Reactions when you told people you were doing WLS

The ones that matter, my mother, father and husband supported it. Beyond them I didn't care.  Some people gave me every reason that I shouldn't and some told me it's a great idea. 

the statement about it being an easy way out annoys me.  I am one of those people that at 5 months I have to work at actually losing the weight.  I can eat anything with no or very little consequences so I have to tell myself not to eat them still.  I have limited restriction with the exception of pork and non ground up meats; am I suppose to only eat these food for the rest of my life to lose weight by restriction?  I have to measure my foods or I will still over eat.  I have to exercise and stay away from deserts.  This is not easy.  Yes, once I do what I am suppose to the weight does come off easier than before but I really do have to put in the work.

I had a couple of naysayers. But overall, everyone has been very supportive. I was also pretty vocal about my decision and what I was doing, and why. I'm also of the mind set if one doens't make a big deal out of something others won't. That doesn't always apply. It did in my case.

 My momand hubby are on board but my best friends are not. Makes me sad but I decided to not tell anyone else.

EVERYONE FOR ME WAS SUPPORTIVE. THEY WERE GLAD THAT I HAD LOOKED INTO IT BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT I HAD BEEN DOING EVERYTHING I COULD TO LOSE THE WEIGHT. MOSTLY THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT ME NOT LOSING THE WEIGHT AND NOT GETTING THE SURGERY. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BURY ME. THEY WANT ME TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY. AT FIRST MY FRIEND DIDN'T WANT ME TO LOSE THE WEIGHT BUT AFTER I EXPLAINED SOME THINGS TO HER, SHE WAS ON BOARD AND SHE IS CHEERING ME ON. I AM ALSO SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT SOME PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY ARE SO SUPPORTIVE AND HAVE TOLD MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF THAT IF I NEED ANYTHING DON'T HESITATE TO COME KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR. VERY, VERY GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR THAT.

Almost everyone was very supportive of my decision to do it and they knew I wasn't going into this lightly.  The people that were opposed were so because they were scared of me having surgery.  But you do find those that don't want you to do it because of jealousy.  Bottom line is this is about you taking care of yourself and that's a good thing.  But know that the surgery is just the beginning.  Sure the weight will come off and it'll seem like a little miracle. But the reality is that there will still be work to be done too and just because you lose the weight doesn't mean that you won't gain weight back if you don't stay on track everyday.  Good for you for taking this huge and important step.  Just ignore the negative people and do what you know is best for you.  Best of luck!! :)

I told a lot of my friends and family before hand and the reaction overall was wow, good for you! The few that didnt have that reaction were mainly concerned with the danger aspect. Only one person said it was the easy way and my response was that when you weigh 300+ pounds and nothing has ever worked, the hard way just hadnt done the job and I was staring diabetes in the face, knee replacements, back pain, foot pain, and future heart attack or stroke. Kinda shut them right up. I guess seeing me be so grossly overweight for so many years, bouncing back and forth with diets, most are happy to see me take a serious step. But ultimately none of them matter. Sounds like you have a good support system in your husband and mom and those are the ones that count.

 I was extremely heavy (a BMI of 57), so although my brother and best friend were quite worried about the safety of the surgery (based mostly on lingering impressions from the old stomach stapling procedures from the 70s and 80s), all of my family and close friends were very supportive. Before I had surgery, I really only told family and close friends and coworkers, and I presented it in a way that made it clear that I had made up my mind, it was already in process (with such a high BMI, getting insurance approval was merely a matter of completing all the pre-op hoops)... It was not up for debate.  

After surgery, I was pretty open about having it done.  I did not run around announcing it, but I made no attempt to be furtive about it.  I only had one person be negative about the surgery in general and had one person (who also had RNY) make some snarky comments anout how i looked after losing the weight (but since she also had the surgery, it was personal and not RNY related).  If others had negative opinions about it, they kept it to themselves (which, again, I think is somewhat a matter of how you present yourself and your decision).

Lora

 Fortunately everyone was very supportive.  Probably because they had watching me lose and gain weight over and over again.  I was 56 when I had the surgery and it's changed my life completely.  The only person's opinion *****ally matters is YOURS.  And believe me this is not the easy way out.   My surgery was four years again and everyday I have to watch what I eat and exercise or the weight comes back.  Good luck on making the right decision for you.