Co-workers negativity and thinking it's an easy way out VSG post op 1 month

Yep, it is a daily battle.  Right now, there is a bag of Carmel popcorn in the common area here at work.   I would love to grab a few hand fulls if not the whole bag. 

They are just jealous! AND it certainly isn't the 'easy' way out - it's a drastic change to lifestyle! They contradict themselves anyway by saying it's the easy way out while also mentioning the 'cutting out' of most of your stomach. So, ignore the haters! Let the haters be your motivators! I would kill them with sunshine and kindness - then maybe they'll back off. It is such a shame that they can't be more supportive of you! Glad you came to OH for the support that you need! Find a good one-liner that you use to respond. 'I did the right thing for me and my life. It isn't easy, but I'm soooooo happy that I made this change! My doctor even says how much healthier that I am!' 

I will absolutely use that line. Thank you 

Thank you all so much. This helps so much. 

Well I really empathize with you. It's hard to know for SURE, but, I think deep down many of us who have had the procedure may sometimes ask ourselves the same question. I did, at first - when I was pre-op. But, then, I realized the reality: You don't lose weight by losing half of your stomach. You lose weight by having a negative sum caloric intake. Follow me here, I mean that your calories burned are less than your caloric intake, the negative balance quite literally comes out of your butt :) SO : You lose weight, the old-fashioned way, (just like your snooty co-workers :) ).

#1 - It's not the easy road, it's still just as difficult to lose the weight. It's just as long of a process, you do nothing differently than losing the weight the 'normal way', the surgical procedure simply facilitates the decisions. Quite frankly it's actually much more the 'hard route' than anything else. Listen, if you are on a diet and break down and eat a double quarter pounder, oh well, tomorrow is a new day. Three weeks into VSG if you break down and have a cheeseburger, you could be making your final mistake on this planet. Make no mistake, you have not opted for the "easy way out". Instead you've made a tough, noble decision, of dedication that will not make you lose weight in and of itself, but will make it much easier for you to KEEP the weight off permanently and help your body get back to it's intended [read: normal], metabolic activities and performance. More on that in a minute.

#2- Not only are these people not your friends, they are lousy coworkers and it's terrible you have to be around miserable, broken people like that. It always surprises me when people you know, behave in such blatantly destructive and evil ways. They fain concern while sabotaging your herculean efforts. At the end of the day, I'd suspect some sort of psychological jealousy. Perhaps they wish they had the courage to make such an impactful decision/change in their lives, or maybe they wish they were as good at the job as you are. In any case, these people suck and I'd get away from them permanently. I'd really suggest monster.com . . . no really.

Now look, I can't speak for you, but I found myself at 42 years old and 369 lbs. I played the yo-yo weightloss game so many times my skin on my stomach looked like an accordion. I didn't get that way by making historically GOOD decisions, and quite frankly, I own all my bad choices (God some of them were fun.). But at the end of the day, when a person becomes morbidly obese (like I was), they have stretched out their stomach to inhuman size. It takes a ton of material to fill it. My surgeon told me and my wife post op, that my stomach was the largest she'd seen. So yeah it was hard for me to maintain a life long nutritious diet without excess. I was just hungry ALL the time. Post op, I now have the stomach a normal person has, an appetite that will -with time- normalize, and I will be on an even playing field, maintaining my weight with the 'normal' weight folks. You will too.

At the end of the day, anyone who says weightloss surgery is the 'easy way out' is not only ignorant, but they are mean spirited bad, broken people who don't deserve the time it would take to educate them so just move on. I promise you that in time, you will not be able to tell you hadn't been ideal weight your whole life, and you'll not need to let anyone know about your WLS. Until then maybe your career needs the same kind of healthy upgrade you've so courageously chosen for your body ! Either way I personally am pulling for you !

Good luck, and I really hope it all works out. I don't know you but I can say with certainty that living through obesity, and the process of WLS, and everything it brings with it, you deserve better.

PS. I'm 7 months post-op and 117 pounds lighter, and the first person that tells me I took the easy way out is going to get a piece of my mind ;).

I love this reply - perfect!

So perfectly written. Thank you. 

Very well said. You also hit on some thoughts that have gone though my mind. Wow, I can't imagine having to work with people like that. They need more work to do to keep them busy and  out of your business. Every one knows about my surgery and if those comments were made, they weren't made to me personally. Maybe you might think about finding a new job? I don't know if that is an option.

I say... NOTHING.

It's your life, your decision, your health.  Who CARES what others think?  Let your weight loss be your motivation.  People treat you how you allow them to treat you.

I can honestly say that I've no NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS from anyone when I've told them I've had WLS.  Why?  Because I don't suffer fools gladly and people know it.  Don't let this be your excuse to fall off the wagon.  Put on your big girl panties and take charge of your life.  You can do it  

So sorry they are so negative. Just stay on your path and you came to the right place for support. Good luck.

Robin