Back to work-Nosey co-workers

[menjaz 35]

I'll be going back to work next week, 8 weeks post-op. I've lost almost 60 lbs (25 pre op). I know my co-workers are going to be asking questions. It's none of their business. I'm not sure what to say to their inquiries. Any advice?

[Susysleever 265]

Lie. I went to a med spa.

[browneyedgirl1981 32]

I just told mine. Everyone will notice weight loss and think something's up anyway so I caved. They'll either think I had the surgery since I was off work or think in on drugs. It's none of anyone's business though. People have the misconception that WLS is the easy way out but there sure ain't an easy thing to it!

[SugarFreeMe 293]

I didn't tell many at work the truth, I told most that I was having my gall bladder removed. Now as I loose weight I tell them I just kept with the post-op diet because it's easy on my stomach and I'm fine with it. Some asked why I was out so long (3 weeks), I told them I had some minor complications (which I did) and my surgeon required it. Not too many details, I didn't want to keep track of what I said to whom.

[browneyedgirl1981 32]

Well I forgot to add I work for a healthcare system. While I don't work on site at the hospital, I know everyone there and it's a small town. Everyone will know anyway. :-)

[menjaz 35]

I'm thinking that people will probably assume that I'm lying if I make something up. I guess people are going to talk about you no matter what. I'm working on NOT Caring what others say.

[truthinhiding 36]

I also work in the healthcare field in a hospital. I have told pretty many of the people I work with and I get mixed reviews. I've been following a 2100 calorie diet since the end of February, stopped candy and carbonated or calorie filled beverages, also doing Zumba twice a week. Anyways, making a long story short I'm getting from people now that I shouldn't bother with the surgery because I've lost almost 40 pounds already. I've dieted before with south beach and lost 60 pounds but then gained it all back plus 30 after suffering a miscarriage. I'm getting the surgery in August, and that's happening no matter what people say..

[920amy 409]

I have told very few people about my surgery. When people ask how I am losing weight, I tell them taht it's the same old fashion way, eating less and exercising more, which isn't a lie!! Also, when people notice a big jump in my loss, which would happen a lot at the beginning, I tell people, I've been losing for awhile, but just got new clothes so it's more noticable, which also isn't a lie! People will talk, and people will say what they want. Bottom line is it's your story and your journey. Take along the people you want, and leave the rest behind. Just remember though, eveyone will have an opinion whether you ask them for one or not. Welcome to the losers bench!

[lockkill 47]

Some people know and some don't !! I'm just saying eating better excising !! And increasing my Protein !!

[Comfy_Blue 285]

I only told my husband, parents and best frienD (who has a lapband). As for my coworkers, I initially said weightwatchers, then I said I started working with a nutritionist to make sure I wasn't getting deficiencies. Closer friends I tell them I have GERD (acid reflux) that makes it hard for my body to handle lots of spicy, fried and other processed foods. I tell them that I follow a low calorie diet(true), eat a lotof Protein (also true) and try to cook my own food to avoid the fat and salt in fast food.

It's dishonest but it's also not their business. When I was pre-opt I made a point to eat smaller portion publically and I talked about dieting with coworkers. So far no one was said anything to me about surgery. I guess someday I may be honest, but this is so deeply personal to me that I don't want to hear naysayers ''oh she took the easy way out'' The ''easy''w ay would be a surgery that destroys headr hunger and a body where I could eat as much crap as I want and not gain. I have neither.

[WorldTraveler 79]

I plan on

I only told my husband, parents and best frienD (who has a lapband). As for my coworkers, I initially said weightwatchers, then I said I started working with a nutritionist to make sure I wasn't getting deficiencies. Closer friends I tell them I have GERD (acid reflux) that makes it hard for my body to handle lots of spicy, fried and other processed foods. I tell them that I follow a low calorie diet(true), eat a lotof Protein (also true) and try to cook my own food to avoid the fat and salt in fast food.< br />
It's dishonest but it's also not their business. When I was pre-opt I made a point to eat smaller portion publically and I talked about dieting with coworkers. So far no one was said anything to me about surgery. I guess someday I may be honest, but this is so deeply personal to me that I don't want to hear naysayers ''oh she took the easy way out'' The ''easy''w ay would be a surgery that destroys headr hunger and a body where I could eat as much crap as I want and not gain. I have neither.

well-said. I'm starting to pre-op diet with low carb and walk everyday at work. I will be off for 2 weeks for the surgery and when I get back, I will just say: low-carb, Portion Control, exercise. It's the truth. They don't need to know I have a tool to enforce portion control.

[squeaker31 65]

I ended up telling a few people once I was sure the procedure was a go. It felt like too much work to lie. The feedback to my face anyway lol has been positive. I feel nervous about going back because it will be more noticeable and I will probably get more inquiries than the people I initially told. But I have kind of a practice response if I get any surprise or negativity - "it wasn't my first choice but it's something I felt i needed to do for my health" which hopefully shits the door on further "questioning". My co-workers are not pushy so I think that will be enough. Health and weight is such a huge focus for our company there's just no way no one asks how and I just didn't want to lie.

[1Day1Life4Now 882]

My opinion is that once those people start paying my medical bills and fixing my meals they can be told about my surgery but until that time its none of their da** business so they don't need to know anything. Yes I'm on a diet and if you want to know how I'm losing weight... watch me eat and do what I do. Otherwise stand back and watch the transformation!!!

[Harley59 67]

I will be facing this problem on Monday. when I went out, I said I had to have surgery for some issues I was having. People would stop at that. I think I will tell people that really care or have issues with weight but I don't want the world to know, because I don't want the negative feed back. So I am prepared for just saying I had a hernia repair and some other issues repaired and you always lose weight when you have surgery - right? So then as I eat less, that will be due to the hiatal hernia repair and I will be walking at work and working towards my weight loss like I have been for YEARS!! but this time.........it's going to happen Oh yeah baby !!! I am on my way down!!

[menjaz 35]

Thank you ALL for your feed back. It's soooo nice to know I'm not in this alone!