Newbies often wonder: "What will I tell...", "What will______think if they knew?" From day 1 there was no hiding my decision to get the band. I was fat, sick and tired...what the hell did I care what somebody else thought about me doing something to make myself healthier? I started with my family and yeah, I got a lot of "you don't need that..." "you could die...." "the complications..." BLAH BLAH BLAH, SHUDDUP ALREADY, I'M LIVING THIS LIFE, NOT YOU! Then I told my friends, coworkers, boss, nail technician, the hoochie cussing our her baby daddy while I'm behind them in WalMart. the bank teller...like I said, AIN'T NO SHAME IN MY GAME! My mindset was that they can accept it and support me or be against it and step off. It didn't matter, I had living to do and nobody else to do it for me BUT ME.

The end result: "Guuuuurrrrrllllll, your body is BANGIN'", "Damn, you look good", "Let me put some rocks in your pocket so you don't blow away", "I won't hug you too tight, I'm scared to break you", "You say your insurance covered that?" "How long was recovery", "What was your out-of-pocket", "Did it hurt", "I want to get it done, too".

See 7 out of the 16 people who were DEAD SET AGAINST the surgery have either gotten WLS or are in the process (4 bands, 2 sleeves, 1 gastric). Three others are trying to convince their loved ones that they should have it done, 4 are now my biggest fans and the other two are still @$$holes who don't want to admit they were wrong about it...I quit fooling with them a long time ago anyway. I just hear how green their FAT FACES get when they hear I'm wearing a size 3/4 and I'm having a clothing "take-away" at my house to which THEY AREN'T INVITED!

Don't be ashamed. You could be the inspiration someone else needs to change their lives for the better as well.

Laughing out loud now. My, you're a Chatty Cathy today? Congratulations on your super success. Looking forward to new pics btw.

Loving the attitude! I didn't tell a lot of people before (just some people like the candy pushers at work who leave treats on my desk when I'm having a bad day) but now that it's over, I'm just telling anybody who wants to know. Word's getting around anyway so I'm just out with it. I've already had one girl that reports to me sit down and have a long talk about it because she's been thinking of having surgery, too.

I don't think I'll just blurt it out to anybody but for anybody that really shows interest, I'll be honest and open. And proud of my success!

I love you I think we would be instant best friends if we ever met in person...LOL

I did keep my sleeve surgery quiet for a few months because everyone knew about my lap band and I didn't want to discuss having a revision. I doubted anyone would understand - but eventually I told everyone who asked how I was losing the weight. I always said I had WLS and I eat healthy and workout. Some people would ask me more, some wouldn't. I guess I'm just always very confident in all the choices I make and I welcome a challenge when someone speaks negatively about it. I go out of my way to discuss it with them, and I'm proud to say there is only one person who's mind I was never able to change. I'm okay with that, she's entitled to her opinion and she's a nice lady.

That said, telling or not is def a personal choice. I don't typically partake in those posts because I can only see it my way which is "own it" like the OP said. I know lots of great WLS folks who don't talk about it to their family & friends and I still adore them just as much if they did.

LOL, Right on! Congratulations.

I told everyone, too. I got a couple of people (personal trainer friends) tell me that they could help me so I wouldn't have to get surgery, but mostly I got a bunch of well-wishers and a few that wanted to learn more about the surgery for themselves.

I do not regret having the surgery or telling everyone! YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!

:)K

ROTFL!! LOVE IT!!