Encouraging someone to get this surgery

My wife told me five years ago that she decided to have Lap Band surgery. At the time she was about 20 pounds heavier than I was. I have to admit I wasn't that supportive of her. I remember saying...But I'm happy with the way you look now (I have a thing for large women). But she went ahead and did it. She wanted me to do it with her. But I wasn't ready.

We both have struggled with our weight our entire lives. We also dieted together, Atkins, LA Weight Loss, etc. But we always rebounded.

She went solo on the band. She's lost about 20 pounds total from when she first had the band.

About a year ago I finally realized that I can't do this on my own and I needed to consider WLS. So I talked to Dr. Nish who did her surgery as well. I went in for RNY and he told me about the Sleeve. The rest is history.

Anyway...I was trying to pressure her to revise from the Lapband to the Sleeve. She's extremely jealous of my weight loss. I was hopping to motivate her to revise.

I remember during one of my followup appointments. I told Dr. Nish that I was trying to convince her to revise. He chastised me. He said that I shouldn't do that. He said those that are forced into surgery are the one's that fail. Those who go into it looking for the benefits and can commit to the lifestyle changes are the ones that succeed. He said to be honest. I rather see her lose the weight on her own. He said if your going to pressure her. Pressure her to diet and exercise. That's the way we we should all lose weight.

I would say don't pressure. You can lead the horse to water...but you can't make him drink it.

I encouraged my BFF to get a sleeve and now we are enjoying our healthier- and thinner- lives together! I was lucky that she was receptive to hearing me out, but after she saw my success she was primed to get her life back too. I tell everyone I can about my surgery. I am very non-pushy but open, if that makes any sense?

It's so good to hear from you Fawn!  Life is good!

I never knew much about wls until a neighbor told me she was having it. The magic words that set me on the path to investigate further:

"It's covered by insurance."

I always thought it was cosmetic, but now I know it's a life saver with many Heath benefits. Looking great is just a bonus.

 My entire family on my mom's side can benefit from the surgery.  We used to make jokes about how we could get on TV as the 1 ton family and have the network pay for our weight loss and make profit by filming it all, haha.

I suggested (highly suggested really) weight loss surgery to my older sister a few years ago when I initially started my process and she ended up getting her surgery already before I've had mine!  She had the RNY and from my last visit home, I see she still has awful eating habits.  I believe it is because the decision for wls didn't come 100% from her on choice and she refuses to deal with all the issues in her own head that governs the issues with her stomach.

Well I did it. called my brother and suggested he consider vsg. we are on good terms and he is not  the type to get in a snit about things. I told him that this had been so life changing for me I would feel remiss in not sharing the information about this with him. So I just told him about how it worked and that I was going to send him some email links and a recent pic of me. also told him of some surgeons in his area in the midwest that have been used by people on the vsg forum and that seem to be pretty good. would rather he came to SF and used my surgeon but that probaby won't happen.  Anyway I said I wasn't going to nag or keep bringing it up but just wanted to share this good thing. so he reacted well and said he would look at the stuff. so i don't think i created any anger or problem. also talked to his wife about it but she is not a candidate due to all kinds of other health issues (obesity related) so it might be tough if he does the thing and she doesn't. One of their issues is that they eat dinner out all the time and we know what those restaurant portions can do. Anyway, think it went well and didn't offend brother. Won't bring it up again. Its up to him now. D

Glad it went well Diane!  Your heart was in the right place, you did the right thing, AND now it is up to him!  I am proud of him, you must love him a lot!  I hope he goes for it!