I have only told a few of my friends about my LB and the ones that don't know are telling me how proud they are of me and that I've inspired them. This makes me feel like a fraud for some reason. Like I'm deliberately deceiving them. My husband says I'm doing all the work. And I do believe this to be true because I have no fill yet and am relying on pretty much my will power to lose weight at this point. And I gave up beer which I though I would NEVER do so I'm attributing a lot of that factor to weight loss as well.

Sounds like I'm trying to convince myself.

Have any of you felt this way? I'm not sure if and when I will tell people because I don't want to be judged for making this decision. Like I took the easy way out even though this has not been easy.

I didn't tell anyone for about a year and a half... until I got to my goal weight. Then all of a sudden, I got cocky and told several people when they commented how did I loose so much weight. Unfortunately, my eating habits have slipped (severely) and I've now gained back 40 lbs. I wish I could un-do all the telling so no one knew my secret because now I feel like they're all judging me as the failure that I really am.

This makes me sad, you are not a failure. I have told my friends and family....I have been banded 1.5 years and I'm down 32 lbs only. So....maybe they are thinking I am a failure too because I should have lost more. But everyone has their struggles....the good thing is you know what you have done (bad habits creeping back in) and what you should do (eating right; maybe you need a fill?). Don't feel like a failure, get back on that horse and win this race again!

Pen we all makes bad choices while relearning eating habits. give yourself a break and get started again. you did it once, you can do it again. now that you have spoken about, the secret is out! keep us informed on how you are doing, you do not want to give up not ever.

Dawn you need to start trusting and enjoying the new you. I am not talking about horrible bragging, I mean pride in who you are becoming. take a pic post it, the end. no big deal, no big comment, just post it. You did do this, this is the new you who will be enjoying the summer. the new you who will feel healthier. Congratulations for all that you have done to help YOU.

After I was banded people were asking me all the time how I was llosing weight, but since I was eating smaller portions and skipping out on all night drink fests to go gyming early am the next morning, they could see how I was losing weight.

I kind of felt like a fraud when it came to my friends who were heavier that were really struggling so those were the only ones I told.

They were totally supportive of what I was doing and even got the band themselves!

However everyone else I didnt tell. I mean not even my family knows im banded still!

Each one of our journeys is different. And just like the doctor that has to tweak our fills, we have to tweak our minds and hearts, pasts and presents, hurts and joys and falls and goals.

Beautifully said, and so true!