I pretty much kept my band a secret too until recently. The problem with the band is that you can only keep it a secret for so long. After this last fill I pretty much had to let some of my immediate co-workers know since there are chubaka sounds coming up my esophagus and out the pie hole, burping, and such. I have not had any negative feedback whatsoever. I have recently joined facebook and have decided NOT to mention my band on there at all even though half of my friends know. The problem is that I have extended family members who I perceive as being very judgemental. My grandmother's 100 is in July and we are having a family reunion. My job is going to be to do my best to avoid eating around them as much as possible OR decide if I want to to the hot liquid thing before eating. I still am struggling with the eating out part - and that is the part that gives me away and that will be the part that gives your secret away. How in the heck am I going to explain to my relatives why I choose to eat a white castle (there are NO white castles in california ) with a knife and a fork, cut it into tiny pieces, and proceed to chew it very slowly AND only order 2 of them????? Seriously, I can SAY that I am trying to practice healthy eating habits BUT this is white castle, casual dining, vacation, once every couple of years sort of thing!