I've been thinking about WLS secretly for quite a while. Afraid of all the negative and hurtful things people would say. Don't we all want to look and feel better about ourselves? Not to mention getting healthier too!! I finally confided in my fiance yesterday and today he tells me he will pay for it on ONE condition. I have to quit smoking. Well Goodbye Mr Marlboro man cause I'm giving you up and exchanging you for a beautiful wedding dress and a life of healthy living.

One of the conditions to have surgery is that you quit smoking from the doctor. They even check for nicotine in your blood the day of surgery and will cancel. Good luck on your journey, it is life changing!

If you have ever been a smoker you will need to have 3 clear urine nicotine screenings in 1 year. Nicotine will cause hemorrhage so you have to be committed to never smoking again. I quit years before surgery and still had to do these screenings. It's so worth it! Healthy is healthy all the way!

Dear CuriouslyHopeful - that's wonderful! Congratulations, and double so that your beloved is so supportive. Yes, it's true you'd have to quit before surgery anyway, but it's a lovely show of care and support. My husband-to-be played a part in my quitting smoking 30 years ago, when after our first kiss I wondered if I tasted unpleasant to a man who'd quit smoking (did so back when he worked for a tobacco company it grossed him out so much!). Anyway, I got through one day, and then the next and on day three I wanted one SO bad. I almost went back to that emergency pack--but then I thought of how freaking hard my first day had been, and the next one too. And I never wanted to go through those awful first two days again! I told myself that every day, knowing eventually I'd quit if I ever started again, and knowing it would never ever get any easier, nor was my beloved going to smoke again - gave me better strength and determination.

Now if only dieting had been like that all these years, eh?!

You can do it - it's really and truly worth it - and you CAN do it!!

My doctor is not testing me for nicotine nor he asked me to quit.("Beauty" of being self paid?)

I quit anyways. This surgery is such a big change and such big influence, I want to start fresh and healthy.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery!!!

Dear curiously, flip through those bridal mags to maintain focus. A trip to Davids every now and then can help too

I quit 1 week before surgery...unfortunately I started 6 weeks after...it was tough because I didn't have food to cope like I used to. I'm gonna try to quit again soon!

Best of luck!!!