Well, it was my instinct to keep my surgery a secret. Not sure why, I guess I was afraid of feeling judged. I had a cousin who had the sleeve and she told me in confidence. She would post her weight loss on facebook, but never acknowledged that she had surgery. I respect her stand, but I decided to be public with this journey! I'm not ashamed to take control of my life (finally) and I'm certain I made the best decision for me! I want to share my experience in case someone else is considering this option. It was a (unnecessary) struggle for me to make the decision to have weight loss surgery. Honestly, looking back this is a no brainer! It's been exactly two months (today) since my surgery and my only regret is that I didn't do this years ago!!!! I'm over 40 lbs down and feel excited, optimistic, and motivated. I'm looking forward to flying (no extender needed) riding roller coasters again, maybe trying snowboarding/skiing, and all the other things I wouldn't even try because I was just too heavy!

Well, it was my instinct to keep my surgery a secret. Not sure why, I guess I was afraid of feeling judged. I had a cousin who had the sleeve and she told me in confidence. She would post her weight loss on facebook, but never acknowledged that she had surgery. I respect her stand, but I decided to be public with this journey! I'm not ashamed to take control of my life (finally) and I'm certain I made the best decision for me! I want to share my experience in case someone else is considering this option. It was a (unnecessary) struggle for me to make the decision to have weight loss surgery. Honestly, looking back this is a no brainer! It's been exactly two months (today) since my surgery and my only regret is that I didn't do this years ago!!!! I'm over 40 lbs down and feel excited, optimistic, and motivated. I'm looking forward to flying (no extender needed) riding roller coasters again, maybe trying snowboarding/skiing, and all the other things I wouldn't even try because I was just too heavy!

You go girl! !! Can't wait to join you in all the things I can't do turning into can do!!

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28 minutes ago, Charissa said:

Well, it was my instinct to keep my surgery a secret. Not sure why, I guess I was afraid of feeling judged. I had a cousin who had the sleeve and she told me in confidence. She would post her weight loss on facebook, but never acknowledged that she had surgery. I respect her stand, but I decided to be public with this journey! I'm not ashamed to take control of my life (finally) and I'm certain I made the best decision for me! I want to share my experience in case someone else is considering this option. It was a (unnecessary) struggle for me to make the decision to have weight loss surgery. Honestly, looking back this is a no brainer! It's been exactly two months (today) since my surgery and my only regret is that I didn't do this years ago!!!! I'm over 40 lbs down and feel excited, optimistic, and motivated. I'm looking forward to flying (no extender needed) riding roller coasters again, maybe trying snowboarding/skiing, and all the other things I wouldn't even try because I was just too heavy!

Great job! I personally find openness is a great way of being accountable, not only to yourself but for others to help you out as well.

If we take addicts of another nature (for the purpose of analogy), drugs, they likewise tend not to be open about their drug use, they will conceal it as much as possible, and part of that reason is the desire not to be accountable to their peers. It's a great way of doing self-destructive things unchecked. For many of us, myself especially, this was the case.

Nextly, if the desire is for WLS not to be stigmatized (judged illogically, opposed to not being judged at all), being private is not helping change that stigma whatsoever. I think those of us who are seriously motivated for things to change will embrace the attention, praise, criticism, et al. I don't actively seek out the spotlight concerning WLS, but I don't hide from it either. I will talk to anyone about it that seems to have even the remotest interest.. overwhelmingly, people are engaged in the conversation, and understand this was the logical choice. Every medical worker I see, nurses, doctors, specialists, etc., all have given fantastic feedback, based on my hard work at not being an idiot, and of course praise for turning things completely around. While I personally downplay the praise I get because it was me who got myself in this situation to begin with, I'm simply happy my health is astronomically better than it was a year ago.