How did you break it to friends and co-workers?

My surgery is on Monday but I have not kept it a secret in any way. I have posted it on facebook, talked about it at work, and so on. No one really stands behind my decision because "they don't think I'm that big". But its not about being big to me its about my health issues, its about not being able to conceive a child, its about how I feel about my body.

Wishing you good luck!

My Gastric Bypass surgery is in 2 days. I have told a few friends. Some family knows, but not all. I didn't want to hear negative comments from some people. After I loose the weight I plan on telling then.

Good luck Dorothy!

Thank You

It's nothing to be ashamed of. Those who think it's the easy way out are horribly ignorant. As if removing the majority of ones stomach is easy.

But if you're not comfortable with telling the absolute truth there's always the "half truth". Just say "I'm eating a lot less". You're not lying right? ?

I told my family and two close friends who are not connected to my work. I didn't announce to any group and I really don't much like Facebook anyway. I did explain to a couple of people who knew I took a little downtime that I had my hiatal hernia repaired. That was the truth, although not the whole truth. I work out of my home office and really dont see others in my field very often, so nobody there has had cause to ask about my weight loss, which is just the way I want it. There is one person connected to my work whom I might eventually tell, as she battles her weight, but she has many connections to people in my field and at this point I don't have a clear enough understanding of her ability to remain discrete.

I honestly don't think it's anyone else's business beyond those closest to me, and I prefer to retain my privacy in general, especially amongst my competitors. There may come a point at which they will wonder. Let them.

I'm in the SAME situation. Telecommuting 95% of the time so not many people actually see me. That's why I could take the time off without having to explain at work where I was or what I was doing. I was literally working from my bed. But I'm worried that at the next meeting my WL would be even more obvious because they don't see me every day. Anyway, I'll just roll with the questions!

I have lost weight on my own before, losing over 150 pounds a few times. People do it every day through diet, exercise, and insane levels of willpower. I had my RnY to help me to maintain what I am losing more than for the loss itself (though I am so grateful for the weight loss, and have come to see that I was much more stuck, metabolically, than I had realized). Anyway, I finally concluded that I really, really needed the help. But it is very possible to lose through diet and exercise alone, though maintaining is a whole other beast! If you don't want people to know you've had WLS, diet, exercise (and crazy levels of willpower) actually explain the transformation very well. I just think that how much you reveal is 100% your prerogative, your choice all the way.

It's entirely up to you. This is YOUR journey and you can do it your way. For me, I was very private about it because I also didn't want anyone's judgement or unsolicited opinions. Making the choice to go through with surgery and follow through with all the changes is hard enough, dealing with extra static is just added stress that we don't really need. I was really overwhelmed by the idea of people looking at me under a microscope and judging my progress etc. At the end of the day, it's my body, my life, my decision. I only told my close family and friends in the beginning. After I started to drop more and more weight, it became more and more noticeable and I've had many people comment or ask how I've been so successful with my weight loss. I tell a lot of people that I've been really focused on eating well and moving more. I'm starting to get more open to the idea of sharing my story and even helping people with their own weight struggles. Once you get comfortable with your success it is easier to talk about it (if you choose to) and you can feel good about how your story can maybe help other people in their own journies. It's a wonderful feeling. I still won't and don't plan to tell certain people in my life because I know they will be judgey or try to put their two cents in and I don't need that. Nothing frustrates me more than people saying things like "oh, they took the easy way out." Or "oh, they couldn't just exercise and eat right." That is so ignorant. When all is said and done, you are the one who gets to make the decision about who you will or will not share this facet of your life with. You will know what's right for you when the time comes. Trust your gut instinct. Just do you and you won't go wrong. I hope that helps in some kind of way.