For those not telling, how did you hide or explain the pre-op & post op liquid diet? I don't want to tell my co-workers I'm having the lap band. I'm worried all their questions will make me more nervous and freak me out. Any suggestions or tips on how to explain the liquid diet? I'm afraid someone will figure out my secret. :thumbup:

How long are you on the liquid diet? I didn't tell any of my co-workers either. I just ate Soup for lunch and they really didn't notice much. And if lunch was brought in or they wanted to go out - I just said that I was pinching pennies and eating my lunch that I brought.

Good Luck!

Pre-op ... tell them you're experimenting with a "quick start" diet. LOTS of people go on short-term liquid or partly liquid diets to lose some pounds quickly and then go to a more normal diet plan. Post-op? Let's be real, here. They're going to see the results, you'll be past the surgery itself. If they are rude enough to ask why you're drinking your meals instead of eating them, tell them whatever you want! Be funny or be rude back...whatever works for you. I chose to be honest. "well, you see, I got tired of losing and gaining. I knew I wasn't doing my body any favors. So I got the lap band. In another week, I'll be moving on to more solid food and then on to a full diet." Then you can just leave them in the dust. I work with two women who are the size I was, and since I have dropped one whole dress size and most of the next one, I gave them all the biggest clothes already. Now, one of them has been diagnosed with PCOS and has been put on South Beach by her doctor. So, she tells me "you just keep losing and I'm right behind you. Anything you shrink out of you just bring to me." In truth, there may be some people in your life who are a little jealous, but most will be in your corner so just answer them as the questions inevitably come. This is nothing to be ashamed of or whatever. You didn't take the easy way out. You had surgery, for crying out loud. It says you are DETERMINED to use the tools available to you to succeed.

I have not been banded yet, but will be getting my date on the 7th. There are 3 girls at my work who are doing a "spring detox liquid diet" seems everyone is doing it these days and most detox diets last only a week.

TEll them you are going on the Oprah liquid diet.

Liquid diets (like Optifast) are quite common. Tons of people use Slim Fast too. I don't think many people will question it. It's a popular diet now.

I completely agree with the people who told you to just say you're doing a liquid detox diet. I didn't tell people at work about the band, and I am so glad that I didn't.

It takes a few weeks before you start losing after the surgery (because there is a period when you are pretty well healed, but not restricted . . a.k.a. "Bandster Hell"). A lot of people put back on a few pounds during that time, but it comes off easily once you get to decent restriction.

Anyway, I wouldn't have wanted everyone at work watching me, gossiping about why I didn't lose a lot at first, what I was eating, etc.

Congratulations on your decision!! I will tell you that I haven't regretted mine for a second, and the band is working like a charm. :thumbup:

Catherine

I kept mine a secret until the last minute when my surgery got scheduled. I was on a 2 week mandatory liquid diet and did 1 extra week on my own. I ate a lot of soup, Jello and yogurt with no fruit. It was not that un-normal of food to eat for lunch so not much explanation was needed.

But having kept it a secret and now being banded on 4/2/09 I sort of wish I had said something sooner- I lost 16lbs on my pre=op and that put me on a cloud- I just wanted to shout to the world but couldnt cuz i didnt say anything..... That is 1 thing pre-op i would change....

lisa

I wasnt going to tell anyone either, then decided to tell because someone at work asked me if I was sick. I was loosing weight and they weren't sure why. Everyone in my office has been extremely supportive. It's not a major topic of discussion, but the occassional positive comments have been very helpful! Since my surgery in November, two others in my office have begun the process. So, there is both pros and cons to telling and not telling.

Good luck with whichever way you go. And the best of luck with your weight loss! :thumbup:

Tkl

I didnt have to de a pre liquid diet (or any diet actually) and I was onto soft foods by the time I went back to work.

I also am one that told people at work. But, to be honest, even if I didnt they would've just thought I was on "another diet".

I would just say I am doing slim fast for bfast and lunch and that you eat your "dinner" at home...

if people asked, i just told them i was doing a cleanse to get all the toxins out of my body. and then post band, once i started eating smaller amounts, i just told them that i've changed my eating habits and trying to live a healthier lifestyle.

No one in my office noticed my pre-op diet. A few weeks after surgery one coworker noticed that I wasn't drinking my daily Diet Pepsi. I told him I was cutting back on caffeine. It really hasn't been difficult to 'hide' my diet from coworkers.

Best wishes to you as you begin your journey.

I wasnt going to tell anyone either but i told one person and the next thing i knew the whole office knows. It has been a very positive thing for me and since i started on my journey two other ladies who work in our company have decided to be banded too. (Although our insurance doesnt cover it we are self pay) All of my co-workers have been great about it! Even people i dont normally talk with have emailed me and asked about me and are great about it. I know not everyone will be as lucky as i am, but good luck with you journey either way. I agree with just saying you are on a liquid diet.

I opted not to tell anyone but my immediate family and 2 close friends. The girls in my office and I are all very close. its been 7 weeks now and surprisingly no one has really noticed. I've heard people don't usually start noticing until 50 or 60 lbs. I've lost 25 lbs thus far. I was on liquids only 1 day back at work (I took 1 week off). I knew I wasn't going to tell anyone so I started with "the story" early. When I went to my first appt they gave me all the handouts with the various lifestyle changes I would need to make. One of them was soda - so after my first appt - about 4 months before surgery - I stopped drinking soda. So by the time of the surgery it was already in place. The week before surgery - I did encourage a health kick in my office where we all stopped eating out and began sharing meals. So I had an excuse to bring in all my yogurt and V8 etc and stock our fridge.

Basically I tried to phase things in over time so all these strange changes in my eating habits did not happen all at once and draw attention. My co-workers did find it odd when I started bringing Protein drinks to work - but I just told them my doc said I needed to get more protein in my diet (which was true) and, extra bonus, that it promotes weight loss.

Since the surgery there is a girl in my office who is trying to watch her weight - I've been splitting things with her. She loves the fact that I'm helping HER out. There have been a couple of times when its been said "you hardly ate anything" - my excuse is that I ate something right before, or I had a big Breakfast, or didn't really like the food.

I don't wanna to tell more people - sometimes I feel myself bursting at the seams wanting to tell. But I don't want it to get around the whole office. I want to see some dramatic weight loss before I share - fear of failure I guess.

Whatever your decision - good luck!

Edited April 6, 200917 yr by PrincesaJenE