Are you Open About WLS or Private

Remember the old kohl s commercial OPEN OPEN OPEN well that is me, the way I see it is it helped make my life so much better I want others that may need the same help to know exactly how I got her and of people have a problem with it so what this is my life not theres I'm living it not them so open I will continue to be not only about wls but plastics as well if it makes you happy makes you feel better then do it for you. Cheers

I am completely open about it, for a few reasons :)

1)  I like to help people.  By sharing my story, I feel like I am helping people to understand WLS a little better.  I also like to spread the news about this awesome "new" VSG surgery, and  my experience with it.

2) I don't like people talking about me behind my back.  I have witnessed what happens when someone at work has "secret" WLS, and I don't like it :(  People speculate and talk about that person all of the time.  I don't want them speculating about me.

3) I was deceived and I didn't like it!  A couple of friends of mine had surgery secretly.  They lost a lot of weight, which was awesome!  Two of them told people that they were just paying attention to what they ate.  The other said that she was watching her carbs and eating special high protein bars.  I felt like- I've tried these things, and they didn't work for me... what is wrong with me :(  It made me feel bad.  Then, when they found out I was having surgery, they told me that is what they had done.  WOW!  If they would have shared their real stories with me sooner, maybe I would have pursued surgery sooner?

I am completely closed to anyone except my family. Other than my husband, mother and siblings..no one else knows. Partly because no one other than my family knows how much I have struggled with my weight and secondly because I'm the type that is always going up and down in weight so other people really don't ask or care. If someone asks me, I won't deny it. But I just take care of me for now, and don't really need to worry about anyone else's opinion.

I told.  With me, it's mostly laziness.  It gets too hard trying to keep up with who I told and who I didn't.  

Open.. it doesn't matter one bit to me who talks. Frankly, do you think they don't talk about weight gain too?

Plus I'm one of those that feel like not telling someone that I had a procedure to help me is lying by omission. I can't do that to another person that was where I was, struggling and then to tell them a half-truth? Put yourself in their position, another helping of self-doubt and failure anyone? 

I DID lose 150lbs on my own a long time ago, but it took a couple years, and was nothing like losing the 80 I've lost in last few months this time.. I was working out like a fiend, I was 22, I was starving.. Now, eating 2oz, saying I'm full.. hmm, sorry- but someone somewhere would call BS even if they didn't say it out loud... and that's not just because I've had surgery and know more now.. that's the way I was before. Been there, been told "oh, just dieting" - turned out it wasn't true. Never looked at that person the same way again, and not in a positive way. 
 

I am pretty open about it. I lead conversations with strangers with my RNY, but if someone asks about it I'm not going to lie. I also don't hide anything from family or friends, so they all know too. I'm not ashamed and am prepared to deal with whatever people have to say about it. It's my life, my decision.

 I have been privately open. With my family, my parents, aunt, and one grandmother know. My brother knows but not everything, because he talks about it to his girlfriend and I don't particularly like her, so I don't want her knowing my business. My other grandmother doesn't know because we're not close. With my friends... I have about 3-4 very very close friends with whom I'd entrust my life, and then a bunch of acquaintances. My close friends all know and are supportive. With work, I've told the people who are on a need-to-know basis - mostly because if I am off from work with this for a week or so, I need these people to know that what they're depending on me for in that time frame will be done. 

I've found it's hardest to pick and choose whom I tell at work, because as someone so perfectly mentioned above, it feels like lying by omission. Especially at work, where 'office politics' can come into play... I don't want to deal with that "oh, she told Y but not ME." However, I justify it as I do with my friends - some people I work with more closely, and my time off affects them more than it does others. 

I will say that opening up to the people at work that I have has been one of the most positive experiences. I had no IDEA there could be this much support! One of my coworkers told me she wants to do the pre-op liquid diet with me - at least during work hours - and make our shared office a 'no junk' zone. Another co-worker wants to take a picture of me every day to document my weight loss after surgery. A third is going to be my gym buddy - to make sure I don't slack off on the gym once I'm able to go back. Don't get me wrong, my family and friends are supportive, but my work family is going above and beyond what I'd expect, and it's really helpful. 

In the end, though - it's what YOU'RE most comfortable with! :)

I'm private with whom I want to be, which is most people. I was like that before surgery- didn't see a reason to change. I'm pretty independent. Once I made the decision, I just went on with it. I don't need much validation or worry about someone's opinion.  It is just simply, I tell the few that I want to and not others. I never stressed over the issue of telling- not even when one aunt told the other aunts that I don't like. Didn't care and didn't call to explain or discuss. I also didn't ask how they reacted. 

I'm just plain content with my little circle.

I agree 100% I've always been a private person, no reason to change now. Seriously, I'm a grown woman. I don't need to discuss my personal life with most people, that includes co-workers and some family. I'm not ashamed of me before WLS and not after. It's really not anyone's business. Much like bathroom time, it's personal. I told my very small close circle of 4. I did it for me. My choices have never needed validation from others. I didn't even speak on if I was taking time off. I just said see you tomorrow. LOL... To me IMO,,, people that discuss personal  business are looking for trouble and attention. It's some things in life you really should keep private.