Why don't our family and friends support us?

I believe when people know better then they often DO better. You seem to have a great grasp on 'the sleeve'. It has worked well for you~~and I congratulate you in your journey, even at 63!!!BRAVO!
SO~why not be pro-active and teach what you know to those friends/family members and everyone learns something??
It's kinda similar to when someone loses a family member or dear friend...many people want to do something nice or say something helpful, but they are never schooled in HOW or WHAT to say once the funeral is over. That is usually the last thing the person needs. I still love talking about my GMa and she's been gone 15 yrs.
Teach! and BE HAPPY!

Oh I am very active and spend a great deal of time educating my family and friends.  I have talked to anyone that will listen to my story about how I lost my weight.

I have considered putting on a few local and state meeting about the sleeve.  Dr. Aceves is behind me 100% and said he would come and speak too.  So one day you may see me on TV talking about this.

I just wanted to encourage other on these sites to speak up and tell people about their WLS.

Love your attitude and I am VERY happy with my entire life.  I have it all and I am so very blessed.

Hugs.

I guess I'm more lucky than I realized---my friends and family have been nothing BUT supportive. Maybe they just knew me well enough to know I wouldn't take any **** about my personal decisions about my health. (*grin*)

Hi your situation is very rare.  I am so happy and thrilled that you have never had to experience any of these things. 

Yay for you and keep doing what you are doing and enjoy your NEW life.

Hugs,

I will LOOK for you on TV (but hope you tell us all on OH). I hope to do something here in my state with WLS support as I have always felt group support is tantamount to the surgeries success LONG TERM. It may be some time for me as I have other candles burning too and don't like to do things half-arsed. I hate my beloved surgeon is retired.
I lost several people I considered good friends as I got thin. It happens. I've had friends I didn't see for a year tell me, Man! You haven't gained any weight!!!"...like they hoped I'd fail OR thought the surgery was a sham. I do know when to cut my TOXIC losses and make new, supportive friends. My family, 'cept my sister, and my fine son, are so dysfunctional they still can't fathom WHY I'd go and have my "guts rerouted"...I shoulda been happy anyhow.
ROFLMAO!!!!!
YOU ROCK! Nice you surgeon is so grande!

Hi,

Yes, I am very lucky that my doctor is willing to help people learn more about WLS. He is a fantastic man and a top rated doctor.  I love all the things you have said.  You are an amazing person.  Getting late here in Oregon, so I will say good night!.

Hugs back to you and never change who you are, you are just perfect in my book

Sweetest dreams to you, my new friend!
I don't ever aspire for perfection~too high a place to fall from. I love me...flaws and all. I dance to my own drummer...and like other women who aren't afraid to do so too.
Holly

i totally agree with ur basic contention that it boils down to fear & being uneducated

they r afraid for us & the surgery they have probably heard the most about is the older version of RNY ("stomach stapling") that was so plagued with problems that it isnt even done anymore.

in some people im sure it is that they dont understand being heavy because theyve never been fat.  but statistics show that most overweight people tend to have mostly overweight family &/or overweight friends.  i dont see a lot of fat people surrounding themselves w/ mostly skinny people (although im sure it has happened before).

so while i do thin****assionally it may be that friends/family dont understand obesity & the futility of diets, i think 99.9% of the time it totally boils down to FEAR & IGNORANCE. 

wen

Hi Wen,

You are so correct.  And along the way I have lost a few friends, not a lot but one or two and I even understand why--it is hard for them to see me changing my entire life around and I eat healthy and we don't have a lot in common it seems.  I never try to make my fat friends feel bad.  I was fat once too and I knew how it felt.  Every time I see a fat person I want to run over and tell them, I know something that will really help you and you don't have to be fat anyone, but I restrain myself and don't do that.  If people would learn to not judge others because of their weight, they actually might meet some fantastic loving and caring people. 

Fear and Ignorance are such a big part of not wanting to or closing the door to what we have done or tried to say to them.  NONE of us have one regret for having WLS because we have become or we are on our way to becoming healthy people.  Keep up your great work. 

Hugs,