"She's blushing!"

[emme.vee 142]

That's always what I hear people say in their heads and sometimes out loud when I discuss something that makes me uncomfortable. Truth be told: I have a hard time lying. "I cannot tell a lie!"

So. While most pre-surgery folks are worried about important things like oh you know surgical complications, post surgical depression, stalls, etc...I'm worried about how to lie to people about this surgery. I am worried about work people mostly. And also do I have to lie? Lol.

Background: I work for a fairly small company with maybe a total of 50 employees, so you know you see every single person practically every day. Not to mention we have office potlucks for almost every holiday, and I fill in at the receptionist desk often. There are maybe 8 people in the office that are overweight and two or three more that are severely overweight.

I don't want everyone up in my business but I know they will notice my weight loss, not to mention doctors appointments, and of course missing work for surgery for a few weeks... I really don't care about telling my friends and family. I know many of them will have their opinions lol and I'm ok confronting them. BUT work people. I keep going back and forth with it, should I tell them, should I not tell them...it's driving me CRAZY! Lol.

If you decided not to tell your coworkers, what was your reaction or what did you say when they asked about your weight loss or why you took time off?

If you did decide to tell your coworkers, how did you tell them or how did you address the situation? What were their reactions and how did you deal with it? What did you respond to the negative comments like "you took the easy way out" or "you're not even big enough to have this surgery"?

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[WLSResources/ClothingExch 3,443]

You're under no obligation to tell co-workers. When asked, why not say, "Yes, I decided to change the way I eat so that I can take of the weight. I'm also exercising to help it along." Include the last part only of you do exercise. In either case you're being truthful.

[greenbeans 1]

I wouldn't tell anyone you don't want to know. I told one person at work and she told other people at work. I'm now working at a different office and I won't make that mistake again. I agree with PP just say that you are eating healthier and exercising.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[GSleeve822 394]

I said I was getting laproscopic surgery for fibroids in uterus as to why I was gone for a week. I've lost 85 lbs so far, and my staff has barely noticed because they see me daily. Other ppl I the company tho, flip out when they see me because it's not as often. I just tell them I am eating healthy, exercising and on a mission to be healthy. I'm a horrible liar too.. I just try and change the subject.. it gets embarrassing with that much attention

Sent from my SM-G930T using the BariatricPal App

[LA_lady 50]

I just said I need to have a hiatal hernia repair. Some people have noticed the weight loss but I was drinking my Protein shakes before surgery and made sure to tell everyone I was on a strict diet. So now that I am back everyone knows why I look thinner because I am still on my strict diet.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[kmorri 1,689]

I said I was having a hiatal hernia repair which was true......and the good thing is the pre and post-op diets for a hiatal hernia surgery are the same as WLS...........So as far as now with my continued weight loss I say, "well I'm eating less and moving more"...........which is also true!...if they need a little more I go back to reminding them that I got a good kick start with weight loss with the diet for my hiatal hernia repair.

Good luck with how ever you decide to handle it.

[KindaFamiliar 3,867]

Tell 'em whatever you wanna tell 'em...

I've never balked at talking about my surgery, but that's not for everyone...

Tell 'em half truths...

Tell 'em lies...

Tell 'em everything...

You don't answer to anyone but yourself...

People are gonna judge...

We all do it...

So you may as well do things how YOU wanna do 'em..

But if you do make sh*t up - Make it good!!!

[Christinamo7 4,041]

I had an easier path in that a coworker had the same surgery a year and a few months before me. so I just said I will be out a few weeks having the same procedure that D___ had.

my face always gives me away, I am not capable of anything but straight talk. people are curious about the process and hoping for my success.

[emme.vee 142]

my face always gives me away, I am not capable of anything but straight talk. people are curious about the process and hoping for my success.

Haha mine does too. I could never be a poker player! And I stutter when I lie. No matter how hard I try not to, it happens.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[Djmohr 6,965]

I was one of the folks that didn't worry about sharing this information with people.

If I had to do it over again, I would have limited that just to my best friends and family. There were a few coworkers I told and I worked at a big corporate office in Minneapolis. Well, you know how that works, the rumors then spread. Funny thing was, after 25 years there, I actually was layed off 4 months before my surgery but I had been working on it for 5 months before that.

Anyway, I am still friends with over 100 previous co workers and I stop in there when I am in town to see some of my closer friends. I will get little snarky comments from people that I didn't hang with but heard about my having surgery. It's almost like they are waiting for you to fail or something.

For me, I would tell only my family and my very best friends and I would not share my story with coworkers.

When people ask now, I tell them the truth. I lost my weight by changing the way that I eat and getting more exercise. That is not a lie, it is the truth and honestly after the honeymoon period is over it becomes your reality.

You want to maintain? You have to be even more careful about your food and beverage choices and you better be moving your body some.

Just my two cents. I think you are right to be concerned and in the beginning less is more.

[emme.vee 142]

I was one of the folks that didn't worry about sharing this information with people.

If I had to do it over again, I would have limited that just to my best friends and family. There were a few coworkers I told and I worked at a big corporate office in Minneapolis. Well, you know how that works, the rumors then spread. Funny thing was, after 25 years there, I actually was layed off 4 months before my surgery but I had been working on it for 5 months before that.

Anyway, I am still friends with over 100 previous co workers and I stop in there when I am in town to see some of my closer friends. I will get little snarky comments from people that I didn't hang with but heard about my having surgery. It's almost like they are waiting for you to fail or something.

For me, I would tell only my family and my very best friends and I would not share my story with coworkers.

When people ask now, I tell them the truth. I lost my weight by changing the way that I eat and getting more exercise. That is not a lie, it is the truth and honestly after the honeymoon period is over it becomes your reality.

You want to maintain? You have to be even more careful about your food and beverage choices and you better be moving your body some.

Just my two cents. I think you are right to be concerned and in the beginning less is more.

I'm typically very open about everything with mostly everyone. I don't have anything to hide really. I'm just over sensitive about this because one time one of the girls that used to work here took time off to get a boob job. She was in her mid 40s and went from a size A to a D. She never told anyone why she was taking a vacation she just did. And then she came back with breasts. It was the freaking talk of the century. Like who cares? It's her body, but you know people can be so petty.

I am such a horrible liar! But at least I have time to think about it...

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[reree6898 1,164]

When people start to notice the weight change say your eating a whole lot less and moving a whole lot more. It will be the truth. I have zero poker face and don't believe in lying anyway and that is what I tell people because it is the truth.

Edited August 1, 2016 by reree6898

[lifeofblair 308]

I work for a similar size company. I didn't tell anyone, but they figured it out. They were supportive of it. There have been others that have had it in the past and one lady was considering it, but has been able to lose weight without it.

[Djmohr 6,965]

I was one of the folks that didn't worry about sharing this information with people.

If I had to do it over again, I would have limited that just to my best friends and family. There were a few coworkers I told and I worked at a big corporate office in Minneapolis. Well, you know how that works, the rumors then spread. Funny thing was, after 25 years there, I actually was layed off 4 months before my surgery but I had been working on it for 5 months before that.

Anyway, I am still friends with over 100 previous co workers and I stop in there when I am in town to see some of my closer friends. I will get little snarky comments from people that I didn't hang with but heard about my having surgery. It's almost like they are waiting for you to fail or something.

For me, I would tell only my family and my very best friends and I would not share my story with coworkers.

When people ask now, I tell them the truth. I lost my weight by changing the way that I eat and getting more exercise. That is not a lie, it is the truth and honestly after the honeymoon period is over it becomes your reality.

You want to maintain? You have to be even more careful about your food and beverage choices and you better be moving your body some.

Just my two cents. I think you are right to be concerned and in the beginning less is more.

I'm typically very open about everything with mostly everyone. I don't have anything to hide really. I'm just over sensitive about this because one time one of the girls that used to work here took time off to get a boob job. She was in her mid 40s and went from a size A to a D. She never told anyone why she was taking a vacation she just did. And then she came back with breasts. It was the freaking talk of the century. Like who cares? It's her body, but you know people can be so petty.

I am such a horrible liar! But at least I have time to think about it...

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Another thing to think about is if you need or plan on doing plastics after you reach your goal.

I am at that stage now. I have not seen a lot of my exe coworkers since last August but I am sure they are going to notice my newly beautifully contoured arms given how bad mine were to begin with. I also plan on a TT and Breast lift with augmentation but that won't be at least for another 3 to 4 months.

I am sure some of the jerks once they see me will figure out that I had plastics. I really don't care. I don't work there anymore and I know who my real friends are.

[KristenLe 5,979]

I'm most likely going to tell people (if they ask) because I'm sure it will be figured out and I don't want people to catch me in a lie. I don't really care what anyone thinks - they will find a way to talk about you anyway.