Social media

I don't owe anyone an explanation for anything. It's my body, not a conversation topic.

I was nearly 400 pounds and now weigh under 140. Is it noticeable?

Sure. But it's certainly not the most interesting thing about me.

This is just how I see it -- of course, everyone is different.

I also don't post before and after pics, nor do I seek approval from others about my body.

Prior to surgery, nope. I only told the people in my life that needed to know because I didn't want them to find out I'd had surgery through a phone call saying that something had gone wrong. These people included my partners, my parents, my brother, and my 3 bffs. I also told my massage therapist and voice teacher, because my surgery and recovery would impact them. I didn't want to hear anyone's horror stories about their sister's mother's brother's cousin's roommate who had WLS and DIED. Since everyone seems to have a story like that :P

I did, however, post to Facebook afterward. I had surgery in March and posted in June or July. At this point I knew that it had "worked" and I was so happy that I couldn't keep what felt like a secret in anymore. So I posted. The response was overwhelmingly positive and supportive and I felt super loved :)

I can't remember my exact post, but it was something along the lines of "after a lifetime of obesity, I had this surgery, I've lost this much weight, life is amazing, blah blah blah."

I'm glad I posted - I've had people ask me questions and advice. And I'd like to think that my success has maybe helped to erode the stigma of WLS a little bit. At least in my corner of the world.

The people in my life that are close to me know... people at work that made comments to me as I lost know... heck, some of the sales people at clothing stores know because I was so excited as I lost weight I couldn't keep my mouth shut!

I tell the truth whenever anyone asks me how I lost weight. I have never avoided it...

But I didn't announce it on FB... I do post a ton of pictures there, and I'm pretty active on FB. If someone asks publicly how I've lost so much weight, I send them a private message to talk about it. Most people don't, but a lot of people have commented "Wow you look great!" To that, I just say thank you.

Once I was approved-which was a month before surgery, I basically shouted from the rooftops via Facebook. At the time, I had a friends' list that only encompassed my family and people I knew IRL-friends, school friends, and such. Everyone was very supportive, but had they not been-I'd have just ignored them. I didn't ask anyone for advice-I posted a "This is happening, people!" type of post.

For me I didn't share till after surgery. And when people started seeing pictures of me losing weight.

I am very active on Facebook. Which I feel has become another one of my addictions.

First if someone asked me on a picture what was going on. I would message them.

Now everyone knows. I don't care actually.

People will say I am a photo ***** sometimes. Which I know I can be at times.

The pictures help me to remind myself what I looked like before. Like one from five years ago will pop up. I will post my during weight loss not after. I feel for me I will always be during and never after.

That is just for me. Even though I had the surgery on my stomach my head didn't.

I haven't posted anything regarding my surgery, but I have posted about my weightloss. I've received some messages inquiring about how I've lost weight, and I answer openly. Sometimes I want too, but I don't want to deal with the few that have a negative view of WLS (at least right now anyway).

I did post on Facebook when I decided to start the journey but only close family and friends could see the post and it was 100% supportive. These specific people have known me a long time and knew my lifelong struggle.

I'm not having surgery for another 2 weeks, but I plan on being honest with people who genuinely want to know how I did it and want to mimic my "plan," namely because the old "diet and exercise" response might discourage a person who has already been there and done that, but if I can tell they're only fishing for gossip, I'll probably give them that line. Aside from my initial announcement, I probably won't bring it up very often.

Ultimately I think the decision should be based on how mentally and emotionally thick skinned you would be if you get negative feedback such as "you took the easy way out!" Or "my husbands aunts friend DIED." I personally have no problem telling people where to stick their unhelpful negativity

I actually deactivated my facebook account about a year ago, and didn't start looking into the surgery until May of last year, so there has been no announcement for me. My close family and friends know but that's about all.

Only by mistake. I have a varied list of friends and family on Facebook. Some are people I know in real life, some are relatives, and some are people I have known since the internet began.

Initially I created a group of friends and family who were like minded theologically. I kept them up to date for prayers and support. I also joined a FB support group. Because I am old and not always sure what I am doing, I accidentally posted to my regular friends list when I thought I was posting to the bariatric support group. The post was up for a couple of hours before I realized my error. By then the djinn was out.

So I came clean. I confessed. It was not as big a thing as I imagined it might be. I am very well known in my profession, as in known world wide. Anyone who saw a picture of me could see I had lost a TREMENDOUS amount of weight. Lots of people were writing me to ask if I was sick - if I had cancer or something. So I bared my soul, and I explained my process. I was met with overwhelming support. Then again, I am ruthless in deleting and blocking ******** who can?t be civil.

I'm still trying to decide if I want to post anything. I'm not approved for surgery yet and I feel like if I tell too many people that I'm on this path, what will I say if my approval falls through? I'll be personally devastated and I certainly don't want to have to explain that devastation to anyone who isn't in my inner circle. At this point, only my husband and two friends know. Maybe once I get an approval for surgery I'll feel differently.