They said they could NOT understand why I was banded. They said banding was for people that were 100 pounds over weight and I'm not.

Well I told them do you realize what I weighed to start with? They guessed around 180. I told them I weighed right at 230. Their jaws dropped. They could not believe it. Now they say they totally understand why I did it.

But why do people have to judge? When I tell people I've had it done I also say that my insurance company covered it. So if my insurance covered it then I had legitimate reasons for doing it otherwise they would have denied it.

Then I told them the surgeon said I should weigh 125. They are very against that. They say I will be WAY TOO thin at that weight. I'm only going after 140-145 but I think they will still be lecturing me even at that weight.

They said they could NOT understand why I was banded. They said banding was for people that were 100 pounds over weight and I'm not.

Well I told them do you realize what I weighed to start with? They guessed around 180. I told them I weighed right at 230. Their jaws dropped. They could not believe it. Now they say they totally understand why I did it.

But why do people have to judge? When I tell people I've had it done I also say that my insurance company covered it. So if my insurance covered it then I had legitimate reasons for doing it otherwise they would have denied it.

Then I told them the surgeon said I should weigh 125. They are very against that. They say I will be WAY TOO thin at that weight. I'm only going after 140-145 but I think they will still be lecturing me even at that weight.

I totally understand that!!! When i was in the hospital getting banded all the nurses that cared for me would say the same thing "you don't need this band , you are so little" Then i would tall them that i started my journey weighing 231lbs, and they did the same thing (dropped their jaws) people also don't realize the associated heath problems we faced either! i had everything from the high blood pressure to the sleep apnea, and i am only 30yrs old. I did this for my future health so i can be around to see my kids grow up! Now 42lbs lighter i have no more health problems (so far).

We made the right decision and we know why we made that decision, and i know i am so tired of having to explain that to everyone! where was all the concern when i was concered morbily obese?

Really pisses me off!

Keep up the good work spoitmom!!!!!!:thumbdown:

lol, just needed to take that moment to vent a little!!!!!!:thumbdown:

These are the exact reasons why I haven't shared it with a lot of people. You have those that judge weight-loss surgery. They have their opinions and most of the time are all-to-willing to share them.

The decision to be banded is a personal one. I had a girl tell me I'd be miserable. She was totally against it. Now, she doesn't acknowledge that I've had it. Only 1 time has she made a positive comment about my weight loss. But, I know she's miserable. She munches on carrots all day and spends her lunch hours running around so that she can keep off her weight. I'm sure there is an element of jealousy there. (Not saying I don't watch what I eat or exercise, but she's pretty much on the obsessive end of it)

Let them think what they want. I think that some of the other posters are right - here comes a little jealousy thrown your way.

My FIL says I should just back away from the table. What BS!

That's so close to what my dad said "Sounds like a lot to go through when you could just put down the fork". NICE...

But he's now being supportive and calling me everyday after my surgery last week to see how I'm doing. :thumbdown:

My Son thinks that I am lazy and that I just need to diet and get off my ass. He and his best friend were visiting me today and my Son brought up that his friend thought it was the easy way out. After they left I had a good cry. It really hurts to not have my Son be supportive but he does not know what my life has been like. It was MY decision for me and I am sticking by it. They and whoever else can think whatever they want!!!

I hate when people say it is the easy way out. I am in my second week and it is far from easy. I am hungrier than I ever was on weight wathcers or south beach. I am sore, it looks like I got punched in the stomach by Mike Tyson, I have gas, and can't go poop(sorry). For the rest of our lives we have to track what we eat and the nutrients, get needles stuck in our bellys, and so on. Not easy at all! This is the strictest diet I have ever been on. Don't let people get you down. It has nothing to do with lazy or easy. You made the decision that was right for you. Good Luck and feel better. :thumbup:

Ya'll I got so pissed reading this post! Let me just tell ya. Pretty much everyone I know knows I had the surgery, and I have been amazed at the outpouring of support I've had from the people around me so I consider myself very blessed after reading some of your posts.

I usually get the "you're not heavy enough to have that surgery" or "my best friends, mother's cousin had that surgery done and it didn't work for her" I think the latter of the two responses pisses me off the most and I just answer them, " well your best friend's mother's cousin's band didn't fail them, they failed the band and I'm sure if they had been committed to the process, and done what they were supposed to do, they would have been successful"

Then I really had to hold my tongue recently when I went to my family doc because i had a horrible cold, and I was updating my health history with the Medical Assistant who looked all of 17, and I told her when I had the surgery and she looked puzzled looked at my chart and said " But you haven't lost that much weight". I had lost nearly 20 pounds since my visit a month before. I wanted to punch her out right there, but luckily I was sick and didn't have the energy so I said " Obviously you're unfamiliar with how the band works, so let me educate you a little bit before you leave...."

The only person that knows I had surgery is my husband and my best friend and that's all I plan on telling. I think it is no one elses business what I do. There are so many haters and judgmental people out there. There is NO REASON why I have to justify my decision to anybody except my insurance. I don't have steady work at the moment and have only been working temporary assignments through a agency, I gave them a dr note stating I had to be off work. But I got my drs note through the hospital so it was not from a specific dr. The agency asked if I was ok and I said yes and they wanted to be all in my business and ask what kind of surgery and all I said with a smile was, HIPPA Law. ( I think I abbreviated that correctly). I guess I just think differently than others. I use to be skinny most of my life. But when I was getting near 30 I started to gain weight. I have seen the haters on both sides. When I was skinny and I was going out, jealous girls would call me fat! LOL!!! I was 135lb @ 5'10 where was the fat??? Now I'm over 300 and feel self conscious when I go to Godiva chocolate to buy a gift because I'm holding a chocolate bag. All I'm saying is there are always going to be haters and the only person you have to please is yourself! But that is just my opinion. Some people are proud and want to tell everybody.... But if you do, you might as well get ready to explain why...

I am so with you. I have only told my immediate family, best friends (3) and a couple co-workers that won't tell the others. I don't feel the need to tell people. My outlet is here and support group meeting. I may change my mind one day, but for now. I have worked really hard in the gym 5-6 days a week and eaten smaller portions.

They said they could NOT understand why I was banded. They said banding was for people that were 100 pounds over weight and I'm not.

Well I told them do you realize what I weighed to start with? They guessed around 180. I told them I weighed right at 230. Their jaws dropped. They could not believe it. Now they say they totally understand why I did it.

But why do people have to judge? When I tell people I've had it done I also say that my insurance company covered it. So if my insurance covered it then I had legitimate reasons for doing it otherwise they would have denied it.

Then I told them the surgeon said I should weigh 125. They are very against that. They say I will be WAY TOO thin at that weight. I'm only going after 140-145 but I think they will still be lecturing me even at that weight.

Everybody is an expert on what's best for everybody else. Didn't you know that? :biggrin:

Even though I know people are sometimes negative when they hear you've had LAP-BAND® or gastric bypass but who cares? i mean they are not the ones who are going through the pain of recovery or the feeling of nausea or whatever else nor are they the one who are goin to reach YOUR goal and feel like you are on top of the world!. I an fortunate that no one has been negative about it. I tell everyone I know coz i'm that excited about losing weight!

now my question to all the ones who don't really share with anyone..what will you say when people notice your weight loss and ask how you did it..coz you know they will...will ya'll be like Star Jones and swear it was all on your own with diet and exercise OR will ya fess up OR just play coy?

either way i'm proud of all of us on a hard BUT well worth journey!! way to go!

The only people that know I've been banded are my parents and my sister. I don't plan on telling anybody else. As far as what I'll tell them about the weight loss, I'll tell them it was done through diet and exercise. Because truthfully, I'm gonna be busting my ass to make this happen. Everyone here knows how negative people get about any kind of WLS, and with everything else we'll all be dealing with, nobody needs that crap.

I talked to my Son and told him how it hurt me when he told me he thought I was lazy. I found out the real reason for him telling me that he said was that he was afraid of something happening to me during surgery. I am a single Mom and he has no contact with his Father so, basically I'm it. We had a long talk and I told him that if he had any questions that he could ask me so that he could understand it better. The surgery is over (as of 8 days ago) so we will see how things go from here.

My Son thinks that I am lazy and that I just need to diet and get off my ass. He and his best friend were visiting me today and my Son brought up that his friend thought it was the easy way out. After they left I had a good cry. It really hurts to not have my Son be supportive but he does not know what my life has been like. It was MY decision for me and I am sticking by it. They and whoever else can think whatever they want!!!

WOW!! I'm sorry you heard all that!! I am thankful to have all support from my family and friends! I will tell you that i am proud of you for taking steps to a better YOU!! :biggrin:

I actually tell most people how i lost it if they ask. Most are supportive of me . If not screw them!!!

My Son thinks that I am lazy and that I just need to diet and get off my ass. He and his best friend were visiting me today and my Son brought up that his friend thought it was the easy way out. After they left I had a good cry. It really hurts to not have my Son be supportive but he does not know what my life has been like. It was MY decision for me and I am sticking by it. They and whoever else can think whatever they want!!!

I just wanted to send a to you. I'm sorry you have to deal with that treatment by your son.