Being "out" about WLS

I have always been "out" about most things in my life. Being Queer/Trans...but for some reason I am having a hard time being out about WLS.
I live in NC and most of my friends live in CA. The people I know here in NC know, work knows, my family knows....but I am having a really hard time telling my community in CA.
Part of that is I know many of them are very anti WLS and I respect their opinion.
I have a few WLS friends on my face book and when I get tagged in  WLS note or someone mentions my surgery I freak out a little.

I will be visiting home/CA in August  and I know that I will start to have those conversations then. Until then I am feeling really private.

Has anyone else had this experience? It is weird for sure.

I really know where you are coming from...just a little different cir****tances.  I'm out to all of my close friends and family about wls.  However, I cringe when someone at work asks me about what I am doing to lose weight.  I don't lie because I'm tired of hiding me.  So I bite the bullet and tell them.  Most are like, "really" and life goes on.  I did have one friend that is a health nut and I was scared about telling her.  HOWEVER, once I did, she was really supportive and still is.  She said up front that she normally isn't for something like that, but she knew how much pain I was in and how much my health was failing...and she just wanted me healthy, so if wls was the way for me, then she supported it.  Her response really took me off guard and gave me courage that even those that may be opposed of it can still be supportive at a personal level.  Have courage my friend and you will make the right decision.  Regardless of what they say....know you had to make the decision for you.  They were not living your life and didn't know what you were going through on a personal level.  If they are your friends they can overlook their opinions and still be supportive in some fashion! 

I have no advice ..I LOVE being OUT with WLS!!! If my journey can be of help to someone else then my job is done. I don't mind discussing my journey with anyone. Sometimes I feel like a walking billboard lol.

I'm not out about it either and I'm not sure how comfortable I am telling people.  I will probably gradually tell people the truth but at the same time I will treat it like I do being gay.  If it comes up in conversation then I'll talk about it but I'm very much not the type of person to be like "Hi I'm gay and I had WLS!"  There are no pink triangle WLS t-shirts in my future. ;)  So far I've only told one person from work, one friend, and one family member and I think it will stay that way.  It's not something I feel the need to share.  However, I do keep a blog that is searchable on google about my WLS surgery, ideas, feelings, and things. 

I let everybody know from the very beginning.  I've never really given **** about what others thought.  If they liked the idea of surgery, good.  If not, then they shouldn't have it.  The choice to have surgery was mine.  Their reaction is their's.  I cannot control that, only the way I react.

If anybody asks how I lost weight, even people I barely know, I come right out with it.  And, you know what?  No one's given me **** about it.  (At least not to my face.)  No one has felt the need to throw their little opinions at me.  I don't know.  It isn't possible that I'm surrounded by people who are unconditionally supportive (everybody is friends with a few douchebags.)  I guess when I tell them, I exude a confidence and understanding about what I have done.  I show no trepidation or shame when answering the question.  I am proud of what I am and all of the decisions I made to get me to where I am.  And if they don't understand, whether it's at home, work, school, church or whatever, it's not my job to educate or even care.  It's my job to live my life.  And I am quite happy with it.

Cheers,

Chris

Everyone knows... heck the cashier at the local grocery store knows.

It's kinda hard to lie about loosing 100 lbs in a matter of a few months LOL

I'm only a month out of surgery and people are noticing and asking questions.  I freely tell them.  I've noticed a few people who snear or look down their noses at me have a bigger ass then I do.   I've lived all my life being judged.   Now I'm being judged for something good.  

The key to all this - make yourself happy.  If you want to tell the world, do it!   If you want to keep it private, then you have the right to do that too.  when people notice how wonderful you are looking and ask "how are you doing it" just tell them you made some smart choices, you are doing what you need to do to get healthy.

I'm out to everyone about it, and that's been a great experience for me.  I told everyone I was going to do it about 6 months before.  The original resistance I met gave way to support as my friends had time to adjust to the idea of it and to do their own research.  The amount of support and love I've received throughout my process has been staggering.

That said, I've recently made some new friends that I've chosen not to tell about the surgery.  This NOT out of shame, but because it's sort of nice to have some people to hang out with that don't ask me about it.  It's sort of like time off from the effort.

I kind of like it.

Dante, I decided to be up front to be out about my surgery. I know many people in my support group and circle of friends who are much more cautious. I think it is a personal thing. Do what you do is best for yourself. I also might add... Just like coming out as GLBT, don't be too quick to jump to the conclusion that people will not accept you. Just like coming out sexually, people can be unpredictable. It's all in how you handle yourself. Look to your experience in coming out as LGBT and apply the same to coming out after WLS. I think that will work for you. -- Tom

My close friends, family and work all know...and any one who knows my mom knows..since she seems to tell EVERYONE. Don't think she tells ANYONE that I am queer, however.

I guess I am sort of on the private side...and the fact of the matter is I do a ton of work to be in this condition. I work out and I watch what I eat.

I think alot of people I know or in the "community" are in to "natural" and not medical intervention...so I do think folks have some judgements about it. Guess I am in the middle of the continum...private and WTF. And/or sometimes I go back and forth. But the bottom line is I would share it with someone who needed to know....or who I wanted to tell. I think most folks are interested in themselves...and why do they care what I have done? (or who I sleep with

deb366