Had a dinner party Sunday night to Celebrate my daughter's 21st bday. Had family and like family friends over. This is the first time my surgery was discussed openly in a group setting. It wasn't really by choice, more as a result of big-mouthed folk. Bless them.

Here are just some of the comments I received:

Oh, so you're taking the easy short cut way?

My friend had WLS...he almost died. It was terrible.

You do know that you can gain it all back, right?

You'll never be able to eat "right" again.

The recovery is terrible.

Why don't you "just " exercise

You don't need surgery...just start drinking a lot of Water.

I just smiled and nodded. Yep, Smile and nodded.

I love them. My family. Lord, deliver me.

I remember having similar conversations with people in my circle. In fact I had a couple of friends who were HORRIFIED that I was considering WLS.

They were convinced that the surgery was "too extreme" and "not worth the consequences" or "there are BETTER ways to lose the weight" or my favorite "you just need to exercise and use self control."

And to be honest, some of what I heard did make me question my decision and almost made me back out.

But then I met with an old friend that I had not seen in years. About five months prior to our reunion, she had undergone RNY as did her sister. She looked fantastic, felt fantastic and gave me some serious advice about my decision.

She didn't sugar coat the decision or glamorize the journey, she did however offer me the comfort of knowing that my decision would be the best, hardest, biggest life changer EVER.

She was right and everyone else was totally wrong. As are those bending your ear with negativity. Even if there are complications, even if there are hardships, even if there are disappointments, it is still YOUR decision to make. Those that love you should only be supporting you.

So many unsolicited opinions and so-called experts.

I'm glad that the folks in my life have been supportive or chosen to remain silent

I have told my husband and MIL and a handful of close friends who are also either trying to lose weight or have lost weight. Everyone has been really supportive so far. I have to tell my own parents at some point since I'm going to ask my mom to come stay with us for the week following surgery.

I am not telling my boxing coach because he's kind of a jerk about weight loss and diet and anything medical. He thinks he knows it all so I just don't talk about it with him.