Daily Inspiration - Help your family and friends change with you

Help your family and friends change with you.

 

You may be right when you think that none of your family or friends understand your WLS experience. These people are not you. The best strategy for peace is to love and teach one another. You have made a choice. Rather than get angry or resentful because a family member or friend comes in eating a sugary food with a tempting aroma, teach them how to support your goal of long-term WLS success.

 

Realize your family and friends must learn how to fulfill their needs while supporting you. Finding the right balance will take time and communication. Just keep at it.

 

Action for the day: Forgive your family members and your friends, as you teach them how to support you.

 

© 2007, National Association for Weight Loss Surgery. All rights reserved.

This is a GREAT post for sure! I am a testament to this one for sure. My family was totally against my surgery initially. Then they came to see the changes & progress & 6 months later my father had WLS. Forgiveness is certainly an important part of Life and it opens doors and hearts to so much more. Jill, thanks for posting these!

My family were never against my surgery because I never told most of them lol! However now that they do know many of them still do not  "get it"  - but I have learned not to get upset with them and realise it is me that must be true to myself and I can't change the way they eat......so I just make it very clear what I can't eat and ask that they do not give that to me....... plus my 4 year old son is very good at saying "Mommy can't eat that - she does not eat sugar"  He is my little cheerleader!! Jackie

This IS a great topic for all, isn't it????

My family wasn't necessarily against my surgery, they just did not understand it and was very concerned by it.  However, they have changed their point of view regarding the surgery aspect. 

They now understand that it is NOT the easy way out, and know what I go through daily to be where I am today.  They are amazed by the transformation, but know that I work it one way or another DAILY.  Sometimes it saddens them that I have to do this, but like me, they know what the alternative is. Fortunately, most of my family is VERY supportive.  Both os my parents are amazed every time they see me, one of my sisters is my biggest cheerleader and of course my hubby, kids and daughter-in-law are VERY supportive....

Its a WONDERFUL topic! I love that my family & friends realize its not an easy way out. I love too that they are supportive and ask a LOT of questions about it all. There is NOTHING better than arming ourselves with KNOWLEDGE! I LOVE the support even if it took a bit of time for them to come around!