Question:
7yr old daughter doesn't want me to have surgery.

My seven year old daughter is kind of chubby and doesn't want me to have the surgery for fear she'll be the only "fat" one in the family-How can I assure her I'm doing the right thing?    — Tonya M. (posted on January 13, 2003)

January 13, 2003
I had surgery 2 weeks ago...My children (8 & 9) they also were against my surgery. They were afraid for me and of change. I made up my mind that my house had to get healthy or my children who are also chubby will be in big trouble as adults. I have taught them bad habbits and now I needed to take responsibility for my childrens chubbiness and change their eating habits also before its too late. They are kids and can't do it alone...they only eat what I feed them and have in the house. They have adjusted great to the new food in the house. I don't tell them they can never have mcdonalds or chips or chocolate, but it will be a lot less and further then it was. They are now snacking on carrots, celery, and wheat thins and 15 calorie ice pops. They are doing as great as I am and the surgery is long forgotton even though its only been 2 weeks. Hope I helped a little with how I was feeling. Good luck
   — Brooke B.

January 13, 2003
My 12 year old (who was also overweight) did not want me to have the surgery either, as a matter of fact, he called the surgery cheating. So about a week before my surgery, I sat down with him and I told him how much I weighed and the problems that came with that. He was surprised, he had no idea. He changed his mind and has been very sopportive. I had my surgery almost 3 1/2 months ago and I am down almost 70 lbs, and as a wonderful side effect, my son has trimmed down too. Good luck, your daugher will come around.
   — Rose B.

January 13, 2003
Mine are 8 & 10. We have made a family time each night after dinner to exercise together fro 20-30 min. This has become sooooo important to them that it keeps me on track. They won't let me skip because they love the family activity. I hope it's setting up good, healthy habits for them that they'll make a permanent part of their own lives!
   — jen41766

January 13, 2003
My 6 year old daughter felt the same way. She never voiced her concern directly about not wanting to be the only fat girl in our family, but I knew what she was really feeling. (Her younger sister is not overweight.) I actually felt guilty for a few days thinking that I was abandoning her in some way by changing my life by having the surgery. I had to get a grip on things and realize that I would be helping her, too. I had the surgery 10/30/02, and my daughter is really excited by seeing how much weight I've lost and by seeing how much food a person really needs to eat to be healthy. She's watching what she eats, and is really aware of the need to exercise to stay healthy. I think the surgery is the best thing I've done for the both of us. I want to do everything I can to help her keep from having to go through the nightmare of growing up obese.
   — lezawomack