Family Foes

There's something I haven't mentioned here that can be a sensitive subject. Family. 

Family support or lack of support can play a big role in the Weight loss surgery journey. My husband and I talked early on about who we would tell and who we wouldn't. Now, those who know me can attest that I have always been a very open person with my life story. I often find it difficult to keep secrets from others. So this was no different. Originally I agreed that we would keep this decision between us. Then I started thinking about how I'd explain two weeks off work to my coworkers and then the rapid weight loss... So I was open with most of them prior to surgery. I told close friends and some family but I was holding out on my mom particularly until I was certain it was going to happen... Actually it was after I told my sister that I knew I had to tell my mom because they spend a lot more time together than I do with her. 

We were all together for a family day of swimming and hanging out when I decided to talk to her about  my decision to have surgery. I knew she wouldn't like the idea but I didn't expect her to take it as bad as she did. Thankfully I had my brother & sister in law there to back me up! Long story short, my mom was not in any way supportive of my surgery. For the next few weeks she relentlessly sent me info via text about the negatives of Bariatric surgery in general. Every time I was at her house which became fewer and far between, I'd get an earful of the same stuff. There would even be discussion about it when I wasn't there! 

Words have been said, opinions expressed, feelings have been hurt & a family is divided over all of this. 

I want to be healthy. I hope to be able to conceive a healthy baby and maintain a healthy pregnancy. In the future I hope to instill healthy ideals into our children and let it continue on into the future generations! I never expected that my decision to reach these goals with the help of a surgical procedure would divide my family to such extremes!

With the holidays approaching rapidly  I'm sad to say that this year it's not about family get-togethers in our house. They will happen, but there is already an unspoken discomfort and honestly, sadness within myself that certain family members are choosing to spend the holidays with friends or exclude us (or themselves) from family gatherings. 

I haven't seen or actually spoken to my mom since about two/three weeks pre-op. I have seen my sister several times and she basically told me she won't ask me about it b/c it's a sore subject. I can appreciate her honesty, but she won't even acknowledge my significant weight loss... 

The bottom line is: you don't have to agree with my decision, you don't even have to like my decision, but you shouldn't disregard my success (so far) just because you feel my surgery wasn't necessary. 

I really want to end this on a happy note. Please understand, I'm basically sharing this b/c somewhere out there is another person struggling with their family's reactions to WLS. I choose not to be a victim and to rise above our differences. Their disinterest in my life happenings is their loss!

Every day when I go to work my team is so great about telling me I look great! I'm almost embarrassed sometimes! My friends have all been very supportive, and my clients also! I love when I see someone that doesn't know I had surgery and they tell me how great I look!

I'm still inspired by these lyrics:
I came to win, to fight,
 to conquer, to thrive.
I came to win, to survive, 
to prosper, to rise.
To fly....
(Nikki Minaj)

In fact I had some wrist bands made that say  "Fight-Conquer-Thrive-Survive-Prosper-Rise" which I will be selling for my Team in Training fund-raising efforts!
Let me know if you want any!



Heaviest Known Weight: 285
Start of pre-op diet: 274
Surgery Day Weight: 253
Current Weight: 210