I realize everyone has different comfort levels in how much they like to share with people about their surgery. I have a few friends at work that I have told but I don't want to broadcast it to my entire company and am not sure if I want to tell my manager the specifics. What reason (if any) did you give for your absence from work?

18 hours ago, Russ D said:

-"You've lost some weight, how did you do it?"

-"I had 85% of my stomach removed."

I’ve told everyone at my work. Everyone has been real supportive (to my face anyway)

10 hours ago, abbster_tee said:

I am aiming for two weeks only. I’ll be out under FMLA.

I teach too, so I wonder how other teachers are doing. Somewhere there's a thread about teachers heading back to work (and what they eat, I think).

On 09/13/2018 at 18:59, Russ D said:

-"You've lost some weight, how did you do it?"

-"I had 85% of my stomach removed."

I had basically this same exchange last week.

Well meaning co-worker: “You are doing amazing! What are you doing? What’s your secret?”

Me: “.... I had weight loss surgery.”

Probably not the response they were expecting, but like others, I’m comfortable disclosing it. The only opinion about my choice that matters is my own and part of my own body positivity/self love journey is owning my body, decisions about my body, and being confident about my body no matter its state or how it got there. ?

I didn’t tell people I work with. The weight doesn’t fly off 30 lbs at a time, so when they see you everyday it’s not as noticeable. My body, my business

On 09/14/2018 at 16:57, Russ D said:

I teach too, so I wonder how other teachers are doing. Somewhere there's a thread about teachers heading back to work (and what they eat, I think).

I made one a few weeks ago before I started back up at school, maybe I’ll see if I can revive it!

I haven’t told anyone at work and that’s been working fine so far. I’ve mentioned some dietary restrictions but besides that I haven’t shared. I’m a private person and don’t broadcast my personal health decisions, not because I’m ashamed of them but because they’re my own personal decisions.

I think one of the factors is, do you take meals with your coworkers, especially meals out.

I do quite frequently. My stomach capacity is so small, I barely make a dent in a meal, and it is very obvious. Especially if they observe it repeatedly. I would not be able to get away with "I'm eating healthier" etc. Between the small amount I eat and my rapid weight loss, someone would have called an eating disorder intervention.

I created a medical issue that is not WLS, to explain my eating and weight loss. I don't like the fabrication, but my struggle with my weight isn't something I am willing to share.

5 hours ago, AEdoesRnY said:

I made one a few weeks ago before I started back up at school, maybe I’ll see if I can revive it!

Yeah, that was the one!

On 09/13/2018 at 11:54, megolego said:

I realize everyone has different comfort levels in how much they like to share with people about their surgery. I have a few friends at work that I have told but I don't want to broadcast it to my entire company and am not sure if I want to tell my manager the specifics. What reason (if any) did you give for your absence from work?

I’m at a new job so no one knew me before surgery. But ppl who did know me before I say I’m doing keto, which I really am

I told almost nobody at work. Lots of questions about and praise for my weight loss, but I politely thank them for praise and, in response to questions, simply say “yep, working on it - it’s not easy, but so far so good” and leave it at that.

Yes; I say Keto and exercise ?

I didn’t tell anyone at work and I go into the office maybe once a month. I work from home. People at work really notice since I’m not there everyday and every time they see me I’m smaller. I’ve had people ask me and I just explain smaller meals high protein and lots of water.

I was pretty straightforward about it at work. I explained that I’d worked long enough with endocrine disorders to know I didn’t want type 2 diabetes. I wanted to live a longer, healthier life than what was down the road for me if nothing changed. Everone seemed pretty understanding.

On 9/14/2018 at 7:20 PM, sillykitty said:

I don't like the fabrication, but my struggle with my weight isn't something I am willing to share.

I am totally stuck in this place right now.

I tell people that I had hiatal hernia surgery - which is true, I had it with the sleeve. The restricted eating is the same for that surgery as WLS. If people ask about my weight lost specifically, I tell them I eat less and am doing Keto and exercise which I didn't do at all before I started this journey. All of these responses are accurate! I am not comfortable telling everyone at work because the gossip factory is just too active here and I don't want people judging/talking about me. My lunch buddy and my boss know and that is it.