Mefisto I dont know you obviously but am glad you have elected not to have surgery. The risks are too great and adding disability to your life would be awful. If your girlfriend looked past your condition at all, and she must have, then it was not a contributing factor to breakup and not something she was lying about. People are willing to accept difference when they see someone has assets like honesty or humor or perseverence. Thats specially true as one gets older. Peers do mature. As for the gym you might continue to go, not for physical appearance but for improving mood and other aspects of health. Be kind to yourself. What you describe isnt something to just get over. That is to say you are not weak for struggling with this. No one could have an easy time of it.