GPS: the ultimate weight loss cop out.

Where I work, the Gastric Bypass surgery is fairly common. I can count 6 people off the top of my head who have had this done. One woman even loss less than I have so far when she got it. (she lost around 89, I lost 92- as of 2 weeks ago)
It's no secret how I feel about people having this done. I feel that in some extreme cases it is justified, but I also think that it is way over used by people as a quick fix - a way to loose weight without having to adjust the way they eat or how much exercise they do. I'm not at all saying that it's an easy thing to go through, but I am saying that it's a way to loose the weight in a very unhealthy way without having to use too much willpower and without relearning how to eat - which is why many people gain back the weight.

Yesterday a woman I work with who had GPS quite a while ago happened to be working along side me at something and quietly began talking to me about my weight loss - asking me how much I lost and how long it had taken me, how much I have left to go etc. This woman admittedly looks great, she lost well over 100lbs and seems to have kept it off - although according to a mutual friend, she has gained some back. She also told me that she thinks it's great and that she's impressed and that it's a great commitment I have taken on. I responded how I do to everyone who says similar things to me (though she is the first to use the commitment word which is interesting in and of itself) by smiling, thanking her, making comments about how it isn't easy, but I'm doing my best, etc. However with her I felt a little off. Should I have talked to her about her own weight loss? Complimented her on how good she looks? Asked her how she's doing with the maintaining? I am not a fake person and it would have felt fake to discuss some of these things with her because my face is far too easy to read and my mouth has this tendency to say things before my mind can think ahead to the consequences. I didn't want her to see how much I had disapproved of what she had done and I didn't want to fakely compliment her on a weight loss that I don't think she "earned". Plus I don't really know this woman. Perhaps she had tried everything else and couldn't get the weight off - perhaps there were other underlying medical issues and her doctor saw GPS as her only option. But you know, there isn't much that's a secret where I work, and I don't think this is the case. Besides, there are two other women where I work who had a stern weight loss related talking to by their doctors (the if you don't loose weight you will die talk) and they both made the decision to do something about it in a healthy way and are doing just fabulously in their weight loss journey now - sans surgery. So how should we talk to those with GPS? Does it seem horrible to say nothing about their weight when they compliment you on yours (though I admit I have said "you look great" to some of them, but only in passing when I know it won't lead to a conversation)

In other news, don't laugh but I know I will gain tomorrow I have been less than perfect these past two weeks and I am back on program NOW. I also have resumed my gym routine thanks to my fabulously understanding roommates who still have to cart my ass around. I will probably post more about this later if I have time, but it can really be summed up in one word: Ouch.