So I was not sure how I was going to tell my family that I was going to have this amazing surgery to change my life. So we had a fantastic meal and while eating dessert my brother in law was talking about his last work trip to Toronto and I started asking him questions about the locale...... he asked why? you goin' there or sumthin?...... I blurted Yes I am!!!! I gently explained that I was going for lapband surgery and prepared for an enslaught of questions to commence!

I was so surprised! My Husbands family was so supportive. They have watched me for the last 10 years balloon from 230 lbs to 347lbs. They supported me when I decided to go to therapy 6 years ago to deal with abuse I went through as a child. They have always met with enthusiasm my ventures at weight loss over the years and never once said anything as I failed each time. My sister in law who has had a 20 lb weight struggle said it best..... you can't give up food right and this will help you change how food is in your life, How do you change a 30 year bad relationship with food? It's not easy.....

They had your standard questions about the logistics of it all, when, with whom are you going?, is it safe, how long will it take to recover. I was proud to say and relieved that I had all the answers. I really have done my research in to this. I have watched a friend almost die from her gastric bypass surgery and it's complications, I have watched another friend lose 180 lbs with her lap band and has told me " don't wait till your 50 like I did" and I have been in and out this forum. I am so thankful for the honesty and openess of all of you today.

What I am really starting to learn is when you move and act from a place where you are trying to better yourself, be honest with yourself, be true to yourself and really want to change yourself for the better. People see that and want to support you to be happy. Of course I have had negative encounters..... one woman I told stated " have you really tried everything? I mean it's a lot of money" I FUMED! My retort?

25,000.00 For IVF, not gauranteed and I would have to lose weight anyway

40,000.00 adoption and 4-5 years

16,000.00 lap band = healthy me, healthy pregnancy and a tool to control my weight for the

rest of my life!

I asked her to go home to her beautiful little boys, think about how much money she would have paid for just one of her pregnancies, birth experiences, and sons and tell me how to price that out...... cause that is what I am buying!!!

She didn't have anything to say..... I was not trying to be a smart ass, I was trying to remove the stigma. The one that says fat people are lazy, have not tried and are motivated by skinny jeans only..... I am a real person, I am a nurse who cares for others, I have been married and built a life to be a mother. I do not deserve to be judged.

That is what my mother in law said to me last night. That was just what I needed to hear........