A friend of mine had gastric and she is really pissing me off.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

She did it about a year and a half ago and she looks fabulous. I am so happy she made this decision and that she has found so much more happiness in her body, her relationships and her job (which is a bit more physical than most).

Very few people know about her procedure which I totally understand. I told my closest friends, my parents and my kids (that includes my husband). I feel no need to tell anyone else right now because I don't want people asking me questions about my journey on a daily basis. I know I will spill it eventually, but not until I am ready.

What's my problem? She has started selling some sort of Vitamin weight loss crap and she is 100% crediting her success to her new venture. She is showing her before and after pictures all over the place and has people convinced that if they buy her weight loss stuff, they will have her results. Meanwhile, she is eating 1-2 oz of real food and has lost over 150 pounds because of RNY. I know it's none of my business and I will NOT bust her out on FB as I am tempted to do, but I am so mad.

I did kindly confront her about it, and she claims that she only lost 20 pounds due to her RNY. She was over 300, she is about 145 now, a year and a few months later. She claims she hit a 6 month stall (bullsheet), started this stuff and the pounds melted away. It's a scam and she is taking people's money. ARGH!!!

[Nuchnuch 120]

Not only is it a scam, but it is fraud. So all of the people, like we used to be who is looking for something that will help with their weight loss is going to be paying out money, they probably cannot afford for something that will once again not work!

[kulita 243]

WOW!

Well, people like that never really learn anything about themself. I am so sorry that you are irritated by her actions. Why exactly are your upset at what another person is doing? You can't really control anyone's actions but your own.

I agree in that I would be upset too, but I would shake my head and vow to not be like that person. I would probably stop talking to someone like that. Have you sat down with her and actually confronted her about how it makes you feel more so than how you think her new job is a scam?

[eerica30 12]

That's pretty pathetic what your friend is doing. We have all been there when the reps confront us because they know, over weight people most likely Want to loose weight. And to know her before and after picture are all from her surgery. I have to say, that is definitely a money maker! That's just make us all Leary of all these products on the market. I would be more upset if mutual or family members fell for it. If that happen I would just have to bust her out!

[pottergirl 261]

That's pretty rotten on so many levels......so she's convinced herself that the Vitamins and not the tiny meals are responsible for her tremendous weight loss. The gastric bypass was a failure then? What a scam artist.

[LisaLoseAlotx2 147]

you could make an anonymous tip to your state attorney generals office.

I was pre-law in college and I assure you, this is outright fraud

They will at least have a discussion with her about faulty pretenses, etc.

if you do not do it, someone else will eventually report her. It makes me mad to even read what she is doing

I would also encourage you to go onto your states attorney general website and begin reading about what constitutes a fraud and what/how the state handles this issue.

not only will it make you feel better, but you will know you are making the right decision by reporting her

[SamIAm3791 22]

the "diet & weight loss" industry is an estimated $20 BILLION dollar industry covering over 100 million people in the US alone. everyone and their brother wants their hands in that till. what shes doing isnt against the law but it does show her moral character. im not trying to judge your friend but it seems she learned nothing from her "weight loss" and is trying to cash in on peoples hopes and dreams of being thinner. shame on her! i wonder if she can actually look herself in the mirror every day? to each their own but im a firm believer in "what goes around comes around" and their will be a day when she may regret pulling the wool over peoples eyes, just sayin'.

[M2G 1,836]

Oooooh, does anyone watch Drop Dead Diva? (Short vers. of the TV show on Lifetime...a skinny lady dies and is reincarnated into the plus-size (16) of a super-smart lawyer) ANYWAY there was a whole episode where she (the plus-size lawyer) busts a lady who did the EXACT same thing. She was pushing a "diet program" that was bars and shakes etc. but really she had lost the weight with the RNY surgery.

Okay, here is the thing. She is committing fraud. Plain and simple. UNLESS she is specifically open about having her RNY (sounds like a few people know but that she isn't saying it to everyone who buys her product), then the statements she is making about a product that she claims helped her lose weight are false. Not only is money involved but also health. Double whammy. I don't know what you can do about it though unless you were to contact someone who has the legal authority to investigate and/or prosecute her.

[SamIAm3791 22]

the "diet & weight loss" industry is an estimated $20 BILLION dollar industry covering over 100 million people in the US alone. everyone and their brother wants their hands in that till. what shes doing isnt against the law but it does show her moral character. im not trying to judge your friend but it seems she learned nothing from her "weight loss" and is trying to cash in on peoples hopes and dreams of being thinner. shame on her! i wonder if she can actually look herself in the mirror every day? to each their own but im a firm believer in "what goes around comes around" and their will be a day when she may regret pulling the wool over peoples eyes, just sayin'.

sorry didnt realize this until after i re-read my post, it is actually against the law by being fraud. i worded that all wrong lol

[LipstickLady 25,682]

Why exactly are your upset at what another person is doing? You can't really control anyone's actions but your own.

You are correct, I can't control anyone else's actions, but that said, I am upset by people who defraud others. I am upset by people who abuse others, rob others, hurt others. It's a basic human reaction.

I have talked to her and I will again. I am also going to let her know it's time to be honest or I will be honest for her.

[LisaLoseAlotx2 147]

I would also hand her over your state WAC statutes on FRAUD into her hot little hands and see what she says

[lorry66 15]

You are correct' date=' I can't control anyone else's actions, but that said, I am upset by people who defraud others. I am upset by people who abuse others, rob others, hurt others. It's a basic human reaction.

I have talked to her and I will again. I am also going to let her know it's time to be honest or I will be honest for her. [/quote']

Just avoid this lady in the long run her lies will be exposed on their own ! Cheaters always get caught ! Exhaust your energy around good positive people ! She is just weighing you down ! A total waste of time . I stay away from people like that ,because the same way she defrauds others she will betray you !

[NoneYa 380]

You are correct' date=' I can't control anyone else's actions, but that said, I am upset by people who defraud others. I am upset by people who abuse others, rob others, hurt others. It's a basic human reaction.

I have talked to her and I will again. I am also going to let her know it's time to be honest or I will be honest for her. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

I hope that she will listen to you or if not that you will carry through and fess up for her. There are so many people that are desperately grappling for any lifeline that is thrown to them. Most cannot afford it and with some of those plans their health could suffer. I applaud you for seeing her fraud for what it is and not turning a blind eye to it. I think it's especially sad that a former overweight person would misuse others the same problem for her own gain. I might have to redefine my friendship with her if it was me.

[beba238 123]

I can understand if she wants to cover up her surgery with that pill its no biggie because she isn't hurting anyone and she is only fooling herself . But to lie to people. And she was most likely vulnerable just like everyone who just wants a quick fix. Why doesn't she just say the truth I had this surgery and when i couldn't lose that extra 3 lbs this pill helped me.

She is not a friend. I would be ashamed to do something like that. I feel like there are a lot of people out there like her and we will never know.

I remember saying things like why this person lost the weight and i couldn't. I would call her surgeon lol not to be mean but that's fraud and probably illegal.

Please don't trust this friend because if she's doing this to strangers imagine what she would do to you.

[Nicolanz 1,484]

Unfortunately, that's what all these "weight loss" programs are about. Fraud, lying, and tricking people into waisting their money! All the commercials with "before and after " pics are computer generated. That's pretty crappy what your friend is doing! I probably would have fallen victim to her lies pre op. I understand your frustration!