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.

Yeah, I dont think diets like that address long term over-eating tendencies.

What would you have someone like me tell someone who asked me how I lost weight if I wasn't ready to disclose surgery? I don't even know how to handle it honestly.

I'm a pretty open person, generally. At work (a very conservative department in a very conservative-cultured company) I've only told 2 people - one in HR, and one friend in another department who is a band-to-bypass patient at my doctor's practice. If asked, I kind of head them off at the pass and simply say I'm eating less, making better choices, and exercising (totally true). No one bats an eye. And if I'm super dense and it turns out they suspect something else is going on, then let them talk. It's a medical based company, and I deal with HIPAA all the time, so I'm down with all the privacy stuff. I just figure, it's no one's business, and will remain that way.

I've told close friends, family and some of my son's friends' moms. Only a select few have commented in a positive way. Some have made really dumb comments ("get ready to throw up all the time") and a few look at me as if I've just announced I'm having gender reassignment surgery. Some don't comment at all. Either they don't care or are a bit envious. So no, I've not really received a ton of support from those I've told, which to me further justifies my choice for not telling co-workers.

It's odd. When it comes down to it...

It's no one's business.

It's nothing to hide or be ashamed of.

Amanda Rae

Yeah' date=' I dont think diets like that address long term over-eating tendencies.

What would you have someone like me tell someone who asked me how I lost weight if I wasn't ready to disclose surgery? I don't even know how to handle it honestly.[/quote']

I would honestly say its something private and I rather not discuss it. That response will come off as being something really serious.

Holly5.3 you nailed it' date=' 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!

[/quote']

This is the very thing I had to tell my friend she's fussing about me having the sleeve but yet your stomach is big and you want a tummy tuck but since ppl are talking about cosmetic surgery openly she with having it is seen on tv and talked about its seem almost normal but because we in general don't talk about wls and most are a shame it seems in normal but yet wls have saved lives what has getting a breast job or tummy tuck done for the world ..I'm pround to been giving opportunity to have the surgery and my insurance it paying most of the cost we have to help other ppl are in the position we once was in but yes they have to be willing

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']

I think if it was possible in this case she probably would have said that's how she lost weight if it was something other then wls cause most ppl lie when it's wls surgery out of fear of ppl saying u took the easy way out cause when you lost a large amount of weight on your on its empowering to most she would have yelled that out my opinion

I'm a pretty open person' date=' generally. At work (a very conservative department in a very conservative-cultured company) I've only told 2 people - one in HR, and one friend in another department who is a band-to-bypass patient at my doctor's practice. If asked, I kind of head them off at the pass and simply say I'm eating less, making better choices, and exercising (totally true). No one bats an eye. And if I'm super dense and it turns out they suspect something else is going on, then let them talk. It's a medical based company, and I deal with HIPAA all the time, so I'm down with all the privacy stuff. I just figure, it's no one's business, and will remain that way.

I've told close friends, family and some of my son's friends' moms. Only a select few have commented in a positive way. Some have made really dumb comments ("get ready to throw up all the time") and a few look at me as if I've just announced I'm having gender reassignment surgery. Some don't comment at all. Either they don't care or are a bit envious. So no, I've not really received a ton of support from those I've told, which to me further justifies my choice for not telling co-workers.[/quote']

HIPPA only a ply when your in a position the requires to hold others ppl personal info like example a nurse so taking about yourself is far game I'm just saying ..Lol

At the end of the day it's no one biz and that okay if you feel that way but why is it easy for you all dont say that when you come to this forum ; Internet ) and tell all your biz yes we all having the same surgery but yet we all strangers to one another but since we having the same surgery you feel like sharing so why not share with ppl who are genuine about wanting to lose weight now nosey ppl I get if you don't want to be judge by them it all sounds contradicting to me but hey I'm the girl who cut all my hair to go natural when they told me not to I'm the girl told every body that I'm getting sleeved good luck to all the ppl that tell and the ppl that chose to lie just say its non of your biz don't give false hope cause we all kno what it feels Like see someone losing weight and we like girl what you doing tell cause I want to do it .. And you realize you can't get the same results cause this person has a tool

This is the very thing I had to tell my friend she's fussing about me having the sleeve but yet your stomach is big and you want a tummy tuck but since ppl are talking about cosmetic surgery openly she with having it is seen on tv and talked about its seem almost normal but because we in general don't talk about wls and most are a shame it seems in normal but yet wls have saved lives what has getting a breast job or tummy tuck done for the world ..I'm pround to been giving opportunity to have the surgery and my insurance it paying most of the cost we have to help other ppl are in the position we once was in but yes they have to be willing

My insurance isn't paying for mine, but I am still very thankful to be able to have mine in a couple of weeks.

Very open about it could care less!! What people think or SAY!!! I did it for me and my family!!! AND to me anybody who has negative things to say are just HATERS!!! I just shake them OFF!!! Because this surgery is not a easy ride you have to control yourself and workout its still alot of work!! ANd alot of people think its the easy way out BLAH BLAH BLAH they can talk all they want but until they've been in our shoes they can ZIP it!!!

This journey is a personal one. I had surgery 8-4-12. Sw 205, DA 195, GW 125....CW 125. I did this for me. Period. No one needs to know my journey. To be honest I believe I blew this out of the water because I didn't have negative back lash from anyone. Did you know it take six to ten possitive comments to cancel out the damage of one negative comment? When embarked on lifelong journeys to better ourselves, it's no bodys business but your own. When people say what have you been doing I tell them. I work my a** off, which I do. I make sure I eat right, I do not put anything in my body that is not going to benifit me. I take vitamins everyday and I move my body. This is a personal decision, there is no right or wrong way to deal with the question of ,"how did you do it." You need to do what is right for you. Avoiding negative backlass is part of my regiment for being so successful! :-) Be possitive, and be good humans.

Amen, Kristy Lee.

Ok. Im on the fence on this one. I am pre-op and have been going back and fourth in what Im going tell people. I get telling people who are going through their own weight loss struggle but I also know a lot of people.... Obese people that are going to react negatively all be it ignorantly to my choice to have surgery. Why should I subject myself to that? If its someone who I think is open minded I can trust to be supportive then I will be honest if not.... I will probably keep it simple and tell them I stopped eating.

I haven't told anyone at work and don't plan to. I won't lie if asked, but I'm not talking about it. I'm not ashamed, I'm private. I wouldn't tell them if I had cancer either. I simply don't want to talk about my health.

I've told many of my friends though. Hadn't, and don't plan to tell casual acquaintances or neighbors that I see twice a year. If they knew me well they would know already.

A few select people know that I'm having the surgery. Its noone elses business unless I choose to tell them. If they ask, I will probably say diet and exercise..not a lie, just no details. I feel if they want to speculate, let them. I feel no obligation to divulge any other medical or personal info and they shouldn't feel that I have an obligation to do so.