Question?

Hi all I'm new to the forum.  I have been on the fence on who to tell about my wls.i only told a select few.I dont think i'm going to tell anyone at work. All they know is i'll be out for a outpatientl procedure.I made it sound minor.I just don't want them to become "weigh****chers" askin How much did you lose this week and all that...How do you handle when people ask how are you losing weight?

You don't have to tell anyone you do not want to. As for people asking about weight loss, well, just tell them you have decided it is time to eat more healthy. That is the truth since our goal is not to get skinny but to get healthy.

I am sure others will have good advice for you. I was one who told everyone, initially, now if I run into someone who isn't a close friend I just say thank you when they comment on how I look.

Don't expect people to notice for quite a while. It sometimes takes quite a loss for others to notice even when we can see big changes. A friend had already lost 100 pounds before anyone other than those who knew caught on.

Good luck, Sue

Good advice. I rushed out to tell everyone about my pending lapband because I thought I was going to lose so fast they would know something was up. Nope! It tooks many months and over 40lbs before anyone even noticed (40lbs was 42% of my excess weight by the way so it was quite a bit).

I plan to say "diet and exercise" which is 100% the truth. The band isn't going to cause your weight loss...it will assist you with sticking to the weight loss plan you select. I didn't tell anyone at work either just because I don't have that sort of relationship with any of them. This week was tough when they had a party for someone's birthday and I couldn't partake due to my pre-surgery liquid diet, I mentioned to one person that I am on a liquid diet because of a "procedure" I'm having done and left it at that. Just accept all the compliments as you slim down and tell only those you want to know. Welcome to OH! The ladies on here are great at providing insight and information, I'm a newbie too and the posts here have helped me so much!

When I first had lapband I told everyone. I didn't want to tell just a few people and then it seem like a secret I was keeping. However now 2 years out I meet new people and I think that I shouldnt have to bring it up, but I end up feeling like if I don't they will hear it from someone else then my nurtrition advice wont seem valuable. For that reason I kinda regret telling so many people. I mean no one really has the time to learn what it means to have a lapband so telling them just sounds something like "I had weightloss surgery and it lost the weight for me". Most people, even the genuinely nice, non judgemental ones, dont understand much beyond that.

I can't undo how many people I told, but now I take a different approach. I will tell people I reduced my portions, exercise, and cut out a lot of simple carbs. It is entirely true and it is the only thing that allows me to maintain. If I get to know that person better I share that I have a lapband but its not the first words out of my mouth any more.

I think Jean said in her Bandwagon book that she had initially told everyone she met about her wls. Then felt that they were always looking at her to evaluate how she was doing (correct me if I'm wrong).  After reading other's experiences, I think a lot of people in my life (my husband's family) will view this as an "easy way out" and not the tool it is meant to be.  I'm planning on saying I cut down on my portions and am exercising (eating less and moving more!) which will be true.   

I personally take offense when people “bend" the truth when they have has WLS. I feel it’s not just eating right and exercise that has gotten the weight off. The band is why the weight is coming off plan and simple. Even though you still have to do the work the work is not possible if you didn’t have the band.  If it was then why would you get the band in the first place?   I say tell who you want to tell that’s you personal choose. I tell anyone who asks me how I lost weight that I have a lap band, because I feel good and proud about not only about my weight loss. I also feel good about making the choose to take control of my life and weight.
Good luck on your journey!!!

The Band may have been the reason why you lost the weight but after a year of getting fills and getting no where and not losing any weight....I started an exercise program and the weight has just melted of me ever since.  So I don't attribute my success to my band. 

I say---- I eat less, move more --- both of which are true.

 I tell people I feel comfortable telling.  Others, I do not feel it is any of their business.  I work with some reallly nosy people.  They have noticed I am on my pre-op liquid diet and I tell them it is because I am having surgery.  They ask what kind, and I tell them I am getting breast implants.  It makes them really uncomfortable for asking and I think it will be funny to see them staring at my chest when I get back trying to figure out why they do not look any bigger.