I have felt for so long like I have been fighting a solitary battle to get this surgery.

I feel most of my friends, online and otherwise, are busy trying to lose weight by dieting, gaining and losing over and over again and they feel my using WLS as a tool to the same end is a cop out...giving up. I think that I am fighting my physiology more then having a lack of will power but some people don't see it that way.

What a breath of sweet, cool air to have someone offer me a support as I drudge along! I hope to be on this site more often from now on.

Thank you to all who responded and read my post!

Angela

WLS is not a cop out. it's a last resort for those of us who have tried everything and failed, for whatever reason. it's not time for beating yourself up with negative thinking. it's a time for looking forward, with all the courage you've already posted about. and with a new attitude.

and, of course, with a whole pile of cheerleaders around here!!!!!

I have come to the conclusion that I have to do what is right for ME. I don't worry about what others think...it's not their lives...it's mine. It took me quiet a while to come to that conclusion. I don't get angry with the folks that have their remarks...it's their opinion and they are allowed to have it....it's only thoughts and words and they can not and will not change my mind. Let the comments roll off your back. Sometimes I do think that folks say things out of jelously....it's ugly. Don't let it bother you....come here to us...we get it!!!!

I couldn't have said it better myself. WLS is a huge decision because it is life-changing. It's not a cop-out...it's about as far away from a cop-out that you can get actually! Life after WLS is not an easy road. I know several people who have gained their weight back, or most of it, because they refused to follow the plan.

WLS is a "tool"..it is not a "solution".

Here's an example:
I bought my husband a table saw for Christmas. It is a tool.
He has two choices. He can:
a. Let it sit there and hope that it saws some wood for him
b. Open the box, learn to use it, and put the effort forth in cutting the wood using the TOOL that I gave him.

Obviously, option A will do him no good. He has to actually know how to use the tool in order for it to be effective. It's the same with WLS. You can have WLS and do all the wrong things...keep doing what you did pre-op...and have terrible results. OR...you can come to a forum like this, ask questions, EDUCATE yourself, and get support from people who have the same "tool" that you have, and "build" an AWESOME life for yourself.

It looks like you have chosen option "B". Good choice