AWKWARD...

A coworker who I don't see very often stopped by my office.  She apparently also somehow avoided the office gossip, and was unaware that I had WLS (I haven't kept it a secret but I haven't screamed it from the rooftops either).  Obviously the change in my appearance surprised her - and I had to go through the usual explanation (as we all have probably had to do like 300 times).

Her first comment:  But you weren't that big!

My response:  Well, I was morbidly obese... and I was starting to have health issues related to that...

Her next comment (getting agitated and upset): But, you were smaller than me! Why on earth did you do that?

Ummmmm...

It is getting funny to me now.  Was there some obese people code of conduct that I violated?  Do we have a club and secret handshake?  It seems MY choice was perceived as an insult to her...  I have disrespected the obese overlords by trying to defect to the "other side".

Very peculiar.

I would definitely be amused by her reaction. She seems to be taking it personally that you went ahead and didn't consult with her before taking charge of your health. The nerve of you!  

She is feeling upset about her weight or didn't realize her size. I never hid it but never screamed from the roof either. Keep up the good work

I have told a few people.I did tell a couple that I had WLS done and they both are MO I see them when we go out on Friday nights.Even though I lost almost 70lbs they act like they don't even know me anymore.I think misery loves company.I guess when I was chowing down on food that was bad for me I was okay to be around.

So what did you say??

I just shrugged and changed the subject.  I have no clue what an appropriate response would be, and I just was so surprised by her reaction!

In all fairness, she seemed to recover pretty quickly - and dropped it.  Maybe she was surprised by her reaction as well...

That would be weird. Bigger than her or not, you had health issues.

I guess that's what we get for living in an appearance driven culture. You couldn't possibly have underwent surgery for reasons other than your own vanity. 

I've had the same experience at work. Most people are happy for me. One co-worker confided to me right after my surgery that she had it previously and lost 100 lbs (and her post surgery weight is my pre surgery weight). She doesn't speak to me anymore now that I have lost weight. Weird. I only tell people at work who ask me. I have had people say to me "you weren't that big" also. I have a close friend who has diabetes, knee replacements, hip replacements, well into the 300s that stopped communicating with me since my surgery. But I am not pushing it. I think she will eventually call me with questions. She has been a weigh****cher member for years! 

I guess I would have had to tell her, "I didn't really take your size into consideration when deciding whether or not I needed surgery.  Neither did my doctor.  You know, they base that on the patient, not on the patient's coworkers."