You know, if you were in teh hospital and a front desk worker, doc, or nurse told someone that you were there and/or what you were there for, it would be a violation of HIPPA (i.e. a LAW regarding privacy).

What you do to your body medical wise is your business and yours alone. You don't owe the person asking ANYTHING.

So dont feel that you are lying.

You dont even have to answer such questions. You could just smile big and say "Thanks for saying that!  It made my day!"

:)

Absolutely, tell those you want - the others - 'hard work'

I just straight up say I had gastric bypass surgery.  I dropped off some items at a jewelry store this morning for size adjustments, including getting one necklace shortened by two inches.  I said 18 inches used to be fine, but after losing 160 lbs, I find that it's too long.  The guy helping me asked what I did to lose 160 lbs and I just said, "I had gastric bypass surgery," and that was that.  

I think a lot of it is in the delivery.  I just say it like it's no big deal and so far, it hasn't been.  I have yet to have someone get all judgmental in my face.  In fact, I had one lady in a clothing store pepper me with questions and we had a little surgical orientation right there in the middle of the store.  Now, as for what people say behind my back, I can't control that.  

If you're a terrible liar, don't do it.  :D

Jen

I tell them "Diet, surgery, exercise."

What's funny is you could sneak it in there without most people realizing, I bet.

This answer is perfect and so simple, why didn't I think of it!!??!!  I started off "not telling" but then its hard to remember who I told and who I didn't, also I do feel like I it is lying.  Then I tried just saying gastric bypass, but that irritates me to no end because I work so hard at my diet and exercise and truly believe that is what has made me successful and what will continue keeping me successful.  But, I didn't want to go into some long tirade and I felt like I was explaining myself and defending my decision when I would say surgery, but I follow the doctors plan and eat high protein low carb and exercise blah blah blah.  3 words and done!  LOVE IT!

I wonder if any of you think you have keen "WLS radar" now?  My DH has a male co-worker who denies having WLS.  When I bump into him out in public, our eyes meet as though to say, "I know you know."  I don't ask out of respect for those who choose privacy.  I try to be open in an attempt to help others but find my SSMO, self-destructive past is painful to discuss in person.  Tears can flow here without anybody seeing  : )

ABSOLUTELY!  When I notice someone who has lost a lot of weight I try to go out of my way to pay them a compliment.

Oh, I do.  We have an administrator that lost 100 lbs over the summer by "running."  Sure, I guess it's possible, but ...

Yes! My husband has a family member who had WLS two years before me but never said anything to us. When I was getting ready for my surgery, it struck me that she must have had WLS. Sure enough she finally admitted it when I told her I was having surgery. I didn't want to ask her either, so I just told her about my surgery first.