How to Share Your Weight Loss Surgery Decision with Family and Friends
Your weight loss journey will be much more successful if you have the support of your friends and family. Here’s how to start the conversation.
In 2018, over 250,000 people struggling with obesity in the United States underwent bariatric surgery. Weight loss procedures like gastric bypass are helping people nation-wide get control of their weight and live healthier, happier lives. The advantages of bariatric surgery are numerous, including reducing the risk of many life-threatening diseases like breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Even with all of these benefits, people are often hesitant to share their decision to have weight loss surgery. However, more and more bariatric surgery patients are sharing their stories, including some of your favorite celebrities. Here’s a step-by-step guide for telling your loved ones about your empowering, life-changing decision.
5 Tips to Share Your Weight Loss Surgery Decision
Here are some practical steps for explaining your bariatric surgery decision to family and friends.
1. Gather As Much Research As You Can
If you’re at this stage of your weight loss journey, you’ve already decided that bariatric surgery is right for you. Take your preliminary research and use it to answer any questions your loved ones might have. It also helps to articulate why you want to have bariatric surgery, and how you arrived at this decision. Be prepared to explain why weight loss surgery isn’t the easy way out.
2. Listen To Your Family And Friends
If you encounter some resistance, don’t get defensive. Remember that your friends and family only want what’s best for you, and often they’re only offering pushback out of concern. For example, someone initially might be against your decision because they’re wary of all surgical procedures. Try to understand where they’re coming from, but stay firm in your decision.
3. Stay Optimistic
With serious conversations like this, it’s easy to go into them ready for a fight. Give your loved ones the benefit of the doubt! Who knows, maybe after you break down the common misconceptions about weight loss surgery, all of your family’s anxieties will be eased. Start this discussion with a positive outlook.
4. Ask For Support
After you’ve explained your weight loss decision to everyone, transition into explaining that you will need their support as you make your way through this journey. This includes everything from getting a ride back from the surgical center to finding an exercise buddy. Your friends and family love you and will likely be happy to help. Ask for what you need.
5. Commit To Your Decision
No matter what happens, always remember that your decision to have weight loss surgery is just that — yours. If you’ve done the research and decided that bariatric surgery is the best way to help you lose weight and get healthy, don’t let other viewpoints deter you.
Explaining your weight loss surgery decision to your family and friends offers them the chance to join you on this journey, but not everyone is ready to accept the privilege. Instead of dwelling on naysayers, focus your energy on nurturing your community of supporters. You’ll be glad you did.
Talk To Us First
If you’d like to learn more about weight loss surgery — and how to discuss the topic with your friends and family — give us a call. As the bariatric surgery experts, we’re committed to supporting our patients through every stage of their weight loss journey. Contact us today and we’ll give you more tips, support, and expert advice to make this transition easier.