Today was hard. I have surgery this Friday 20th. I've been eating the pre-op "envelope meal" diet almost 2 weeks and today the office ordered Cheesecake Factory. It's not their fault that I made the decision to do the surgery, but I still wanted to kick their chairs out from underneath them. It's literally all I can do to keep myself from saying "Eff it" and going for a steak and beer. I know I know, I am so close to surgery; I wont sabotage myself.

One other thing that has been on my mind is how some people I have told have reacted to my news. I honestly didn't tell people for a long time about what I was doing because I didn't want to listen to everyone's opinions. I've worked in the medical field for 20 years and if I have questions I know who to ask.

It doesn't stop people from saying things that are seriously discouraging:

- "Oh wow. Can't you lose it on your own without having surgery?"

- "I could NEVER do a liquid diet for that long."

- "Haven't people died getting that done?"

- "Awwww! Your surgery is the day of my party?? That sucks! We were having a Mexican food buffet too! I know that's your favorite. Well, at least you are missing for a good reason."

- "I'm fat too, but there is no way I would have surgery."

- "Let's go to {insert restaurant/bar here} before you have surgery since you wont be able to do it after that."

- "You know you can't have carbonated beverages the rest of your life, right?"

- "Don't people gain their weight back most of the time anyway?"

It's hard to tell if people are trying to make me feel bad about my decision because they don't understand it, or it they are jealous or just being downright hateful. I don't get it. I just needed to vent. Today was the hardest day I've had so far and I needed to get that off my chest. I keep telling myself that by this weekend it will all be over and I can start focusing on living a normal life again, just healthier this time.

I choose not to tell any of my friends or family members only my boyfriend and co workers...the only reason why I told my co workers because there opinions are irrelevant and I only have to deal with them 8 hours a day..a week before my surgery I was sent to work from home so now I just need to recover and move on

Good Luck ??

Hmmm. ?? I have told everybody once I was approved. Did not want to tell before cause if the surgery got denied it would have been awkward.
NOT ONE HAD A BAD REACTION. And I posted it on my Facebook too.
Option 1: I have very good friends
Option 2: none of my friends cared
Option 3: I was/am so fat that nobody even thinks I could do it any other way
Option 4: they all fear my wrath.

4 can’ t be cause I am really nice.
There was one negative person. My brother but we hate our guts for 40 years so that does not count.

But I am prepared if I encounter this. I will eventually because I will tell everybody.
I have the right answers and a link to a NYT article ready to send.

Don’t reject people because they are ignorant and don’t know better. Educate them. I don’t want to loose friends cause they don’t agree with me.
I had the same thoughts years ago when I still thought I could loose weight through diet. Now after intense research preop and continuing I am prepared to counter any stupid thing with knowledge.

But I have a very strong emotional Wall I built around me due to the fact that growing up in Germany in the 70s, nobody around me was overweight and people stared. So I just stopped caring.

Eberhard - good for you!

I have told most people too and don't mind shining the light of education into the darkness of ignorance, BUT there is so much ignorance it can get exhausting after a while. ?

Why something that is of benefit to YOU be so put down, sneered at, and told partakers are LAZY , this is something I fail to understand!

I have told a pretty good number of people. I would have to say that the reception that I have received has been mainly positive (though I'm not sure what is said when I am out of ear shot.)

My husband was initially hesitant about me having the surgery. He felt that it was a drastic solution to a problem that I had been fixing previously (I lost 90lbs on keto.) But he was heavy himself. However, after he lost weight through a diagnosis of a medical condition he has - it kind of put things into perspective for him, I guess? I also researched the topic heavily and brought the information to him. I explained to him that I had a combination of factors against me and though I could lose weight on keto, it was not sustainable as a long-term solution for me. I also told him that there were scientific studies that advised that the body is so resistant to diets, that they almost always fail to maintain a long term loss (like Weight Watchers.) I explained to him that like his weight affecting his joints (he had a bad back and knees), my weight was affecting me in ways that were starting to become difficult to deal with. Now, my husband has stated that he'd love me regardless of the weight I'm at, but he wants me to be happy and healthy. He's been on board for awhile now and even went to a support group meeting with me.

My brothers, who I'm close to, have been incredibly supportive as well. My mom? Not so much. But like someone mentioned previously in this chat - people are resistant to change.

The only thing is that I wish people would ask me MORE questions about the surgery. I don't mind telling people that I am having the surgery, but I would like a chance to explain to them why it is a solution for me. I am also a huge medical geek and love explaining medical procedures. Thankfully, I've had a lot of support.

AWWWW

I wish this was still titled

Stigmata with WLS...