I've chosen not to tell people about my WLS...only my immediate family knows and 4 friends total. I've had many people recently comment and compliment me on my weight loss so far. Usually, I say thanks and keep on going. But there are always those people who ask "what are you doing". And I stumble a bit to answer. Sometimes I just want to say I had WLS...but then I think....sometimes when I say those words "weight loss surgery" I feel like it negates all my hard work over the past 2 1/2 months since being banded.

Its kind of like when you say WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY...you had surgery and now your weight is and will be fixed! It makes it sound so "simple"...that all the hard work and dedication, and all the rules to follow won't matter to anyone. They will say "oh she needed that surgery to lose her weight".

I'm not sure if this is making any sense...just something I have been thinking more about since people are now noticing and commenting on the 55 lbs I have lost. My attitude/mood has changed and I'm dressing differently and even finding 5 mins in the morning to apply some makeup. I feel so much better physically and emotionally and am more confident in myself and I just feel good about ME!

So, I often hold back and dont say anything about having WLS when they ask. I tell them high Protein and smaller portions and that is it. Sometimes, I feel embarrassed/ashamed that I got to the point in my life where I had to "resort" to surgery. I'm glad I did this and I regret not a minute of it...EVER! These are just some feelings I've been sorting through....

But I think maybe a better name would be ....IMPROVEMENT SURGERY!!

I am not embarrassed to tell ppl I have WLS but they all think it was a quick fix, they don't know how you still have to eat right and exercise, I am 75lbs down!!!!

I just celebrated being banded a year !!!!

I am not embarrassed to tell ppl I have WLS but they all think it was a quick fix, they don't know how you still have to eat right and exercise, I am 75lbs down!!!! I just celebrated being banded a year !!!!

Same here

Gov. Christy came out with the news that he was banded on the same day that my hubby was in getting his band 3 days after I had my surgery. I remember sitting in the surgical waiting room listening to all the media and press about it.

You would think it was a Watergate scandal the way everyone was talking about it. I was proud of Christy at that moment. Here is a man who is intelligent, and has a nice position in the community in public office and though I'm sure he wanted to be private about it, was not afraid to advocate for the over weight.

I admired the way he didn't let his weight sway his political aspirations and I applaud the way he has chosen to take some control over his issue to better his life for his family and community.

He has to do it all under public and media scrutiny. You know people are looking more then they are listening right now. They want to SEE did he lose why isn't he losing what's going on is the band a failure or is Christy the failure?

Those of us that choose to share that we have had WLS might endure some of those same questions and if you are uncomfortable hearing them from your mother in law imagine how you would feel if you heard them screamed from TV screens, magazines and newspapers?

No weight loss surgery is an easy answer, it takes hard work, and 100% commitment to make it work. For some the weight melts off after surgery only to come back again before hopefully it's gone for good. For others it comes off slowly never to return again. Still for some, there are issues and failures of surgical procedures and/or compliance on the part of the patient and the weight is never lost.

It is not our job to judge, it is our job to support and encourage. Not just others but ourselves. To be bold enough to go for surgery to go through the required testing and the recovery and all of that proves that we have the fortitude and we CAN do it. When things don't work the way we want or expect them to, we lose some of our fortitude and we forget how strong and committed we were when we first set our feet on this path.

We want to sit back and let the band or the sleeve or the RNY do the work for us, but it is WE who must do the work. Those tools are there for us to help catch us when we fall, so that we are not broken this time with our tools we can get back up, heal the hurts and keep striving forward.

If we expect to just sit there, if we are going to wallow in our misery no matter what that is at the moment. Stress, discomfort, illness, sadness what ever. If we are going to wallow in those things, we are going to be stuck and we are going to sink like we are in quicksand. Our WLS tools help us to pull our heads above it and out of it but we have to put them to use. We can't just sit back and expect it to happen.

We are a community of WLS patients, and together we can help support ourselves and each other. Take a moment and remember how you felt as you first set your feet on the path to WLS. Find that courage and conviction and let that motivate you today! Share your story with others, and ask them to share theirs with you, and motivate each other!

Hearing Gov Christy admit to having the lapband and his reasons for doing it and watching him stand tall in the public eye for good and for bad helps to motivate me. It takes me back to the beginning and helps me view my progress in hindsight giving me the opportunity to learn from and correct mistakes I have made as well as to plan my next steps as I move forward in my weight loss journey.

Well said, lisacaron.

And speaking for myself, I see a big diff in Governor Christie's before and latest pix that I've seen. He was a VERY big boy.

November 2013 article and pix at http://www.buzzfeed.com/hunterschwarz/chris-christie-pre-lap-band-surgery-vs-chris-christie-today

Edited December 12, 201312 yr by VSGAnn2014

I have told my family of course and close friends and anyone else who ask... I am not ashamed of taking control of my health.. I am. not ashamed to utilize weight loss surgery ... I am not ashamed to admit defeat.. when all other programs, pills, gimmicks , etc. failed I researched my options.. I am not ashamed that I now have a "life"... my mobility and health were worth it. I also have discussed the surgery with other obese friends.. They have asked my advice and I am happy if it helps one other person get healthier and live a better life. Anyone who thinks it was the easy way.. should try it.. lol.. as everyone else has said.. weeks of liquids, gas pains and having to go have fills is not the easy way... being aware of what you are eating and how fast and chewing enough and not drinking with meals is part of the deal... but I would do it over again to get where I am now....