I don't think I want people to know when I get banded besides close family that will probably have to help me day of surgery and what not. Has anyone else kept their band a secret from people when people start asking how you losing all your weight? What made you come to the decision to keep it to yourself and has it been easy to keep quiet?

Only select family members know of my lap band. I don't think it's anyone's business about such private information. When people ask me how I am losing weight I say "with diet and exercise" which is the truth. Most people are uninformed about how the lap band works so why try to explain. They often believe it's cheating or we are taking the easy way out, which couldn't be farther from the truth. This is hard work!!!!

If I decide to have it done I'll be only telling my mom & dad. I agree similar to bluekerry, I don't want that stigma. Like when people start talking about how much weight you've lost, there's that someone who always says "Oh yeah, she had that surgery done". Then it goes from "Wow" to "Ohhhh..." My co-workers know that (prior to my ankle surgery) I had been eating better & going to the gym and I plan to continue that so that's what I'm going to tell them. It isn't their business anyway and I want people to be proud of me, not judge me.

I don't think I want people to know when I get banded besides close family that will probably have to help me day of surgery and what not. Has anyone else kept their band a secret from people when people start asking how you losing all your weight? What made you come to the decision to keep it to yourself and has it been easy to keep quiet?

A few yrs ago when I first contemplated surgery, I was so embarrassed about the idea that I didn't want to tell anyone except my closest. But as I went on, I realized that more and more people were like me and needed confidence to do it and didnt know enough about the band and were embarrassed and scared too.. so when I finally was able to get the surgery, I went in a COMPLETELY opposite direction and decided to tell EVERYBODY. I even let them all follow me along day by day in my own daily journal that I am now planning on turning into a book! I share ever gory detail and every hi and low of it. I feel like people need to know and step out of their ignorance. In fact, more people then we really think can relate to the struggles of weight loss, especially in America. I refuse to ever be embarrassed about it again. Turns out more people are comepletely facinated by it all then negative. Most have been extremely grateful for such an honest story. ; ) I feel it's completely up to you what you want to do. There is no right or wrong on this.

Good luck in whatever you decide

<a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"><img border="0" src="http://tickers.myfitnesspal.com/ticker/show/909/6236/9096236.png" /></a><p style="text-align:center;width:420px;"><small>Created by MyFitnessPal - <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com">Free Calorie Counter</a></small></p>

Well I decided to keep it to myself. My brothers are Marines and my mom compares me to them alot. She believes that if my baby brothers could go thru being Marines then losing weight shouldn't be too hard. She fail to realize that I've been on diets and pills to help but the weight always seem to find its way back to me....lol....My husband is the only person who knows about it. It's been tough but I take it one day at a time. I don't want anyone to judge me. I've seen how people react when one of my friends had got the band and I don't care to go thru the same judgement. We know that it's not easy but in fact even harder with the band. We have to watch even more closely on what we put in our mouth. The ultimate decision is on you....everyone have their reasons on why they keep it private. This is just some of many for me. Besides I'm doing this for myself and not for anyone else. Good luck on your journey!

It's a personal decision.

I do not advertise it, but if someone asks, I am happy to discuss how the band is helping me make a lifestyle change but quickly will explain to anyone the band is a tool....it cannot make a decision of what I do an do not put in my mouth. Like some said, most people are uneducated and think it may be drastic the easiy way out. I feel strongly to the contrary... as for me it was the last chance in a lifetime of yoyo dieting. So I am happy to discuss it with people important in my life.

As for strangers, co-workers and casual aquaintences... most people do not focus on the HOW or WHY... they focus on the RESULTS... which I am happy to smile and thank them for their compliments.

I agree...it is a personal decision. I told everyone that I work with. I didn't want the rumor mill running. I was the third at my work place to have the procedure and 99% have been very supportive. I decided not to tell many at church. My close friends and family know. I am proud of my decision and not ashamed. I have struggled with my weight for so long that I am happy to be able to do something about it.

The only people who know that I had surgery are my parents and I had my surgery a year and a half ago. First, I did not want any sort of judgement from anyone and second, I didn't want to be a "posterchild" for weight loss surgery and be labeled as a "success" or "failure." My brother just got married last month and it was an opportunity for a lot of people to see how much weight I lost because I wore a very form-fitting bridesmaid dress, so I received a lot of questions about how I did it. I didn't lie to anyone, I simply said I watch what I eat which is completely true. It has been easy to keep this secret, except when I get a stuck episode in front of people. I just go to the bathroom and wait for the pain to stop, lol.

I guess had someone in my life not been open and honest about their choice for surgery, I wouldn't have had the knowledge to move forward for myself. While I respect someones decision to keep it personal, I have opted to be open and a huge advocate for the band. If someone asks why I eat so little, or how I am losing the weight I definatly take the opportunity to educate. I actually know of 3 people in my life that are now looking into weight loss surgery or programs because of me. I will never be ashamed of my banding, and I had amazing confidence and self esteem pre surgery so I think maybe that plays a lot into my process as well.

Well said, pinknsassy.

I told my husband and just 1 person at awork who sort of lead me to the band. That's it! I am SO glad I didn'ttell more people because 6 weeks after surgery I am not losing that much weight at all! I am hoping with fills the band will kick in. I can't imagine not losing weight and everyone knowing I had the band-they would all be thinking "Hey I thought she had the band and she's not losing?" or watching what I eat at every function-no thanks...I don't need that additional pressure right now!

Once I start losing I might open the circle and tell a few more (or maybe not). This is a hugely personal decision and what fees right for 1 person might not for the other person - so it's totally YOUR choice. ONe size does not fit all. For me, I am so happy I didn't tell everyone.

My health is my business and if I follow the band rules, I will be eating more carefully, portion control, better diet, etc. That is how I will be loosing weight (I have my fingers and toes crossed !). Band or no band - it's up to me.

I told my immediate family before getting it done and they thus far have been very supportive.

I also told my boss about it when I asked for the vacation time in case I needed more time to recover.

Went back to work today and told my coworkers. They were all surprised that I was able to go "on vacation" for a week, and come back to work in my peppy self after having surgery.lol

Telling or not telling is definitely a personal choice. I didn't debate much myself as I really didn't want everyone watching my every move. I told most my family, my husband,and a close friend. My sister in law asks me all the time how much I've lost and while its fine it makes me glad I didn't share with everyone. I have shared with a couple people since having surgery and I'm fine with that. On the flip side the person who really got me going on the lapband has been extremely open about hers...even posting the whole experience on Facebook. I'm very thankful to her for that but it is just not me. I wish anyone the best of luck in their journey...this is YOUR journey so do what is best for you!!

My husband knows and my mother in law and my closet friend and that is it. Everyone else knows I had surgery because I was out of it for a few days and I told them i had emergency surgery. My family is very critical and judgmental of me. between my parents and my siblings, i am the fattest one. Losing weight does not come easy for me at all. I have struggled all my life and I don't want to be lectured about this being the easy way out and I am taking an easy way out.

Will I tell them eventually? Who knows. Time will tell, but right now, I am keeping it all a secret.

I won't say I keep it a secret, I just didn't tell everyone. I told my close family and a few of my sister-in-laws (I have 6 on my husbands side). Other than that I just haven't shared. I also don't tell people I am on a diet. IWhen asked how I am losing weight I tell them exercise and healthier eating. I come from a large family but of 4 siblings I am one that being overweight has effected. I have the high blood pressure no one else. This was a decision to make me healthy and live longer so that I might see my daughter grow up and have children. I also believe I am having a good influence on her because the we as a family are eating healthier.