Please Help...

MY friend needs some positive support right now. One of her close family members are tearing her down b/c she wants WLS. Please show her some support and positive thoughts! She really wants this, But its hard when loved ones are makin it so hard.. http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=m1137771666 thats her page.. thank you Kimberley 3/15/2006

Aww.. Kimberley you are so sweet. Thank you guys. Here is the deal! I told someone close to me about my decision to have WLS and I got 10 seconds of dead silence over the phone followed by "have you tried weigh****chers?" and then the whole thing about HER having concerns and a lecture about eating habits. Do you really think that I would opt to have a life threatning surgery if I never tried weigh****chers? Do you really think I would do this if diets worked for me?? I was thinking in my head why did I even tell her? I left the conversation feeling like she was dissapointed in me and that I was taking the easy way out. I wanted to scream! I know better... but it still hurts. I know many of you understand and have gone through it. I need to stop caring what others think but it's really hard. hugs maris

Hi Maris, I know how you feel...my husband didn't want me to have the surgery, even up to the day I went in. My mom didn't want me to either, but she said if I could give her 3 reasons she thought were good enough, she would support me. I gave her several and she said she still didn't like it, but it was my decision and would give me as much support as she could. (I'm living in Germany while she is in the US.) My husband's best friend who is an older man had it done about a year or two before me and when I told him I was going to do it he was excited for me. After my hubby talked to him about it, he started to come around but still wasn't very thrilled with the whole idea. He was thinking more along the lines of "the easy way out" too. So it wasn't until afterward when he saw how difficult and involved the whole lifestyle change was that he started to really appreciate what I was willing to put myself through to get healthy and have a long happy life with him. Now he will start conversations with people about WLS and how it isn't the easy way out and how much work and effort it takes. He appreciates me and what I do more. He is happy that I'm healthier and I feel better about myself. I'm pleased to say that my #1 goal for WLS (having a baby) is finally coming true. We tried for 5 years to no avail because of my weight issues. Now I'm due in May with my first child thanks to WLS. So you know in your head that you are not doing this for anyone else, you are doing this for yourself. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty or any negative feeling for wanting to make a better you. This is for you! If you know you are doing it for the right reasons, then take comfort in that and don't ever forget. You will be happier in the long-run for it. If you ever want to talk, just e-mail me!! Brenda