Who do you tell....

Most people who know me know about my mental problems.  Many of them know that for a long I was so depressed that I kind of hoped that I'd die due to complications from super morbid obesity.  This was so fixed in my mind set that I stopped doing some basic hygene like brushing my teeth.  Luckily, I got the help I needed for my mental condition.  I found out that my family is blessed with good heart health--even when I weighed 570+ my BP was under 120/80.  But, my poor oral habits cost me all of my teeth.  People knew I could barely move from one room to another without being out of breath. To answer your question, most people who know me know I had the WLS.  Those who haven't seen me in a long time think I've gained weight.  I want to let them know that I used to be over 300 pounds heavier and am actually on my way down.  I was thin as a kid, about 190 when I got married about 33 years ago, 250 when I got my last job and 350 when I retired on mental disability in 1992.  So, most people who haven't seen me in the last 10 years have no idea how huge I became.

Hey RG..... You have gotten a bunch of really serious answers,,,,may I offer the Azz Hole answer... (Oh goodie I haven't been able to post this for a while) When asked, I state...."I just could not stand being morbidly obese one day longer.....I don;t know how you do it." Russ

just about everthing has been said . Thats  ALL  the way that I have felt at one time or another .   Went through a time when I dident want anybody to know .   Now I dont care who knows; Ya I HAD WLS WHAT ABOUT IT .   Thats kinda how I feel now .  If they dont like it sooooo what !!!  Now I will tell anybody that I had lap band surgery , If they ask . I think its time to give back when ever possable    Nick

If it's someone who is genuine, I just say that I had the surgery.  If it's someone who wants to be an asshole, I say that it was hard work and exercise.  I don't know how I know the difference but it is a feel thing.

At first I didn't tell anyone. If asked I would tell them it was from clean living and if they pressed me I would tell them I watched every thing I eat.  Today at work I saw a woman and her husband that I went to school with and when asked about how I had lost so much weight I told them that I had surgery. The sales lady had no idea, most people at work still don't know. I am a very private person and really didn't think it was any of their business. Now I have started to put my self out there a little and I tell them that I have had surgery. pan head

This subject comes up all the time on the forums ...   When I recently posted on it, quite a varied response resulted ..  Some (like myself) are proud to tell others about their surgeyr and hope to inspire others that need it to do as well (I call it "telling my 'Great Pumpkin' story") ..   Some other WLSers seem to not be quite so "candid", and will respond with something vague about diet and exercise, or restricting their calories, etc. (which is technically true, but kinda splitting hairs, IMHO) ..   I dont think anyone said that they ignore the inquires (or worse, tell them to STFU) ..