SO,

On Monday, September 14th I will be going to Atlanta from Boston on business with a few colleagues.

The funny thing is the last time I was in an airport was 16 years ago, me and my wife went to las vegas. It was hell walking around especially in the heat, and I always tried to dress well, but lets face it, when your a big/fat/overweight guy, looking hip or classy, is not easy on a budget.

At that time, I wasn't as big as I was before my surgery but I was well over 300 pounds. The stares from people when I got on the plane were of them saying, oh please don't let this fat man sit next to me. Thankfully myself and my wife had two seats in an end row to ourselves.

I always used to volunteer for the entry way seats because no one else would sit next to me except my wife. ( those are the seats that don't recline etc.)

This last time I sat down and, uh oh, the seat belt wouldn't fit! At the time, I did not know about seat belt extenders and probably wouldn't have asked for one, even If I had known. So I just tucked the seatbelt under my arm and my belly, and made it look like it was attached.

This Monday will be my first flight since then as I never wanted to fly since, expecting I would have to buy the dreaded extra seat. This will be a first for me in a couple of ways. Obviously being able to fit in an airline seat , with a seatbelt will be, a weird but great feeling. Inside I'll have a bit of a wistful moment when I click that belt on. Sometimes it's these things, I never thought about when I started my journey, that really make me happy.

I did the exact same thing last time I was on a plane to visit my family in southern CA. It's a humiliating and miserable experience. Congratulations on your weight loss. It's little things like this that remind us just how far we have come. Have a nice time in Atlanta, and thank you for sharing.

as much as I fly - about once or twice a year - i have gotten used to having to ask for the seat belt extension. Hopefully by the time I fly next (probably next year) I won't have too! That... will be truly amazing. I can not wait for my surgery - I'm just having problems with coming up with my deductible...

I can relate. I always dread being crammed into the seat and that seat belt! Thankfully my hubby doesn't mind lifting the arm rest so I can take up a little bit of his room. We're flying to Cabo (Mexico) in January -- I'm so excited that, as long as my insurance approves my sleeve, I'll be able to comfortably buckle and fly!

Have a fantastic trip! Safe travels.

@@Stevehud Congratulations!

and can I be the first to say "Welcome to Atlanta!"

Its been in the 80's here lately .... supposed to have a few cooler days beginning of next week ...

I completely understand how it's the little victories that make us the most happy ... fitting comfortably in the airline seat with a seatbelt that buckles ...

not having to lean and lift a hip to click the seatbelt in the car ...

not having the hips poke out between the chair bottom and the arms of a chair ...

being able to actually put on shoes with laces!

We all experience the little wins each day ... I'm glad you shared yours !

Have a safe trip and enjoy my city !

Those NSVs are so freakin' awesome, aren't they? I've experienced so many of them but they are still thrilling none the less.

There is nothing better than to fit like any normal person, into a plane seat, or a restaurant booth, or anywhere for that matter.

@@Stevehud, you are going to have a great flight! Husband and I are going on vacation at the end of October. I am very much looking forward to having a similar experience.

I have to say, flying in an airplane without having to ask for the dreaded belt extender was one of my very first NSVs and it made my whole week! I was very comfortable and super excited about it.

You are going to love the feeling. It really is not a small thing at all!

Before my surgery I could just barely get the airplane seatbelt on. I would sit is such a way that the belt would be buckled around my hips before I would slide the rest of the way down into the seat. Sometimes I would be in pain the entire flight, however, I just couldn't bring myself to ask for an extender. I would also raise the armrest next to me and sit in the aisle so I could sit at the very edge of the seat.

When I traveled in June I remember thinking that the seatbelt would be ok. And I was so happy when I could EASILY buckle it, keep the armrest down and sit comfortably with a seat mate. It was a wonderful experience. Hope you have a great trip.

being able to fit in an airline seat , with a seatbelt will be, a weird but great feeling. Inside I'll have a bit of a wistful moment when I click that belt on. Sometimes it's these things, I never thought about when I started my journey, that really make me happy.

Yes, sometimes it is the more subtle changes that are most eye-opening. This NSV is the figurative and literal measure of how far you've come. L'chaim.