What did you tell people?

[mommyle]

I am a very private person and do not want to tell people that I am having weight loss surgery. Has anyone else managed to do that? I really don't want to have to lie but I still feel bad about myself for needing this and I don't want to go into it with everyone who notices that I'm slimming down. I'm actually even trying to figure out something I can tell my family to explain an overnight in the hospital without saying that I got the gastric sleeve. (They will probably have to know that much so that they will keep my son overnight while my husband stays with me).

[TonyaSitler]

Strict diet and exercise.

[LealScott]

I tell people that I am on a medically supervised diet and exercise program and that is 100% true. If I choose to tell someone else it's my choice but I don't usually share because all that matters is that I am losing it in a very healthy way.

[Northern girl]

I just told my kids and my boyfriend and I received some negative feedback so I didnt tell anyone else just told them I was going to Mexico for a vacation! Nobody else in my family knows I am off from work.

[Mbenson5]

i am a private person too. The thing that drives me crazy is my husband who had his sleeve in April tells everyone! Even the waitress.

[Jerzeegirl]

Only a handful of people know, it's okay to be private.

[Bilby]

I have been thinking about the hospital thing too.
Everyone is aware I am on a strict diet with an increased exercise program.
Although I hope to say nothing when my time comes a good standby would be that you had gallstones (side effect of rapid weight loss) and that you went to hospital for a cholecystectomy(removal of the gall bladder.
I know how you feel and have the same concerns

[new_me]

People can be so judgemental about something so private. If it were cancer, no one would bat an eye when you said you were having surgery. But tell someone you are having WLS and you would think you we're telling them you were having a third boob implanted! There is so much talk about obesity being an epidemic in this country yet when the morbidly obese seeks medical intervention we are looked upon as lazy, unmotivated and taking the easy way out. Tell me what is easy about having 85% of your stomach removed, never mind all the pre and post op requirements? I have shared with a select few and they are in my inner circle. Based on their reaction no way am I disclosing to co-workers and casual acquaintances.

Just yesterday a co-worker asked if I was losing weight and what I was doing. Mind you, I am on the pre op liquid diet (bonus, down ten pounds!). I told her I had changed my diet and was exercising. This cow asked "we'll, are you going to stick with it?) WTF? I just replied I guess you'll see.

That is the drama I don't wish to invite into my life. This journey is hard enough without insinuating other people and their opinions and hang up in it.

[amazing]

Its a process. i started loosing weight on my own in may 2011. for 2 months i didnt tellanyone. then slowly i started to tell my nearest family and my friends.vi lost over 100lbs on my own.but still having the surgery was shamefull. but my family have been with me since 2011,so then i didnt have that barrier to tell. but to tell them that "yes i am fat and i am trying to lose weight" was harf initially. but so worth it. u need the support. so tell your nearest. i do not know if i am going to tell my work. maybe not. simply because i am not close to anyone there.

[HealthyHeather]

I told people at work that I had "female" problems that needed to be corrected...At that point there were no further questions. Most people don't want to know anything more when you tell them that. Other than my parents, my husband and kids, no one else knows that I had the sleeve and when people ask how I'm losing weight I tell them high protein, low fat and portion control because that is exactly the truth. Best wishes for an easy recovery!

[TonyaSitler]

I also told my ex coworkers went before I quit that I was quitting because of the stress and have to have another surgery due to something related to my previous gallbladder surgery. Now I haven't seen these people since September, I'm go to see my ex boss about getting my job back tomorrow. I'm sure the questions are going to fly at me like crazy! Very nervous!!! I'm going to use the strict diet and exercise for medical reasons to the hilt!

[Its_Me]

You don't have to tell anyone you don't want to. I told my dad, sister and some very close friends (2 of which had gastric bypass so they were totally supportive). I took 4 weeks off work (because I could) and when i came back people asked if I was ok and everything went well but the did NOT ask why i was out on medical leave. I've only had one person tell me I look like I've lost weight and I just responded 'thank you, I'm really working at it' to which she said "good for you."

[Nickijo]

When I decided I've had enough of hurting and hating the way I look and feel I got a group of co-workers together to do a weight-loss challenge. Which l won, now everyone at work knows I am serious about becoming healthier. A few know I plan on having surgery and applaud me for the hard work I have been putting in ahead of time. I figure the rest will just think I really am sticking to my goals.

[Pip]

I haven't had surgery yet but I had to tell work I am on leave for 3 weeks starting at the end of Jan .and three of those days I would be in hospital ..because my company calls you if your on leave or not ... So as you can imagine co-workers started asking me if I was ok and what was wrong
I have started saying its hiatal hernia as I met sleever at my work Xmas party and that's the excuse he used
I'm keeping it to my nearest and dearest as I know some people are negative about WLS!
Good luck with whatever you decide to say

[niamh]

I made it fairly obvious at work for the month before that I was changing my diet and walking to work a few days a week and started losing weight. Then just told people I was hving two weeks off. When I got back from leave, they just assumed I was continuing with diet and exercise the whole time, so nobody's questioned it because the time off wasn't the beginning of the changes. Some people I've told, others not. Seems to be just fine.