Not telling people at work...

[missy5099 16]

If you didn't tell people at work about your surgery, how did you explain the weeks gone and the fast weight loss?

I told my immediate supervisor and the HR dept in our corporate office but I do not want to tell my colleagues.

How did you do it? Any advice?

[dhrguru 1,238]

Like you I only told my boss. I ended up changing positions on my return to work post op, so my new colleagues have no point of reference.

When I visit old colleagues they notice, but I'm never around long enough for them to harp on it and question me

[catwoman7 11,212]

my boss and HR knew. I just told the rest of them that I was going to burn a couple weeks of vacation and do some house projects.

as for the weight loss, I lost the most the first month. After that, it's been like 2-3 lbs a week. At my size, people don't start noticing I've lost weight until I've dropped 50 lbs or so. So people didn't notice the initial drop. So all they're noticing (if they notice it at all) is the gradual, 2-3 lbs a week. So far, telling them that I've been working with dietitian and exercising a lot satisfies them (any morbidly obese person would never buy that, but normal-weight people do)

[Madtownsunshine17 42]

I chose not to tell work. I'm lucky that my company is large enough to outsource Short Term Disability. There were some questions and comments wondering if I was ok. I just kept saying "it's something I need to take care of." After 3 weeks gone, I did get comments about weight lost. I was gracious and said that I'm working very hard because of my brother's wedding in January.

[aelovelady 243]

I told my boss and anyone else who asks. A) I don't care what anyone thinks about it and if anyone needs help with weight loss, having someone to ask may be helpful. Everyone has been amazingly supportive and kind.

[dancingqueene 182]

My closest co workers know but once I am back and people start to comment I am planning to say I'm working really hard w/ a NUT and working out a lot!

[Karlnjax 163]

I pretty told my boss and HR Dept. as well has several co-workers. I wanted all the support I could get! Not one person has looked at me differently ???? and if they did I would not really care either way! I did this to help and make me healthy again.

[RGraham87 62]

I totally feel you. I am scared to tell people that I'm getting surgery. My surgery is on September 29th. Was thinking just tell them I had appendicitis. It has the same amount of days in the hospital and similar recovery. I looked it all up. People at my work are very mean, rude, and preppy. They love to talk. I don't want to be 'belittled' anymore then I have too. One boss would be against WLS and my other boss is out for knee surgery. WLS can be embarrassing. People say it's the easy way out. It's really not easy.

[Karlnjax 163]

Well you need to do what's best for you! Not all work places are the same...

[DeLiGhTfUlLy DeTeRmInEd 45]

I only told my kids, partner and Boss about my upcoming surgery and honestly feel it's no one else's business what I do in my private life. I believe people should worry or take care of their own issues before they try and investigate and judge others..

[aelovelady 243]

What I have found is that most people are really supportive, not judgmental. I really hope that whatever you do, it works for you. Good luck and keep us posted!

[DeLiGhTfUlLy DeTeRmInEd 45]

As far as this Biatric site, I have found it to be very supportive and am so happy I came across it..

[aelovelady 243]

I am too, I get so much support and information here

[Cheri_j 117]

This is a very personal decision. Before the surgery, I only told a few people at work, including my boss. My fears weren't that I was ashamed that I had to "resort" to weight loss surgery because I was too weak to do it on my own or that people would think bad of me, etc. (all of the usual things that people think), but I didn't want people to have unrealistic expectations. I didn't want people to think that I was going to end up a model or that I would lose 100 pounds in a month.

Since I've returned back to work, anyone who asks will get the whole story. I love talking about it. But I don't want to make someone uncomfortable by talking about it if they don't want to hear it. Also, there are a number of obese co-workers and I don't want them to feel bad about themselves or jealous about my surgery. But I do want to be an advocate and a information resource for those who might be considering WLS.

There is one guy coworker who will ask me almost every day if I'm feeling ok. I'm guessing he probably thinks I've got something really bad, like cancer. I will have to talk to him soon, so he will be not so worried about me.

I'm five weeks post op and feeling wonderful. I'm down 50 pounds! My life has changed for the better and I'm too excited to keep this bottled up! And if I can help someone else feel the way I do, then that will be just frosting on the cake.

Now.....I purposely didn't tell my husband's sisters and their families. We see them a few times a year. My husband is close to his sisters and they talk on the phone and text all the time. We will see them at Thanksgiving and I'm looking for that "shock" factor. By then I should be about 80 pounds down. They will be so surprised! And you better believe I will tell them all about my surgery then.

[toasty 371]

Like some others here, I have told everyone at work. They have all been very supportive, and have even talked to me about people they know who have had the surgery and were very successful. In the end, if people have bad things to say about it or are negative/nonsupportive, who cares? They haven't had to live my life, and I could care less what they think.

At least that's what people say
That's what people say
But I keep cruising
Can't stop, won't stop moving
It's like I got this music
In my mind, saying it's gonna be alright
Cause the players gonna play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate
Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake
Shake it off

-- Taylor Swift, "Shake It Off"