In Germany having surgery on Oct. 12?

Hi, I'm in Germnay and I'm having surgery on October 12th in Frankfurt by Dr. Weiner. I was wondering if anyone else was having surgery that date or just before or after in Frankfurt with Dr. Weiner? I am so exicted to have the surgery. I am positive about it, but I haven't been open about it. Most of the people around where we live judge everyone because they have nothing better to do when the guys are deployed. We live ina very small Army community and everyone is in everyone else's business. While I'm not ashamed that I am having the surgery, I just don't want it to be front page news either, which it will be if I tell anyone. The only people who know for a fact that I am having it done are my best friend who lives in Florida and my husband. My kids don't even know, they just think I'm having my gallbladder removed. (Which isn't exactly a lie.) Just wanted to know if anyone else has this experience? I had mentioned it to a few friend several years ago and they are all like, "oh you look fine, you don't need surgery" and basically told me I was crazy to want to have it done. They offered no support and were sort of mean about it. Which is another reason I have refrained from making it public. Any thoughts?

Dearheart - sometimes other people are just stupid. Don't let anybody get in your way, 'cause you are cookin' HOT now!!! I am so glad you have one person who knows the real story and can be your support. I hope your husband is positive about this, too. That's very important. What you want to tell, or feel you can tell "the public" is up to you. Eventually, they will definitely notice the difference in your appearance, and when you're healed and more confident, you can just SHOCK them by telling them that you've done IT. I have told some people, but everyone knows I'll be out of work on FMLA for a while, and eventually everyone will know anyway. That's OK. I'm finding that any conversation I have is a great opportunity to educate people on the real causes and problems of obesity, and offer some solutions to those who are in despair because they are in my same condition. Lots of people are innocently ignorant of the truth about obesity, and not many people are aware that "diets don't work". Just don't let any of the ignorance hurt your feelings or discourage you..... you are doing what's best for you, and that in itself takes great courage. Keep the faith. Blessings to you.

Thanks Cyndi, Sometimes I guess it just feels good to know that people really are stupid and it's not just me that thinks so. I hope you are doing well. I am taking it one day at a time until my surgery. I have started to take vitamins as of yesterday so I can get used to it. I am very excited to change my life positively and for the better. I am ready to be a healthier person and have more fun in life and more fun with my husband and kids. My best friend, even though she is 1/2 the world away is very supportive. She will actually be here with me on my 30 day anniversary from surgery. She arrives on that day for a visit! Alos my husband is very supportive, he has been reading the book from teh surgeon and has already started to buy soup broths and other things for me to drink in my first 30 days. I am so lucky to have a wonderful husband in my life. he knows I can do this, and he has seen me skinny. When we met 13 years ago, I was a size 3 and weighed 120. Now I'm a size 20 and I wegh 216. Big difference, but I honestly believe he loves me no differently and would love me if I weighed 416 lbs. That's the problem I think sometimes. His unconditional love gives me no incentive to try harder on my own. Of course the opposite is him saying he would leave me if I were fat,a nd that woudl suck worse. So I guess its not that bad. Thanks for your support. Blessings < Anne

Hi Anne! Yes, I am having surgery on the same day as you, but not in Germany, mine is in the Bronx, New York. I feel the same way that you do and I can not wait until after the surgery and I lose a lot of weight, so I can get back at some people that live in my building that has constantly made fun of me. This one person has been calling me, "Big Mama" and I am sick of hearing that, there are times, I feel like going over to her and smacking her, but I just keep quiet and I just walk away from her! I am better than that and she should be the last one to talk about my being big! I might be big, she is also, but there is a huge difference, she is butt ugly and I am considered cute!

Hi Marie, Okay.... If your neighbor calls you fat again, just say... "I may be fat, but you're ugly and I can lose weight." I know what you mean about different people reacting differently, I have either one extreme or the other. I have people either say, "Oh you're not fat." or "You're a big girl, where do you shop?" I have a neighbor that out weighs me, but to hear her talk she weighs less, she is really rude and thinks she looks good. She's so big, we had a plastic surgeon come in and talk to many of teh wives who are overweight and he actually told her in front of everyone that she was way too fat to have any type of PS done on her. I tried to talk to her seriously about stuff and she just gets mean, so i don't talk to her anymore. My other friend across from me is a big girl too,a nd she can't stand to be around her because the conversation always turns to weight. No one wants to focus on that all the time especially when its not your fault. I try to stay positive and I just keep up my head because I know it will all be over soon and I'll be looking good and I'll be so much healthier too. I just want to be healthy and have more self esteem. I feel good about myself, and I am positive thinker and very outgoing, but my weight for the past 8 years has really drug me down. I hate that people look at me funny when I eat. It's like I'm not some pig at a trough! I'm just big and I still have to eat. I think that after a certain point what you eat just doesn't seem to matter you're big and you'll stay big without professional help of some sort such as surgery, dieticians, or something else. Keep up your positive thinking and I'll be praying for you on "our" surgery day! Keep me posted on your progress. It will be nice to know I am not alone in this on my day. Blessings! < Anne

Hi Anne, I'm much the same, in that I'm inclined to keep this very private. I don't want to share this personal situation with strangers, they don't have the right to judge me or you or anyone. It's hard , though, because eventually it will be obvious that something has gone on for all the weight to come off. But I'll just tell nosy people that I decided to get very serious about my weight and have been on a strict diet and exercise program (all true). Good luck to you, I wish you great success. Sheryl

Guten Tag! Listen, do not break down any tell anyone there! I am keeping my surgery a complete secret from everyone except my husband, sister, mother and father. That is it. I have sworn everyone to secrecy. I totally understand what you are going through. Sometimes I just want to talk to someone about my upcoming surgery (October 4th) but I am always very glad that I did not break down and tell. I am taking two weeks off of work, and they think that I am having a fibroid removed (which has happend to me in the past). When I start losing weight, I am going tell everyone that I am just using Portion control. Hang in there girl and if you ever need anyone to chat with please feel free to send me an email.