincts can sabotage your success. Like always with Katie, I get so enthralled in what she is saying I forget to take notes, but I did manage to get some key points down.
To give ourselves the best chance possible are having weight loss surgery we need to:
- Embrace Liminal Space, - get out of our comfort zones. We do not grow by staying where we are.
- Be curious - Curiousity is the most powerful thing you own.
- Dive Deep - Katie reminds us of the pearl divers who have to keep diving deeper and deeper to find the pearls.
- Get enough of the Right kind of support. - Stick with the stickers.
- Have a safe person - whom you can share anything.
- 100% - We are precious 100% of the time.
I know there was so much more that Katie shared in the very short 45 mins we had her for, and some I know she shared with us when she was here in New Zealand.
There were quite a few vendors at the conference, although only 3 that really stood out to me while there. They were Bariatric Advantage who were amazing with samples they were giving away and the guys were super excited that BA is now being sold in New Zealand. If you are interested in checking out their products go their website.
Another company that really stood out to me was Bell Plantation a company that manufacture a powdered peanut butter and peanut butter chocolate spread which is so much healthier (85% less fat) and can be used in a huge variety of ways. They are really keen to get into the NZ market and gave me some samples to bring home, which our local support group have had. I do find it a little bitter, but would think it would be great in baking.
The last company that stood out to me was Slimpressions, which manufacture shapewear. They were so busy and are so open to new ideas. At the moment they are looking at developing some new ranges to help hold things in place.They often have big discount weekends so check out their FB Page for discount codes etc.
