I wish I could tell you everything about the decision is skittles and rainbows and cute puppies and easy. I can't, because it isn't. I agree with you, it is a life-long commitment and a very hard decision for most people. I personally didn't struggle with the decision myself. I had the surgery for medical necessity and preventative care. What you need to really focus on is your life-long commitment to obesity. Are you at a point in your life where you are ready to change that status and work towards a new and healthy you? If you choose not to have the surgery, is that because you are going to commit to getting healthy, eating the right foods, losing the weight, working out and reaching your goal weight naturally over time? If so, I commend you on that and I wish you total success! If you choose to have the surgery, you still have to commit to getting healthy, eating the right foods, losing the weight, working out and reaching your goal weight, you just do it a little differently and you use the tool given to you to help you be successful in your efforts to achieve a new and healthy you. It is completely worth the effort to either get fit naturally or have the surgery. You are worth it either way you choose to go. The big question is, can you do it on your own if you don't have the surgery? Only you know that answer. So, yes, it is a lifestyle change in the way you eat and maintain your health and wellness. Yes, the surgery is hard and recovery as well. Is it worth it? Absolutely. In my opinion anyway. I'm only 6 months out from bypass surgery. It's been rough. There have been times I have thought 'What was I thinking?' and adjusting to the new lifestyle beyond recovery takes time and there are many bumps along the way. At the heart of everything though, when asked, I absolutely do not regret the surgery. I am 6 months out, I've lost 100 lbs. so far. I'm working out 5-6 days a week, (yes, that's right, someone who never exercised a day in her life is at a gym nearly every day of the week, crazy right?) and I can do things I could never do before. My quality of life has improved so much in such a short period of time, that I just feel blessed and am so much happier. Makes all of those rough bumps easier to handle because I know I'm working towards a new and improved healthy life. I hope you make the right decision for yourself. Everyone is different. I think you can do this and be successful!