Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

People who want privacy - what is or was your cover story?



Recommended Posts

I work from home, my husband already knows, so I only have to worry about my dog.....and he's very clever and will probably figure it out soon...hahaha

I've told a couple of folks I work with, but since I don't see any of them face to face most of them think I'm just having hernia repair surgery on 5/16, and I'll be on PTO for that week.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have been eating healthily and exercising more for a while and have dropped 27kg in the last few months. I have surgery on friday. My managers know and 2 work friends. As far as everyone else is concerned im having 2 weeks of recreational leave. I dont intend on telling them anything further

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm telling people at work that I am having hernia surgery to fix my GERD. Some know I have had trouble with GERD in the past. As far as losing weight after, they have also seen me lose weight before, and then put it back on, so I am telling people about my fitness pal. I will not tell them about the sleeve because a woman at my work told people about her WLS and she was forever known as the woman that had bypas surgery even after she left the company. I'm not going to be that person.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks, I was quite offended, not because I actually did have WLS, but because she just assumed because I was fat my surgery must've been WLS. She used to be overweight and lost on south beach, for all I know she lied too but I never questioned or judged her journey.

@@bac2u That's me too, I don't want to be known as the WLS girl, I want to be known as me, the woman who has, is and will continue to work hard at gaining and maintaining my health.

Sent from my KFSAWI using the BariatricPal App

Edited by numeby2017

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If someone really wants privacy then just tell people you do not wish to discuss your personal life.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Gall bladder surgery works! Same incisions, and after, all you have to do is say your stomach can't seem to tolerate most foods these days and if you eat too much you get sick. Voila!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@Maggie Journey,

I agree you can just tell your coworker you’re dieting again which is why you’re on a liquid diet. If you feel silly saying that, maybe you could say your doctor has you on a long-term diet (or weight loss) plan that starts with liquids to clear your system (or whatever excuse you want to give!) and then progresses through pureed and then solid foods. That can give you a good excuse that will cover you all the way up until you are back to eating normal solid foods again.

If you have vacation time coming to you and you’re planning to take it for the surgery, I see no reason to say why you’re taking vacation. It’s nobody’s business. The only thing I would say is someone else’s business is if you need to take time off later if you ever feel sick suddenly. That may be something you need to think about ahead of time so you know what to tell your boss if you ever need to leave work early.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I too am very private. I lost about 20 pounds before I went on pto for surgery and had started working out pre operation. I said (which was true) for those who asked that I had hernia and Nissen fundiplication. The fundiplication for GERD required a liquid diet as well. I also said to those that even cared that I was working with my nutritionist to eat 6 small meals a day. Since I used to only eat at night and would binge on that food at night, the small meals that are healthy are retraining my body and metabolism. I also go to the gym now that half the company goes to so they know my lazy butt is exercising as well

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Edited by goplay94123

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I went with the hernia surgery. Months prior to surgery I started talking a lot about having to go on a health kick, eat right, stop smoking and no alcohol.. I started drinking my Protein shakes at work , soon after other co workers were doing the same thing, they wanted to get healthy. When I had my surgery, no one really noticed anything different. I had said prior to the surgery that I won't be going out to lunch because I know I have no willpower and would eat too much or fattening foods. Now they don't even ask me to go out to eat, they know I bring my lunch or go home and that I'm really trying to stay healthy.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I run a business and work from home, so I don't have the workplace issues that other people have.

As far as what to tell people during the 2 weeks. Tell them you are on a cleanse and about to start a low carb high Protein diet and you are wor king your way off sugar. No lies told.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Whether you have surgery or not, everyone will think that you did if you lose weight rapidly.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No people won't think you had surgery. Unless you hang out with a ton of fat people, surgery is not something that occurs to the average person.

If you eat right, and workout people will think that is why you are losing weight.

Only one person asked me if I had surgery and she was a large lady working at Torrid. No one that knows me thinks that, because I cook everyday. I make good choices when eating out and I live a very active life.

If you have a personality, people are more interested in who you are what you have to say than your eating and weight loss.

Edited by OutsideMatchInside

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I may only tell my supervisor. The rest can kick rocks and speculate.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Reading all your responses I have never been happier working with a group of men Men are gossipy but my guys have been very supportive (I told them after surgery.)

I would just say you had hernia surgery (if that is getting repaired) It will be awkward if you have to ask for more time off for another surgery to repair it. Once you start losing weight say you are eating less and exercising more like some of the above posters said after all it's the truth. Hopefully after a month they will give up and move on to some other person to gossip about.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi,

I'm new as of today and only joined as I was searching the internet for exactly this type of topic. I have anxiety issues and I am worried sick about people judging me (+ terrified something will go wrong in surgery!). Only my mum knows I'm having surgery and it was her who actually made the initial appt for me. I'm only 19 so people will be sure to judge. I know for a fact that other members of my family will as they judge other people who have had it done... I worry about my work colleagues and my college roommates...

My mum is hypercritical as she says I shouldn't tell anyone, yet she says I care too much about what others think.. She says I don't need a cover story but I'm terrible at lying and I know if people ask me i will crack. I have informed my boss that I need time off as I have to have my tonsils removed. I think this cover will work for me as everyone who knows me knows I had so much trouble with tonsillitis as a kid and a tonsillectomy usually requires a liquid diet to start in recovery. I can say to people that this boost from having to only have liquids encouraged me to continue....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×