I'm scared of the lunch room at work :-(

[msperez84 13]

I've always hated being the biggest one...at work, at school. I feel like everyone watches me eat. The crowd waiting to see if the big girl is going to have seconds. I work in a huge docs office and they provide us free lunches like pizza and sandwiches every day. I'll usually grab something, cover my plate with a napkin & eat it at my desk or in my car. My gastric sleeve surgery is scheduled 06/09/16. My co-workers know that I'm having this surgery and one of my biggest fears is eating my bariatric friendly lunch at work . I am asking for any and all advice on how to deal with probing questions about my lunch food horror. I know they're going to ask me questions & try to look at what I'm eating. I'm already humiliated just thinking about it.

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[applejenn 173]

Why should you be ashamed. You're making your life better with having surgery.

My surgery is next week and everyone knows about it at work. I have had questions from day one of telling people. I just feel that the stigma is that people don't really understand it.

If it bothers you, try to eat elsewhere or just educate them.

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[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

And this is why I didn't tell any of my work friends (some of whom are very, very good friends) about my WLS.

I just did not want to have to get into it day after week after month.

What a good decision that was!

[Recycled 2,182]

Probably gonna be the other way around. They are all going to be embarrassed by the crappy food they are eating in comparison to the healthy stuff on your plate. Hold your head high. You're the one they will look up to and envy.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I just realized my prior post could have sounded unsympathetic. Did NOT mean for it to sound that way.

I bet in a month or so you will be feeling just fine about it. Suggestion -- don't get into explaining every little thing. Just say you're doing fine, that you have to go through a lot of phases (but don't explain 'em all). And say:

"Thanks for your support. You're very kind."

That way, you'll train 'em to support you. And be kind to you.

And if they bug you, eat at your desk anyway.

Best to you!

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I like @@VSGAnn2014's suggestion of practicing a response.

A response I find myself frequently using when someone offers me food or tries to push food is:

"That looks delicious, but no thank you, I am fine with what I have." Or something similar.

I find that if I communicate that I choose not to eat something, rather than that I am restricting or turning my nose up at food, preop me tend to respond in a positive way.

"No, thank you." goes a long way.

[Recycled 2,182]

When someone rudely comments about how little I am eating.......I usually throw them off with a response like.....

"I'm a prepper and I am conserving and stockpiling the bulk of my food for later when Armageddon comes....."

They're not sure whether to laugh or walk away.... but it usually shuts them up....

[msperez84 13]

This was my first post. Thank you guys so much for your responses. I no longer feel alone.

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[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I think you should probably work on your food shame issues with therapy, now and after surgery.

You can pour your Protein shakes in tumbler, so people can't see they are Protein Shakes.

You can put your Protein on a bed of green veggies, even if you aren't eating the veggies it looks more "normal"

If you feel like people comment and think about how you eat now, you are going to be more self conscious after surgery.

You really need to address this or it is going to snowball into a huge issue and create new problems.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

This was my first post. Thank you guys so much for your responses. I no longer feel alone.

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Welcome! We are a fairly helpful bunch (for the most part).

Best of luck with your surgery.

[DaisyAmy 561]

You're going to do great. Just take your mini lunch in there and eat it with determination and pride.