Hello Nicole I am Nicole from New Orleans. I am having GPBS on June 26th. I am on my pre op liquid diet now. I do know how you feel about your friends and family. I almost allowed people negative comments make me change my mind. No, I am not in bad health right now but I am Obese....and I am tired of being Obese. I want to start my life over. I want to be more healthier. Yes I have tried diets when I was younger and when I become older I thought I was happy being fat but really I was not. Don't worry about what people say if this is in your heart do it and be happy with it.