Hi guys!

I need help. I travel a lot for work and don't know how to handle this. I don't want to tell the people I work with about my upcoming surgery. We eat out a lot and go to fancy dinners.

I'm fine with learning to pack snacks and powders, but how should I handle group meals? I can't go to a fancy steakhouse, eat 2 bites of a starter and not get weird looks, nor can I skip out on these meals.

Does anyone here have experience with this?

I don't eat the starters at all. If these are people that you have worked with for a while, they are going to notice when you don't eat more than a few bites and then you're done.

Obviously, it's a personal choice whether or not you tell the, but I just came clean with everyone. That allowed me to answer the questions and control the dialogue about it a bit instead of giving it over to office fodder.

25 minutes ago, MowryRocks said:

I don't eat the starters at all. If these are people that you have worked with for a while, they are going to notice when you don't eat more than a few bites and then you're done.

Obviously, it's a personal choice whether or not you tell the, but I just came clean with everyone. That allowed me to answer the questions and control the dialogue about it a bit instead of giving it over to office fodder.

Well, for me it isn't noticing. I'm an event planner (among other things) and support about 160 people. I don't see most of these people more than once a year. Heck, I don't recognize most of them we see each other so infrequently! So they definitely wouldn't be the type to notice a change in my eating habits.

I'm slowly telling friends about my decision, but I think I will refrain from coworkers unless asked directly. I'm coming around to the fact that this is a tool and just like using a crutch isn't shameful, getting this surgery isn't either. Unfortunately, I've had a few people with really unsupportive reactions. I'd rather not have to deal with that at work too!

Oh! Also, to clarify: When I said 2 bites of a starter, I meant ordering for myself off of that menu instead of a full entree.

8 minutes ago, jessgnc said:

Oh! Also, to clarify: When I said 2 bites of a starter, I meant ordering for myself off of that menu instead of a full entree.

Ah...That makes more sense. LOL The devil is in the details.

I had a lot of Negative Nancy. Good Luck!