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You will do great! Choose a friend who you know will be supportive. I have a gal who had the LBS a few yrs back and she is going to be my rock, I also have my 2 besties that are super supportive, and I own my own business and my customers are my support even though they don't have a clue they are. One man came in and told me the other day (in front of my husband) "wow, did you do something different with your hair?" I of course said nope been the same for year...just needs a dye job He said "I almost didn't come in cuz it didn't look like you...something is different maybe your face is thinner....'ARE YOU LOSING WEIGHT?' he says....you look great! so the public even though they may not know you had WLS will be complimentive....I'm pretty straight up with most people about WLS but there is that line of personal/business.... I had my surgery in Mexico...My husband had many opportunities to say his peace but chose the morning I was to fly out...he said "Do you have your last will and testiment made out? Going to a 3rd world country for surgery' not sure how much stupider you could be" He left and went to work. I stopped by his work to tell him goodbye I also wrote him a love letter before I left and left it for him to have when I was gone. "For better or for worse, in sickness and in health"....Remember your vows. I have known for yrs...he is just like his father who after 50 yrs of marriage to his mother decided he did not want her to live with him anymore....HA not here he better straighten up and fly right.....And I think there is alot of insecurity going on in my man...as he tends to spend xtra time in my office but still manages to say and do things that are rude and unsupportive. I hope once I start losing more, he will continue to take notice that my activities are increasing and my energy is increasing, and my whole livleyhood is increasing...I am also reading a book how a woman should pray for her husband...It guides you thru how we should pray for our husbands and different things we can do to make them feel special and well loved. My book should be here tomorrow I think. I'm ready to put into action any idea that will show him my love and help reform his behavior and feelings toward me, fat or thin.

Hi Skinny Cow, Just wanted to say congrats and that my experience was almost identical to yours! Except that I went by myself. I was VERY nervous but I didn't want my nosy, judgmental, and unsupportive family to know about me going so my husband couldn't go with me because he had to stay home with our children. But everything went off without a hitch and JUST like you said right down to the SAME nurses It will be a year for me in May and I couldn't be happier with my results. I set my goal at 125 and I haven't been able to get there but that's what I weighed in HS and I just kind of picked that goal myself based on that and I am more than twice my age than I was when I weighed that before (I will be 40 this year...yikes!) and I have a 22 BMI and wear a size 4 and am VERY happy with what I am eating so I think I am satisfied with this plateau. Just wanted to chime in on this and say congrats to you and let anyone else that was considering going to Dr. Rod in Juarez to NOT sweat it ONE BIT...it's a breeze and they take WONDERFUL care of you. Hugs, xo

I am a 57 yr old widow, I live with my son & daughter in law in north central Arlington (15 minutes from Cowboy Stadium). I know they will do their best at being supportive (they've already been very supportive)but they are after all 30+yrs younger than me. I don't really have any local friends or other family, so am kinda alone in all this. Anyone out there want/need a support friend, for phone, email, even to get out for an ice tea in the lovely Texas spring weather? I am NOT looking for romance, I AM looking for friends female or male, who understand what I am going thru. I expect to be banded within the next 18 - 30 days and I am getting very nervous about surgery. I've always looked at surgery as something unnatural even though I've had several, I'm always grateful not to mention amazed that I woke up! lol If you have an unsupportive spouse/family or you're on your own, maybe we could be there for each other. Hope I hear from people in my area. Roni

Time 2 Lose...you are so right...I was angry all the way home, that I could have drove myself and not wasted his time my gas and driven myself home if I had only known (hind sight is 20/20). I do not plan to allow him to sabbatage....although it has already started....donuts, pie, desserts...etc....("oh but "mom" can't have them" with a little snicker). I have been married to this man for 20 years... we have one child left at home....I married him weighing 130 lbs...and in prime physical shape (softball player & a Dancer). I am going to work really hard not to take things he says personally...I will spend my time pouring myself into exercise and the family unit will have to buck up and help take care of themselves. (while I eat my broth)...LOL I am so feeling healthy and getting back to work helps and digging out my old skinnier fat clothes has been like a new wardrobe...Love it! Top Gun...you made my whole year...I laughed till my incisions hurt....loved it! Ready for a change....yes maybe in more ways than one! Down 19.5 lbs since surgery... Don't get me wrong...my husband has been unsupportive...but I WILL NOT let this hamper my SUCCESS for ME. I want to be a healthier mom and a hottie grandma...I love my grandbabies and I want to be healthier so I too can play at the park without huffing and puffing and tired....I NO LONGER WISH TO SIT AND WATCH....I WANT TO PLAY TOO! And yes this is super therapy

I just read that in disbelief. Why is your husband so unsupportive? You drove 103 miles while he slept? I am so mad right now! You know, some men have great insecurities. My ex use to tell me that no one would love me like he does...I use to smile on the inside, because it only meant he was insecure, though he was very convinced I wouldn't leave...until I did. I know it's hard when you are married, but you may seriously want to consider whether its a healthy relationship for you to be in. I can just see him trying to sabotage your weight loss by bringing around unhealthy foods. You are doing this for you, please continue and know that we are here to support you. You can do this!!

ur normal girl, i was even considering canceling the surgery because of the negative unsupported family members i was around, but i breath n went forward with it, it was hard because i was thinking about food n how it really does affect my mood n whole, its an addiction! n its always the bad food that we think about because it taste so good.. so ur ok to think that way before surgery time will fly n food is always is going to be there just in other forms, n this time its our choice whether we eat the right way, and do the right things so chill out n think about the positive out comes of ur surgery n why r u doing it.. Blessings

So I guess this works as double duty - an introduction and a (kinda) question. I am a Registered Nurse...a very fat nurse! And I've been that was (fat, not a nurse ) for almost 13 years. I've done diet after diet. Acupuncture, moxibustion, hypnosis. HCG to the point I got gallstones. And each year, my weight just keeps climbing. I'm ashamed to say that the only significant weight loss I had was after I had met the love of my life, and then lost him...(but later found him...and my lost weight, grrrr!). I have stereotypical PCOS and Metabolic Syndrome (hello, black hairs on chin - I grow an impressive beard!), so that has exacerbated my weight issues. I started seriously looking into bariatric surgery 6 years ago, but didn't like the available choices of RNY, DS and then LapBand. Over the intervening years, I decided to try to get a LapBand anyways. I had one of those insurance companies that required a 6 month supervised diet, consults, etc...I jumped through all the hoops, found a surgeon I liked...and then he quit! Left private practice to accept a teaching fellowship. I was very bummed. So I figured this was my clue to try dieting again. So I went back to more failed, frustrating dieting. About this time, I was diagnosed with diabetes, which complicated matters even more. After nearly a year, I decided to go the LapBand route (again!). All my previous tests had expired, so I had to do the 6 months supervised diet and consults again...then got turned down by insurance due to an exclusion...the appealed and won!...set a surgery date and then got very, very ill. The chest xray that was done the week before my surgery showed a shadow in my lungs, so I had to see pulmonary, etc. Turned out to be nothing, but by then my precious "vacation" days from work were wasted and I had to go back. I felt ashamed and defeated, and just gave up on trying to lose weight altogether. Here it is, 2012, and I can now add hypertension, high cholesterol and tryglycerides and hypothyroid to my medical litany. And finally in January, I said....enough is enough. I'm going to make this happen! I'm 5'8, 310lbs....what would I advise a patient to do in my situation? So I called my insurance and found out that they do not cover bariatric surgery for any reason. ANY. I'm trying to not make any rough comments here, but it's terrible that I am an RN, I devote my life to the health of others, and my company has specifically excluded dietician visits for weight loss, weight loss plans and bariatrics....wtf?? But I digress. After realizing that I would get no help from insurance, deciding to self-pay was the least difficult choice. My darling husband (the aforementioned lost love who was later found ) had a RNY over 2 years ago with wonderful results, and has been very supportive. I've spent the last month researching my options, and have decided that Dr Aceves is worth my time and money. His track record and reviews have convinced me that Dr Aceves is the best choice for my new sleeve and new life. And here is where I come to the crossroads. My family is totally unsupportive of bariatrics in general, and Mexico as a whole, so I will not be telling them. The can comment ad-nauseum. I'm still pondering what to tell work - I work in a very tight-knit facility with only a handful of nurses, and my role is such that my absence for even 10 days will be sorely missed (when I fractured my foot in December and I was gone for 2 days, it was mass chaos!). I really, really don't want to tell my boss WHY I need a week and a half off, so I'm trying to figure out how to be creative. The problem I was NOT anticipating, was needing to find a new primary care physician. When I told my MD what my plans were, she began to tell me how I just needed some willpower, and that she could not support me going to some "back alley hack" in Mexico. She then implied that she would refuse to assist with my follow through care, and that if I did indeed go to Dr Aceves for a sleeve, I would need to find a new PCP. So I'm stuck on these two things - work and finding a PCP who will be ok with my having weight loss surgery out of country. Argh. I have not set a date for surgery yet...I keep thinking I need to try to get time off first and then try to make a date, but what if one's not open....? I can't afford to lose my job, too many bills! But I need to regain my health. Getting through every day at work is like running the gauntlet, in more ways than one. Anyways, sorry to ramble. I just want to add what an inspiration it has been to follow along with everyone's progress with their sleeves - I've been reading this forum for quite a while! Thank you so much for your help on my own journey -Asche, The Crazy Cat Lady

I am sure that there are other protein powders besides Unjury that would be as good. I was able to buy it from the diet doctor's office, which is right next door to the surgeon's office. So, that was a no brainer. Does your surgeon know where you can get some? I am going to check out the Isopure the next time I need to buy protein. If you read the labels, you probably want to check how many calories you are getting with your protein. For example, the label might say 20g of protein, but does that mean two scoops of protein and up to 300 calories? Hope not! My Unjury strawberry sorbet is 20g protein and 100 calories. Muscle Milk chocolate is 16g protein and 150 calories. Unjury chicken is 21g protein and 90 calories. But, when I was at the gym today, I was checking out some of their supplements and some of them had 300 calories per serving! Those are for bodybuilders or someone else but me! Another day, I bought some protein supplement at Sam's club, and when I got it home, I realized that it had (if I recall) something like 150 calories and only 9g protein. It can really be dizzying to sort through the protein, just whatever you decide, maybe don't buy too much. You are so fortunate to have a caring husband who wants to make everything ready for you. Mine is like that too. It breaks my heart when I hear about unsupportive loved ones.

Worst: the inexplicably and unsupported fear of gaining it all back Best: no pain and the belief that I'm capable of anything I set my mind to

Well, Thomas, consider this....If you are going to be negative an unsupportive of my journey, please refrain from posting on any thread of mine. I hardly think that being the same weight for two week signifies the end of my journey and that my sleeve has reached its end. If you had read my post thoroughly, you would see where it talked about losing inches and pants size. Im sorry but I dont come to this board for someone to be a negative nellie and try to dash my dreams, but rather for support and encouragement. If you cant be supportive and encouraging, dont bother commenting. I am only 6.5 months out and according to my surgeon I will continue to lose for another 1.5 years! My tool is not near the end of its life by any means. I could understand your comment better if I was near the 1.5 or 2 year mark, but to say that to someone who is barely 6 months out, I find offensive. Consider how your comments might be perceived by the recipient before you post them next time.

I'd like to mention that if the Dr. puts you on a liquid diet and you follow it/lose weight, the weight you were previous will not count as starting BMI for insurance. I don't know if you are self-pay or not, but I would be worried that I may lose weight in an unsustainable way and then end up gaining it all back again. I would find out the absolute specifics on your insurance policy and then call around to center of excellence bariatric practices and get scheduled. Also, I did decide to switch my primary care Dr when I decided on WLS because the one I had been seeing had always seemed so unsupportive and BORED when I talked to her about my weight problems. If you feel you need to switch Dr's, do it! I actually found my new Dr by asking the receptionist at the weight loss practice if there was someone she could recommend.

Hello everyone , I have been looking into the sleeve and it seems to be the right choice. I am wanting to ask people what is the advantages and disadvantages of having the surgery. My insurance requires 6 months with a dietician, nutrionist, and physc evaluation (barely passed that lol) , clearance from pcp, clearance from surgeon.. I have completed almost everything except the 6 months dietician i will be done with that the end of this month. Then the dreaded wait from insurance. As time is getting closer i am getting nervous if i am making the right decision? I am a 30 year old mother of 3, married, and have been very over weight for years. Like many others have tried different ways of trying to lose weight, since going to dietician I have already lost 45 lbs. If i could please get some responces on the benefits and disadvantages that would be great. Also what impact does it have on your spouse? As time gets closer I have found my spouse to be very unsupportive. Any advise ?

When I started talking about having WLS, and looking into options the only two people I told I was my mom, and my best friend who happens to be my cousin. They both support me greatly! My cousin had WLS about a year ago and has lost over 100lbs, she says that it's the best "grown up" decision she has ever made! My mom worries that if something isn't done, I may not make it past 40 years old, and I will suffer physically due to my weight, so wants the best for me, and she wants to see me healthy, and happy! I have since told the rest of my family and a good friend who all stand behind me and support me, and hopes and prays I will be able to be approved for the surgery! I have had an abundance of support! However, I am not telling someone who I have considered my very best friend for the last five years, because I KNOW that really he doesn't care. He won't support me, and he won't be unsupportive, just uncaring (if it doesn't effect him personally he really doesn't care). So I am not telling him at all, even when the weight starts coming off! I know it really hurts and is bothersome when you are doing something that's going to benefit you, and make you more healthy, and give you life! You are happy, and you want others to feel the same way, and when you tell them and they don't react the same way you feel, it just hurts! That's why it's great that there are sites like this, where you can get support, and positive feed back from people who understand, and KNOW what we are going through!

Well girls here's an update!!!! Went away with friends the other night and at 2 in the morning with a few drinks on her my other friend (best friend since we're kids) started to scold me about how I went under an operation and have 2 kids and how could I not think of them!!! Also how at just under 14 stone I have lost enough and not to lose any more! I said that I must have been a great topic of conversation for the 2 of my best friends to be going on about the same stuff and she confirmed that yes they've had many conversations about me, considering im their friend!!! I told her that it's not as if I want to get down to 9 stone and even when I get down to 11 and half stone il be barely in my BMI range but will be very happy with that . Nothing seemed to make a difference!!! Cos I had said already that il probably need another fill as I've losened out she said I'm becoming obsessed , I told her she doesn't understand the whole system of things, I've had 3 fills, had green zone but have losened out again, not by much but I get my fills free up till June and I want to make sure Im back in green zone before hand. Anyway I eventually gave up and said I was going asleep, but not before I got in about how unsupportive they were towards me and their 'concern' was unwarranted as this has to be the most healthiest way I've ever lost weight. I didn't say anything the next day but now I'm fumming!!!! Anyway I've decided that I'm never talking to either of them about my weight lose again, I can't take the negitivity. I have a family and other friends to talk to if needed. Anyway I hope none of you have to go through this, it's so horrible. X

Hey Everyone! Didnt know where else better I can b***h and complain than here! So, Im 29 years old with a gorgeous 18 month old girl and a supportive husband. My older sister (who was always a size 6 ) and my mom are so not supportive and its driving me NUTS! Ever since I started my research for the sleeve my family have been so unsupportive of me. I dont care that they dont approve, but I have told them they dont have to like it,but they will respect my decision. I told my mom exactly what the surgery entailed and what my eating pattern would be post op. She even did her own research and commented that she didnt know part of my stomach was going to be removed. Fast forward a few weeks and I am now 2 weeks post op and she keeps bringing up that she didnt know part of the stomach was removed and if she knew that, she wouldve jumped in front of the stretcher at the hospital!! And now on top of all this...she keeps saying that my daughter will be my only child because I wont be able to have another child with the new stomach! I have given her so much research information and packets from my surgeon. I just wish my family would be supportive like they said they would!! Sorry for the venting!!

:coolgleamA: Things are looking up for me. Thanks for everyones support eventhough i was so unsupportable at that time. I thank god that he has put you in my path. I had CT of kidneys done and there were no stones :biggrinjester: Now I was told that two of my clearance are missing. So can I call the doctor so I did and thought I hit another wall, But took a deep breath and called the person who submit the paper work to the insurance companyand she found them. I have cleared another huddle. Today is my last huddle I must wait to see if the doctor will still go forth with surgery because they didn't find stones but my right kidney look adnormal, I explain that it has always look that way. I have know since I was sixteen. So praying and keeping my fingers crossed I will be sleeved on 2/6/12. Clear diet starts on Saturday until day of then no liquids. God is great. :Banane59:

Wow. This is a surgery forum for those who are looking for SUPPORT in their journey. What did you expect "Loving" husband 1979? That we would all applaud you for your cruel and unsupportive forum topic? ATTENTION EVERYONE!!! :director: All you had to do to lose the weight that you have been gaining and losing for YEARS is just PUT THE FORK DOWN AND EXERCISE! Thank you SO much for shedding the light on us. :doh: We have been STRUGGLING with our weight, not just trying to lose those last 10-15 lbs, STRUGGLING with 100's of pounds. Your wife is obviously unhappy with her body image...wonder why. "Eat healthy dear and exercise". Yes, we DO have to eat healthy and exercise. VSG is not a magic cure. We need to eat healthy now more than ever before. The risks of her being obese out why the risks of the surgery. PROVEN FACT. Do your research buddy, and don't expect to come into a VSG support group, bag on the surgery and expect us to be soooo happy you shared your opinion with us. We get enough grief from the ignorant A-holes outside of this forum, we don't need it here. God Bless your wife.

I've been pretty open with everyone including people I work with regarding the surgery. It doesn't bother me, but the two people who at first who were the most unsupportive were my parents. My dad thinks I just need to go on ANOTHER diet like my sister did. My mom just talks about how the people she knew that had bypass gained their weight back. I told my mom, first of all, not having bypass. Second of all, I'm not other people, I'm me. Third of all, if my body allowed more than 65 lbs of weightloss, I could've done it YEARS ago, but thanks to PCOS I hit 65 lbs and my body says "No, thanks, I'm gonna hold on to the rest of this fat."

My entire father's side of the family is moribly obese, and no one has ever done anything about it. They all claim to know the secret of losing weight, but they don't. I told my father about the surgery and he like I am sure a lot of other people said, well it is how much you eat and blah blah blah.. This coming from a man who has been obese most of his entire adult life. He said that he would rather weigh a zillion pounds then have the risk of death in surgery. I tried to explain to him that with my chronic knee pain, and back pain my quality of life is relativity low right now. It is hard not to have his support but at the same time I know he just doesn't want to loose me. I am so worried because if my weight loss journey is successful I will be the only thin (HOPEFULLY) person in my entire family. Maybe I will open a door to my other family members and they will follow i my foot steps? I am very happy to have the support of my mother and bestie, and my work friends. I

Hi KristiRN, I just wrote this big long reply only for my computer to shut down and make me start all over again.... I have only been banded for a couple of months so Im still learning about my band, but Ill answer the questions that I can. I'm from Australia so I dont know about Dr's in the US or the cost over their, sorry. 3. I was in hospital for one night for observation. I took 10 days off work even though i only arranged to take 3 days off. It took a week for me to be able to get out of bed by myself, and about 3 weeks to be able to sleep on my stomach again. I would take at least 10 days though everyones recovery time is different. I watched a few videos on youtube where people hadf surgery only hours before and were doing a video about their experience. Not me!! 4. The refills are not painful. It is just a needle. A pin prick. I little pinch and then its over. The first fill, though, involves the doctor taking out the air in your band before putting in the saline. When he took the air out of my band I thought I was going to be sick. But that only lasted a few seconds and it only happens with the first fill. 5. It is so important to eat a healthy diet with your band because your main goal is to lose weight ahealthy way, and if you arent going to make an effort to eat good food then dont bother. Some people do have restriction though and cannot eat bread, Pasta or meat. Everyone is different though. Its about finding your greenzone. The only thing that I cannot have anymore is soft drink (soda, fizzy drink). I used to drink at least 2 every day now I dont have any and I dont crave it like I used to. 6. 110 punds is a very realistic goal if you use the lapband as a tool to go with healthy eating and exercise, though I think that it the same with all weightloss. The band helps your brain think you are full, but that is no good if you aren't walking and you're eating McDonalds. I was just talking to a lady who lost 10 pounds in 5 months, though her weight was alot higher than yours. You just need to take charge of your band and use it to work for you. 7. The bad.... The cost, the pain, people asking how I lost weight when its none of their business, my surgeon became very rude, unsupportive, unprofessional and uninformative after my surgery and Im in the process of finding a new one to take over my lapband care, my sister being upset that I am slowly becoming smaller than she is. The good... Knowing that I am going to achieve my goal and live a healthier life, feeling more fit and energetic, having people compliment my loss, even though its only 30lbs so far, having the support of my friends, family, my wonderful GP and this site and other people in the same position, making plans for the future that I have always been too scared to make. I would definitely do this again, though while I was still in pain I said I wouldn't, I am so pleased with my results so far. My advice to you would be to get all of the information you possibly can before the surgery. Make sure you pick the right surgeon and get references. Make sure you have a meeting with the anaesthetist to make sure your pain will be properly managed. Ensure you have everything you will need for post-op care and diet. Be smart and realistic about your goals, break them down. Follow the lapband rules or there is no point doing it. Walk every day, even if it is for 5-10 minutes, make sure you move your body and increase your fitness each week. Ask questions all the time. But most importntly, get advice from your GP. I am not a medical expert, so dont take my advice to the bank. Goodluck with everything. I hope you get the information you need to make the right decision for yourself. Simone.

Oh dear. I feel your pain. But I've had to take the approach that my decision to make a lifestyle change is just that. Mine. Not theirs. Why should everyone around me change their eating for me? I had my lapband a few days after Christmas. That new years, my brother and his family came down to Celebrate. While my husband, daughter and his family sat at the table eating pizza, I sat in the living room sipping on broth. Yes, I wanted pizza, but I knew that this was my decision, not theirs. Why should I ask them not to eat what they want when they don't have the problem?\ My mother in law is a different story. She had no supported me in this at ALL. She was so unsupportive, she would not even pick up my child from day care the day I had surgery. We had to ask a family friend. MIL even works in surgery in a hospital that performs these procedures weekly. She's worked on these cases herself. But her idea of a family gathering has to center around huge meals. No less than 6 sides plus 2-3 Entrees per meal. With multiple Desserts too! I had to lose 5 more lbs over the holidays. My mother in law actually put a plate of chocolate truffles in front of me three days before surgery. "Here, have some" I hurt her feelings by declining them. Then the day before surgery,she wanted the entire family to eat at Cracker Barrell for Breakfast. I went and drank Water. Then a week after surgery, she wanted us to all go to Olive Garden. Those breadsticks looked SOOO good. And the salad. Oh my. I drank tea sweetened with splenda while they ate. I had to take the mental approach that I'm there to enjoy their company, not the food at Olive Garden. Please remember it does get better. I'm 4 weeks out from surgery and while I would LOVE to sit and eat a steak with my hubby, it's not going to happen anytime soon. Keep your chin UP! You can do this!!!!!! I know if I can, ANYONE can. We all have to get used to people eating things in front of us that we can't have. I know its hard, oh how I know. Remember, it's a much mental to the patient as it is physical. It's a lifestyle change for us. Either our family and friends can understand it or not. Regardless, we cannot make the change for them.

I do like your post, but would like to add that many of us got to where we were pre-surgery by living in denial, and thinking that a little of this or that doesn't really matter. And, many of us have been encouraged to live in denial by loved ones who tell us that we can have "just a little bit", or "you're not fat". And, I see people posting on the internet who get upset if someone has the gall to disagree with something they've done. Like they only want to read "That's okay", "You'll be fine." Anyone who replies differently is considered unsupportive. We just had the majority of a major organ cut off, and unfortunately, we still need to use it while it recovers. If the doctor says to eat a certain type of food, we should be doing just that. To do anything else is to be out of control just like how we got this way in the first place. So, I do think we can be supportive, yet blunt. Sometimes blunt is needed. I, for one, am not offended by blunt. Bring on the blunt!

I'm from a close family as well, we all live within five minutes of each other and we're all in constant communication, everyone up in everyone else's business, things like that. Initially, I started with just telling my mom what I was thinking about and that I really wanted her to back me. At nineteen, I'm good to do a lot of things without my mom's say so, but this wasn't one of them. So that was in November. My sister found out on accident when she heard me talking to the doc. We're fourteen months apart, she's younger, so we're close but we fight all the time. She's completely unsupportive and has stated this on several occasions, but she refuses to give me any reasons. We decided to tell my dad after I was approved because if you go to him with anything half assed, then he'll ask you why you don't know all your information. But then, when he found out I'd been keeping it from him for so long, he was livid. I don't think I've ever seen him so mad. That was Saturday and he hasn't spoken to me. He refused to drive me back to college, my sister had to do it. He also stated that he was completely unsupportive and he gave plenty of reasons - you could do this without the surgery, you're not thinking, you are being ridiculous, ect. - and he also will not support me. So after that, I don't think I'm going to tell my other family members, but then what if they react like he did if I hide it? My friends - those I've had forever and my roommates that I've only known in the six months since I've transferred here - took it better then my sister and my father. So I don't know what to think. But I can relate. I'm sticking by the fact that I'm doing this for ME, not for anyone else. I'm doing this for my health and to better my own life and we just have to stick with that. Good luck! And let me know if you need someone to talk to!

Wow, how did today go from GREAT to UCK so fast? So my dad has recently been sleeved and I had finally come to my own realization that I was ready for that as well. Luckily after a great conversation with my folks, they were very supportive of my decision. My family is very close and while I don't NEED their support it means a lot to me that I have it. So I figured everything was good and so brought the matter up with my grandmother. Lets just say that the awkward silence after I 'spilled the beans' when I was talking on the phone with her was epic. I couldn't tell if she was shocked (although I don't know why) or in major disapproval. I guess I was just taking it for granted that she would be supportive of my decision and it surprised me to find out that it doesn't seem like she is. I'm hoping that maybe after she thinks about it, and after further conversation, she'll have a better reaction. I really just wanted to shout, "I've been overweight for YEARS and it's not getting better. I need help and getting this surgery is not shameful and it does not somehow make me weak. It takes strength to know when you need help and to have the courage to go forward into the unknown. I will be happier and healthier...so whats not to like?" Even if her reaction doesn't change I'm still going forward with this because in the end it's my life...but I would be lying if I said that it doesn't make me sad. Did anybody else face something like this from your family/friends? If so, how did you deal with it? What did you say? Thanks! ~Lyra

Great work! So happy for you! I am about to have the surgery myself and have so many questions!!! How long were you off of work? How long until you could get back to exercising and lifting things? What were you eating? What are you eating now? Can you have pop, alcohol, wine, pasta. etc? How have your friends, family, and coworkers responded to you losing the weight? Have people been supportive/unsupportive? How did you handle it? How have you coped with your body changing? I think the hardest part for me has been the comfort of food and just being alone with it. I've always felt like I needed to hide from the world. It's going to be strange having new opportunities and doors opened. I hope to receive words of encouragement from everyone on here as I feel like you're the only ones who will be supportive of my choice for surgery and understanding of the hardships people like us go through. Thanks so much! Good luck with your continued success!