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What To Say About Swift Weight Loss To Acquaintances



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This is just me, but I have told all of my overweight friends. I even told the overweight lady I sat next to on the airplane yesterday. I am 5 weeks out and lost 30 pounds. It is not the weight loss so much as it is the freedom I now feel. I do not feel so controled by food and I want overweight people who are suffering like I was to know that this was a solution for me. It is not a solution for everyone, but it worked for me. I do not walk up to strangers and sell my sleeve but I tell friends who are fighting this battle. My close friends know but I don't really tell others, I don't feel that it is anyones business but mine and I don't put it out there for office gossip or judgement.

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This one has my vote. If they happen to see your scars at the country club shower room just say, "Oh yeah, my doctor has REALLY aggressive methods!" B)

I love this guy! LOL :D

I was gonna say i have a medical staff/team that i work with! lol

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I just say' date=' "weightloss? Oh no, I just got a new haircut...makes me look slim! :)

Ok that's not true lol[/quote']

I actually had someone tell me that my new, short haircut made my face look thinner. This was after I lost 30 pounds, I just said, thanks!

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Great posts, everyone! I like the 'medically supervised' program (hate the word diet!) response. It alludes to a possible 'medical problem' that most discrete people will not push further for answers, especially in a work/office environment.I must be getting better-I miss work! 

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Everyone I'm close to knows about my VSG last Thursday' date=' 10/11/12. I'm a secretary in Principal's office in an elementary school so a lot of people, teachers, aids, parents and community members, see me regularly. What do I say to 'random' compliments about weight loss, when asked how I did it (of course this will happen in a public arena so God knows who else will hear my response!) When I last lost 70 pounds on Jenny Craig-I was open about it to everyone and anyone. (Thanks to my success, at least 7 women I knew went on JC-we all stopped and regained the loss-typical!) I feel like saying "diet and exercise" but I know that's a lie! Should I openly respond that I had surgery, and if I do, do I risk the chance of an extended Q and A session for all the world to hear (and keeping me from my work--my boss would not be thrilled!). Help! I go back on Monday - rumor has it that I had 'back' surgery...not Bariatric. (Gossips tend to distort story! They got the "b" right and the "k" at the end, but the middle ...WTH! The old "telephone game" played out right before my eyes!)[/quote']

I have to say the answer to this is diet and exercise I just got cleared at my 6 week visit. My job is tooo eat 3 meals a day only no snacking...eating 20 grams of Protein each meal. Getting around 800 calories a day. Exercise is a must....intense exercise that means very good and hard exercise!!! Now tell me that is not diet and exercise. Your surgery will not lose the weight for you!! The stuff u have to do will!!! If you don't want to share all your tools to helping you... Then don't! You will not be lieing with your diet and exercise answer.

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when people ask I have said "I am eating a lot less" no lie!

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Ready4success- I saw someone I hadn't seen in about a year and she looked at me, looked again and stumble on "you, you, you (staring at me) got highlites!"

I smiled and said Yup :)

I've had lost 70lbs since I saw her last hehe

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Ready4success- I saw someone I hadn't seen in about a year and she looked at me' date=' looked again and stumble on "you, you, you (staring at me) got highlites!"

I smiled and said Yup :)

I've had lost 70lbs since I saw her last hehe[/quote']

Love it! Highlights...good answer! ;)

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How about a doctor-supervised weight loss program? It sounds a bit more intense than Jenny Craig, but you're not having to admit to surgery in public. Then, if it's a friend or someone you know socially outside of work, and you want them to know, you can update them away from the office.

This is exactly how i handled my situation. Only very few know; not that im ashamed but really, ive seen coworkers reactions and whispers about other folks who went the surgery route and I didnt want to be their next topic....they are what i call "haters"!

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As I get more mature, I'm still amazed at the jealousies some women have toward one another, especially when it comes to weight loss! I think personal insecurities, etc. inhibit women from celebrating one another's successes. So petty! I have never been one to hold back a compliment-if I see you and you look great ir better than last time, I'll say it " you look so pretty today (sic.)!" The last time I lost a big chunk of weight I noticed the affect my increased confidence was having on the women around me. My true friends act like every pound I lose was theirs as well-so happy for me. The others would actually avoid or try to ignore me, so darn obvious! That's their problem. I didn't like myself, so I decided to change. I don't have the monopoly on self-reflection. Ok I'm done! 

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I feel as so...all you have to say is you finally took action and love your body. Your willing to to do whatever it takes to be healthy at any expense. Some people don't and you do. So don't judge, I'm living my life and they are just in it. :)

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You know, guys do this catty stuff sometimes. How much money you have/your job, what you are driving, how your woman looks, golf scores, baseball knowledge, athletic ability, what your kids amounted to, how you lost your weight, anything can be the motivation behind superior look-downs and sly little grins and giggles.

When I am in the presence of one of these insecurity maskers I take advantage of the next available opportunity to remove myself from their presence and take note to avoid it from then on.

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For the most part, I told people that I got rid of my dinner plates and bought a nice set of slightly larger salad plates (true). This has helped my family with Portion Control, so, we all eat less, but I, especially, concentrate on smaller portions. (True). I also have started an exercise regimen where I run and do high impact interval aerobics (true).

I felt no responsibility to tell them about my surgery, just like I felt no responsibility to tell them about my LASIK surgery to help me see, my vasectomy to help me enjoy sex more without worrying about pregnancy nor telling them about my hemorrhoidectomy to help me ... well ... you know.

Now, I did make exceptions for those who directly inquired whether I had WLS or those who I knew struggled with their weight. I wasn't going to directly lie and I do feel we need to help others who struggle.

I have never lied and those who need to know, know.

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Well mine wasn't going back to work it was going back to church. Even though I had only missed one Sunday you could still tell tw difference. Church folks can be just as bad as coworkers. I don't lie. I am eating less exercising more watching what I eat( no sugar low carbs high Protein etc) it is your choice how you handle the situation. Also I had someone come up to me and say I never knew you had such pretty hair you lol so different. Lol

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    • LeighaTR

      Four days post surgery. I am sipping as fast as I can and getting NO WHERE near the goal of 60 - 80 grams of protein or the 64 oz of liquids. I just feel FULL. I don't know if it can still be the gas build up (I would think by now that would be gone) but it is a struggle to drink. And so far I have not had the nausea or spasms and don't want to wander into that territory by pushing too hard with liquids. I about passed out today as it was my most "strenuous" day. Went from second story to basement for shower and I was sure I was going to pass out. Looking back on my last few days I have had a total of less than 1000 calories. Am I just not getting enough nourishment in me? Once again a friday where I can't get ahold of the doc until Monday rolls back around so I am hoping maybe someone here has some experience on how to keep energy going. I do have fibromyalgia too and that may be where some added fatigue comes into play. How did you all fair with the goals the week after surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 3 replies
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

      2. Selina333

        I'm in Houston so kind of near you and had the sleeve in Dec. Down 61 lbs. Feeling better. Was definitely worth it. I hope the everything is going well for you. Update us when you can!

      3. Doughgurl

        I am back home after my bypass surgery in Tiajuana. I'm post op day 4. Everything went great! I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who have not encountered much pain at all, no nausea thus far and I'm having no problem keeping down broths and water. Thank you for your well wishes. I cant wait to keep up this journey and have a chance at better health and simply better quality of life. I know there will be bumps in the road ahead, and everything won't be peaches and cream, but at least I have a great start so far. 😍

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

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