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What's your story if you are keeping it a secret?



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For those of you that are keeping surgery a secret, how did you do it?

What was excuse for surgery and time off? Just trying to find a way to set up my story

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I have a job where I could come straight back to work on Monday after having surgery the previous Friday. However I ended up taking 5 more days as sick leave because I had the flu as well. My weight loss is significant but has not been that drastic in a short time. I am now eating well and that would explain the loss to curious minds. I am generally a private person and don't share my medical history so I haven't felt the need or pressure to explain anything.


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I was laid-off in July and took that time to set-up and have the surgery. Worked out weird that I needed to start my new job two weeks after having the surgery. It was fine I just tired easily. And although I have lost 40 something pounds everyone just knows I'm doing low-carb and that explains it. I also bring Water but don't drink it while I eat. No one has said anything to me. I do push my food around a lot and really people aren't paying nearly as much attention as we think they are.


"Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying"

Sleeved 8.21.2017
Age 45
HW 237 SW 226
CW 199 GW 150
Total Lost - 36.2 lbs

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At work, I only told my one coworker - whom I trust completely not to say anything about it. I felt like I would be judged by everyone else so that’s why I decided to keep it a secret not only at work, but also in my personal life too.

I did a “hybrid” surgery, so they did a liver biopsy at the same time they did my sleeve. I used the biopsy as an excuse for the time off. I’m getting to the point where I’ve lost a noticeable amount of weight. I tell everyone it’s because I’ve changed my lifestyle and they seem to buy it.

IMHO, keeping it a secret has simplified things for me! [emoji4]


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I say I had acid reflux surgery & am doing Keto :) Not super inaccurate. They addressed my reflux issues during the surgery and I am eating ketogenic foods.


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tell them you had digestive issues and had to go in the histpital.

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I make up the most ridiculous diets I can think of and try to convince them that is how I am losing the weight. My latest one is a famous scandinavian diet that consists of being able to eat as many sardines and Peanut Butter as you want, as long as you eat them together. I follow that with jogging backwards for 3 miles a day. 40lbs in 4 weeks - it works! :P

For close friends or people that are genuinely concerned I might have some kind of health issue, I will tell them what I did. If it is someone I don't know well or care about, then they can try to figure it out on their own through one of my crazy diets.

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I only told my boss I was having surgery. Didn’t say what type and she didn’t ask. My leave was approved just under “surgery” title. I told my most trusted coworker before I left. I’ll tell people when I go back to work if they ask, I won’t lie. But they didn’t need to gossip while I’m away ;P

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I started flowing the post op diet 6 months before surgery so I lost a good 40 lbs before surgery. I was pretty public about my change in eating habits pre-ops. Just saying I’m eating clean and high Protein. So everyone knew I was dieting.

That way there wasn’t a sudden loss in anyone’s mind. After the first few weeks post op (where I did loss big numbers) I really lost 2-3 lbs a week, and everyone saw me at the gym everyday. So it was easy to say, yes thanks I am losing weight and working my Ass off. Which wasn’t a lie. [emoji6]. Good luck


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I kept mine a secret at first. Eventually everyone found out because I had complications.

You may find over time, once you’ve lost the weight, it won’t matter as much who knows how you did it. I was embarrassed at first and feared a lack of support but I ended up getting a lot of support. I tell people now and they don’t even blink. Wls is so common these days. :)


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I never understood the point of hiding the surgery as if people are ashamed they needed help to live longer and better. I have a friend whose wife allegedly had "Hernia surgery" then all of a sudden lost over 100lbs...Yeah, ok.... Not one single gym selfie on her social media, in fact I never hear of her working out a single day.. But she lost all this weight...lol

Seriously whats your reasons for hiding it??

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9 hours ago, JerseyJules said:

I have a friend whose wife allegedly had "Hernia surgery" then all of a sudden lost over 100lbs...Yeah, ok....

What a coincidence! ;)

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I told people months before surgery that I’m working on my weight loss via diet & exercise. So, it makes my weight loss look natural. I tell them I’m on a ketogenic diet which is technically true anyway.

I kept it a secret because I don’t like people inputting their opinions on MY CHOICE, MY BODY. People can be so negative & gossip. Only my significant other & one friend know.

At work, I said I was sick that’s why I needed time off and took my sick pay. I wasn’t specific about why I was gone & it’s really none of their business.


Height: 5'0"
Weight for WLS consultation: 216 lbs.
Surgery date: 2/13/17
Goal: -71 lbs for healthy BMI (about 145 lbs).
Current weight: 130 lbs, 10 lbs away from new goal.
My profile picture is not me. It's my "FITspiration" body.

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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.
      · 0 replies
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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. 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
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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