I am scheduled for sleeve in one month. I'm lifelong obese, was banded 7 years ago. I haven't told my family yet. They will not understand. They are cross fitters and health preachers. Although everything they do is not healthy. As many do, they deal with stress with alcohol, prescription meds,over exercising..... That is not a criticism. They don't understand emotional eating or food addiction. I also don't understand and often beat myself up for being so fat. I guess I'm asking if anyone else felt this way before having the sleeve and how you are dealing with it after the surgery. I want to be healthy, active and involved in life. /URL]

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@@cbonet I think therapy pre-op is so important. Obesity is a disease - there's no reason to beat yourself up. It's important to get emotionally ready for WLS. It's often more emotionally challenging than physically challenging. You won't have food to deal with your emotions and certainly don't want to turn to alcohol or prescription drugs as some family. Also - this is your journey - take care of yourself! We all have similar issues with food.

I agree that therapy, both pre- and post-op can be extremely helpful.

In addition, consider attending bariatric support group meetings.

You may also want to consider a recovery group like Overeaters Anonymous. You can find meeting lists, podcasts, and other resources online at OA.org.

There are also lots of great books related to food issues. One you may want to read is Eat it Up! by Connie Stapleton.

Consider this. I am a tell all. My husband of 25,years is private. Very. He decided when we were sleeved he didn't want the world to know. I thought that was impossible but his 31 year old son never knew. My 50 year old daughter knows. We have been together through this and it has been great that we don't have to discuss our weight and surgery with anyone. Such a sigh of relief. To each his own. At 67 we have changed our life, even though we cannot walk very far or exercise. We are so happy.

I think it's time for you to put yourself first. Stop worrying about what other people think or say or feel about you. They don't matter, you do!

I only told my husband, my kids, a few besties and my mom and dad pre-op. I told them if they had anything negative to say, to keep it to themselves.

This surgery was about *ME*, no one else. That said, the quality of life it gave back to me benefited everyone in my life, whether they knew about it or not.

Thank you everyone. I am considering therapy. I have been to OA many times-it wasn't for me. I will definitely pick up the book. Putting myself first is what I need to do and dont have much practice with.

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