So I had a conference to attend all last weekend and it was all day so we had a luncheon every dAy and snacks were available constantly. They serve you food at the luncheon and everybody noticed my lack of eating very much. It was awkward and I found myself stumbling for excuses. I made a few poor excuses but now I'm an opus what to do in that situation Some of these same people ask me to lunch and I am too nervous to go! I don't want people to think I have an eating disorder but I feel that is the impression I'm giving off. Especially to people who have known me for a long time and know that I became very ill with anorexia about a decade ago. I have only told three people about my surgery and have no interest in letting anyone else know. So what do you guys say when that awkward moment comes??

Telling them you've taken garage of you health and you are on a strict diet, you appreciate the invite but are trying to avoid temptation.

Garage= charge....sheesh

I pass on lunch a lot too. When I go I eat soup. I just say I have cut out a lot of things (fried, sugar, bread etc) so I only eat certain things. Don't feel uncomfortable u can't control what people think of u, when u start losing they may think its because of a eating disorder focus on you, pack your lunch and forget about the rest. Best Wishes!

Back in the late 80's when HIV/AIDs became the disease of the century and everyone was scared to even have any type of contact with a person with the diagnosis, if you lost a lot of weight because you were dieting, the first thing that came to mind with many people was you were HIV/AIDs positive, and there went your friends. You could tell them that you were dieting but you could tell they really didn't believe you. So no matter what you tell everyone, they will think what they want to believe. Very sad, because when you need the support, it isn't there.

I've found myself at luncheons serving normal (to them) plate of what I can eat and talking.... Bite.... Talk.... Fork down..... They finish first and we all get up together. When I'm throwing away all the food minus what I ate I say I ate a big breakfast, you didn't see me snacking before the luncheon?!, or my new fav it just wasn't good food, I'm saving my appetite for my dinner date or I have another meeting after this!

I've become quit the fibber!!! I don't think the entire world should know even though I've told a lot of people. After my white lies people don't ask. Works for me! Good luck!

I usually just say I am making some eating changes, trying to be healthier. They seem to accept it and move on.

Only 2 times have I been asked if I was sick. Once I was asked if I had cancer and the second time I was asked if I was diabetic "yet".

Just stick to your plan, dont fold under pressure. This too shall pass!

My family are the only ones whose opinions matter so I have caught myself telling half truths to co-workers. one noisy co-worker asked what type of surgery was i going in for I told her female surgery. (well it was on a female so wasn't really a lie) because once when I told a co-worker/ school friend that I had known since kindergarten she said you didn't you are going to look funny small. she is just jealous I figured out because in the same breath she talked about how her husband won't agree to let her do it. she is heavier than I was and is still gaining weight. I feel sorry for her. so now when I go to birthday dinners with family we usually do places where I can get soup or salad and some places will let us split a meal and olive garden and charlestons split it on two plates.

Agree pack your own lunch or say you had a big breakfast. I just found out from my stupid hubby that everyone keeps asking him if I'm sick. Wth they sure don't ask me that. Ppl need to mind there own buisness.

So I had a conference to attend all last weekend and it was all day so we had a luncheon every dAy and snacks were available constantly. They serve you food at the luncheon and everybody noticed my lack of eating very much. It was awkward and I found myself stumbling for excuses. I made a few poor excuses but now I'm an opus what to do in that situation Some of these same people ask me to lunch and I am too nervous to go! I don't want people to think I have an eating disorder but I feel that is the impression I'm giving off. Especially to people who have known me for a long time and know that I became very ill with anorexia about a decade ago. I have only told three people about my surgery and have no interest in letting anyone else know. So what do you guys say when that awkward moment comes??

We went out to eat with family and they asked me if I was sick...the waiter commented on how I eat like a bird. Asked me three times if everything was alright. I just tell them I'm on a medically supervised diet....extended family doesn't know.

I've found myself at luncheons serving normal (to them) plate of what I can eat and talking.... Bite.... Talk.... Fork down..... They finish first and we all get up together. When I'm throwing away all the food minus what I ate I say I ate a big breakfast' date=' you didn't see me snacking before the luncheon?!, or my new fav it just wasn't good food, I'm saving my appetite for my dinner date or I have another meeting after this!

I've become quit the fibber!!!<img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I don't think the entire world should know even though I've told a lot of people. After my white lies people don't ask. Works for me! Good luck![/quote']

Good ideas, thanks.

I just say I'm on a 'Dr supervised diet'. Who is going to argue with a doctor?

Essentially it's true, too. We have had surgery (no one needs to know if you don't want to share), and our team has given us guidelines and restrictions that we need to follow while we are healing, and to avoid getting sick. It IS medically supervised and we are taught how to get all the things we need that are vital to our recovery and good health. It's not a fad diet, a starvation diet, or an eating disorder. :-)

I find myself feeling kind of awkward when eating out and the waiter sees how little I ate. I almost always ask for the rest to go, but I feel like they're insulted that I didn't like the food or something, anyone I eat with (at least so far) has known I had the surgery so I haven't had to explain anything. But if anyone asked I'd either tell them about the surgery or just say I'm not really hungry.

Same thing with drinks. At first I'd tell them I didn't want anything to drink with my meal. Then one time I had the waitress ask me 5 times during a meal if I was sure I didn't want anything to drink. Now I just get a water and it either sits there untouched or my boyfriend drinks it.

I thought for a long time about whether or not I was going to tell people and if not, I finally decided to play my hand face up. I told people and now I don't have to worry about a cover story. Everyone is great about making sure restaurants we pick have options for me. Waiters and waitresses still think I'm nut when I don't order beverages but that doesn't bother me.

We went out to eat with family and they asked me if I was sick...the waiter commented on how I eat like a bird. Asked me three times if everything was alright. I just tell them I'm on a medically supervised diet....extended family doesn't know.

That is a smart way to put it. I e had the same thing happen twice with wAitresses. They ask me if I would like something else or if there is something wrong with the food. Kind of nice to be told you eat like a bird:)