Wondering how to tell people I am having surgery. HELP.

Hi guys, I am a teacher and am having surgery on 8/1. I am nervous and excited. Anyway, the point. I go back to school/work on Sept. 5. I am debating on whether or not to tell anyone about my WLS. I know it is my decision and it is no one else's business, but what do I say when I am down a100lbs in 5 months (hopefully!!!). i don't want to pull a Star Jones and yet I really don't want everyone knowing b/c I don't want to here the comments. (by the way I love Star Jones. She looks amazing!!!) I mentioned to one of my closest friends at work that I "MAY" be getting the surgery and I had to hear a long list of "just excercies and eat less", "I know people who have died", etc. etc. All this coming from a SIZE 2!!!! I don't want to be gossiped about. :gossip: What should I do? I would love some advice b/c I am really torn about telling or not telling my fellow teachers. :grad: Thanks all, Erika :wave:

Hi Erika, First off, congrats and good luck to you!! I went to my first support group meeting at the hospital where I had my surgery this past week. The topic was "to tell or not to tell". One of the women there said that she has never told anyone, but one friend and her doctors. Someone asked her what she told or tells people about her weight loss. She said that she tells them that she amended her eating habits and put more exercise into her schedule. Which in fact, she did because the eating habits change and we have to exercise to be more effective. So she chose to do it that way. I told people, a select group, because I didn't want to hear anything negative, but I got a tremendous amount of support. Hope that helps some. Sue

Thank you so much for your response. I also only told a select group. My family, husband, and a few people at church.

Hi there....I made the personal decision that i would be honest if people asked. I really dont care what others think of how i got to where i am. I feel the negative comments come from ignorance and i just educate as i go along. It all depends on if i am in a hurry or not lol. I take all comments good and bad ....It was my decision and the surgery has changed and saved my life i feel. But this is your personal decision. Just remember it dosent matter what others feel about the surgery, you have done your homework, you know what you are doing.....Its all about you right now! Hang in there and good luck! LisaMarie

Thanks, Lisa. I appreciate your opinion. I guess it will depend on how I feel in the "heat of the moment". Thank you!!!

Hi Erika, I just wanted to say good luck w/ the surgery. Keep us posted after your on the losing side. Don't worry about what to say. It will come to you when the time is here. Just enjoy your new healthy life. As for me,, I stand on the rooftops and shout about it. I don't care what anyone else thinks. I did this for me! I'm not saying it is good for everyone. But it was a great decision for me. People will talk whether it's good or bad. Nothing you can do about that. If not about your weight loss, people will find other stuff to gossip about. It's human nature I guess. Anyway, Good luck and God bless! ~Angel 255/222/127 at Goal!

Erika, First off I want to say congrats hun, your date will be here SOON. I am with LisaMarie, I told everyone. I really do not care what people think about it since they are not in my shoes. She is right about the ignorance, people say mean things when they just don't know about something! You can not control what others will say and there might be gossip but I made this change for ME! You might want to hold off saying anything, just say thanks and give a big smile. Makes then wonder. Whent hey ask how you did it you can at that point chose to say WLS or just something like HARD WORK (once again just smile afterwords). Feel out the way you are feeling and go with it. I wish you all the best hun ~hugs~ Debra P

Thanks Debra P. I will definitly take your advice. Whatever I say, I will just smile along with them. Thank you so sosososososo much. Hugs back, Erika

FOR me i choose to not let people no before about the surgery to much it was none of there business. I only told my immediate family. BUT now that i am 143 lbs and people are shocked YES I TELL THEM HOW! i find this worked for me. I guess i worried i would fail and this way people didnt know ! BAD i know. ALL the best and just do what feels right. lisa

Thank you all for your advice and words of wisdom. I will take a little from all of you. Be blessed!!! Erika:-)