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What do you tell them?

I had my surgery on June 29th and am doing well. People have begun to notice my weight loss. When they ask me how I did it, I don't know what to say. I end up telling them that I had bypass surgery but to me that is personal information. Maybe I'm making too big a deal about it and it shouldn't matter. Anyone have advice on what to say or deal with this issue too?

Sent from my LGLS990 using the BariatricPal App

  • Replies 21
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I would just say thank you. It is personal. My husband is the only one that knows I had the surgery. We just moved out of state so I have a couple months to get my eating back to almost normal I hope.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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I say I've been working very hard (which is true) and I've made big, healthy changes to my eating and exercise habits (also true). Your life and body is not the business of anyone else unless you want it to be. :)

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In my personal life, I choose to tell people that I had bypass. Professionally, I tell people that I have been on a medically supervised diet for the past year. Unless it is someone I think might benefit from the surgery and then I tell them, too. But that's my personal choice. I'm a blabbermouth who can't keep secrets about herself. And I don't really care about judgy, uptight sorts who might disapprove. :D

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Make it short and sweet, "My diet is high in Protein, small portions and lots of water".

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I mostly tell the truth. I figure if they are going to talk about me, might as well have the facts in line :lol: Plus, I think it's good that the truth be known. The stigma behind our surgeries is because people don't know the facts (Jack). I tell them the percentage of those that lose and regain without the help... I tell them that I only have a small window of opportunity to lose and then I'll be just like any other person trying to maintain weight loss, only I'll have a tool that will allow me to have a much better chance at success... I blabber on and on Hahaha!

With acquaintances, I just tend to say thank you when they notice my weight loss. And they don't know me well enough to be asking me any other questions as far as I'm concerned!

I'm flabbergasted though at how many people have not said a word to me about my weight loss... like my snarky sister in law... 68 pounds and not one word out of her mouth - and she KNOWS about the surgery :unsure:

  • Author

Thank you for all the advice. I'm pretty well known in the community so I've had people asking how I've done it. My close friends and family I'm willing to blab away but it's those that I don't know well that I'm hesitant to share with. I like the idea of explaining I'm following a high Protein diet, small portions, eating often. I think that's what I'm going to tell them

Sent from my LGLS990 using the BariatricPal App

  • 3 weeks later...

I have lied, I hate to but I have. I have diabetes, under active thyroid , hypertension, and high cholesterol. I have told people I am having surgery to correct them and it's too do with glands and hormones. I'm vague about it to them but I can't bear to tell them the real reason. My hubby, son and daughter and their spouses know plus my best friend (who is obese too so understands) . I feel ashamed it has come to this I suppose and fear judgement from others, especially those that are slim.

Most people don't know I'm having it either. A couple people at my church, my best friend, and of course my sweetheart. My family doesn't even know

Sent from my 5054N using the BariatricPal App

  • 2 weeks later...

I'm only 1 week post-op but so far I've been saying that I am on a Protein shake diet. They can think what they want and say how "unhealthy" it is to only drink Protein shakes but I just say it was time to do something drastic.

I also told people I had gallbladder surgery during the time I was in the hospital. I don't like to lie to people but I also don't feel like dealing with judgements and negative comments about weight loss surgery.

  • 1 month later...

I am very forth coming.I want to help end the stigma and help educate people.Some people will say we took the easy way out.I help educate them that this was not easy.

  • 5 weeks later...

I am very forth coming.I want to help end the stigma and help educate people.Some people will say we took the easy way out.I help educate them that this was not easy.

I'm the same way.

There’s nothing shameful about improving our health in a way that we and our doctors deem healthy.

I also don't want to mislead people about my weight loss methods.

If it wasn't for someone opening up to me about their surgery, I may have never decided to get it myself.

Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

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