I Know this sounds horrible and I will probably get some people that think I'm nasty, please note, my intention is not to offend.

I'm fat. I know I'm fat. I see every single day how fat I have become and I hate it. I hate walking past shop windows incase I catch a glimpse of myself. I hate taking clothes into the fitting rooms at shops and giving them all to the store person because NONE of them fit. I'm being proactive and doing something about it. I am booked in for my band in 4 weeks, and I cannot wait, because I'm sick of being fat.

I was serving a woman at work today who was easily twice my size, and as I said, I'm a big girl. She was sitting on 2 seats, having a lot of trouble walking and carrying her food and looked very uncomfortable. Her husband was the same. Going by my bmi, I'm guessing theirs were in the 60s. Their children were also not on the skinny side. My heart bled for that family. To see what a struggle life had become for them, I just wanted to tell them there are solutions out there. I did heaps of research before deciding on the band and I know there are options for people with a very significant amount to lose. Both parents were having difficulty breathing after walking approx 3 car lengths.

I know it's not my place, and I know that somebody has to be ready to take control of their own health. I didn't say a word to the family. I couldn't. But I wanted to.

Has anybody shared their "secret" with strangers?

What happened in your own life to make you want to have surgery?

My light bulb moment was when my daughter told me if I get any fatter I will have to wear old bed sheets as no clothes will fit me.

I'm not banded yet, but I've also thought about sharing my future surgery with a stranger. But it's not my place, they have to want to change and find the way that works for them.

I want to have surgery because I want more children and it can't happen at this weight. I also don't want my son to remember me at this size.

My Grandma is like the only "skinny" one in the family and every time I saw her it was like she had to tell me I looked 5 or 10 lbs heavier. One day I wore a dress and my 4 year old asked me if I was a princess, I was flattered even though I knew I didn't look anything like a princess. Next day I wore a shirt and shorts and my son asked me if I was a princess. He grabbed the corner of my shirt and said "No, you're a cow" and even though he's 4 and completely has no idea how that relates to weight or size, it was just the fact that the shirt was black and white that he said that but it really hurt my feelings. I looked in the mirror crying that night just thinking he was right and I had to do something. I'd tried all kinds of diets, phentermine, and was even walking 5 miles a day and the smallest I could get was still a size 16/18 at 203 lbs. I'd now crept up to 230 so I started looking into lapband. I discussed it with my husband who I expected to shoot me down but he was all for it if it made me happy so I was banded on 6/21. This past Wednesday I saw a friend of mine I hadn't seen in about 6 weeks and she noticed--my first NSV! When she asked what I was doing I told her LAPBAND. I don't want to push it on anyone but if they ask I'm more than willing to share!

When I see morbidly obese people out in public now, my first thought is "There's a surgery for that." I would never, ever in a million years approach somebody and say that though!! I don't think that's being nasty, as we were all there at one time, or else we wouldn't be here (on this forum). We just know that life can get better and it's natural to want other people to feel better, too.

i'm the same way - i've been blessed with such success with this thing that when i see really heavy people struggling i want to take them aside and tell them - but i do not nor would i - 2 years ago if someone had done that to me my feelings would have been hurt - right or wrong. There is enough info about weight loss surgery out there (perhaps not so much about band or sleeve - but gastric is pretty much common knowledge) that these people should really know the options or be able to research it on-line. They do not need me to enlighten them or at least that's how i view it. I know all of our intentions are good but i suspect we will not be well received if we say something to strangers. Great topic!

Surgery is not for everyone. Gastric bypass requires tremendous life changes. Lapband not as much. But surgery of any kind will not help a food addict who is not ready to deal with their addiction. When I researched bariatric surgery I learned that many just trade one addiction for another. I was also surprised to learn about how many regain their weight because they thought surgery was a solution rather than a tool. I used to look at overweight people with some disgust and realized that it was self hate. I am thankful that I have had my surgery and it has helped me on my weight loss journey. But it took me years to get to the point where I was ready for the surgery. Now when I see morbidly obese people, I try to have some compassion. I know how difficult their life can be.

I'm sorry if I offend anyone too. But, for me, being fat was being ugly!

Oh, there were all the other reasons to lose weight such as, health, fitness, joint pain, being comfortable in an airplane seat etc, but the main reason, I hated being fat and ugly. Sorry gals but no one tells us guys that we have lovely faces and it's too bad we're fat.

tmf

I'm sorry if I offend anyone too. But, for me, being fat was being ugly!

Oh, there were all the other reasons to lose weight such as, health, fitness, joint pain, being comfortable in an airplane seat etc, but the main reason, I hated being fat and ugly. Sorry gals but no one tells us guys that we have lovely faces and it's too bad we're fat.

tmf

Yeah, that "But you've got such a lovely face," with a sad shake of the head and cluck of the tongue equates to "You're gross and ugly" in my mind. I'd rather hear nothing at all!

I can relate, I will see how much food they have on their plates and I think I used to eat that much, especially buffets, those are the worst, but now I grab a salad bowl and look for protein first, veggies and a little fruit. Everyday is a new day, new tempations and we have to remember why we got the lapband for better lives. The only time I will tell someone about my lapband is when someone asks me directly.

I feel the same way. Not just with strangers, but with my own family. I see how they struggle, and now how much better I feel so far, and just want to run up and say "hey! you don't have to be like this!"

I've never shared my secret with a stranger, but I have with my mom and brother. But, I only suggested they look into Lap-Band after they asked me what I thought of it and told me they were now thinking about it. The minute they said that, I was tossing all the info I have at them, encouraging them to follow through.

@tmf- it's not offensive at all. I still have a lot of weight to lose, but even with what I have lost so far, I look at older pics of me 100 pounds heavier and just cringe. My entire face has changed dramatically since losing weight, people tell me all the time "holy cow you look so young!" I didn't want to stay fat and ugly either so I totally get what you mean.

I am almost a year out and I tell EVERYONE about my band! I don't care what they think it was right for me.

A funny story last week I was in a casino store getting water and they asked for my license.. I said sorry it doesn't

look like me anymore... a women asked why? I said because I had lap band surgery last year. Just before after I said it big guy came in and said did what? I told him what I had said.. he said " I am having a gastro by pass in a few weeks!

I think the word is out there that you can be healthy and get help!! I say spread the word! (in the right situations anyway)

puppyphat, i agree with all the above posts. I want to stick a bumper sticker on my car (and i dont like bumper stickers ) that says "Ask me about my Lap Band !" Until a year ago i had vaguely remembered seeing lap band ads in magizines, but it wasnt until june 2011 when 2 relatives had it done that a light bulb went off. Now i want to scream it from the rooftops ! "Theres a solution to your weight problem and im living proof !!!" Im halfway to my goal and very happy about it. I m very open to anyone who asks and hope others will consider it for a possible weight loss solution. Good luck to everyone !

Thanks guys, I'm really happy with all to positive responses. I would absolutely never say to an overweight person "have you heard of lapbands" as that is so cruel and horrible and I would hate for someone to say that.

I'm glad everyone got where i was coming from. The awkwardness of wanting to help, but not being able to. I agree that something has to click in their own head. I just hope this particular family gets the wake up call before they leave their children orphans.

Since I started going to the gym I've lost about 150 pounds (lost some before that but did not have a scale). I've had people ask me what I've done BESIDES go to the gym 7 days a week for almost 3 years to loose that much weight. I tell them I lost 80 pounds from diet and exercise and then had lap band surgery. I've explained the pre op process and post op food habits. I would never however speak with someone unsolicited. And yes, I do see people that I think would be helped by the band. There are many ads on TV.