I understand what you are saying.  I have two children, Natalie age 4 and Nathan age 6.   I want to be able to keep up with them, play with them and just be around when they get older.  My family history is heavy with diabetes, arthritis and obesity,  I didn't want to go down that road.  I'm 36 and had signs of arthritis in my right knee and was boarder line diabetic. 

I feel so much better after having the gastric bypass, I've lost 46 pounds so far.

I'm not familiar with Deaconess but I have heard of their program and I'm sure it is an awesome one. 

It is great to have a supportive husband too.  My hubby is great, he is cooking with the foods I can eat and so he and my kids are eating healthier too.    That's a bonus!

I had people tell me too that I didn't need the surgery.  Well, they weren't going to my doctors appointments, know what I mean?  I chose to not tell a lot of people, just close family that I knew would be supportive.  Once I had my surgery date, I told more people, but by then I had went through a year of talking to the dietitian, counselor and doctors at the Bariatric Center.  There wasn't anything they could say to make me change my mind.  I was doing this for ME, anyway.

Let me know if you have any other questions.  I'm working on getting more post surgery people on this group.  It is good to hear from different people with different backgrounds.

talk to you soon,

D'Ann