I have a meeting tonight with some online friends. I've been active online in the group since August but was busy wrapping up grad school work before my surgery in September. So tonight it's a discussion over Snacks just after 7pm iwth about 9 of us. I will have already eaten my dinner and be mostly digested by then. I don't want to eat there because I tend to burp a lot after I eat and my stomach is a musical organ with loud sound effects. I know I won't be able to snack on anything there as I'm pretty much full of food by then. So I'll politely decline, but if I'm asked for an explanation I don't know how I feel about coming out of the band closet. Any advice?

I went out to eat with my family this past weekend (for my commencement dinner) and just ate a bit of my hubby's food. The waiter was shocked I wasn't ordering a meal, and the people at the next table kept on looking at me eating super slow tiny bites.

Thanks,

Leena

I tell everyone. I don't care who knows, I did this for me. But I have no problem sharing if someone wants to know.

I've told everyone. Glad I did, too.

At first I didn't tell people, now I do and I am proud of it. It is better to just get it out there, why everyone feels the need to ask "How" is beyond me, but I now answer it honestly!

I was banded on the 1st, and only immediate family know. I think more out of fear that I might fail and would not want it to be a public failure.

But I think that as soon as I am confident I will tell people

I've been working towards my surgery date (I have known since May that my surgery would be in November) - and just started telling people this week.

I had to tell my boss because I was requesting the time off work (and we're pretty "close") - I explained to her that it wasn't a "secret" but that it's not something I'm broadcasting, either.

I have since told 3 of the 5 members of my team. The other 2 will find out next week.

It's not something I'm "ashamed" of - but I also don't feel that I need to just go out and tell everyone and their mother.

If asked, I will tell - but I won't be advertising.

my stomach is a musical organ with loud sound effects.

Mine, too!

I'm not keeping it a secret. I'm finding people think I'm very brave and they applaud my efforts.

Darr

I share it...mostly...

There is a part of me that wants to see people I haven't seen for a while and have them be overwhelmed with my "hotness!!!" HAHA...but then I'd tell them!!!

Rain

I chose not to tell anyone, I was afraid too of being a failure...But now I want to tell people, but afraid they will be mad at me for not telling them in the first place. I told them I had a hernia repair, and I really did, but had the band put in at the same time.

Now, I want to reach out to people who would benefit from the band, but still not brave enough yet.

My sister in law has been talking about how she would like the band, I want to tell her about me, but she has a big mouth and I know she will go out and blab it.

Strange thing the other day, I was at a taylor shop picking up a give I had engraved, and this heavy lady was helping me, we starting talking and I just told her I had the lapband. She was so excited and said she is thinking about it and started asking me all kinds of questions. This is the first person I told, a total stranger. weird.

My DH knows, and my mother and my BF, thats it.

I told everyone from the very beginning. Glad I did.

I didn't tell anyone in the beginning, I was afraid if it didn't work I'd be a freak. Now that it worked I tell anyone that will listen.

I told my parents and one of my friends, back when I was first looking into it. The friend kept quiet, but the 'rents didn't. I didn't have to tell anyone that I knew, they'd already done it for me. I mean, if someone asks me, I'll tell them, but I don't volunteer. I figure that my personal life isn't any of their business.

I've told pretty much everyone. Why not? What's to be embarrassed about? I dont feel I ever need to explain my eating habits though, nobody would notice I was on a diet. If Snacks were going round I would either just say no thanks (I'm still full from dinner) or just have a taste of something. Nobody cares what you eat. Being obsessed over stuff like that is a mentality you'll probably be able to shed with time and its pretty common as an initial anxiety when you havent really learned to live with being banded.

Truly, the thought wouldnt even come up for me, I wouldnt even think to worry about it.

I told everyone and there mother ! I figured everyone knowing would push me harder to not let this fail. It isn't so my guess it worked.

i did not tell anyone because i did not want this to define me. i did not want the first question out of everyones mouth to be about the band or weight loss. when you are losing weight, it tends to pop out of everyones mouth first thing...so the weight loss is already going to strongly define you while in progress. in addition, i did not want to face the judgement of those jealous and/or ignorant people who want to judge me, or judge the effectiveness of the band (in the event that my weight loss was slower than most people feel it should be following wls). i am pretty sure that i have lost most of the weight that i am going to lose. it has been a really slow rate of loss for me, but a significant loss nonetheless. but now that the drastic part of the change has passed, i am telling more people. when folks ask how i lost weight, i usually say that i eat small portions, which is true. if they accept that, fine. but when a fluffy friend comments on how impossible it is for them to eat small portions and compliment me on self control, then i feel obliged to tell them that i have help. i think it is unfair to let my friends admire me for practicing self control, when in reality i have absolutely no self control. i dont want them to think less of themselves because i am able to control my portions when they cannot. but my thin friends, they dont really question things the same as someone who struggles with weight issues...so i dont share it. if anyone asks me directly if i have had wls, i dont lie. i tell the people who i share this with that it is not a huge secret, but i would like to be the one to tell people who need to know. i ask them not to volunteer or share the info with anyone else. i ask them to suggest to anyone talking about it, to come ask me.

i told everyone.

i want a t-shirt and maybe a licensce plate cover thing or key chain...