So now that I have been thru all of the pre op business and I understand WLS better, I keep having people from my past pop into my mind. I feel like I actually have known a lot of people that have had some sort of WLS, but I didn't have enough knowledge on the topic to recognize it. While it certainly is none of my business how someone takes the weight off, as a person that has always struggled with my weight, I always wondered why "they" could be successful but I couldn't. Anyway, this personal reflection has caused me to rethink how I'll handle questions. I had initially been very private, but I've been rethinking it all. For me, I've decided I'm just going to be forthcoming about the band. Maybe I can help other people that are struggling know that there is no shame in seeking help. That's all. :-D

Everyone has their reasons for either keeping their WLS quiet or being open about it.

I also have chosen to be open about it. I also feel if I can help a single person in their weight loss journey it's worth it. Just today I had some people asking about my weight loss and think they may even be considering WLS themselves.

I also feel it helps to keep me more accountable since people know about the surgery. I respect those who choose to keep quiet but I would not have been comfortable with that decision myself.

Not to be all Debbie Downish, but I kept my WLS a secret because it's not working for me and in the long-term I don't feel it will work for me. I'm just focusing on loving my fat body the way it is but I don't have dreams of size 8 clothing anymore like when I first started doing research on the subject.

I wish everyone the best of luck with their surgeries and I hope you're able to meet your goals. :-)

Not to be all Debbie Downish' date=' but I kept my WLS a secret because it's not working for me and in the long-term I don't feel it will work for me. I'm just focusing on loving my fat body the way it is but I don't have dreams of size 8 clothing anymore like when I first started doing research on the subject.

I wish everyone the best of luck with their surgeries and I hope you're able to meet your goals. :-)[/quote']

Ouch. Why so negative?

I had mixed feelings about it.I didn't want to share in case I failed ( like my other attempts )but as the weight is coming off I find it easy to say how.I still have yet to post on Facebook but I am sharing with those who ask. It really makes for good conversation especially dispelling myths.and letting people know there are options.:-)

I am open to those who ask. I didn't post on fb either because I just don't think everyone on my page needs to be involved. However if someone asks me, I will tell.

This has been my attitude all along. I have many people who have come into my life who did not know the fatter me. They don't need to know that I had wls. If someone asks how I lost all the weight,(and they don't know me well), my d-i-l and I have chosen to say eating less and exercise. Best wishes to you and whatever you choose to do! Karen

I haven't posted on fb either. I really don't post anything really personal there though. I completely respect and embrace that it is a deeply personal decision on how to handle the topic.

I'm sorry, but if you think you're going to fail you probably are.

I think that if someone asks, I will be honest. I am not Star Jones after all. I think while some people are just being nosy, many will really be curious and I want to be a role-model if I am going to make this drastic change.

Not to be all Debbie Downish, but I kept my WLS a secret because it's not working for me and in the long-term I don't feel it will work for me. I'm just focusing on loving my fat body the way it is but I don't have dreams of size 8 clothing anymore like when I first started doing research on the subject.

I wish everyone the best of luck with their surgeries and I hope you're able to meet your goals. :-)

Just curious, why do you think it's not working?

Also, for many it isn't an issue of a fat body but of health reasons and quality of life.

Do you have someone to talk to about this? You chose to make a life-changing decision, it can't possibly be too late!!

Not to be all Debbie Downish' date=' but I kept my WLS a secret because it's not working for me and in the long-term I don't feel it will work for me. I'm just focusing on loving my fat body the way it is but I don't have dreams of size 8 clothing anymore like when I first started doing research on the subject.

I wish everyone the best of luck with their surgeries and I hope you're able to meet your goals. :-)[/quote']

I totally understand your position. Look at my post. Long term I'm not sure either, but I want my health back and am going to try my darnedest with the band. Have you been banded?

Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I totally understand your position. Look at my post. Long term I'm not sure either, but I want my health back and am going to try my darnedest with the band. Have you been banded?

Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Yes I was banded in May. Like I was telling someone else I have greater issues with food than I realized so no matter the weightloss tool; diets, pills, surgery, etc I still find that food is my issue and I don't have the means/resources to get help with that right now.

I know my feelings are negative however they aren't meant to discourage anyone, it's just a personal battle that I'm still fighting and one that I can't fix on my own.

we all have food problems, that is why we are here. feel free to express yourself. Few of us will be will condemn. I have lost and gained 100's of pounds over my history. I have tried many diets, this however, is lasting and a new way of life. Best wishes. Slow and steady wins the race. Karen

I'd planned to be secretive about it, just to avoid judgement, but inevitably it seems to have slipped out into the open in mine and my husband's families (we're a talkative bunch, I guess). I've experienced the judgement for sure, along the lines of "Why can't you just do it yourself? Isn't this drastic?" And my response is - I've tried to do it myself for the last 8 years, and it may seem drastic, but it's a tool that I haven't tried yet that seems to be effective. My relationship with food is pretty dysfunctional, and I've been working on that, but I still need this extra ally on my side. I plan on telling folks at work that I'm taking 2 weeks FMLA for the oh so elusive "female problems," but if someone asks me later after I have lost weight, I may share. So far the only person who knows is a woman who had bypass, and she figured it out on her own. I've warned her under pain of office friend exile not to tell anyone else, but we'll see how that goes.

I need to do this for me! I've been trying for years to get pregnant and it was so easy with my first when I was a size 12. I can't be the Lapband posterchild. I know I love the youtube videos but I can't devote that kind of time for everyone to be on this journey with me. This was a decision I made before I had surgery. As for people who ask. Im doing what I need to do to get pregnant with pcos.