FAT PERSON COMPANION ETIQUETTE

I am writing my blog this morning.  We will be out getting the girls tonite.  So I decided to write about something that has come to my attention over the last couple of years and for sure after reading several really interesting dieter's blogs.

If you are spending any time with an overweight person, or if you have a relative or friend who is seriously overweight....read on.  It's possible you may be simply unaware of a few things.

1.  Firstly, the OWP (overweight person) KNOWS they are fat.  And no matter how they got that way, or for how long you can bet that they are in a kind of hell that a skinny person simply cannot identify with.  They already know that they have indulged, should lose weight, are not healthy yada yada yada.  (Kind of like a smoker KNOWS he/she could die of lung cancer)

2.  Secondly, and OWP cannot just up and trot off on an evening walk.  Inevitably you, the skinny one, even if you didn't ever exercise at all ever, can hop out and go for an impromptu walk with ease.  A fat person simply cannot.  They will not be able to breathe properly, their thighs will chafe, their feet will hurt, their knees will stab pain, their back will seize up etc...Eventually, in total humiliation they will have to call it quits.  After reading some of the above mentioned blogs I feel extremely fortunate that for the most part I am a lot more mobile than alot of them.  But some of the stories I have read are so sad.

3.  Thirdly, it takes more food to fill a big tummy than you skinny ones.  From what I have read, a lot of fat people eat tiny amounts in public and make up for it in private.  What they don't need to hear in a restaurant, as the food is served to your table is "Oh my God, I will NEVER be able to eat all of this.  Does anyone want half?  I will have to take this home and hubby and I can have it for dinner tomorrow night."  By all means go ahead and do that.   Don't eat it all, afterall that is how the OWP got to be overweight.  But be sensitive to the person you are with and how they probably could eat theirs, yours and anyone elses at that table!!!

4.  Fourthly, a fat person does not want to hear about your five pounds you are trying to lose.  When you are trying to lose upwards of 135 pounds, your five seems pretty petty and insignificant.

5.  Another thing I read a lot of in these blogs is about space.  One needs to be sensitive to the kind of chairs and general area you offer to a fat person.  I remember I had a friend that had a huge huge stomach and thighs and butt.  Way bigger than mine ever was believe it or not.  And I remember one time we were picking a restaurant (fast foodish type) in a food court.  There was no way was she going to fit between the fixed chair and fixed table.   Being aware of this we chose a place that had movable tables and chairs.   Little things like this can make all the difference to the larger person.

I shall stop here.  I think it is getting preachy!  (LOL)  And I must add in a disclaimer here.  I am absolutely NOT basing any of this info on things that have happened with any of my friends or family. They have been most sensitive and caring.  I have been so fortunate..but from what I have been reading, many others have not.  I feel for them.  TTYL

THE FIRST TWO PICS WERE TAKEN AT MY HEAVIEST.

THIS LAST ONE IS ME NOW, FORTY POUNDS DOWN.  YAY!!!!!