Honesty?

I made the decision up front to be open about having wls. If I had heart problems I'd have an angioplasty or open heart surgery. Well my health problems were different (diabetes, blood pressure, cholestrol), but I needed the wls tool to make me healthy. Today I am prescription free with all blood work in the normal range so nobody can argue that wls wasn't a good thing for me. I'm now almost 2 years out and still enjoy the wow moments when people I haven't seen in a while make a big deal over the weight loss. I readily tell them I had wls. However I find myself reaching a stage where I'd rather just be a normal person most of the time. Strangers don't need to know I've had wls so why do friends/family find it necessary to tell them? I don't hesitate to mention it in the right situation. Example: obese person talking about the futility of trying to lose weight, etc. I will openly tell that person I've had wls and what a miracle it has been for me. I suppose I now feel like it's my story and I should be the one to tell it when I want it told. Has my view changed, I don't think so. It's always been my wls journey and my story to tell. I know friends/family are proud of me and that's why they blurt the story out to everybody, but I've begun to tell them in private that I don't think every stranger, waitress, etc needs to know I've had wls. Nobody has taken offense so far when I explained how I felt.

Yes, The topic of my weight loss rarely comes up now, and I don't feel the need to bring it up. With friends and acquantences the way I am now is 'normal'. I think early on, during the massive weightloss period, Many of us are so excited about it that they keep bringing it up... "Woohoo, I've lost 20 pounds this month!" When you settle in at a weight, it just doesn't come up as often. Tek

I have always been blatantly honest. I did tell - and do tell - anyone who wants to know. My reason? This surgery saved my life. Many people who ask questions have a loved one [if not themselves] that they want to share information with. Bottom line? If, by relating my experience with WLS honestly, with enthusiasm and pride in my accomplishment, I can help save ONE LIFE - even if just ONE - then I have given back a tiny spark of the life that was given back to ME!

I agree with your sentiment. I too hope that my experience can motivate, enable, encourage, or whatever to make change. I don't think that can happen through a self-serving half-truth. Tek

hi tek..i guess i was so excited about beuing approved and having this surgery i told everyone about it..off course i heard all the negativity from people saying oh my god you could die from that surgery but at the rate i was going i was probally going to die anyways.. i am a weigh****cher, diet workshop, jenny craig drop out i failed at more eating programs in my life..off course id lose then gain vack..the never ending cycle of abuse.. after having my surgery i yea get this one inspired 2 people to have the surgery and helped them along the way.. im not ashamed i had to have trhis surgery if anything im pissed because i had and still have no control over food but this surgery keeps me in line and its working.. i feel healthier than i ever have in yearts.. im happy content with my physical appearence and my mobility problems at home dont go away ..life dont get hunky dory we have surgery on our stomachs not our heads and i really try using my head everyday as hard as that sounds JoAnn:

Like you, I never minded hearing negative views of WLS, not that very many people DARED express a view contrary to mine I think we need contrary opinions to test our reasoning. Tek

"Losing weight "the old fashioned way" requires tremendous willpower, character, dedication, and inner strength. This lie leads people to believe you have these attributes." I do in fact have those attributes. I would not be alive now if I did not. my strength of character is not determined by my weight, size, shape or status of my digestive tract. to be honest I told many people about the surgery. People at work etc. did NOT tell any family members other than DH and my children, (who were sworn to silence) til after. I really didn't intend to but my son busted me when I was in the hospital and my MIL called and asked where I was since I had not been home all day. and he told her I was in the hospital getting my stomach cut in half to lose weight. She immediately notified every possible family member on my DH side of the family across the country. So of course at the next family gathering it was THE topic of the day. BLAH I did not tell my side of the family until a month or two later. If I were doing it over I would tell no one but my DH. Why? because everybody seems to think it their business to blab it to anyone who will listen. I work in a hospital in a nursery and my co-workers even tell my patients visitors that I had WLS. terrible invasion of my privacy, unprofessional and inappropriate. Also have to tell new employees right away. Imagine my hoorror at being introduce to a new (overweight) nurse with the state ment "Val had a gastric bypass - she used to be as big as you! " OMG I was so horrified. privacy is not dishonesty. would you tell casual aquaintences you had an abortion? colostomy, a hysterectomy, vasectomy, fungal infection? Bless you and your right to do so, but respect for others wish for privacy is another story.

Correction on mens version: Man2: Hey. Man1: :grunt: Real men would not notice a haircut Tek