It wasn't my intent to tell anyone other than my immediate family and my boss since I needed my FMLA approved. I have a great relationship with my boss so I wasn't too worried, he's a man and for the most part generally minds his own business and isn't opinionated.

I neglected to tell my husband that I wasn't planning on sharing with everyone so he took care of telling other family members and some friends. Ultimately it worked out, it saved me from having to tell these people and seeing/hearing their judgement. They found out out of my presence so any judgement they had I wasn't around to witness it. I haven't received any negative feedback from anyone other than when I told my mom and sister, but once they understood my reasons they accepted it.

I also can't seem to tell a lie, a couple of people have asked me what I'm doing and it just comes out of my mouth that I had surgery even though I don't really want to broadcast it. I swear I'm like Pinocchio in that Geico commercial, I'd be a horrible motivational speaker. lol But after I tell them I had surgery I tell them I lost quite a bit pre-op using MFP, watching what I eat, tracking everything, No soda, no sugar, minimal carbs etc.

I have no problem telling people. I don't put it on blast, like, "Hey everyone, I had WLS" but I definitely told people who are close to me before, and now when people ask how I lost weight, I tell them. It's part of my "new normal" and I am fine with people knowing. I also feel that the more people know about it, the less judgmental they will be about it and less stigma will be attached to WLS.

I've been thinking about this all day and realized that when people comment on my weight loss and want to know how I've done it, I've been telling them I've been on a high protein, low carb, low calorie diet. That's the truth although I've been leaving out the part about surgery. Maybe I'm rationalizing but I see the surgery as a tool to help me with the high protein, low carb, low calorie diet and it''s not the reason I'm losing weight. The biggest reason for weight loss is the diet (lifestyle change). Surgery is the reason I'm able to stick to the diet (lifestyle change) but not the reason I'm losing weight. My friends and family know I've had the sleeve, of course, but acquaintances.... no, I just keep it simple and brief. Likewise, if I feel the need to justify my order at a restaurant to a waitperson, I just say I've had some stomach surgery and need to be careful with food that I order, but mostly I just keep it private.

What you tell others is a personal choice, do what you are comfortable with.......but,

I chose to be honest and up front; "I finally found a tool to help me get healthy. I had a weight loss surgery to reduce the capacity of my stomach and now I eat a high protein diet and exercise every day. I feel better than I have in 20 years and am so glad I did it!"

It is impossible to conceal 100 pounds of weight loss in 6 months and I feel being evasive only contributes to opinons that WLS is a cop-out. I made the best decision for my health and am proud of my efforts and results.

Amen to, this ^^^

I told my team at work and my whole family, which is small about my decision pre-op. I tell anyone who asks the truth today using (almost exactly) the words above. This tool IS the reason I've lost weight and will enable me to keep it off this time which is something I've not been able to manage in the past. This tool gave me my life back and I want everyone to know who might benefit! Without all the information, others will compare their weight loss struggle to ours and its not a fair comparison. The people who know me can see the lifestyle change: daily protein supplements, eating small portions and working out hard 5 days per week. I've had no real issues with "attitude" from others... maybe its you get back what you put out there, or maybe I just don't care what they think! Either way I'm good with it!

I was very open about it with everyone from the time I made the decision. Most of the people in my life have never seen me at a normal weight, I started this at 386 pounds. And as fast as we lose in the beginning, I'm sure everyone would think WLS, really sick or dying! So I figured, why bother trying to be coy about it. Also, if by sharing I can help even one obese person find a way to healthy weight, then it's worth any negativity. But really, if there was any negativity, anyone waiting to see if I regain, or anything else, they've all kept it to themselves. All I've gotten from family, friends and co-workers is support and encouragement.

Bottom line though is that sharing or not is your personal decision. Not everyone is as open about things as I am, and that's OK. You need to handle this in a way you are comfortable with.

PS - no, by law your boss can't ask you what your surgery is. In fact, no one at the company can. It's against the HIPPA laws to ask those kinds of questions anymore.

I am in the first stage of the process but I have told my family and friends that I will be having the surgery. After the surgery I plan to tell people if they ask. If I could lose the 120 lbs by just exercise & watching my intake I wouldn't need this surgery. I don't want to feel like I am misleading people, especially those who might wonder why they aren't having the same results as me in the same period of time. I am not ashamed of having this surgery because it is going to save my life.

After discussing it with my wife and making the decision to have the surgery, I flat out told my father and boss that I started the process. I've told a few friends and coworkers when the subject of dieting/weightloss came up. If people ask, I'll tell them. I don't care who knows. For that matter, other than my wife and father, I don't care what the others think.

I was very honest at work I needed the time off and I knew they would see that I ate differently and wanted the support. I didn't tell everyone but the people around me all knew and have been so supportive. My family all knows. I didn't post it on my Facebook or anything but I am pretty open. I generally tell people I have told some strangers low carb and exercise but honestly want people to know about the vertical sleeve as an option.

Have had some negative comments from people I know casually. Recently I pick and chose who I tell I mean I don't need to tell very person I meet. I think it is nice for family to know but everyone is different.