i feel like i am lying
If you can avoid it, try not to be tempted to explain away your weight loss to "dieting". When you say " I feel like I am lying", well in reality you are.
There is no right or wrong way to respond to people that have a natural curiosity as to why or how you are losing weight. Of course they will want to know your secret.
If you are a private person, you may not wish to tell just "anyone" about your surgery. And that is certainly your call, just keep in mind that most of us spend as much time if not more with our colleagues and co-workers than we do with our own families. With that being said, if you are comfortable doing so, tell them about the weight loss surgery up front. Doing so could make your working relationships more comfortable.
Great topic Maggie... Thank you for sharing...
I have told everyone about my surgery and know there are people who don't respect my weight loss as much once they knew and people who talk about my surgery behind my back. So I understand you not wanting to tell everyone.
Lap RNY - August 12, 2008 - 365/340/193/175
A "diet" is simply a meal plan. You can have a healthy diet or an unhealthy diet. The word 'diet' is not always associated with weight loss.
That said, who you decide to tell is your choice. You know your co-workers better than we do and you are going to have a better idea of who may be less than supportive of the surgical route. You are not lying. You are under no obligation to share your personal business if you don't want to. My answer to some folks who got too nosey was "Thank you. I am working really hard at it." If some people continued with questions I felt were too personal, they just got a blank look.
I think we all have run into folks who have a very negative view of WLS and some of us have been told to our face that we are cheating or taking the easy way out. Even my dear husband has had people make comments around him about WLS being the easy way out. He has spoken up in our defense and let these people know that we still have to work darn hard to follow the post-op rules. He lets them know how diligent we must be with our vitamins, water, protein, exercise and follow up visits with our surgeon. He points out that it is far from a fast and easy fix and that most of us have struggled for years and only turned to surgery as a last resort to save our lives.
Have I told y'all lately how much I love this man??!
Susan (AKA bilsrib)
300/135/135 - Plastics February 2008 - Dr. Lois Wagstrom
P E A C E - It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.
The bottom line is that I knew that diet efforts were not really working for me. I knew that my metabolism was screwed up. I wanted the best opportunity to improve my health, looks, energy, and self-esteem. Is it the easy way out? Maybe. If I were going to gamble on my health, I wanted the best odds of improving it. I didn't have to be the martyr who did it the hard way. I wanted the result. This isn't hurting anyone; it is only helping me.
I know one person who works at a local hospital and she swears that she would never have any "unnecessary" surgery because she knows what goes on at hospitals. She started Weigh****chers the week I had my revision from Lap Band to DS and calls regularly to check to see how I am doing. I think she wants to prove that she is doing her weight loss the more noble way. However, it doesn't bother me. She is improving her health through a meaningless competition with me and I am improving mine through my own means.
There are some people who are younger and exercise like crazy who are probably looking at me like I took the easy way out. I really don't care. Their situations are different from mine and I did what was best for me. End of story. I am not out to please them.
Also, by being open about the surgery, it has connected me with people who should look into a weight loss surgery. It is their decision to make, but by being open it may encourage someone to take control and save his own life.
Best wishes!
How close are you to Rivergate? If you are close enough to join us this Saturday we can help you order something that will be WLS friendly and also teach you how to feel comfortable in a restaurant setting. We've all been where you are with the fear of eating something out in public that is not going to agree with us.
Bring the babies, and hubby too. We welcome all support people and we LOVE babies!!
Susan (AKA bilsrib)
300/135/135 - Plastics February 2008 - Dr. Lois Wagstrom
P E A C E - It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.
