"Sleeve? No thanks, I'd rather lose weight "the right way"

Be patient with people like that - we've had a lot of time to research, meet with doctors, attend seminars, etc.  It's a lot to handle when someone tells you to consider WLS.  Everyone's journey and struggles are different.  If you'd told me a year ago that I would be getting WLS I would have rolled my eyes and probably said something similar.  

I've only told a few close friends about my decision and I've basically told them - I'm not looking for an opinion.  I'm doing what I feel is best for me and I could really use your support.  Whether they choose to support me or not is completely up to them.  We can only control how we react to others, not how they will react and respond.

Don't let one person's reaction get you down.  This is probably not the last time you will hear something like this.  But, there will be plenty of people who will be really supportive also.

 when I get around to telling people I plan to say something like this:

say you have a chronic illness and there are two ways to treat it - the traditional approach has a success rate over 5 years of about 10%, a newer method combines the traditional approach with an additional treatment that improves the success rate to about 80%.

the inherent risk of the first treatment is almost nothing. With the second treatment there is a very small chance of death, and the likelihood of having to take vitamins or other meds for some time, as well as a slight chance of some other issues..

both methods will improve quality of life, but the second method will do so faster as well as more effectively.  Which would you choose? The safe but ineffective method or the slightly riskier but far more effective?

cuz really - that's the difference here.  We still have to restrict calories, increase activity and change our lifestyles and our relationship with food. We still have to learn new coping techniques, yell at our scales for being lying *******s, and deal with idiots who think this is easy!

Perfect response! I thought the statistics for keeping weight off were even lower (like 2%) with "traditional" diets.  I think that statistic speaks volumes. When people say wls is "risky", my surgeon's response is, "Risky compared to what? Staying obese?"

I love that response! "Risky compared to what? Staying Obese" that is a must repeat!

I find personal Facebook.......well.....not for me....I prefer to fly low and have people wonder what I'm doing....I've seen/heard of so many "Cluster F-cks" when information and interpretation gets pretty twisted up. People get real brave on online....and many relationships get broken.

I've been open about WLS from the get go.......

I have only received nothing but support and praise.....

I just know anybody dumb enough to give me that crap is not my friend or knows me or my history and will get it back ten fold.

I actually get the opposite.......I get the tap on the shoulder and the private inquiry about what is all involved..... maybe for themselves or somebody they know... the most recent started out like.... "My mom really needs to do something like this"

frisco

I'm really please she said that and not you, as I was to give you a bloody good mouth full.

Some people are just plain ignorant. Remind yourself that when talking to her again, it will make for easier conversation

This is my tool that I had chosen to help me with weight loss.
This is just a tool!!! We still have to do all the work...

I got my very first tiny taste of this yesterday. As we all sat around after Easter dinner yesterday, the topic of next week's surgery came up. I felt safe and comfortable talking about it with my inner circle, all who know and are nothing but supportive.

My sister in law offhandedly mentioned someone she knew who lost weight "the healthy way" and how they'd gone overboard. I know she didn't mean it, she struggles with her weight (is much more emotional about it than I've ever been. She is miserable about it). I know she didn't mean it in the slightest snarky way but it definitely stung, being the first time anyone has said something like that to my face.

I'm going to need a thicker skin. This wasn't a barb, but it sorta felt like it.

"Well, I decided to try the effective way. My health is important to me. Good luck."

At this point, I don't believe I will tell anyone but family.  It's no-one's business and I don't want the comments.  But ... knowing me, if someone who is overweight asks me, I'll undoubtedly tell them and the gig will be up.  I do believe that this surgery is going to become very very common and that physicians will start recommending it to their patients more and more.  My GP was over ok with the concept.  When you've battled weight up and down for decades, and are beginning to see the health issues associated with weight, it's the only smart alternative to me.  It's taken a year to get to this point of view with lots of reading and reflection.