Survey: How do you respond to THAT question

Hi WLS peeps -

Received my surgery date: June 6th, and am worrying about how to respond to the question: "how did you lose the weight?" I haven't told my coworkers, although my close friends and family know. I know my coworkers will likely figure it out but I'm worried. I want to reply with a message that says in a polite way and retains my privacy.

Those of you who are post-op: how have you handled this question?

Thanks to all!

Anyone that asked, I told them.

Depends who's asking. For people I don't feel like giving the whole story to, it's usually along the lines of "I've been working really hard and getting help from my doctor." That's usually plenty of info.

Audrey, who is on the RNY board, has a great answer: diet, surgery, exercise. It covers all the bases. However, since you do not want to be public, there are a number of ways you could go:

My, what a personal question.

I'm on the Purina Puppy Chow diet.

I don't eat anything that tastes good.

Hey, while we are discussing personal details, how much did you make last year? 

I'm following my doctor's plan.

Whatever you do, don't lie; it will backfire and people will find out.

I was straightforward, but really I didn't get many questions. I don't invite them, and no one really cared anyway. 

"I'm on the Purina Puppy Chow diet".

Love this! 

your funny- lol

When I think of puppy chow, I think of the chex snack with peanuts with chocolate and powered sugar on it.

> Hey, while we are discussing personal details, how much did you make last year? 

omg I love this

Your answers are brilliant!  Wish I had of had these in my back pocket 2.5 years ago!

I love them all, especially "Hey, while we are discussing personal details, how much did you make last year"?  BRILLIANT I am so using that one for future!! LOL LOL

Gary, I love ya bud, but I think you might have it wrong here.  I don't see that trying to prepare for awkward situations to be a "red flag".  If anything it's trying to prepare for that uncomfortable place down the road.  I was prepared to lose all my weight when I went in to have surgery, and I don't think it's out of bounds to look to the future for that.  Your comment struck me as a sort of shaming, because she's not "focusing on the proper execution of the lifestyle".  Each of us have our own path to walk and it seems somewhat cruel to imply that the OPs questions are a red flag for something wrong with her.

I have had many people ask me how I'm losing the weight before I "came out" and each time I would have to privately answer their questions.  It got to the point where I felt like I was being dishonest talking about my weight loss openly but not talking openly about HOW I lost it.

maybe it's because I'm a woman that people asked me, it was usually my friends and family who I am not really close with and that I don't see often that were interested.  They were looking for the magic that I had to offer, and I hated to burst their bubble telling them I had to rearrange my insides to do it. Most of the people who asked were overweight but not large enough to actually qualify for WLS.  They were looking to lose 20 to 30lbs.