Hey all,

I'm about a month out and down about 30 pounds (heck yes!) I'm healing well and all thar jazz but . . . I'm a law clerk and the attorneys like to take us out to lunch regularly and I just don't know what to say! I absolutely do not mind people knowing but divulging personal details is definitely frowned on. Today they asked me if something was wrong with my food . . . I just said I was really full but having only eaten 3 bites it was pretty obvious that something was up. And suggestions??

Any suggestions*

I'd say something like, "I'm on a physican-supervised diet. The food was delicious but I have to abide by my doctor's orders and I am limited in the quantity I can have."

I would order soups and desert. It masks the amount of food not eaten.

When I was newly sleeved, I either shared with someone saying "I'm not really hungry, would you like to share" or ordered off the appetizer menu. You can also get creative with moving your food around on the plate.

(Now that I've lost 85 pounds, people either know about the surgery or assume that I eat just a little to keep "my shape" )

Good luck!

Here's a few tricks:

-Like Mini said, get creative with rearranging the food on your plate.

-Order things that you know come in smaller portions so it isn't so obvious.

-Even though you won't drink it, get some Water. Not having a drink just draws more attention to you.

-When you are talking, wave your fork around a bit with food on it, this gives the illusion that you are eating.

-Make light of it when you can. For example, if someone mentions that you aren't eating much, say something like, "I have been watching my weight, if I ignored what I ate every time these guys took us out, I'd never make progress".

Thanks guys! Today was particularly tough for me because I thought I ordered the smallest thing on the menu and it came out huge! It is so hard to tell at a chinese place. I like the "Doctor supervised diet" idea. And rearranging food on the plate will work too. I think that is what draws more attention to me, that I am just sitting there with my hands in my lap!

I've had that happen a lot recently as well. I'm 4 weeks out and have lost 24 pounds since surgery, and people have noticed. I just tell them bluntly that I've had weight loss surgery when they ask me about it (don't want them to think I'm dying or anything...lol) At a unit lunch recently, I ordered guacamole for lunch because it was the only thing I knew I could eat. It was totally fine because everyone knew about the surgery, and for the most part people have been receptive, have asked lots of questions, and have been supportive. Good luck! I hope your co workers are respectful and supportive of you as well

Hey all,

I'm about a month out and down about 30 pounds (heck yes!) I'm healing well and all thar jazz but . . . I'm a law clerk and the attorneys like to take us out to lunch regularly and I just don't know what to say! I absolutely do not mind people knowing but divulging personal details is definitely frowned on. Today they asked me if something was wrong with my food . . . I just said I was really full but having only eaten 3 bites it was pretty obvious that something was up. And suggestions??