What am I supposed to do? Wear a sign letting everyone know I have a band? Make an announcement at the table?

First, it was eating too much.

Now, it's not eating enough.

Why can't people mind their own business?

Now, when I go into social situations I can see people whispering about me thinking I have an eating disorder.

Has anyone else delt with this and if so, what did you do?

It's like I need a shirt with a flashing arrow pointing to my stomach saying

"lapband" and then I need to hand out information on it because then it monopolizes the entire conversation.

At first I told no one, and actually got a ton of the "eating disorder" questions, it was quite ridiculas. I didn't tell anyone because I was ashamed. But now I tell anyone who asks. Mostly because I got sick of the eating disorder comments, or others trying to force me to eat. I will say it is completely screwed up, before people tell you that you eat too much, now I eat too little, what do they want?

I think telling is always a personal choice. I feel I was forced into it, and now when I tell people I start out with "I used to be 320 pounds." That is a really screwed up way to talk about yourself. Maybe not telling and making people mind their own damn business is the way to go!

Only DH knows - not mother, not siblings, not children, not friends and absolutely not co-workers.

My boss came into my office recently, and said 'We are talking in the office.You are looking skinny and we are curious' - the tone was less positive than you may interpret from reading it, more judgemental. My response: a smile.

Another co-worker asked "are you losing weight?" in the kitchenette. My response: I can't believe someone would ask such a personal question.

Bitch? Maybe. But she apologized for asking, and it has never been mentioned since.

My band is nothing I am ashamed of - in fact I am quite proud of myself. I just believe that my body is my responsibility and no one else's.

I haven't told a single soul, not my friends, family, kids, hubby....absolutely nobody! Everyone thinks I had gall bladder surgery and that I now have problems eating. Don't know what I'll do if I ever have to have my gall bladder out but it's working for me. I did mention the LB to a few different people and got a negative reaction. I was only 190lbs so I wasn't quite "fat enough for surgery" I'm only 5' tall and my mother died at 52 of a stroke and my father had a quadruple bypass by the time he was 50. I'm 43 and desparate to lose the weight. I have become a hermit over the last 10yrs because I gained 70 lbs after having a near fatal car accident and becoming depressed because I couldn't do the things I used to. I am limited in my activity level but the scale can't keep climbing. Whenever I see anyone I haven't seen for a long time, I get wow you put on a few! Thanks, I hadn't noticed! I can't wait to start feeling good about myself again. I love this forum. It's nice to know I'm not alone.