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I have it. It is good. I love the book "Before and After" also-- it has lots of recipes and the beginning tells the story of a WLS patient in her words- inspiring and good info.

I have noticed exactly the same thing!! I used to hate going out and seeing my reflection everywhere - had now self confidence at all. Now people treat me differently - I'm down 50 pounds to 210 and it's unbelievable what a change it makes. I had a pretty good sense the people treat fat people differently prior to surgery and it's been totally confirmed. People at work are a lot nicer to me as well. It's sad but true, but oddly I like that I'm being treated better. It's really too bad that everybody can't be fortunate enough to have the chance to change like we did!!

I truly understand your feelings and I understand your "keeping it on the down low" I felt the same way. My decision to have lap band surgery was strictly my decision, it was all about me and I didnt feel like everyone needed to know. It was a hard decision, very scary and getting out of bed after surgery - no one told me about that pain! I wouldnt change a thing. I am very glad I had the surgery, it has been very successful for me. You've got my support.

Wow, I really appreciate your honest and direct response to this woman's complete ignorance and lack of compassion to your experience.

Hello, Reading your story has touched me as I was just approved for surgery also and am scheduled for Sept. 4th. I too am very excited, but worry about how this will effect my girls. I have a 12 yr old and 10 yr. old girl. I want to be a good model for them and feel that not only am I letting myself down, but them as well. I can only hope and pray that after the surgery I will model good eating behaviors for them, as I don't have the self control to do that now. I also have R.A. I know that this surgery will not cure my R.A., but getting this weight off will have to make things easier for us to move. I wish you the best and hope to follow your story as we have so much in common. Take care! Wendy

Sounds like something my cute, tiny,little Asian woman mother would say and it ticks me off all of the time lol.My mom knows nothing about dieting she does exercise but she only started maybe 2 years ago and she is 60 never been fat a day in her life.I tend to give her and a lot of people of other cultures the benefit of the doubt as to whether she means to be hurtful because in her culture and a lot others they are very blunt and it is not considered rude to state what they consider the "obvious". I know we live in America and people of other cultures know it too but some have trouble adapting.I say do what you did in this case and let the person know how it is...Don't Hate,Educate ps.I am also an advocate of if it is none of their business you don't have to tell them.I will only tell those I trust

I read a forum topic about feeling sick during the fill part (vasovagel nerve, something like that!) so I just concentrate on my breathing. I like your thought about 10lbs between visits. I know its just one day out, but the longer time Ive felt in being satisfied for meals makes me very happy and hopeful.

Good for you and good come back. It is absolutely none of her business. This is why I didn't and haven't told anyone that I work with and only 3-4 people closest to me know I have been sleeved. It is your business, no one else's.

I certainly respect how you handled that because I think I may have reacted first and then thought. That was the main reason why I didnt tell my coworkers what I was doing until Id done it. I didnt feel that my decision was any of their business anyway. Now, after I got back to work and they started to see the weight loss, they started to tell me how good I looked and when they asked me what id done, i just said, well, for my portion control, I had the sleeve done. Other than that, Im working out and have changed my eating habits completely. If I did have any haters, they knew better not to mention it around me. I get along with everyone but I also speak my mine to anyone. Good Luck to ya!

I have been lucky, so far. But I am a guy and things are different for us. We get a complete pass on our size pretty much until we hit HUGE. Not always, and that doesn't mean we don't feel awful about ourselves. Just that it is acceptable to society for men to be big and manly. Whereas, the ladies are held to a higher (and smaller) standard. Also, though, in addition to a higher standard, women are just some mean witches when they want to be. The way women treat each other - especially at work - has always fascinated me. Women say things to each other that are the most hurtful and hateful things. Whereas we guys handle it in a more civilized manner - we hit you. Then buy beer, man hug, and go on with our evenings. I suppose that makes the ladies a bit more evolved, but I am not sure it is much of an improvement.