There have been people who are relatives and friends who think that getting the Gastric sleeve surgery was the easy way out, but I say they are dead wrong. We had to first have the courage to speak to Dr's as well as others we knew about what we wanted to do. That was embarrassing to me. I felt like I was a failure at keeping myself pretty, at keeping myself thin, and keeping myself healthy. I gained weight just smelling food. Then after speaking about what really embarrassed me, I had to go on a diet before the surgery just to prove that I really wanted to get healthy. Then there was the surgery and the pain and the eating nothing but broth, which if you ask me, not many people could continue to do that even for 2 days and we had at least 7 days to weeks of that. Sure in the beginning, we didn't have to diet, but we had to mourne over losing our friend (food) and watching everyone around us, eat to their hearts content, while we eat 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of food. So yeah, we lost weight in a way that almost seems like we aren't really working at it, but after the initial weight loss, don't we then have to keep a good diet? Protein first, then if something else fits, veggies? Forget, having any desert. Don't get me wrong, I am super happy to change my eating habits and relieved to know I will live to a ripe old age, barring any accident. Just don't let anyone tell you, that you took the easy way out. Wouldn't you go see a Dr and take meds if you were dieing? I would...and I did. My medicine was this tool, (the gastric sleeve) and it has helped me survive. Never think you took the easy way. You have to be on a diet for the rest of your life. After the initial weight comes off, you have to continue dieting and exercising to get to lose all the weight, don't you. It is something you/we have to keep working at. NOT the easy way, but the only way for us. There are some who get this surgery or the bypass, and manage to sabotage there tool (surgery). We can do the same and end up the way we were, unhealthy and sick. Be proud of your choice to better yourself. I love being able to take long walks and see the beauty all around me. I could not have done that without the surgery. Be proud of yourself and the progress you make and make it clear to those you know, that you have to keep working at it just like anyone who works at being healthy with diet and exercise.