Good luck on your weight loss Dreamer Helen!
But know that you don't have to lose weight to realize your travel dreams. Actually, travelling might help you to shed a few pounds: you walk a lot, don't eat as much as you would at home if you're on a budget, and it makes you feel good about yourself (which in turn, could entice you to take care of yourself).

Because of my health problems, I've had my share of misadventures and have endured loads of embarassing moments. And trust me, when you'll find yourself in your living room looking at your photos from Africa, Asia or wherever, you won't care about the look the flight attendant gave you when you asked for a seat-belt extension...

Oh I know...I was really embarrassed to ask for a Seatbelt Extension on the RyanAir Flight to Krakow in February...but then I just thought what the hell and went out there and had a great time!!

I think the main reason I want to lose weight is NOT because I can't travel being like I am, but simply because it is better for my health to drop a few pounds (ok, more than a few LoL)...

But the thing that helps is that I work so bloody hard (about 4 different jobs) that I rarely have time to do anything but work and sleep..LoL...

Just a little word for JEDIMASTERBOOBOO, the one who started this whole conversation. My favorite quote comes from the movie "The Shawshank Redemption":

"You either get busy living or you get busy dying..."

You friend can stay home and deal with the regular problems she deals with in her daily life (I'm sure her life isn't easy and she gets stared at there too anyways...), or, you could suggest that she come to see you in the Philippines. She would then have to deal with a whole new set of problems, but she would, without a doubt, have the experience of a lifetime...

quote:

"You either get busy living or you get busy dying..."

"He not busy being born is busy dying."
-- Bob Dylan

"We are born astride the grave."
-- Waiting for Godot, by Beckett

Euh... In your Bob Dylan quote we are all busy dying at the moment.

Thanks but I prefer mine. I feel like I'm busy living!

Same topics, very different meanings...

I strongly suspect that Stephen King got it from Bob Dylan...

Don't know what to say to that.

Don't think we're talking about the subject anymore...

quote:

Originally posted by Keppie:
Personally, if I was sitting next to a stranger, no way I'd let them lift the armrest... not to be mean, but I value my personal space.

This is definitely an issue for me... I get VERY upset when the person next to me is touching me - whether it be because they are overweight, tall, rude or whatever. We both paid for our space, you stay in yours, I'll stay in mine.

That being said, my ever-widening hips and thighs are now dangerously close to overflowing my own seat, and this makes me paranoid. I don't want to get into someone else's space, like I have a right to it, that would just be hypocritical... It's a good motivation to lose some weight though...

The catch-22 is that some airlines...not all...have a policy that the seats with the most room for stretching out, the exit rows, are not allowed for persons requiring seat-belt extenders...and that's not likely changing any time soon.

I don't think it's the case for AA/American, but it was on a Delta flight I was on: I still remember once when I had an exit row, window seat, and this person sat next to me that was truly beyond, beyond, beyond obese, pretty much spackling me into the window (and I'm 6'6"), with no regard whatsoever that she was taking up nearly all of my seat in addition to hers. If I was any smaller of a person (and there's plenty of people that would be), she'd have easily, fully taken up both seats. The flight attendant quoted the regulations, and in a very professional way pointed out the awkwardness of needing to keep the exit row unobstructed and how difficult it would understandably be for her to move quickly in that situation, and she had to move elsewhere.

In terms of the "stares & glares" problem, perhaps the obesity can't be controlled as easily as one would want but what one chooses to carry on the the plane in terms of hand luggage can be, regardless of size. And, that's coming from a person who's 6'^6", not fat, just tall, yet my clothes are quite large, and I can't always pack as much as I'd like in my carry-ons. (I NEVER, NEVER check luggage, but that's another story). One thing that does get a lot of stares is when people come on carrying on everything & the kitchen sink with them, taking forever to stow their bags, trying to stuff bags into bins that are already full, not stepping into the aisle of their seat so others could keep walking down the aisle during boarding, etc. If you can get on that plane & get your stuff sorted quickly & smoothly, no one will have time to notice.

My sympathies to those for whom their obesity is truly, truly beyond their control, along with kudos to those who can control it and are putting in the albeit painful, grueling exercise & diet plans needed to make it happen.

What a fantastic post Skyehiker!!

I'm still trying to control my Weight...it's become a lifelong battle for me. One of the things that I decided to do was to give myself a Goal for when I've lost all the weight that I want to lose...I decided that my "Reward" would be travelling...that gives me some motivation to carry on (although I have so many health problems it's unbelieveable!! LoL)