Hanging in
I have pretty much made up my mind. I feel that
surgery is my last alternative. I have several family
members that are against it. Mom says that the vitamins
and protein drinks are to expensive. Therefore, she
says that I am being selfish. That the cost would deny
my childern food and ect. My brother states that
diet and excercise are all I need. When I try to
explain that they don’t work, he compares it to
alcoholism. With all of the obsticles that I need to
overcome, they’re moral support would certainly be nice.
Sometimes I feel that they are afraid that the surgery will
work for me. Am I wrong? <br>I just keep reminding
myself that with God’s will things will work out.
<br>Dottie
July 1st, 2004 at 5:48 pm
I’ve run into alot of the same issues as you.
Luckly, my family is very supportive, but I ahve some
friends that think I’m crazy. They use the old "exercise
and diet" line, but after trying different ones all
my life, they don’t work.<br><br>For your brother, I
went to a rehab clinic here in Minnesota (Hazelden)
and they had a program where they treated overeating
like an addiction. The problem is, you can’t stop
eating. You can stop drinking and live, but you can’t
stop eating. Ask any recovering alcoholic. They’ll say
they have alittle bit of alcohol, and it doesn’t take
long for it to come back. Tell him you have to eat
food everyday or not live.<br><br>Mark
July 5th, 2004 at 2:00 am
I can understand you being upset over your own
family’s reaction. I had a feeling my would say the very
same things and have when I failed at "diets" so I
have not told any of my family. Only my fiance knows
and he is scared but very supportive. We all
understand what you are going through and it’s a personal
decision. Good luck!
July 7th, 2004 at 7:28 am
Hello Dottie,<br><br>Vitamins are expensive, but
everyone should be taking some sort of vitamins on a daily
basis. Plus, having this surgery will save you in the
long run. No money spent on secret meals at McDonalds,
plus most obese people develope serious health issue
and place on medication. Vitamins vs. high blood
pressure medicine, which do you choose? I’d go with the
vitamins myself. And as far as your bother is concerns, if
diet and excercise was all that was needed, then why
is 60 - 70% of Americans obese. <br><br>If your
mother was truly concerned for your childens well being,
then she’d be more supportive of you. You may be right
that they’re afraid the surgery will work. You may
start to feel better about yourself. You may become a
more independent thinker, who knows what the future
really holds for any of us. But there is one thing we do
know, being obese is one of the leading contributor to
early death in the United States. I say, do what’s
right for you.