Can't believe my old boss did this - ThinnerTimes

Kristen · 09-14-2005, 03:10 PM

Hi Everyone,

As many of you might know I worked for a company that sold egg white protein. It's still a great product but I am really upset with the owner and have left the company.

He had approached me about using a before and after picture as a way to show that the egg white protein is a great way to maintain your weight loss as well as to market to the Gastric bypass community. I was flattered and said sure.

As it turns out he has now put me on the trade show booth, and his marketing flyers with the term "perfect weight loss diet" next to the photo. He also told me at a trade show that when someone asks me if I am the girl in the photos to not necessarily tell them about my surgery just let them know about the benefits of the weight loss.

I am for one stunned that he would do this! Truth that you should never underestimate people!

Secondly I quit working for him as this was a huge problem for me, I would never lie to someone about how hard weight loss can be, and to say that my loss was only due to the product would be a GROSS misrepresenation. I couldn't do it. Every day it would eat away at me and I knew I couldn't stay at the company even though I loved my job.

I have found a great job however still in the fitness industry and so far so good!

Don't get me wrong my past boss did lots of other things that really upset me but this was the final straw that ate away at me until I couldn't take it anymore.

Have any of you had any similar situation? I never signed a release form for him to use my image so I am thinking of calling a lawyer to see if I can get him to cease using my pic. (I don't want anything else but for him to stop using the pic with the slogan on it about perfect weight loss diet) Now that I don't work for him who knows what he will say to people about the before and after pic. He has a habit of not always telling the whole truth so I don't what he will say when called on the carpet about the lies.

Any suggestions?

K

pambragg · 09-14-2005, 03:17 PM

i would definitely threaten him with legal action. That is a fraudulant claim and having your picture up there unfortunately, makes you a part of it. Cover you a$$ legally and get him to stop using your picture!!

Lojak7 · 09-14-2005, 03:28 PM

Get A Lawyer Now!!!!

Kristen · 09-16-2005, 08:17 AM

Thanks for the advice, I have spoken with a friend who works for a law firm and she is going to help me with my old boss. I am so glad I never signed anything saying he had rights to the photos.

Dealing with weight issues and obesity is one of the most difficult things to beat. I am just disgusted with him in the fact that he would think it would be ok to lie to someone and offer them a "miracle" cure. If it were that easy no one would need the surgery. I've always been honest regarding my wl trials and triumphs, and I don't want him using my image as a way to lie to anyone.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that this will go smoothly.

Thanks

Kristen

HAMPTON5555 · 09-16-2005, 08:28 AM

I hope it all goes well.

I had a slightly similar situation, in that my trainer wants to post before and afters in the gym.

I am afraid it will be unfair and make people think this was all done with working out. He thinks not, but he is leaving it up to me.

Besides, I know so many people in the community where I work out, I feel embarrassed to have my phots up there??

Rain

Kristen · 09-16-2005, 10:19 AM

Rain,
I completely understand where you are coming from. We(boyfriend & I) had a friend who wanted to do the same thing as he is a personal trainer, I said no way, that's false advertising. I didn't realize until people started to comment on the before and after pictures how sensitive I was to my weight. I don't think people realize how hurtful it can be when they say things that are suppose to be positive but yet derogatory toward our previous weight. It's almost like they don't realize you are still the same person. Making a comment about how "huge" you were previous to your weight loss is still very very hurtful. I know I shouldn't let things like that bother me and should try to take it as a positive compliment but sometimes the insecure heavy girl I used to be gets her feelings hurt. I so wish I had said NO to my boss when he came up with the idea to use my pics to maintain your weight. I feel like a fool and worse like as Arse! (Burying head in sand now!)

Bypassingme619 · 09-17-2005, 12:04 PM

Kristen I hope all works out for you on this issue. I surely hope he doesn't get away with using your sucess to boost his career. Keep us posted on how everything turns out.

LizardQueen · 09-17-2005, 04:33 PM

Hey Kristen! Sorry you are going through this. I'm not too up on civil law but I'm pretty certain you have legal recourse. If you can't get anywhere with an attorney or don't want to spend the cash, call the Attorney General's office and explain the situation to them. It is false advertising plain and simple. Curves (the local one I go to) wanted to put a pic up of me with weight loss and measurements in the gym here and a few others in the area and I refused. Now they snub me when I go in so I'm going to join the gym at the college since I'm there everyday anyway it'll work out better for me. I told them I wasn't going to give anyone false hope that curves was the answer. The lady who runs the place said that I would have only lost about half the weight if I hadn't come there. Hell, I'd lost 77 lbs before I started going! Every a**hole in the country is looking to make a buck and the diet industry is a billions of dollars a year. I guess you can't blame the weasels for trying. Let me know how things work out! I've missed you!

misty gunn · 09-24-2005, 08:52 PM

That sound very wrong. I would get a Lawyer. Cover yourself .Please keep us updated
Good Luck.