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

The only people I told about my liquid diet at work...are the ones who know about my surgery! Don't tell them you are on a liquid diet and they won't ask why! the liquid diet is deff. harder than I expected...thank goodness this is my last day (being banded tom.)! Good Luck =]

I'm not at the pre-op diet stage yet, but when I am, if anyone asks, I'll tell them I'm trying a new diet. I only go to lunch with a few people from work - they are close friends - and they are the few people at work that I've already told about the band.

In the future, I may tell more people what I've done. I just don't want to tell everyone now, and wish I hadn't.

I only go out to lunch w/ a few women too but, I'm worried they'll start asking alot of questions when I abruptly stop going out to lunch and start having mysterious drinks for lunch instead. They're used to seeing me go out to resturants everyday and having a hearty meal.

I did not tell any of my co-workers and when I was on the liquid diet I just had the campbells soup at hand soups or creamed soups and I usually stayed at my desk for lunch. I did have one person ask me and I told her I had stomache problems occasionally and my stomache was bothering me, she accepted that no problem, most people dont want to hear about IBS or any other issues that cause stomache/bathroom issues. I did go out to lunch once during this stage and I ordered regular soup and just had the broth and left the veggies, one girl asked what was wrong and I just told her I wasn't really hungry. Most people really dont notice and if they do they dont say anything. This is my second time around and noone has said a word. Still the only people who know are my immediate family minus my kids and one friend. The weight loss is so slow that people think I am just continuing to exercise, eat better and I am loosing weight slowly but surely.

I simply stated that my doc had me on a restictive diet. As I have several medical issues it was easily accepted. Once I was pass liquids it was a little harder because mushies don't work well in pool halls. I was known for my nightly order of "hot" wings and sweet tea. Now I eat at home and can just say that I already had dinner. I spend the night sipping on water and if I can get a red or dark cup I can add some Crystal Lite. Just go with the new diet, or I'm working on new eating habits and "friends" won't push.

how about telling them your doctor convinced you to start dieting and to jump start it, the first two weeks are very low fat / low carb. You need to do do protein with every meal, so for these first weeks you're drinking protein shakes. After that you'll go back to normal foods, but need to watch calories per day and portion sizes.

people r noisy and will talk, I lost right at 100 lbs. When they run there mouth, and I hear something, I talk about the privacy act, Hippa, and so on. I guess I got the message across, they don't ask, and if they talk , it's not around me. It is only my business...people have enough to talk about at the water cooler than my weight.

I sort of worried about my co-workers asking me questions about the liquid diet.... but guess what - no one did. I was all ready to say that I was getting serious about jump staring my weight loss. But, it never happened.

Now that I am no longer tied to shopping in women's section only... It would have worth whatever I had to go through! I never really have lunch with a group anyway - and if I did - I'll tell you that the way I feel about my health right now would have been worth turning down all lunch invites, anyway.

You will certainly not regret 'just saying no' and turning around and drinking your liquids - it's soooo worth it!

Just say you're changing your eating habits and jump starting your weight lose with protein shakes and liquids. That won't be a lie. It's the truth. When you start losing weight, it will be because your eating habits have changed. Not because you have a band. the band is only the tool. The weight will come off based on what you put in your mouth. Lets not give the band all the credit (smile). I'm not telling anyone about the band. I'm not ashamed but I wont be a poster child for lab band surgery. I will only discuss it on a need to know basis.

You'd be surprised at how little other people pay attention to what you're eating - even when you're dining with them. We worry about it because we're hyperfocused on food - others simply aren't. I usually don't lunch with others and even if I did, a simply "not all that hungry" works for me :glare: