Family Support

Hi again - another question tonight! As I said in my earlier post, I'm just starting to look into WLS and one of my biggest obstacles is my family - they do NOT want me to have this surgery because they're worried about risks and see it as an "easy way out". They're urging me to give dieting just one more chance and they think that I can lose the weight without surgery. I have doubts about this but considering that I still have reservations about surgery, I don't know what to say to them. I'm really starting to see surgery as the best option for me because it's my best shot at significant, permanent weight loss. Have any of you encountered opposition from your family? Neither my mom or my grandparents are obese so I don't think they understand where I'm coming from. What have you said to your family to convince them? Anyone go into surgery against their parents' wishes? Thanks! ~Jen

luckly my parents are very supportive. but i would just do some research and whatnot and then after you have all YOUR facts together, go to your parents with facts and such and tell them that this isnt and "easy" way out, its a life changing exeprince...yes there can be complications, but comapired to the complication of death...they seem like nothing. and its a proven fact that more people than not, that are over 100 lbs over weight cannot lose the weight by them selves. and since you can go out and exercise i would definitly reccomend getting the surgery

My mom is for it and really shes the only one that knows about me wanting the surgery... for the others I really do not care what their thoughts are... I see it as it is my life and my body... Meagan

like mike said do A LOT of research and dont be afraid to ask questions even if they sound retarted...(trust me weve heard them all ... even ive asked some weird ones!!)....my mom is all for it my dad is iffy and my boyfriend gives me the ur taking the easy way out of it speach but i look at it like this either ur there for me or ur not and if ur not then thats just too bad...i know how important it is to haveur fam around so try to give them all the good things abiut the surgery and show them the b4 and after oics try to find ppl ur own weight and age thats usually what woks show them how many hundresds of good things come out of wls compared to the few bad things.... like i said pics work really well explain it to them and show them that u KNOW what ur talking about... hope i helped.... smooches Jenn

My parents are SO unsupportive its not even funny!!! But im the one thats living fat everyday of my life, and its MY decision. And since im 18 they cant do anything about it anyways! ~Amy pre-op DS November 5,2004

Hello Jen, My name is Tiffany and I know just what you are going through if you want to talk about it call my cell 301 529 8946 and we can gab about all the surgery stuff..

is your family skinny b/c it seem to me that skinny people dont understand how hard it is for people to loose weight, and there is a greater risk of death if you keep gaining then the surgery itself, maybe tell them that, my family on the other hand is overly supportive....my mom talks about it everyday....

skinny people suck when it comes to knowin what its like to be fat, lol. my mom tries to be supportive but she winds up getting a lil on the pushy side and then i wind up getting all blah and such, because shes skinny! lol