Little white lies… What to say when you don’t want to say you’ve had surgery.

It can be tricky when people start to notice that you’re not eating much and losing a lot of weight quickly, especially if you don’t want to broadcast your sleeve surgery to the world. Telling someone you’re on a diet, usually invites an open conversation about what diet you’re on and what you should try… Not ideal if you’re trying to get through dinner without drawing too much attention to the fact that you’re not eating much. Instead, try one of these excuses. Obviously the excuse you use will depend on how you feel about the people you are with as well as the situation, your personality and how much you want to talk about your weight loss and diet, but these are the top three explanations used by my patients.

1. I’m just not hungry. If you’re not hungry you’re not hungry…  You can elaborate by saying you had a late lunch etc but there’s no need to. This one is good if you’re in a meal situation with people you don’t eat with often or when you’re explaining to the waiter why you’ve left half your meal on your plate!
2. I had a hiatus hernia repair. A hiatus hernia is a common cause of reflux and a reasonably common problem. Often done at the same time as a sleeve gastrectomy, a hiatus hernia repair follows a similar process in terms of fluids, purees and soft foods after surgery. This one is good for people you see more often and will be noticing what you’re eating throughout your journey. It works a treat for work mates, not so close friends and other mums of the kids at school.
3. Be honest. This won’t suit everyone or every situation. You might be able to cross it off the list straight away if you’re a more private person. Being honest is often difficult, but often the most rewarding, too. You might feel there is the perception that surgery is an “easy” option, but often, once you’ve explained it to someone they’ll be a little more understanding. Just be sure to keep talking to them throughout the process, as it can be a little daunting for them when they see you living on such small amounts of food.