All of a sudden...everyone is *#%* expert!

[goblue9280 481]

I told my parents and of course my wife and kids knew... the only other person that knew was a close friend who got the sleeve last year and has lost 100+ pounds. I told work I was going to be having surgery, but never told them what and they never asked. Grandparents and brothers found out the week of surgery, and called and were all very supportive. Since the surgery, I've slowly let friends know. Again, they all know how I've struggled with weight, and are all supportive.

"Easy way out" pisses me off like nothing else. My buddy that got sleeved would tell people when they asked how he was losing so much weight "I took the easy way and had my stomach stapled." I gave him so much sh!t the past couple weeks for those statements, lol. Nothing easy about this. liquid diet for 2 weeks pre-op, surgery and feeling like you've been kicked in the stomach 100 times, the regimental post-op diet, cutting out all sweets and carbonated beverages. You can't go into this thinking it's the easy way out and be successful, and many outsiders don't get that.

[Ashlegal 525]

I remember having similar conversations with people in my circle. In fact I had a couple of friends who were HORRIFIED that I was considering WLS.

They were convinced that the surgery was "too extreme" and "not worth the consequences" or "there are BETTER ways to lose the weight" or my favorite "you just need to exercise and use self control."

And to be honest, some of what I heard did make me question my decision and almost made me back out.

But then I met with an old friend that I had not seen in years. About five months prior to our reunion, she had undergone RNY as did her sister. She looked fantastic, felt fantastic and gave me some serious advice about my decision.

She didn't sugar coat the decision or glamorize the journey, she did however offer me the comfort of knowing that my decision would be the best, hardest, biggest life changer EVER.

She was right and everyone else was totally wrong. As are those bending your ear with negativity. Even if there are complications, even if there are hardships, even if there are disappointments, it is still YOUR decision to make. Those that love you should only be supporting you.

[Dub 9,922]

So many unsolicited opinions and so-called experts.

I'm glad that the folks in my life have been supportive or chosen to remain silent

[RNYDawn 160]

I have told my husband and MIL and a handful of close friends who are also either trying to lose weight or have lost weight. Everyone has been really supportive so far. I have to tell my own parents at some point since I'm going to ask my mom to come stay with us for the week following surgery.

I am not telling my boxing coach because he's kind of a jerk about weight loss and diet and anything medical. He thinks he knows it all so I just don't talk about it with him.