Dear ,

As you know, I’ve struggled with excess weight for a long time. I believe my weight is preventing me from living the life I was meant to. It impacts everything from my relationships to my career to my ability to experience joy. I know I deserve a better quality of life and I’ve decided to take action to make that happen. I’m planning to have bariatric surgery.

I’ve learned that my obesity is not a result of overeating or lack of exercise. This isn’t about a lack of willpower or trying to take a shortcut. I am suffering from a disease that makes me resistant to the solutions that work for other people. I know I have given my best effort to the non-surgical options. Now it is time to do what is necessary to preserve my health and extend my life.

There is no magical solution to extreme weight loss. I want you to know I have fully researched the available options and I encourage you to learn more about bariatric surgery, as I did, at www.danburyhospitalcenterforweightloss.com. I am prepared to make the dramatic changes in lifestyle that will be necessary for my surgery to be a success.

There are things you can do to help me:

1. Support me in my lifestyle choices and healthy eating habits. Want to be my walking buddy or share healthy recipes? I’d love that.
2. I am trying to change more than my behavior; I’m trying to change my thinking. Let’s explore topics of conversation other than food and find ways to get together that don’t revolve around meals.
3. My activities and interests may change, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you. Please understand that I’m on a journey to a new me and I absolutely want you to be part of my life.

My surgery will be on . will be with me at the hospital and, if you like, will call you with an update when my surgery is over. I expect to be in the hospital until .

Please feel free to visit; the available visiting hours will be .

or  I’d prefer not to have visitors at the hospital, but I’d love to see you once I return home. Let’s schedule a time for you to visit then.

Most of all, I want to thank you for all the love and support you’ve shown over the years. Living a long and healthy life and sharing time with you is one of my most important reasons for having this surgery.