HELP!! I feel like such a FRAUD!!!!

A facebook friend recently tracked me down in an online chat and asked me about my weight loss after I had been dodging her inquiries for months.  She prodded and poked and congratulated me on my weight loss and asked me how I did it.  rather than tell her I had VSG I said alot of eating right and exercising.  WHAT!?!? really I thought...wht dont i just tell her I had VSG...well after about 20 minutes I realized why i didntt tell her, cause she said "oh I know a neighbor who has WLS but I think thatts blah..blah..blah.. And at that point I was happy i didnt say anything because she just confirmed why I dont say WLS when people ask me how I did it.  On the other hand I feel like a fraud and like a liar beause this person was a close family friend whoo i fear might find out over time and then she will think less of me or think I lied to her.  Meanwhile during our conversation she was telling me how proud she was of he and complimenting me on my 100 + pound weight loss.... Question is, WHY do I feel like I need to hide or justify how or why I lost weight? I feel like Im lying to everyone and myself when complimented and asked how I lost my weight because I say "diet and exercise".  I feel like if I mentioned the surgery maybe I could help others, but then again I dont know...Thoughts?  Feelings? I just feel like a fraud...big time, especially by lying to others who I now struggle with their weight.... thanks!!

 Not everyone is going to accept your decision and I personally think you have a right to be guarded.

You should feel great about your loss...not worry if you are being judged.

Whatever her opinion on WLS is...you did what was best for you.

Don't feel you have to be honest always...you are not a fraud...you did diet and exercise, it just helped that 80% of your stomach was removed too.

If asked, I tell.. diet, low carb.. and I got medical help for my medical problem.. surgery.

I can't not tell when directly asked for the many reasons you list.. it's just not who I am to omit the truth/lie by omission/what-have-you. I could give a rat's ass if they think I took the easier way (I think I did, it was also the SMART way, and the ONLY way that has any record of lasting success..) 

I am proud of me and my initiative to take this problem by the horns and finally ball up and do something about it.. and if anyone asks, that's what I say. 

You could tell that person the whole truth if you like, and set the record straight.. thanking her for showing you her ass by her comments.. or you can move on, but some day, it may come back at you from her or another. You have to do what you can be comfortable with in the end.

I love your response.  Going to have to remember this one as I have wondered how I will handle these questions 

First off, you're not lying. The VSG didn't lose the weight for you, the diet and exercise you were on and did lost the weight. 100% true. As far as sharing your surgical history, that's totally your choice. It's nobody's business but yours.

If I had a vasectomy, I wouldn't tell people about it. So why should I walk around talking about a WLS. I think the only exception would be if I had an obese or super obese friend or family member who asked me in private. If I viewed their inquiry as a cry for help, I would ask that they kept our conversation to ourselves and spill the beans.

As far as my weight loss, I attribute it to the fact that I only had liquids, purees and soft solids. Further, I credit my discipline in adhering to my doctor's instructions and to exercising. I gave up some of my favorite things and changed my lifestyle. I eat 2-3 oz portions and take vitamins and drink protein shakes. I am on a diet. I exercise. I changed my lifestyle. What else do they need to know?

You didn't lie to anyone. Don't feel bad about it. You were strong enough to make a commitment and a lifestyle change to improve your health and fitness, be strong enough to tell people exactly that with confidence and pride.

i agree with sleevicidal_maniac.  well said and my attitude towards the folks who are only asking to be nosey!

BIG dee

"If I had a vasectomy, I wouldn't tell people about it."

Okay this made me giggle because when my hubby had his, I was jumping up and down screaming "yayyyyayayayayay!!!" LOL. After a pill baby and an accident (after stopping trying after a year), I was overjoyed. ;)

But it's a good analogy :)

 Bwa haha! I am totally  going to  tell my  husband he took the easy way out  with the  vasectomy! lol 

That is totally not true. The restriction of the sleeve absolutely does the work for you for many months and so does the lack of hunger hormone. I swear sometimes us VSGers act like we had to bust our asses to do this compared to the losing weight the regular way. This was a piece of cake as far as the weight actually coming off. I've tested the theory. No "diet," no exercise and then the other way around. I've seen similar results in both instances. Stalls and no stalls in each way. The fact that there's no way I can fit much into my stomach whether it's a burrito or a piece of chicken combined with the fact that I'm rarely hungry.... THAT'S what's made me lose 136 pounds in 9 months.. Maybe "diet and exercise" would have made me lose 160 by now, but I would never, ever give myself the credit for those 135 pounds. That was the sleeve because I would have been hungry as **** and eating 800 burritos a day had it not been for my sleeve.

 Have to agree with shwag here... no way I would have lost the weight without the surgery.  But, I also don't tell people at work.  It just isn't their business.