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Do you tell your friends or not?



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@@gabysmum the statement your friend made " you just need to quit eating" is the kind of comment that makes me want to throat punch people. Really??!? Like we don't already feel under a microscope every time we eat In public. And probably every one of us has tried starving ourselves as well. I sure have! Duh fat people need fuel too! Stupidest statement ever. People don't always think before they speak. :(

This is why only my husband and doctors know my situation.

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Tell her you want to be healthy, not chunky anymore. If you don't even tell her about the surgery, she will make comments when you pull out your healthy lunchbox or refuse to eat like you used to in the past. I wouldn't tell her about the surgery because that is way too drastic of a direction for her to focus on but I would tell her that there is plenty wrong with being chunky. It's good to be self accepting but it's also important to be realistic with one's self.

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Lema...she already does make comments about my healthy choices and also the fact that I never eat a full meal..I've decided not to tell her before the surgery and maybe not even after the surgery. I told my best guy friend today and got the..you don't need it..why?..just don't eat as much and exercise more… really? Huh.. wish I had tried that before like the 1000 and 1 time might have done the trick..lol well so much for getting a lot of support from friends and even my family has just been so so with support and understanding. I guess I hope to get my support here if I can't get it from the people in my life..

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This was a tough decision for me, too. I'd heard so many people talk trash about others who'd had WLS over the years. "They took the easy way out." "It's cheating." "Just put the fork down and push away from the table." "Where's the willpower?"

I worried about being judged when I would need to be supported. Most of all I worried that someone would "out" me to everyone. I'm very private about my personal life and knew that it's impossible to un-tell this enormously emotional decision. So what did I do?

Well, I told my very best friend who has always been supportive and one of my 3 children. I'm divorced, so a SO wasn't an issue. But that's it. I didn't tell anyone else in my family, circle of friends, or workplace.

My surgery was March 12, 2014. I live in a different state, which was helpful to keep it secret. Of course, the downside was that I didn't have anyone to talk to once I got home.

During all the pre-op testing, my doc found out that I had h-pylori bacteria and gave me a cocktail of thee antibiotics, plus a med to reduce acid. Since they knew (at work) about the stomach issues, it was easy for me when people commented about how I was eating. I didn't lie, exactly, but I didn't correct anyone when they assumed I couldn't eat because of the meds I was on. After that, I just started walking everyday and eating healthier foods in appropriate amounts.

Ii was gradual and I only lost 20 pounds in the first three months. But then things happened fast. I lost nearly 100 pounds over the next year and no one has ever been the wiser. I recently had an arm lift and no one has asked me about that, either!

I have never been happier and am thankful every time I look in the mirror. Sometimes I'm still surprised to see a size 6 looking back when I used to see a size 18-20!

Although we all have different paths, in some fashion we share the same pain, frustration, determination, excitement, and personal growth. I wish you the very best in your journey.

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I told my close friends that I'm currently going through the process to get approved. I'm in a situation where my friends are very supportive. I've also told a few family members as well. I'm also very confident in my decision to go through WLS so that helps as well in telling people. I treat it more as an FYI rather than seeking approval or permission from friends and family.

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I only told my sons and 3 people in my office. I hear comments all the time about oh you look good. You don't need a diet. I just don't want to hear any negative comments about surgery. I guess I'll tell them after it's all over. After all it's my body, my self esteem that counts.

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If you don't want to tell her then don't. If she asks you to go out to eat just say that you want to start a healthy lifestyle. You don't have to tell her about your surgery

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    • 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!

    • 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. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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