Hello! This is my first time posting in here. I've had the meeting with the surgeon, gone to a supoort group meeting and am waiting to finish all of my pre-reqs before getting a surgery date. I'm hoping to be banded in June. I just wish I had done this when I was younger. So many years wasted being too fat to do things, and hating myself. I want to enjoy being 'young' (some would debate me being young, I'm 32) before it is too late. I work in health care and I have seen the toll obesity can take on the body, and I'm terrified of ending up a type II diabetic.

So my question for you guys is, when did you start telling family/friends? I have told my father and sister who are both very supportive. I haven't told my mom yet since I don't think she will be supportive. I have told some friends, but feel slightly uncomfortable telling them. I vascilate between whether I should just not say anything at all and when I start losing weight if people ask tell them? or making it common knowledge. I've already had one friend who after I told her made the comment that she would support me, but that she felt like lap band was 'the easy way out' for people who didn't want to work hard on their weight loss.

What have you all done!?!?

Depends on you and your family/friends. The lesson I learned is that you can't "untell it".

I have only told my close family. I have heard all the comments about this being the easy way but let me tell you it is not easy. It is still work. I made the decision to keep it to myself because I don't feel like I have to explain my decision. It is my decision. You don't go around telling people every intimate detail about your life and this is no different. Most people to not consider eating an addiction but it is. They think you should just stop eating so much. I did this for myself, my Healy and my life. It is no ones business.

i told close friends and family before the surgery but not too many people as i know some are judgemental

Hello! This is my first time posting in here. I've had the meeting with the surgeon' date=' gone to a supoort group meeting and am waiting to finish all of my pre-reqs before getting a surgery date. I'm hoping to be banded in June. I just wish I had done this when I was younger. So many years wasted being too fat to do things, and hating myself. I want to enjoy being 'young' (some would debate me being young, I'm 32) before it is too late. I work in health care and I have seen the toll obesity can take on the body, and I'm terrified of ending up a type II diabetic.

So my question for you guys is, when did you start telling family/friends? I have told my father and sister who are both very supportive. I haven't told my mom yet since I don't think she will be supportive. I have told some friends, but feel slightly uncomfortable telling them. I vascilate between whether I should just not say anything at all and when I start losing weight if people ask tell them? or making it common knowledge. I've already had one friend who after I told her made the comment that she would support me, but that she felt like lap band was 'the easy way out' for people who didn't want to work hard on their weight loss.

What have you all done!?!?[/quote']

You are smart to take care of your health now. I had the band done in July at 61 1/2. I have not told most people and doubt I will share. Good luck.

32 is very young. I'm almost 42 and think of myself as a kid still. Don't grow old before you have too. I only told those that needed to know, my husband, my best friend, my mother and my oldest son. Mainly because I needed their help after the surgery. Plus, the diet is really weird in the beginning so it's hard to hide from those who see you all of the time.

I am waiting to be scheduled myself. I have done everything except the pre op diet. I am 37 years old and 435lbs. I know first hand the physical restraints. I have told several people, and I get mixed emotions, but truly, it doesn't matter what the skinny people say... Lol. They do not know the pain. Tell, don't tell, either way you should do this for you despite what everyone else thinks.

I wish I hadn't told my co-workers because they are always asking me how much I've lost? That really annoys me, especially since I am slow losing.

I was picky before surgery, anyone who asked after the surgery. My logic is when people ask me what I am doing to lose the weight, I can't lie and give false hope. There are other people out there like me that have struggled with their weight all their lives, and I feel I have to let them know that sometimes "Eat less, move more" is simply not an option. As for WLS being the easy way out, not one person has said that too me.

Thank you all for your advice! I think I'm not going to say anything to anyone until people start asking.

I agree with Terry that I can't lie and give people false hope. I got to this place because someone else who had lap band was honest and open about it when asked. I hope I can someday be someone else's inspiration like she has been for me. I'm not going to run around telling random people either. As someone else said, it is my private business and I'm doing it for my health. Thanks everyone!

I told everybody! My best friend told no one. If I had to do it over again I wouldn't have told anyone. if nobody knows, there is no pressure. No one is watching every bite you take. I guess that could also be viewed as a pro. Good Luck! Follow my lap band blog www.biscuitsandexcuses.blogspot.com

I wish you all the success on getting your band. I had to do 6 consecutive months of weight lost attempts under doctors care and Thursday still be my 6th one. So my paperwork will be submitted to my insurance on Thursday. Hopefully I will be banded in May.

Hello! This is my first time posting in here. I've had the meeting with the surgeon, gone to a supoort group meeting and am waiting to finish all of my pre-reqs before getting a surgery date. I'm hoping to be banded in June. I just wish I had done this when I was younger. So many years wasted being too fat to do things, and hating myself. I want to enjoy being 'young' (some would debate me being young, I'm 32) before it is too late. I work in health care and I have seen the toll obesity can take on the body, and I'm terrified of ending up a type II diabetic.

So my question for you guys is, when did you start telling family/friends? I have told my father and sister who are both very supportive. I haven't told my mom yet since I don't think she will be supportive. I have told some friends, but feel slightly uncomfortable telling them. I vascilate between whether I should just not say anything at all and when I start losing weight if people ask tell them? or making it common knowledge. I've already had one friend who after I told her made the comment that she would support me, but that she felt like lap band was 'the easy way out' for people who didn't want to work hard on their weight loss.

What have you all done!?!?

Bravo for making the decision to enjoy a better quality of life! I too, was concerned about what my family and friends would say and at first I was going to keep it to myself. But you can only do that for so long because people will wonder why you aren't eating normally, how you are dropping pounds left and right and in a worst-case scenario if anything goes wrong you need your family to know. I had my mind made up and was determined not to let any negative comments keep me from going through with it. To my surprise, not one person has said I shouldn't do it...especially after finding out I was dianosed with Type II about 7 weeks ago. Once I found out about the diabetes, I knew I had to make some "drastic" changes and big decisions - I have a child to care for. But yes, tell your family and friends but make sure you explain to them your reasoning - diabetes is nothing to play with and you deserve to be happy. The Lap Band is not the easy way out, by any means but when you have tried so many other things only to get back to your pre-diet weight (sometimes heavier), then you have to do what you have to do.

Baby at 32 you are just beginning to live (I'm only 4 years older than you) and this is the time when you can truly have the most fun! You are worth it, now get over the fear of telling your loved ones and make up in your mind that no matter how they feel about it you have some awesome bandsters to help see you through. Go for it and don't look back...except to see how much weight you left behind.

I am almost 42 years old and am having my surgery tomorrow. Only one person knows, my husband. He is very supportive and has never criticized me about my weight. In the 19 years we have been together, he has been witness to my many diet and exercise successes then failures.

I chose to not tell anyone. I don't know if this decision will change over time but for the time being I only want to be accountable to myself and no one else's watchful eyes. However, to all the open and honest people that share their story, thank you, because it's stories like yours that led me to make the decision to get banded.

I really admire everyone who has shared with others. I was banded in November, have lost 100lbs incredibly fast, and the only people who know about my band are my parents because they paid for it. I'm just a really private person when it comes to my battle with weight issues, I didn't want to hear any negative feed back from anyone because I am the kind of person who would become discouraged by it. Congrats on your journey

I told my immediate family and a couple close friends- they are my support and they keep me focused when I THINK I want to eat something thats not the best choice. (I'm pre-op and will be banded on Monday!)