You're not 'that' fat?!

So you don't look like the patients in the "My 600 lb Life".  The point is to prevent you from getting there.  If your BMI is 40 or more, then it has been proven that wls is your best chance at successful weight loss.

I chuckled when I read your post, not because it was funny per se, but because I would be rich if I had a dollar for every time someone said that to me.  Yes, I was not the heaviest person to have WLS. In fact, I was on the lower end of the BMI cutoff for surgery (36).  I did not have much support from my boyfriend at all.  He was outright angry that I would do something like this and threatened to leave me.  My girlfriend was quite supportive, even though she didn't agree with it.  She just never expressed openly that she disagreed.  My immediate family knew about it but did not understand it all.  I went through this process alone essentially.  It was a lonely time, but I knew that this was the right decision for me and my health and allowed that to be my guiding principle.  I knew that I did not come to this decision lightly and needed to make a drastic change for my health.  I year later, it has paid off.  I am healthier now than I ever was, and oh yeah, thinner too. 

My boyfriend and I are still together, although he still thinks I could have lost the weight in another way.  Ironically, he has 20lbs to lose and is struggling.  My new eating habits are rubbing off on him though.  

First off, WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY IS NOT THE EASY WAY OUT. it is merely another tool in the arsenal to fight obesity! It is not an easy way out. losing weight is very hard work, no matter what you choose to do. Those of us who have had surgery will tell you that you will have to change you outlook on food and eating. 

It is no one's business what you decide to do. I was very fortunate that I had a great support system . My husband was & is my best supporter! I really didn't care what anyone else thought. My doctor encouraged me to do this. The support staff in the surgeon's office were exceptional people, always there with an encouraging word. 

My insurance required a 6 month waiting period before they approved the surgery. During that time I saw every medical specialist, GI, Cardio, Pulmonary, Psychiatrist and Psychologist. I had to try to lose weight and get weighed by my medical doctor at each monthly visit. I has lost some but not a lot of weight during this time. 

Take the opportunity to thoroughly investigate what you plan to do. As I said before, it is not the easy way out. but I lost over 200 pounds in 3 1/2 years. It is so worth it.

Good luck with your decision, and don't let anyone talk you out of the surgery if you decide it is for you. 

I can certainly sympathize with this! I've lost almost 60 lbs pre-op, so on top of the general anti-surgery comments, I'm also getting "you can obviously lose weight without surgery!" Well yeah, I've lost and regained the same 80 lbs more times than I can count (adding 20 of regain each time)...what I can't do is KEEP weight off! Plus I'm still type II diabetic and have been since my early 20s. Surgery is risky short-term. But long-term, obesity is much, much riskier. The catch 22 is that you either have to let people persist in their misconceptions and unwarranted judgments about your health, or you have to tell acquaintances much more than they need to know about your medical history. Luckily I'm not a very private person, but regardless, I decided my health is more important to me than what anyone else thinks of my choices regarding my own body. Seek out those who do support you, and if you can't find any, establish with a health psychologist...mine has been amazingly helpful to have in my corner through the pre-op process.

I initially told my boyfriend as well as some of my family early on when I was in the beginning of the process. I tested the waters with some close friends to see what they would say. That was about 9 months ago  

My my family was pretty receptive but I got pushback from most of my close friends. They said I didn't need it and that it was too dangerous. I just told them it was something I was looking into.

I ended up getting the surgery Feb 17 and told nobody besides my boyfriend and 2 close friends who don't know each other or the friends I didn't tell. Not my mom, my family, nobody. I don't want anyone's advice or opinion. 

I don't want to hear anything against my decision since I know what's best for me. Also, I am well known I'm my community and I didn't want to be the talk of the town.