Your Weight Matters YWM2018

It was a crazy busy month! The highlight by far was the Obesity Action Coalition's (OAC) 7th Annual Your Weight Matters (YWM) National Convention in Denver, Colorado. As most of you know I have the great honor of serving as an OAC National Board Member and currently as Chairperson. This meeting is our BIG annual, awesome, gathering of individuals from across the country (34 states) and the globe (we had 6 countries represented this year!) who have personally struggled with their weight or have an interest in the education offered on health, weight, weight loss, nutrition, fitness, emotional health and wellness, and so much more.

Attending YWM each year is one of the ways I personally keep my health journey energized. Attending feeds my brain with knowledge (real deal, science supported, evidence-based, No BS, knowledge) and more importantly, it feeds my soul. There is something magical, inspiring and motivating when you find yourself surrounded by people who "get it," when you find your tribe, your community. It's powerful and it carries me like a wave from each year to the next. I am healthier for attending in both body and mind.

It's also POWERFUL in a larger community sense...

When you get that many amazing people together you feel empowered knowing there are others who care about the same issues you do and want to take ACTION to make the world a better place for those affected by obesity.

This year the OAC is focused on taking ACTION...

#OACAction is basically anything big or small (some with just a click of the mouse) that moves our organization forward and ALL ACTIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE. There will be those that feel compelled to visit DC and share their stories in a public way to increase access to obesity care and treatment (awesome!) but for those that aren't ready or wanting to take action in that way, know that your efforts are still soooo needed... from dropping off OAC materials in your local community to sharing OAC social media posts which increases their reach to attending YWM each year and bringing friends and family to calling out weight bias and stigma and responding to our calls to act on issues. There are so many ways to take #OACAction!

Visit the OAC Action Center frequently to learn more ways to take #OACAction (we add new ones often.) Search on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook #OACAction to see what actions your fellow OAC Community members are taking and tag your #OACAction taking on social media so we can all be inspired and motivated by each other's actions...

...until we meet again at YWM2019. SAVE THE DATE and make plans to attend next year’s Convention in Tampa, Florida. August 1-4, 2019! Sign up for e-alerts to keep up with all the Convention 411 at YWMConvention.com

P.S. I have so many photos to go through from Convention I'll make another post with some fun pictures soon.