When I lived in HI, I had a neighbor who weighed approximately 280 pounds, judging by her appearance. I had not seen her in maybe 4/5 months, but when I did....boy did she look good! She had shredded her fat cocoon and was now rocking a much smaller body..probably size 12/14. Now me, being the lifetime dieter that I am, just had to know what diet she was on that caused her to lose so much weight so fast. Now I was pretty ignorant when it came to the wls, so this was not the first thing that had come to mind. So after complimenting her weight loss and engaging in some petty conversation, I asked her what did she do to get her weight off. Her response....wait for it....wait for it...wait for it...her response was Water AEROBICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the heck? Was all I was thinking after she responded with that. Did she really believe that I would believe what she had just told me?

Why lie about having weight loss surgery, especially to someone that is going through the same struggle that you once went through? We should not be ashamed to announce to those who want to attain a better health the tools that we have used to achieve that.

Have any of you lied to someone about having surgery, if so, why? I understand that it is your personal decision to share whatever information with whomever you wish.

Because to some, it's very personal and frankly none of anyone else's business. Some people feel defeated by admitting they had to take a surgical route. They've provably also had instances where they confided something personal in someone - only to have it blabbed all over the place.

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Because she lost well over 100 pds in 4/5 months and her body had not caught up to it yet.

Maybe she's ill and doesn't want to tell you.

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How about saying, "I'd rather not talk about it as it is personal, but thank you for the compliment."?

Amanda Rae

Really, whether it's a lie or not... it is absolutely no one's business unless you desire to share your private and personal information. Everyone's coworkers, family etc. are different, and while some will be thrilled for you, others will scoff and it and stab you in the back with depreciating gossip. Personally I don't give a hoot if someone feels negative about it. I am nearly 100 lbs lighter than I was a year ago so they can stick it where the sun doesn't shine (hehe). Most of those people are just jealous anyhow. But, unless I want to tell someone, it is soooo not their business.

I guess im strange,but I dont feel the Need to hide it. I feel we should be ambassadors for our new life! Tell anyone and everyone who asks. It might very well help someone to make that choice that could change and save their life.maybe they dont know where to go,who to ask or are afraid to ask,being open about it might be the push.they need to do it also. Be loud and proud my children

I guess im strange' date='but I dont feel the Need to hide it. I feel we should be ambassadors for our new life! Tell anyone and everyone who asks. It might very well help someone to make that choice that could change and save their life.maybe they dont know where to go,who to ask or are afraid to ask,being open about it might be the push.they need to do it also. Be loud and proud my children[/quote']

I agree! I wear my heart and WLS on my sleeve and tell everyone about my sleeve! (no pun intended!) it's hard when people say, "Wow, you've lost a LOT of weight! What are you doing?" I tried the "medically supervised diet", the "low carb/sugar/fat diet with exercise" route as an explanation but I'm so excited about my sleeve, I end up blurting out that I had the surgery. I too want to help others who may have never met anyone who had WLS. Everyone has been supportive and amazed with my progress in such a short time. I've worked as a secretary in my school district for 12 years so most of the staff (and townsfolk) have seen me lose and gain weight over the years. Im actually kind of surprised at the positive feed back I've gotten...nicely surprised!

I've always lived my life as an open book. Some people (my sister mostly) say that I over share. But I don't care. I don't do anything I'm ashamed of. This is my life to live as I want to live it. If you like me good. If you don't, I'm okay with that too. I've openly posted about my upcoming surgery on my FB and I tell everyone I know my big news. I'm excited to have this resource and hope my journey can influence others.

When I lived in HI, I had a neighbor who weighed approximately 280 pounds, judging by her appearance. I had not seen her in maybe 4/5 months, but when I did....boy did she look good! She had shredded her fat cocoon and was now rocking a much smaller body..probably size 12/14. Now me, being the lifetime dieter that I am, just had to know what diet she was on that caused her to lose so much weight so fast. Now I was pretty ignorant when it came to the wls, so this was not the first thing that had come to mind. So after complimenting her weight loss and engaging in some petty conversation, I asked her what did she do to get her weight off. Her response....wait for it....wait for it...wait for it...her response was Water AEROBICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the heck? Was all I was thinking after she responded with that. Did she really believe that I would believe what she had just told me?

Why lie about having weight loss surgery, especially to someone that is going through the same struggle that you once went through? We should not be ashamed to announce to those who want to attain a better health the tools that we have used to achieve that.

Have any of you lied to someone about having surgery, if so, why? I understand that it is your personal decision to share whatever information with whomever you wish.

Do you know for a fact from some other source that she DID in fact have surgery? I would never want to be confrontational here on the forums but there are people who do dramatically drop a lot of weight without surgery and if this is all just speculation then I have to say - thats pretty presumptive.

Now, if she did have surgery and isn't fessing up for god knows what reason, that still none of anyone's concern. There are a plethora of reasons a person might not want to share that information up to and including the fact that she doesn't owe anyone that information. She could be a private person, she could be embarrassed that she couldn't get it under control herself, she could just be one of those people who don't tell anyone.

oops and I forgot to add, as someone who was a lapband patient previously I can just share with you that I am not telling anyone about this go around because when I had a lapband I told EVERYONE who would listen to me talk about it and you know what? I made a fool of myself because it went stunningly bad.

This time around, I'm more cautious. My parents know, and my husband knows. He may or may not have shared it with his friends, although I asked him not too and thats it. Different people have a different prospective about things like this. If someone asks me how I lost my weight I am not certain that I will be sharing either.

Does anyone remember Star Jones? Instead of bravely being a champion for WLS, she made it seem more shameful! In fact, I was thinking Kelly Osborne might have had surgery, too. Once a celebrity who is respected comes out of the closet about WLS, people won't feel ashamed and maybe the public will become more informed and less judgmental!

Do you know for a fact from some other source that she DID in fact have surgery? I would never want to be confrontational here on the forums but there are people who do dramatically drop a lot of weight without surgery and if this is all just speculation then I have to say - thats pretty presumptive.

Now' date=' if she did have surgery and isn't fessing up for god knows what reason, that still none of anyone's concern. There are a plethora of reasons a person might not want to share that information up to and including the fact that she doesn't owe anyone that information. She could be a private person, she could be embarrassed that she couldn't get it under control herself, she could just be one of those people who'd don'tt tell anyone.[/quote']

Well ma'am, if making a logical observation is wrong... Shoot me now and a whole lot of folks.

My problem with people's statements who have been similar to yours is that it is a cop out many people use because they are ashamed...whether it be wls or an std.

You stated yourself that because you feel you made a spectacle of yourself with the Lapband that you are not going to share this surgery. Which is fine. But why tell a bold face lie to someone whose genuinely trying to lose weight??? Just tell that person that its none of their biz.

P.s. my thinking goes beyond this incident

Does anyone remember Star Jones? Instead of bravely being a champion for WLS' date=' she made it seem more shameful! In fact, I was thinking Kelly Osborne might have had surgery, too. Once a celebrity who is respected comes out of the closet about WLS, people won't feel ashamed and maybe the public will become more informed and less judgmental![/quote']

Holly5.3 you nailed it, but I think it goes beyond celebrity... Once WE stop feeling ashamed about it and stop looking at it as something negative, than more people will be receptive. People will proudly announce a boob job or even a tummy tuck... But wls????? Oh no!

Amen! Everyone needs education and honesty. If you don't feel an honest answer will be received... Don't say anything! People were talking about our fat "arses" behind our back-you know they were! So why care what those same people think now?

Well ma'am, if making a logical observation is wrong... Shoot me now and a whole lot of folks.

My problem with people's statements who have been similar to yours is that it is a cop out many people use because they are ashamed...whether it be wls or an std.

You stated yourself that because you feel you made a spectacle of yourself with the Lapband that you are not going to share this surgery. Which is fine. But why tell a bold face lie to someone whose genuinely trying to lose weight??? Just tell that person that its none of their biz.

P.s. my thinking goes beyond this incident

I didn't mean to say anything to make you defensive or put you on guard or anything, I'm just saying it's possible. Of course I don't know this person and I've never seen her and the facts are limited but I know people who have gone on Optifast for 3 and half months and lost 90 pounds... They didn't have surgery (and I think they will probably gain it back, but thats something I keep to myself because I don't want to be negative towards them) but yeah, I wasn't trying to go off and say you are wrong or anything, because your probably not, its a logical conclusion to come too, all I am saying is it that its POSSIBLE it wasn't too.

I didn't mean to say anything to make you defensive or put you on guard or anything' date=' I'm just saying it's possible. Of course I don't know this person and I've never seen her and the facts are limited but I know people who have gone on optifast for 3 and half months and lost 90 pounds... They didn't have surgery (and I think they will probably gain it back, but thats something I keep to myself because I don't want to be negative towards them) but yeah, I wasn't trying to go off and say you are wrong or anything, because your probably not, its a logical conclusion to come too, all I am saying is it that its POSSIBLE it wasn't too.[/quote']

It's okay. My issue isn't necessarily focused on that incident, but Everyone who lie to obese people about losing weight... Tell us anything and we're expected to believe it.

I did medifast which is very similar to that and as I stated before most people will be truthful about other methods of losing weight. And yes as soon as I stopped, I gained all my weight back plus some