I got that "easy way out" crack quite a few times. I am looking for an appropriate circumstance to pull up my shirt, show my scars, and say, "Does this look easy to you?!"

When I decide that they deserve an explanation I tell them of my struggle with chemo, steroids, hormone shots, etc. from prostate cancer treatment al of which made losing weight next to impossible. Most of the time that brings them down from their lofty seat of judgement.

I had a fellow parent at our Boy Scout troop who is a nurse, and whom I have known for 9 years, tell me that it's the easy way out and then tell me that people don't know what they are getting into and that it's incredibly difficult....I think she was just prejudice against me in some way. People are strange, and don't always know what they are talking about.

This is why I don't plan to tell anyone except a few key people. If people find out, fine. But I'm really not the kind of person to take other people's BS, so I think I'll just have a lot of hateful coworkers talking about me behind my back, and that really doesn't bother me. But I'm not going to make some grand announcement, which really only makes people think you're looking for feedback.

I'm sorry that you had to deal with that awkward conversation. I'd suggest telling the next person that you had surgery and feel so great about it. Then if they make that crack, tell them that surgery is hardly an easy thing to recover from.

It makes me sad how absolutely hateful some people can be. I expect having this surgery will change my perspective on a lot of my relationships... I welcome it! Show me who my real friends are!!

Good luck on the size 6!!