I work for a fairly big company and there is a weight loss challenge at work with a $500 prize. I am single and have custody of my niece (5) and nephew (10) so I could use the money. My boss, who knows i am having this surgery, hounded me today until I agreed to sign up. I am scheduled for surgery Wednesday the 6th of Feb and the competition lasts until sometime in April. I know the surgery will not guarantee that I win, but I almost feel like it is an unfair advantage and that if I did win and people found out they would be upset. Should I withdraw from the competition, any thoughts?

I say go for it. The first few months is gonna be all you anyways...until you reach the "green" zone.

If your boss hounded you to join, I say go for it! You could always just ask the person over it. If there aren't any rules against it, then it's fair game. That said, there could be other people in similar situations competing as well. I plan to compete in my (large) company's weight loss challenge.

I don't think you have an unfair advantage at all. Especially since this is happening right after surgery. The reality is, you'll more than likely be in bandster hell while it's happening, which means any weight you lose will be 100% on your own with no help from the band anyway.

Look at it like this: Who's to say someone else in the challenge isn't taking Phentermine? Or some diet supplement to speed their metabolism? Or heck, didn't have some other WLS at some time?

I say go for it!

I think some people might be upset if they found out. Might make you look bad. Ask your boss to give you a $500 bonus!

Good luck in whatever you choose.

Cawanna is right, 9 times out of 10 you will be on a diet for months before you have enough restriction. I was banded Oct 15 and still not in the green zone yet.

If you are a lucky one and have restriction from the get go, you can decide then.

Your boss knows! Stay in the game. I agree with others....non banded people might get on weight loss meds or get a personal trainer at some crazy boot camp. But here's the thing...we have to exersise too...we have to portion control too......I say..it's fair game!

getting a band (wont magically make anyone lose weight). granted you could do well on the pre and post op liquid diet as a jump start, but if you watch what you eat and keep ypur (eye on the prize) heck yeah you can win it and win it fairly.....by eating less and exercising...seems fair to me

Personally I don't think you should do this. You will see in general many people see this as the easy way out. I can guarantee you that if you win it will look very unethical if your coworkers find out about the surgery. It will be very ugly. Whether you get any help from the band that early it won't matter it will look very bad.

You mentioned your boss asking you to join does your boss know you're having weight loss surgery?

I work in HR and your reputation is your most important thing at work. And if anyone were to find out about the surgery they might perceive you as a liar if you won the money and didn't tell anyone about the band.

Thanks! My boss does know about me having the surgery and is actually "against" it himself, but still wanted me to join. He is very involved in the competition and is one the the people responsible for it.

Go for it! Screw what anybody else thinks. With or without a band, you will have to be on a diet which is what the contest is about. There is nothing unethical about it.

I personally agree with the majority here and say go for it! It will be a diet, your band will be empty, and you will be basically doing what everyone else will be doing, is watching what they eat!

Best of luck and I hope you win!

The band is just a tool, it is not a guarantee that you will loose weight. If this challenge motivates you through the first post op months then do it. It takes a lot more than the surgery to be successful at this.

If you feel you do not deserve to win then you can always withdraw & the award will go to the next in line.

Good luck to you!