When you can't even be honest with yourself

[Kindle 8,667]

@@motherof5 ???? It's nice to hear the stories about friends that react to the news the way genuine friends should react...with love and support rather than with judgement and rejection. It will be nice to have a true friend to share your journey with. And great for her to have you as a mentor if she goes through with WLS.

[jennyliz 7]

I agree Michigan Chic. Well said.

[Essence46 493]

Great points made by everyone. When I made the decision to have WLS, I told the people closest to me. Some of them were receptive of it and others weren’t. As long as my husband was on board, I was good. My mother was not happy and thought since she told me she didn’t want me to have it that I wouldn’t. She was shocked that I was moving forward anyway despite her disapproving. I remember saying to her, my kids, etc. that I was not telling them for them to try and talk me out of it. Instead, I was telling them because I thought they should know what I was going to do. That my mind was made it and it was something I had to do for me.

I am not at all ashamed of having WLS. I just don’t think it’s everyone’s business. It’s no different from me sharing or not sharing any other intimate details of my life. However, since my surgery, I have told a few people. Some I told voluntarily; others I told if they asked. I am sure I will tell me people eventually. At some point, I do want to share my story and be an inspiration to others.

Even throughout the 6 month process before the surgery, I had so many people (even at the WLS office) say to me “You don’t need surgery. You are not that big”. I found myself defending myself to them which really annoyed me. If other WLS patients were questioning me, I could only imagine the questions and negativity I would receive from others. I was a sick woman with numerous illnesses. I was taking 6 pills a day for those illnesses. Today, at almost 5 months later, I am off all medications. All!! I only take my required Vitamins every day. WLS saved my life and I am not ashamed of it.

I don’t know if I will ever post it on my Facebook page or anything like that but I will share my story. Right now, I just can’t and don’t want to deal with all of the questions and negativity that comes along with it. Just yesterday a friend said to me “You had WLS so why do you still work out every day when you don’t need to? The weight is going to come off anyway so why bother”. I was thoroughly annoyed by that. In the meantime until I share my story, I will focus on me. I still have some internal “fat girl” issues I need to work on.

Edited November 5, 2014 by Essence46