I'm glad I found this site. It's nice to find support, help, and read everyone's stories. It helps to read other experiences.

My surgery is May 24- just got the date last Friday. Tomorrow is my pre-op,and I meet my surgeon next Thursday. It seems like most people here have a liquid diet for at least two weeks, but my doctor's office has me doing it for 7 days before surgery. I'm both excited and nervous.

I've overheard people at work talking and saying that I've been on so many diets and always gained it back, and that I'm just too lazy to lose the weight "the right way" (as they put it). I also have a lot of supportive family and friends. I was wondering how many of you have encountered negativity and unsupportive people, and how you handled it. I can understand now why people are hesitant to tell people they are having surgery and talk about it with others. We all have to make the best decision for ourselves.

So many things I am looking forward to doing again... playing sports, walking up stairs without pain, hiking more easily, riding horses again, being able to fit in an airplane seat and not have to use an extension, and just plain feeling good about myself again.

Congratulations on setting your date! First off don't let other people and their ignorance cause you any pain. I wonder why people think surgery is the easy way out? When in reality it is one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.

Hi Donnah! some people can be really mean and awful! a lot of their contents come from ignorance so try not to let it get to you, but at the same time I would tell the critics that it's your life not there's and you don't want, need, our care about their opinions. I might say opinions are like assholes and everybody got one lol! good luck though, I'm starting my journey and have been very selective who I tell for those very reasons, it's on a need to know basis. Those who need to know, know!

I know just how you feel. I have an aunt who is very negative about wls as well and she herself is very overweight. I have to hear things like "I've never seen work for anyone. They always gain the weight back."

She's completely ignorant on the subject so I completely dismiss her comments.

Let there negative comments motivate you :-) I am blessed enough to have the 99% of people around me being supportive... The one was one co worker. Even recently I wore a not so flattering top and knowing the head issues I have... Told me I looked like I gained weight. It bothered me at first then I said eff it. And dropped 7 pounds in a week after joining a gym :-D HA!

If anyone was negative about my surgery... I guess i was oblivious to it. I used to feel guilty thinking I was taking the easy way out... but hell this is not easy!!!!! Like I have said before... ignore the idiots and just work the program and prove them wrong.

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. I've been working on shrugging off negative opinions and remembering that opinions are just points of view that define the other person- not me. Everyone is entitled to what they think, but it is my journey and life to live. :-)

I got my pre-op blood work done yesterday, and am getting excited. Meet the surgeon on Thursday. Two weeks from today I will be on the losers bench! Can't wait :-)

I have heard many of these comments myself- mostly from coworkers. None of them know I am planning on having the surgery, and to be honest I dont think I will tell them. None of their business. From what I can see, this is not going to be an easy fix. Pfft. As if its not hard enough to walk in our shoes everyday, the criticism for trying to become healthy is like a slap in the face. Mean people everywhere I suppose.

Ive told only close family...too much judgement out there.

Welcome & actually no one had said nothing about my WLS. I no longer discuss it anyway. If someone see me on the streets diet & exercise is what I say. I'm now looking forward to plastic surgery

Wow that's great...I figure it's nobodys business.