So I had an appt with my GP on Friday (8 days post-op) for a follow up on a med unrelated. (She is not the one that has been walking through this process with me. I did that direct with surgeon's office.) Anyway, she said "Congratulations. You made a very brave choice." I can't decide what I think of that comment and it has been rolling around in my head for 4 days. What do you think? Is it brave as in it is a dangerous choice? Or was it just a sideways compliment for taking a very drastic step towards health? I know she meant it as a compliment; just that "brave" wasn't a word I had associated with this process before. Do you feel "brave" for taking this step?

I think it's brave because you are commencing on a life-changing journey of self-discovery and transformation. Take the compliment!

Take brave as a compliment. Own it! You are brave.

Gastric bypass is not for sissies!! It is brave to choose to have this type of procedure. After all the diets, the pills, the regains, the tears, the frustration, and the unsuccessful attempts to try and be healthier, there are still people out there that would never choose this. We are brave! To take control and to trust our doctors to help us be as healthy as we can takes courage because most people would not want to work at this! Take it as a compliment!! No matter how they may have meant it. Good luck!!

I would absolutely apply brave to gastric bypass. It's not just the surgery, which is in and of itself a scary prospect, but it is a total lifestyle change. For me, it was also a commitment to myself to stop hiding behind my fat body and start living my life more fully. How many people do you know who have completely changed their lifestyle, and gone through physical and emotional pain to get there? I definitely think that those of us who have taken this step should consider it a brave choice.

Thanks guys. Your answers really helped!

It'd a compliment! I have been told congratulations by several doctors. I think they see it as a new start to life and they are excited for us.

A family member said this to me as well, that my choice to get WLS was "brave". It sat strangely with me for a little bit, but then I realized that it was a huge compliment - they were saying that I was doing something sudden, serious, and life-changing to take charge of my weight problem, and not just letting my weight continue out of control.

I think Bypass surgery, or any weight loss surgery, is brave. It is brave because we are owning up to the fact that some of our live's have been out of control. As are the lives of skinny people who eat chips, wings, beer, pop, sugar, etc. They do not realize that they have a problem, but it doesn't show so they don't notice or care. We are brave because we took control over a dangerous situation, asked for help and with a lot of mental work, physical exams, the surgery, living with the pain and disruption of our lives, living with DRASTIC changes to our diets that most every day people could and don't ever do. We gained POWER, and the surgery is our CHOICE. We live longer lives because of it. That, to me, is Brave.

Recovery badasses!