At the end of the day you know you best, you know what the right choice is for you. I've dieted many times lost weight but always gained it back and then some. I know for a fact that I would not have long term success with dieting so I chose the sleeve despite initial objection from my husband, mom and sister. They all eventually came around after them hearing about all the research I've done and realizing this just wasn't a fly by night impulsive decision. My husband is my biggest supporter and has been absolutely wonderful throughout this.

If you feel like this is going to be a losing battle with your friends and family to the point where it's going to stress you out or sabotage you just tell them the weight loss was a side effect of the tumor being removed.

Good luck either way.

I love your attitude! Take a tumor and turn it into a blessing! Awesome!!

Look, my doctor said that after a certain point in obesity, diet and exercise alone no longer work. I don't know where you fall in that, but I was way past the point of being able to do it without the surgery. Reality is, the surgery is a tool, use it and you will lose the weight and keep it off. Take the tool and put it on a shelf (don't make the lifelong lifestyle changes) and you will lose but you won't keep it off. In the end, it really is all about what you decide to do and keep doing.

As for the naysayers, don't you find that most of them aren't obese? I find that normal weight people who have never had a weight issue think losing is as easy as giving up chocolate. They just don't get it. So do what you know is best for you.

Most of the naysayers are overweight.... why am I not surprised at their responses to you? They are merely projecting their own fears and doubts onto you. Their reponses have nothing to do with you at all. I am sorry for the circumstances you are facing, but I agree with others who have said you have a great attitude about it. My suggestion? Talk about the surgery with people who are supportive (like this forum, or maybe a support group if the weight loss center performing your surgery has one-- most of them do) and say little to the naysayers. Best of luck to you.

Even my family Dr. was so against it I asked him if I had the sleeve done if he would continue as my Dr. or should I find another one. He stated he would continue to see me. Earlier last year he put me on two RX's that in combination had worked for several of his patients in my age group to lose weight. After 4 months,

I lost not one pound. He had told me at that time that he didn't support Gastric Surgery as he had seen no positive results from having it and most gain all the weight and more back. Before I did my extensive research and saw the positives, I had felt the same way. My step-sister had the full surgery and she did gain back all her weight and then some. But, SHE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE EATING, MEDICATION, ETC., GUIDELINES. It's a shame as she is such a pretty girl and had two young boys to keep up with. I thinks she believed it would be a magic fix, even though she had done a lot of research on it herself.

No one in my family has said a negative remark to me. I told those that I am close with and the others either don't know or have been told by the ones that do. Yesterday, one of the best parts were all the compliments on how great I was looking. I wore a light shirt that I had bought a few years ago, still had the tags on but never wore as it was too tight. Yesterday, plenty loose.

I am sorry about your tumor, but as long as they are there and you are committed to the extreme change in your lifestyle (eating, exercising, etc.) then I say why not. The surgeon's there and I think you are just getting a twofour/bonus.

Bottom line, I think the negativity comes from being uneducated in the surgery, whole lifestyle change, and possibly even a little bit jealous. So just prove them wrong. My daughter was completely against it, so I sent her the link my surgeon had given to me that explains the surgery step by step from pre to post and rest of life changes that need to take place to be successful. That changed her mind and she is so proud of me.

So good luck and I hope they get all the tumor and you can get on the way to where you want to be. Sorry, didn't mean to write a novelette.

Karen

Thank you all for your posts. I can really relate to it as I am on the journey towards WLS. I am selective in who I share this with. The people who I find are most resistant to the news are the ones who have had success with diet and exercise. Until I'm met all the requirements and know for sure that I am having it, I am very selective who I tell. Your response really jumped out at me and I wanted to thank you for it. I wish you the best with the removal of your stomach tumor. If the surgeons are both in agreement to do both surgeries at once, why not. It will save you having a 2nd procedure and go through a second round of healing. Wishing you the best.

Don't let anyone make you feel bad about the decision you have made to be a more heatlhy you. If they are concerned simply about the procedure and long-term prognosis, you have plenty of data to show what a very effective tool this can be if used correctly. That should bring them around. If they are unsupportive for any other reasons, maybe it is really their issue and not yours. You need to surround yourself with people who will love, support and help you be successful in this process.