I am scheduled for surgery on July 23, and it can't get here soon enough. I just changed jobs and got a last minute call from the new job telling me that they wanted me to travel the first week. This involved flying to Chicago. Now I am the biggest I have ever been, and I am bigger than the airplane seats. On the way up I sat next to a very nice lady that threw the armrest up as I approached and said, "I am going to leave this up if you don't mind because they make these seats too small and it makes me feel too closed in." I appreciated her being kind so much I nearly broke down in tears right there. I was able, by some miracle, to get the seatbelt fastened but it was so tight I was in a lot of pain. I swallowed my pride and asked the flight attendant for an extender, but she never brought me one and I just couldn't make myself ask again. I sat there in agony--spilling into the next seat and into the aisle--and praying that the seatbelt buckle was strong enough to hold my mass in without exploding into pieces. I can just see the headlines, "fat woman explodes seatbelt--plane makes emergency landing". I chatted with the lady beside me and apologized for crowding her. She was very kind and said that she was glad to sit by me and have someone there to talk to so she would be distracted because she is afraid to fly. I had bruises on my legs and pain in my abdomen all week where the seat belt was during the flight and I was miserable. I decided to call the airline for my return trip and see what I needed to do. They told me to wait and ask at the gate. I did--humiliated--and was treated kindly. She moved me to a seat without a seatmate. The flight attendent brough me an extender--subtly--and I made it home without further bodily injury. I know this could have been a lot worse, but in my mind I felt so humiliated by the whole experience. I worried about the return trip all week and wondered if all the people I was meeting in my new job were judging me for being so big. I just want to live in a world where I fit.

I have a job where I fly almost weekly, and often in smaller planes. I completely get the humiliation of asking for a belt, and seeing the looks of people when they realize I am going to sit next to them. It is awful. I fly tomorrow morning, 2 weeks from my surgery date, and I am looking forward to seeing how the belt fits!

Sounds like you got a great seat mate! And wonderful service on the return trip. I would add that any of your new colleagues worth knowing will only consider how you can contribute and the skills you bring rather than focussing on the size you are.

I have a job where I fly almost weekly, and often in smaller planes. I completely get the humiliation of asking for a belt, and seeing the looks of people when they realize I am going to sit next to them. It is awful. I fly tomorrow morning, 2 weeks from my surgery date, and I am looking forward to seeing how the belt fits!

Sounds like you got a great seat mate! And wonderful service on the return trip. I would add that any of your new colleagues worth knowing will only consider how you can contribute and the skills you bring rather than focussing on the size you are.

Thanks. I hope you have several inches of belt flopping free the whole flight!

I got on a flight a few weeks ago, sat down, fastened the seatbelt easily and had to pull it tighter. I will happen for you.

I also fit easily into booths at restaurants. I used to be terrified that a place would have no tables.

Never fear! These thing you are experiencing will be in the past sooner than you think!

This.

All of this.

I completely understand what you went through. Being able to wear a seat belt comfortably on an air plane was one of the things I was looking forward to. It'll happen soon for you.

You are not alone. I have had so many experiences just like yours. God sent you a sweet angel to sit with you. That is so awesome how you were treated on the way home. It is easy for me to say don't be humiliated, lots of people have been there, but I know from experience it doesn't matter. Soon we will be the sympathetic sweet angels, tiny enough to help someone in the seat next to us. Good luck! You are gonna do great!

I have that situation monthly as I travel a lot for work. At least you had a nice seatmate. I have had men make rude statements then get up Ina huff and move. I always try to get a seat next to an empty seat but that is getting harder and harder! Just know in a few months it will all behind us!!!!! Here is to all of us flying with no added stress and a thinner future!!!!!