Clementine Sky

I began to slowly introduce them a month post-op. There's several great brands of sprouted bread that I've tried, but Ezekiel's was the one my dietician recommended by name. It's more widely available at grocery stores and Target. I like Dave's Killer Bread as well. You can get it in a thinly sliced loaf that is lower in carbs. http://www.daveskillerbread.com/#first-slide These breads are often in a refrigerated section rather than on the shelves, and they are a bit pricier but are better quality. If there's a Sprouts grocery store near you, you can find a good selection there. Trader Joe's carries Ezekiel and some other sprouted breads as well, but I've found that their loaves get mold much faster because they don't keep them refrigerated.

I love Anthropologie, though they can be a bit hit-or-miss for me. They usually have one of their biannual sales in July, so it's a good time to pop in and see if there is anything you like. I also shop at Free People, Max Studio, Zara, and TJ Maxx. My last shopping spree was at the Camarillo outlets where I found a lot of great deals at Saks Fifth Avenue, Joe's, and 7 for all Mankind. Other outlets with those stores probably have sales going on as well. I think Nordstrom's still has its sale going on, too. Nordstrom Rack is another store worth checking out IMO. Oh, Madewell also has a bit of a boho feel.

I think using lower-carb foods as vehicles for getting more Protein in can be helpful. I was a vegetarian for nine years, and still am not inclined to eat meat on its own, so I usually try to blend it with vegetables like in a stir fry or a salad, or as an open-faced sandwich using crispbread. My mother-in-law is Swedish, and has long been making open-faced sandwiches with crispbread. I gathered ideas for sandwiches from her (and Pinterest!). They have the satisfying crunch of a cracker, but are lower in carbs. You can find the Wasa brand at many grocery stores, and IKEA has their own brand. I very rarely eat foods designed to be low-carb because they often taste a bit off to me, but I will have breads that are naturally lower in carbs such as ones by the Ezekiel 4:9 brand. My dietician recommended sprouted bread to me because it's a complete protein and is lower in carbs. A friend who has Celiac loves to make Pasta from spaghetti squash and top it with Trader Joe's turkey marinara sauce. It's tasty! What's a slippery slope for one person is firm ground for another, so I would experiment and see how you react. Pinterest has a heap of low-carb recipes.

I began to notice hair loss around four months post-op, but I was the only one who noticed it. In the past I've had some hair loss and thinning due to medicine I was taking, and a friend asked me directly about it. Others who are a bit less candid looked at my thinning hair, and some would then ask about my health. This time not a soul has ever said anything about it, or stared at my hair quizzically, and that helped me to calm down about it. When my weight loss slowed down, so did my hair loss. I've still lost enough to make it to the goals I'd set out, but it's just taken a while. Another perk besides the minimal hair loss has been absolutely no loose skin. I didn't take Biotin or anything else that claims to help with hair growth. A few years ago I took a Vitamin a lot of people were raving about on Instagram and YouTube that was supposed to help your hair to grow, and it caused a terrible breakout on my face. My dermatologist told me that taking excessive levels of B Vitamins can cause breakouts, so I've avoided anything containing too much since then. About 7 months post op when I really wasn't having any hair loss beyond the typical shedding I did try a collagen supplement from Amazon because of a post on here where a woman gushed about how much it had helped her. It didn't really help me, but I only took it for a month, and it also didn't harm me. It has a ton of positive reviews on Amazon, and is inexpensive.

I'm really sorry those who should be your support system are bringing you down. Their line of thinking is really illogical to me. The extreme weight loss diet program they are recommending to you as an alternative to surgery is profit-driven, as are most. In 2014 the weight loss market totaled $64 billion. Even the more established, credible programs, such as Weight Watchers, that are not merely fads have a low percentage of people who are able to achieve sustainable weight loss. Compare their 5-year success rate to that of people who've had bariatric surgery, and it makes it clear which one is more effective. If there was a program that truly had demonstrated effectiveness at longterm weight loss, there wouldn't constantly be new programs and trends popping up. Everyone would just stick with what was tried and true. Insurance companies also care a lot about profit. That's why they are loathe to provide coverage when there isn't a proven medical necessity. Bariatric surgery is expensive. So is plastic surgery, but it's exceedingly rare for it to be covered by insurance, and is usually only provided for cases such as following a mastectomy. They do not pay thousands of dollars for surgeries that are just for cosmetic purposes. I mean, insurance companies are notorious for refusing to provide coverage in cases where you'd assume they absolutely would, such as for expensive medicines related to cancer treatment (such as Neupogen, which costs a staggering amount, is very necessary, and frequently denied coverage by insurance companies), so it totally defies reason that they'd pay for a surgery they didn't think you'd need. You could point that out to them. The fact that medical professionals examined you and your medical history and determined that it was necessary for you, and insurance approved it should be sufficient reason for your mom and sister to understand why this is a wise move you're making to take care of yourself.

A year or thereabouts ago Target was heavily criticized for having manipulated the photos of a young model to make her appear to be even thinner than she naturally was in their clothing ads. They distorted her image so much that it made her arms appear to be bizarrely long, far disproportionate to her size. The model was a good sport and appeared on the Ellen Show with fake arms when Ellen called out Target. It's very common for photos to be Photoshopped to make the models appear even thinner and younger. I didn't start having weight problems until my 20s, and modeled a little as a kid and teen. The way I looked in real life was quite different than how I appeared in ads. Many of the models you see in ads, even for women's clothing, are actually in their teens and not yet fully developed. The agency I worked with classified "women's models" as 14 to 22, but wanted men who were in the 20 to 35 range. Women who were over 22 were considered "mature."

I began drinking diluted low-acid coffee a week post-op, but very cautiously. I took tiny sips of about half a cup to see how my body would react. I never experienced any problems with it, so I gradually increased to the amount of coffee I drank prior to surgery. Folger's has a coffee specifically designed to be more gentle on the stomach, and Trader Joe's has a low-acid French roast that is really lovely. You can get it decaf or caffeinated I believe. I put unflavored protein powder in my morning coffee along with Fairlife milk (higher in protein) to accomplish two goals in one cup.

I remember scratching my head when I encountered "ask your NUT" for the first time, and trying to figure out if it was an acronym, and if so, what it meant. A lot of possibilities went through my head before I realized it was just an abbreviation for nutritionist. I had surgery in Mexico and did consult with my surgeon's nutritionist then, but have not stayed in touch since. I think I could email her if needed, though. I have consulted with a local registered dietitian who has worked with bariatric patients, but do not go to her with every question that's arisen. My husband is a physician and is really generous with his time, letting patients email and call him, but I've seen how that's made his inbox swell up and taken up a lot of personal time. Some people email him constantly about minor issues, and expect a prompt reply. I think that's unreasonable. I understand that people don't want to make an appointment to discuss all their concerns because that takes up their time and is an additional expense, but they also need to be respectful of his time. If I were a nutritionist, I wouldn't want every patient emailing or calling me with every question that pops into their mind. I'd want them to present the majority of their questions / concerns in a consultation, and then perhaps ask the occasional question if it's pressing and hasn't already been answered. I do think that when it comes to actual medical issues, people absolutely should consult their surgeon or another in-person medical professional. I've personally witnessed the significant problems that can occur when someone takes the advice of people on the internet over their licensed medical doctors. When it comes to less consequential matters, like whether or not the sandwich they ate that day was too carb-heavy, IMO it's more logical to get feedback from a site such as this one. I've mainly tried to find the answers for any questions I have online through information posted by reputable bariatric centers, and then might do a keyword search here. I do find that this forum is helpful because most nutritionists, RDs, and even surgeons haven't had VSG themselves, and cannot provide suggestions from a personal perspective as members here have. - Sorry for my post being a bit ranty, haha.

I disagree with the platitude "embrace the stall" being given as a stock answer, but it doesn't make me crazy. I think if someone is able to see the positives in a stall and to genuinely embrace it, then kudos to them, but it's perfectly natural to be dismayed and want to actively do something about it. People shouldn't feel the need to make their feelings mirror someone else's, or that there is a right way or wrong way to react to the stall. I'd rather just give out and receive factual information and practical advice. I'm personally more in the middle about stalls. I definitely feel discouraged when I step on the scale and see the same number (or worse, one that's a bit higher) as the day, week, or even month before. I had a very long stall this spring that was finally broken when I increased my calories and carbs. The benefit for me of stalling out is that losing weight at a slower pace has helped me to not have much hair loss, and I have no loose skin.

Woah. You know the guy was born in NY and lived in Florida most of his life, right? What a horrible, dangerous statement to make. I also noticed you quote Einstein EVERY TIME YOU POST. How ironic you feel the way you do about people coming into our country when the man you respect was a Jewish man born in Germany. What if we had blocked HIM from coming to the states??? Your attitude makes me physically ill. And keep your voting suggestions to yourself. Not necessary on this forum, period. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Quoted for truth. It's unfortunate this thread was so swiftly politicized instead of focusing on the humanity of all involved in this massacre.

Hopefully you'll be able to schedule your surgery far more quickly since you are self-paying and not jumping through all the hoops insurance sets out. How soon really depends on your surgeon and his / her availability. I had my VSG in Mexico and was able to schedule it within three weeks. I actually could have had it even sooner than that, but my parents wanted to come out to be my support team since my husband wouldn't be able to go with me, and they needed time to get their travel arrangements sorted and passports renewed. It is a challenge for most people to get in enough Water in the immediate days and weeks following surgery when everything is healing. It never actually felt painful when I drank, but sometimes if I had too much I'd have this bizarre sensation in my upper chest, like the water was stuck there. For me, using a straw helped because I felt like I could better control the size of the sips. Some people apparently have problems with straws, though, (from posts on here) so use them carefully to experiment and see how your body reacts. Ice cold water and flavored water were easier (and still are) for me to drink. A lot of people dislike or have a negative reaction to plain and room temperature water, especially post-op. I really like Crystal Light's individual packets, though I just use half of one per drink because otherwise they are too sweet. Lipton also has delicious blackberry honey individual tea packets that I like even though I'm not a tea drinker. I also like to make fruit-infused water. I have a cold brew coffee pitcher, and instead of putting coffee in the filter, I fill it with fruit at night. In the morning remove the filter, and drink the water that has absorbed the flavors of the fruit. You can also buy infused water like Hint from stores such as Whole Foods. One woman who'd had VSG said in a YouTube video that Chick-fil-a's unsweetened lemonade was a Godsend to her post-op, and she'd buy it by the gallon. She couldn't tolerate plain water very well, but she could drink the lemonade. I tried it and at first hated it because my taste buds were so sensitive in the first month or so, and sweet things were almost sickly sweet. I tried it again about three months post-op and really liked it, though. Not enough to buy it by the gallon, but definitely enough to order it again. You might find something that helps you like how the unsweetened lemonade helped that woman. I rarely ever meet the water goals because I'd have to live inside of a bathroom in order to, but I've been healthy and done well with weight loss just by being more mindful about how much I drink. I actually get a wrinkle on my forehead when I don't have another to drink, and when I'm properly hydrated it disappears. It helps me to keep on track, haha.

Currently I'm taking two Flintstones Complete with Iron, and two 1000IU capsules of Vitamin D daily. That's it. It's been my regiment off and on since about two weeks pre-op. About two months post-op I switched to the Multivitamin patch (it caused skin irritation for me, but I gave the rest of the pack to my dad and it worked well for him) and then after that to Vitamin Code by Garden of Life for a few months. I switched back to Flintstones for the simplicity and reliability of them. They never cause any nausea or skin breakouts, I can buy them from a variety of stores, and I can take them on the go without Water. I eat ample Calcium so my doctor said there wasn't a need for me to take a supplement. I took collagen for a few months about six months out after reading posts on here from women who raved about it benefitting their hair, but didn't really notice much of a difference. I hadn't ever lost that much hair, though. It didn't cause any negative side effects for me, and was really inexpensive from Amazon. Some people have taken Biotin to help prevent hair loss, but many have said it has limited if any effectiveness. A few years ago I took biotin with the hope it would help with regrowth after cutting my hair too short, and it caused a massive breakout. My dermatologist told me that women with PCOS and those prone to acne should not take biotin and be very careful with all B Vitamins because they can be problematic. I was so worried about hair loss, but as mentioned above, it's been very minimal. I've lost at a slower pace than usual (but still have met my goals), and I think that might be the reason.

Me too! I just did a Trader Joes run and they have mango coconut caramel corn. I almost cried when I saw it. Yes I know this is off topic, but conflict makes me nervous and I babble when nervous. I met a family of ducks today at the University of Miami campus they weren't old enough to drink beer so I bought them a box of cereal which they really enjoyed its raining here wow thunder and lightning palm trees swaying now the dog is scared maybe a bone will help has anyone ever tried a lychee they are awesome but so expensive the guy wanted 28 bucks for a big bag so we went with the smaller one Ok.... Is it over? If not look at the duckie picture and smile smile smile! :) ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1465671082.408363.jpg Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I was just at Trader Joe's this morning where they were giving out samples of the mango coconut popcorn. It was a little cup of magic. Oh my goodness. Bites of bliss. I didn't buy a bag of it precisely because I knew I'd be tempted to eat the whole bag. We did get the mango bar bites and the mango macarons for treats because both are fairly reasonable with their calories, fat, and carbs. The macarons have 15 carbs per serving, but that's for three pretty macarons. My favorite purchase from the TJ mango mania is a mango tangerine candle. I think it was around $3, and it smells precisely like the Blue Capri Volcano candle at Anthropologie that is $14 for the exact same size. I'm burning it right now, and it's brightening up this day of "June Gloom." I find that delighting other senses helps me to not overindulge in things that make my taste buds sing. Hmmm. I was thinking of making a thread about favorite TJ buys. Maybe I'll go do that now. I love the pic of the ducks.

I knew I'd be in a private room with a TV, so I brought my laptop loaded up with movies, and an HDMI cable to hook it to the TV. I didn't watch more than perhaps 10 minutes of the movies because after the surgery I was so tired I promptly fell asleep shortly after they started, but it kept my parents who came with me as my support team entertained. The biggest help to me was a heating pad. I had ferocious cramps, and it helped so much. I also was glad I'd brought lip salve (Smith's is my favorite) because my lips were so dry, and my own pillow.

We're very fortunate to live in a beautiful older building in a lovely (and astronomically expensive) neighborhood close to our work for a reasonable amount, so I really shouldn't rant, but I'm going to anyway. The 16-year-old boy in the unit below ours takes showers in excess of an hour, up to three times a day, and he has done so for the past two years. He has OCD, and if he steps outside, he must come in and take another hour-long shower. This wouldn't be any of my business except - the pipes begin to scream after about 20 minutes; it's surreally loud, and he'll shower at 2 in the morning sometimes while on school breaks. We are in Los Angeles where there's a historic drought, and everyone is reminded to be water conscious. The drought has also caused the water bill to spike. There aren't meters on individual units, so instead the water bill is split evenly and we all pay for it. I do have compassion for him and his parents, but feel like something could have been done at this point to address the problem rather than let it continue. I just got home and wanted to chill out, but the pipes are screaming. When the pipes aren't that loud, he's blasting his music or dribbling his basketball inside the house. We have a park across the street with courts. I used to live next to a frat house, and I lived in a sorority house, so I'm not in need of perfect silence, but this kid has definitely managed to step on my nerves. Silly rant over.

Sorry if I sound sanctimonious. It is a tool, yes, But, it is a dangerous one.All medications have risks. It's up to the doctor and patient to weigh the benefits vs risks in a particular case and make an educated decision together. Sanctimonious is trying to make that decision for someone else. I certainly don't make decisions for other people. I share my experience and opinions. I actually suggested that the OP talk to their surgeon. You're right my word choice poor--and I apologize. It's just that calling it a dangerous tool is judgmental though, it's coming to a conclusion about the risks vs benefits that should be left to the physician, in my not so humble opinion. So many people label it dangerous... Yeah of course it has risks. So does surgery. Surgery has MORE risks. Many other medications have but can be life saving. Why isn't this one of those? It's more about context. There are many medications, and even Vitamins, that have the potential to be dangerous when taken before a surgery, and that's why it's critical to always inform your physician in advance of everything you're taking even if it might seem harmless or inconsequential. A friend's mom died from the interaction her antidepressant (that she hadn't disclosed she was taking) with her anesthesia during a routine surgery. A woman we know with aggressive cancer had to delay her treatment because of the massive amounts of vitamins she'd been taking since her diagnosis that her oncologist said could interfere with the chemotherapy. I will add that many doctors no longer prescribe phentermine because of the high risk factors. The doctor who prescribed it for me in my early 20s (when I was not even overweight but wanting to slim down) stopped prescribing it altogether because of negative experiences other patients had endured. It was too much of a liability for her. I discussed phentermine with my endocrinologist a couple of years ago, and she said she did not prescribe it either, nor did anyone practicing with that hospital. By that point with PCOS and a miscarriage I'd gained quite a bit of weight and wanted it so desperately I went on an online hunt for a doctor who does prescribe it, and discovered several Reddit threads and other sites discussing that there are few in LA who still do. I ended up seeing a nurse practitioner in my hometown who had me take an expensive and elaborate blood test, have my metabolism tested to confirm that it was abysmal, and then after all that said I met her qualifications but she no longer was prescribing phentermine to anyone. Grrrr. So I do think it has a higher degree of risk than many other medications. That isn't to say that it hasn't been beneficial to many people. I was willing to jump through so many hoops to get a new prescription precisely because it had been so effective for me. I loved how it zapped my appetite, gave me a boost of energy, and even helped me to be more mentally focused.

I'm writing this post while drinking my iced coffee through a straw. My surgeon and his team never discussed the use of a straw with me, and I only discovered that it was a debatable topic through this forum. I watched this video last August shortly before having the VSG, and it discusses the use of straws (starting at the 6:21 mark): I've never experienced any problems with a straw, so I've continued to use them on a daily basis. If for whatever reason a person is uncomfortable using a straw, then don't.

Surgeons have the same human emotions as the rest of us, and can go on the defensive when an accusation has been made against them. Instead of wanting to confront him, I'd approach it as confronting the issues you've experienced, and having a conversation with him about them. Ask about having some tests just to make sure everything is as it should be. Once you've gotten the results of those tests, go from there. It's possible something is amiss with your sleeve, and it's possible that for various reasons you can just consume more without feeling the same restrictions. As a younger man you're going to have different dietary needs and stomach capacity than your mom and aunt, even if you've all had the same surgery. I've noticed a variation in how much I can eat. Sometimes I get full very fast, and other times I can eat more, and it's my mind rather than my stomach that has to put on the brakes. I do think it's good advice to try to portion out your food when you put it on your plate so that you're not going to be mindlessly eating more than intended. This is something I've had to train myself to do. If you only put a small portion on your plate, then when it's been eaten you'll have to make the conscious decision whether to add more to it. You're forced to be mindful. If you just have a lot of food on your plate, or you're grazing from a bag, then you can get distracted by conversations and the like, and keep eating until every bite is gone.

MySpace became popular when I was a teen (I know I'm dating myself here, haha), and I learned then that any gathering on the internet will inevitably have some drama, most often either because of people who take pleasure in creating it, the sense of liberty that comes when you're not in a face-to-face situation and feel less guarded and restrained, or simply due to misunderstandings that are the result of communication that lacks important cues like body language and inflection. I see the same patterns on almost every online community I've ever ventured into. There's a line from a John Green book I read years ago that I've tried to apply both to my online interactions and in my personal life - "be a filter, not a sponge." I retain what is useful to me, and try to filter out what isn't. If you view something as toxic or capable of ruining your experience on this forum or elsewhere, and you don't have any obligation to sponge it up, then try to just filter it out.

I add Genepro to my coffee every morning. I love that it virtually vanishes into the cup - no taste or odor.

I understand the desire to take it, but it isn't safe. I briefly took a low dose of phentermine in my early 20s, and had to stop taking it before having my wisdom teeth removed because of concerns it could negatively interact with anesthesia. There was a medical paper published that same year about a woman who had a hypertensive crisis during surgery, and it was believed to have been due to her use of phentermine. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16119498

My primary reason for having the VSG is to alleviate some of the symptoms of my PCOS and hopefully increase my fertility. My reproductive endocrinologist was the one who recommended to me because other women with PCOS my age (early 30s) and size (around a BMI of 31) benefitted from it. My husband was immediately on board. My parents also got on board fast, and that was important because they provided crucial support. He and I did have detailed discussions about everything from the practical aspects of surgery to the emotional ones. We talked about how a lot of people who've gone through WLS experience a roller coaster of emotions the first month, and "buyer's remorse" is common. I fortunately had a very smooth surgery, few emotional fluctuations, and no regrets, but I think it was important for both of us to be prepared. Especially because in the past I've been a weepy, emotional mess following anything with anesthesia, and would be irrational. I'd return to being myself after a few days. We also talked about finances. Insurance wasn't covering my surgery, and we're young professionals still paying off student debt. My mom ended up insisting on paying for my surgery for me, and he is thankful for that. We talked about practical things like driving, grocery shopping, and housekeeping tasks during my recovery. We made a lot of provisions, from stocking up the pantry to arranging for a housekeeping service to come in once a week to help pick up my share of the chores. We also talked about how there would be times when he'd eat things I'd want, and how he'd be sensitive to me, but I also had to be reasonable with him. We couldn't just eliminate every food I had to abstain from during the first month from our pantry and fridge.

I'm taking two Flintstones Complete with Iron a day, and two Vitamin D 1000 IU. I used Flintstones immediately after surgery because they never caused any stomach upset (as most Multivitamins do for me), never broke me out (I have PCOS and am acne-prone), and could be taken without food or Water. About two months post-op I switched to these Vitamins http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Vitamin-Womens-Capsules/dp/B00280M13Y and I really liked them. I went back to taking Flintstones about five months post-op simply because they are more readily available and I didn't have to make a special trip to pick them up. I briefly tried the patch, but they caused skin irritation so I gave the rest of my pack to my dad (who hasn't had that problem). My blood work has been excellent. Taking excessive vitamins can actually be more detrimental than beneficial. If you haven't already done so, I recommend getting your vitamin levels checked to see where you stand before taking anything beyond what your surgeon instructed. I accidentally worsened symptoms of my PCOS a couple of years ago by taking vitamins that weren't necessary. They also caused me to have strange tingling sensations, sleep disruptions, and other issues. My endocrinologist went on a mini rant about stores like Whole Foods promoting B12 and people overloading on it without realizing that it can be harmful.

I had surgery in mid-August and have lost 69 pounds to date. My highest BMI was 32, and I'm now comfortably within the "normal weight" BMI category. I have a very narrow frame with tiny wrists, ankles, and knees despite being tall, so I'm hoping to lose about 20-30 more pounds. I've definitely lost at a slower pace than many others, including those close in age who started with similar stats. I'm pleased with my progress, though. I've been disciplined with my diet, but less so than some who've virtually omitted or severely restricted their carb intake. My dietitian recommended that I keep my carbs in the 55 to 100 grams per day range, and it seems that those who are consuming less tend lose more rapidly. My primary objective was to establish eating habits that are sustainable so that I can keep the weight off, and knowing myself and the way I react when I feel too restricted, I knew it was important to have some flexibility. There have been weeks when I haven't lost much at all, but I also haven't gained any weight beyond the typical fluctuation. It's gradually come off. I don't have any loose skin. It actually looks firmer due to having become more toned. Even my face looks smoother. Prior to surgery a few wrinkles had popped up on my face and even on my chest, but I think they were primarily due to being dehydrated. Making a conscious effort to drink more Water has helped to make them vanish. I haven't seen them since last year. I don't use any products designed to help firm my skin.

Edit - I was quoting two posts, but for some odd reason the quote boxes vanished from when I hit submit. I did go back and put quotes around their posts to separate them from mine, but they don't include the users' names to credit them. I'm sorry. I'm sure this is a user malfunction. My thoughts exactly. I support those who genuinely want to share about their WLS, or anything else that is significant to their life, and I hope they receive positive responses that are helpful and empowering. We all have different ways of processing our experiences and various comfort levels with what we disclose. Some of us are extroverts, and some introverts. I just don't view telling others outside of those who truly need to know as an imperative or a morally superior choice to opting to keep it private. I wouldn't want anyone who had a desire to share about their surgery to feel that they shouldn't, and I wouldn't want anyone who doesn't want to share to feel that they should. I do think it's important to assess your own needs, and to consider how others who are important to your life will respond if you do disclose your surgery. Some have deeply regretted sharing; some have wished they'd shared sooner. I used to be active on forums for women with PCOS and infertility issues (PCOS and infertility are why I had the VSG even though my BMI was under 35), and there has been a tiny bit of debate (not anywhere near the frequency or with the vehemence as with WLS) about whether women who've become pregnant via IVF should reveal that, or just let people assume they conceived the "natural" way. I view WLS as being on the same train of thought with whether or not to share. It's also intimate. There's no reason to be embarrassed about having IVF, just as there is no reason to be embarrassed about having WLS. Most people (outside of spouses, physicians) don't have a right to know about either, but if you want them to know, then by all means let them know. I've never discussed my weight or WLS on my personal social media pages, but I've tried to put my experiences to use on this forum and to help others. That way those who are seeking out information and advice can find it, and I'll try to do my best to help, but I'm still protecting my privacy. I think the bolded part of your post is so very wise. Once you've revealed something private, it's no longer within your power to take the reigns and control which direction it is steered in. You cannot prevent others from sharing it indiscriminately, and you cannot dictate how anyone else will respond. I'm a professor at a major university with a massive student body, and two years ago when I was a newbie I fainted in front of my class because of taking a medication that lowered my blood pressure too much. I was horrified to later learn that my fainting had been speculated about on the popular app Yik Yak. It allows people in a certain geographical area to anonymously post for others in that "herd" to read. People asked why I fainted, which was to be expected. What shocked me was that someone revealed in response to that question that I'd recently miscarried, and conjectured that maybe that was the reason. I'd only told a handful of close friends my age who'd been PhDs at the same time and were also teaching. One of them must of told someone else, who told someone else, who then broadcast that to the entire community of thousands. It's not something shameful in the least, but it was so intensely personal. It felt like a violation. On a happier note, there was recently a Yak about the hottest professors on campus and I got "nominated." (Silly thing to be so elated about, I know, but still it gave my confidence a boost). Someone then wrote that I used to be a "fattie" but am now hot, and asked how I'd lost so much weight. Another responded that I was always biking all over campus, and am seen in the gym a lot. By the "up votes" that post got, it was a satisfactory response. And it's one that is totally true. When I read that Yak I was thinking - thank goodness I never revealed to a soul on this campus that I've had the VSG, because it would likely then be broadcast to everyone.