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How Do You Explain Rapid Weight Loss, If You're Not Telling Coworkers About Wls



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My first post on this site ... I am choosing not to tell co-workers about WLS. For those of you who didn't disclose, how did you respond to the rapid weight loss?

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I've told my closest friends and family about my surgery…not really trying to keep it a secret but also don't feel like it's anyone else's business. When co-workers or acquaintances asked how I've lost so much weight I've always answered that I'm eating less. It's true and It usually stops any further questions!

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Luckily I am a "slow" loser so I didn't suddenly Drop a ton of weight. I told my coworkers I have a nutritionist and a personal trainer. Since ive always worked out, very few have asked anyway

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I'm glad you posted this question, I've been wondering the same thing. I'm more concerned regareding friends and family that I don't see day to day. Even though we only see each other a few times a year, some of my family members can be really nosy!

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Well, I'm planning on the using the hiatal hernia excuse for surgery. Along those lines, I'm planning to say I need a liquid and then bland diet afterwards. I will then say that the liquids and bland diet started an initial weight loss and since I was getting around easier, I decided to take advantage of that and start exercising again.

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I tell them I'm on a high Protein, low carb diet - supervised by my doctor. 79 pounds down in almost 6 months.

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Anyone that asked me about how I was losing weight was told that I was eating a whole lot less and doing lots of walking. They could see me going out for walks during lunch and I ate only a small bowl of food at lunch. No one really asked any more than that. It's been 11 months and I've only had one person ask if I had WLS and I told him that I did - but that was at month 10, I probably would have lied to him if he had asked that question in the 1st 6 months. I wasn't comfortable telling anyone for a long time.

My first post on this site ... I am choosing not to tell co-workers about WLS. For those of you who didn't disclose, how did you respond to the rapid weight loss?

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I tell everyone who asks (and some who don't) that I had gastric sleeve surgery. It may help someone who needs it. Everybody knows that I have struggled with my weight for most of my adult life. Surgery has been a real blessing for me.

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My first post on this site ... I am choosing not to tell -workers about WLS. For those of you who didn't disclose, how did you respond to the rapid weight loss?

I told everyone i had my gallbladder r

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I told everyone i had my gallbladder removed

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I'm also glad you posted this question. I understand about those who tell everyone including people who don't ask. I feel like my WLS (Sept. 17, 2013) has been a life changing event. However, it's just not something I want to discuss with others. I haven't told anyone outside of my immediate (household) family. Thanksgiving is going to be a bit weird. Because I travel so much, I see most of my family only a few times a year and because I am a remote worker, I see most of my work colleagues only at a big January meeting. My loss has been rather dramatic. In total this year (as of this morning) I've lost 75 pounds and gone from a 26/28 to a 16. By January, I expect it to be more. I'm doing a combination of Atlanta Red and Joatsaint. I was on medical leave in September and that combined with the stringent recovery requirements has galvanized my weight loss. I'm following it up with more exercise and Nutrition 101 along with Portion Control. All of that is true and avoids the judgement I know some people will feel to pass. With family, who don't know I had any "health problems" in September, I'm planning on just sticking with Nutrition 101 and exercise.

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I have told almost no one about my surgery - by the advice of the psych doctor (who had gastric bypass himself). What's annoying is the very few people who know will monitor and comment on what I eat which drives me nuts. I'm so thankful he advised me not to make my private decision too public - it has worked out pretty well for me.

I was on a strict diet pre-op to qualify for surgery and people at work probably noticed my change in eating habits. Since surgery (I was on "vacation" :) ) I have slowly lost another 30 pounds and no one has said a word - my weight loss has been slow and natural. Maybe 3 people have noticed some slimming down and been nice about it. So, if anyone asks, I tell them I am "working with my doctor and a nutritionist and I'm on a high Protein, low carb diet." That's all they need to know and it's 100% true. No one has questioned me about it.

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Well, I'm planning on the using the hiatal hernia excuse for surgery. Along those lines, I'm planning to say I need a liquid and then bland diet afterwards. I will then say that the liquids and bland diet started an initial weight loss and since I was getting around easier, I decided to take advantage of that and start exercising again.

I'm going with the same stories ...

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    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
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    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
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