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Tell friends/ coworkers

It really just depends on your relationship with people. The people that I work closely with at my job know about my surgery. I told them all before I even go the surgery to just get it out there. There are many other employees who work at our office, and I didn't tell everyone. There was no need. If someone I didn't tell says something, I usually just acknowledge that I've lost weight and leave it at that. If they really want to know how, I tell them. I'm not concerned about their opinion.

As for my family. My wife, daughter and parents know. A handful of close family friends know. I have two brothers and sisters-in-law that I'm not particularly close with, so they do not know and I will probably will not bring it up. I have many Facebook and social media friends, but I don't post things there, although I'm sure if they suspected something and really wanted to find out they could. It's not like my YouTube channel is private or anything, but most people don't have a reason to search for me on that topic.

So as you can see, it just depends on your relationships. Many people are very private about it, some are very open, and I think most are somewhere in between.
 
I personally told my coworkers, close friends and my sister. I did not feel as though I could take the credit for losing weight on my own without surgical intervention. It has not been a bad experience for me to tell all. Once person who asked me about my weight loss at work had actually spent a few years working on a research project on the bypass, she was so knowledgeable from interviewing the study participants. She was super supportive and even included a "get your protein in" lecture. Interestingly the person who handled my short term leave had just had the sleeve too and she was not losing weight. Of course I recommended this fantastic group for motivation and support for her.
 
I told everyone on the planet basically LOL I’m definitely not shy about it, very proud of my tool, and wanted to share my experience and get rid of anyone’s preconceived notions of what WLS actually is and does. My neighbors mowing guy asked a couple days ago if I’d lost weight (we were talking, he didn’t just yell it over the mower lol) and I said I had weight loss surgery. So really, I’m just super open about it. I know a lot of people are not though, and it can be weird if someone calls me skinny mostly because I’m not skinny in the super model sense, which is what I think of, but I’m definitely skinny compared to what I was. It also a choice based on how comfortable you feel with follow up questions because depending on who I tell, I might get a lot of questions, I might get none, and sometimes I just get the-Oh I know so in so who had that and they gained it ALL back! I love those people because they basically think everyone who does this is going to fail, and I can’t wait to prove them wrong!
 
I'm like 3mom and told everyone, including my lawn guy lol. I'm proud that I was willing to take steps to get myself healthier. I was on the fence about the surgery for years, wondering if it was cheating and wondering why I could not do it myself. A woman at my job had the bypass, told literally every single person in the world and we all watched her succeed in a big way. I found it motivational and figured why not really start looking into it? So I share .. and share .. and share. If even one person hears me and thinks "Hey! I can get help too." I'll be happy. Of course there are people out there whom aren't kind but that is true anyway. If people want to talk, let them. It's just sad when someone's life is so boring all they have to talk about is me.
 
I told those who were close and who would be unconditionally supportive; my husband, son, sister (her husband) and few close friends and 3 co-workers. I know it will come out at work eventually (water cooler talk) and I'm ok with that.

I am prepared with my answers when people notice the loss. My script includes "changing eating habits, food choices and adding exercise along with help from an RD and my doctor." If pressed I will add I have an additional tool of VSG.

Don't kid yourself for one minute or let anyone tell you that the surgery is the "easy way out". We have all made a lifestyle choice and how each of us reach that decision is different. It's your life, your story - you control the narrative.
 
I told my immediate family husband and son. I also told my three best friends. The support I receive is great. One of son’s best friends just received her rn license so I have her support. And my two chosen granddaughters. I share with my medical providers. No the surgery is not an easy way out. But it is motivating. I share with people trying to lose weight, the pre surgery log book from the digestive center where I had my surgery. I know by following that I lost 1-2 pounds per month and always felt full at all times. I had to make myself eat all three meals and snacks. Others are curious about the surgery, I will share my experience with them. Depending on how close the relationships are, is what makes it supportive.
 
I told my close family members and I told some of my co workers that I trusted and of course I had to tell my boss . I didn’t think anyone else at my work needed to know my Business but after I returned to work there were serval people that I didn’t tell that knew why I was gone . So at the end of the day I believe everyone will know eventually because let’s face it some people can’t keep things to themselves but I went on with my days and didn’t mention it to anyone and kept working . No one asked me questions that I personally didn’t tell I’m assuming because if they would have asked me they probably thought I would ask who told you ?
 
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