I just have to make this shout out to my best friend!
Quick background info: I work 3rd shift, 12 hours, as a supervisor. Its long nights and when I'm at my desk, I'm reading up on here for lots of ideas and encouraging words. It makes my night go by and keeps me in a good mood.
Well tonight is a slow night, all of my employees are right on task and they don't need me breathing down their neck. So since there wasn't much else I could read on this forum I started looking through some others and out of curiosity I clicked on the one for "WLS Spouses". I nearly got depressed and had to leave the page to come back over and type this! I can't begin to say how thankful I am for my significant other. I have been divorced for a few years now and I have started dating my childhood friend soon after. He has always been a great friend and he is by far my best friend at this point in my life. I have nothing negative to say. He has always made it his duty to keep my spirits lifted, keep a smile on my face, and encourage me in everything I do. Even when we were kids... (although at 15 he told me I had nice boobs and I was really good at parallel parking...we've matured a little since then) he was a driving force in my happiness. I just can't imagine what others have to go through dealing with jealous spouses and significant others who make this journey about them. I know my ex husband would have been the same way and I'm thankful I discovered the option of the RNY years after a divorce and didn't have to deal with that. I truly could reach out and hug every single one of you who just need it today. I know in the beginning my boyfriend was against the idea. He strongly felt I didn't need it. He hates my self image, the fact I can't take compliments, and how much I complain of the way I look. He finds me beautiful and feels there's nothing wrong with me. But when I explained to him that I just wanted to ride the rides at amusement parks and not spend the entire wait in line wondering if I would be the 'fat lady" that couldn't get her seat belt buckled and I wanted to actually run in the 5K I host every year to raise money for my Relay For Life team to donate to the American Cancer Society, he completely understood. He isn't perfect at watching what he eats and always has my old friend Pepsi around but at some point I had to be strong and know that this was work and I chose to do it.
I apologize for the book but this topic touched me and made me so very thankful for the person I have in my life. For those of you who put up with a lot of back lash, I say this: Life is short. Do what makes you happy and be with those who make you happy. We wasted so much time being overweight, don't waste more time being with someone who doesn't make you smile when you think of them 
