I was just wondering if you told your family/friends about the surgery or kept it a secret? I've been struggling with this decision. So far I've told my immediate family, boyfriend and best friend, and they were all very supporitve as I had anticipated. But I'm not sure if I should tell my other good friends or family.

Thoughts? Advive? All is appreciated!

My immediate family and a couple of close friends know. I didn't tell anyone at work my weight loss has been slow enough and I waited so long to get my first fill that I haven't been faced with the questions yet, but when I go back to work in September I might have a few people notice.

I just told my immediate family; my parents and two brothers. They were very supportive of me! My mother had lapband surgery in January. My father and brothers encouraged me, knowing my medical background and weight history. I didnt feel the need to tell anyone else. I didn't want to explain my decision to anyone or have anyone judge me. My best friend recommended the surgery to me and she new it was an option for me. However, I chose not to tell her now. I want to wait until after surgery and after the weight starts to fall off. In the end, it's your decision who you tell. But once you tell someone, there's no backing out. I learned from my mother. She told everyone. Everyone started to come over just to see how much weight she lost. For Easter, she didn't get the usual Easter basket filled with goodies, instead she got a flower. She was treated differently because of her decision to tell people she had lapband surgery. At the end, the whole town knew she had surgery and I don't want to be the focal point of the evenings conversation.

In the beginning I only told a couple people. It was a mistake to tell some people because they tried talking me out of the surgery, saying it was a cop out and that I was just being lazy. After that I was very protective of who I told. Now that I am 3 months post op and down 33 lbs, I've been telling more and more people. I still keep it somewhat guarded though because I don't handle negativity well.

I would not of told anyone, family, friends or co workers had i not been 100% sure i would of gotten a supportive reaction from most of them. I got nothing but support from all of them. my family knows my past history of weight struggles, and were behind me all the way. My co workers were mildly interested, asked a few normal healthy questions and basicaly said "good for you !" I get asked about it occasionly, answer the questions happily , and move on to the next subject. I think if you approach the subject with a positive attitude, lots of knowledge, and "can do " attitude people will respond in kind. If not, oh well ! thats their problem !!!

I kept it a secret except for hubby, bff & 2 sister-in-laws. Told my family & close friends after my surgery. I have had amazing support & success! Good luck!

I gotta be honest. Feeling a bit embarased' date=' weak and ashamed that it has come to this and dont want to really deal with peoples opinions or judgements. Its the right move for me, but everybody has an opinion. Kind of lame, right? oh well...cant wait for this journey to begin.[/quote']

You are NOT lame. You're smart. If you're going to be successful you need encouragement and sometimes people aren't encouraging. I've been banded for two years and have told two people my husband and my mom. That's it and boy that was the best decision I made (besides getting banded of course) I've lost 115 lbs pounds and excuse my french, but Dammmmm it was hard. I didn't want anyone to discourage me or discount the fact that I worked hard to lose the weight. God Bless you

At first I only told my husband & parents. Over the last 6 months I have told more & more. Now if someone asks how I lost the weight, more times than not, I tell them about the band. I do explain the band & how it works as a tool, etc.

Each person is different, some tell all because it helps keep them in track & accountable, others are more successful by keeping it to themselves.

I sure tried to keep it a secret! I told my husband, our parents, and 3 friends (two of them have had the sleeve done), and let them know I was telling just them because I didn’t want everyone to know, reduce the pressure or disappointment if I didn’t reach my goal “fast enough” etc. My mother in law she told her sister, who told everyone. My Mom has been telling everyone in the universe, my Dad has been as well. My father in law told his Mom, and everyone at the 4^th of July bash was talking about it… So, basically everyone knows except the people I work with. I’m thankful people are being overall supportive, but I am definitely getting a lot of the “why don’t you try to do it on your own” commentary and the “isn’t that a bit drastic?”

I am kinda thankful that we go through a 3rd party for our FMLA time off, my boss only knows that I'm having "surgery" and everyone else thinks I'm taking a 2 week vacation.

The less you tell the better at least that's my experience. I told my husband and mother only

MY partner is getting the band too. She's been telling EVERYONE. Her family, her coworkers everyone. I asked her to keep mine to herself but she is not doing such a good job. I told my partner and one of my good friends only that i was considering it. I work with a bunch of small-minded gossips so I'm planning on telling my work only that I'm having surgery. I've already started to lose weight on my own so hopefully it wont be too much of a stretch. There are 2-3 people here that have had WLS and I know because everyone gossips not because they told me. So that cemented my decision to keep the news out of work!!