I am reading this thread with interest because I am fat. Not just fat but morbidly obese. My BMI doesn't even show up on the charts because I am so far off the chart. I resemble quite a few comments that have been posted.
I hate to fly because yes, I am to fat to fit in one seat. I very rarely fly, I can see people at the airline gate with fear in their eye because I might be the one sitting next to them. I always try to be sat next to an empty seat but that is not always available, I always apologize to the person sitting next to me or try to be humorous by saying, "looks like you won the seat lottery". Again, I don't fly, now it is only once a year to my annual managers meeting and the megacorp I work for springs for two seats or a first class to make my flight more comfortable.
I am in healthcare so it is ironic that I am so fat and know the health issues that come with being so fat. I think that part of the reason I have been so lackadaisical about my size is that I 'no longer cared' and worked my way around to living with my size. I only eat out out places that have tables, because I can't fit in a booth, I go to specific movie theaters because I know their seats are big enough and are comfortable. I think good genes have also helped me not care. I am 48 years old now and I have just barely developed issues that should have hit me 20 years ago. I am now having blood pressure that is in the high normal range, high triglycerides and my last A1c had just pushed me into pre-diabetic, my fasting blood sugar was always below 100, etc. I stand on my feet all day and have starting to have some ankle issues, all this should be enough to get me to take action. But it hasn't.
You'd think that I would be even more concerned about staying healthy because we are saving our money to retire early. As previously mentioned in a post, I think/plan/hope that when I early retire I will find the time to eat right and exercise, but what if I die before then, what a waste.
Medical costs are funny because I see many, many regular size people that put my medical costs to shame, I am not even in the 5% ball park of some average sized (and younger) people with diseases such as diabetes, HBP, IBS, crones disease, the list goes on an on that doesn't even scratch the surface of HIV, cancer, transplant, stoke, heart attacks. These all have consequences on the thin and fat alike.
Sex is a no go, can't really blame the wife for not wanting to get it on with a 450 pound man, but we did get 4 kids over the years (damn fed ex man). I guess I like to be fat more than I like sex.
Funny thing is when people see me eat or eat with me they are surprised by the normal amount I eat. They assume I put away 3 extra large big mac meals. That is not the problem, the problem is that I always eat. I can't remember the last time I had hunger pangs or what they even feel like. I seem to be nibbling on something at all times, usually something sweet, m and m's, kit kats, peanut butter cups, I was drinking 8 cans of pepsi a day (I have cut that out). I guess I am just selfish that way because I don't/didn't care if I died early, how would that effect my wife and kids? Didn't care.
I have even had my own bias against the obese. I see them come in with their medicaid card and I think 'my taxes are paying for your medical because you're too fat and lazy to get a job or paying for your food stamps or disability'.
I'm embarrassed when I go grocery shopping because when I am unloading my cart on the belt the majority of items are sweets and fats. Ice cream, chips, candy, not just one or two but 4 or 5 bags of each. I don't eat oranges because I am too lazy to peel them, it isn't worth the work.
I live a sad life.
Last note as re-reading this brings tears to my eyes. About 3 years ago my brother and his wife were celebrating their 50th bday and invited 20 couples to go to the virgin islands and rent a VRBO mansion with them. My wife and I went and luckily had a three seat row on the plane with only the two of us so no problems going down. On the way back the plane was packed. My wife sat next to the window and I sat in the middle seat (my wife is overweight, probably due to my eating habits) but usually I can park my fat ass on her side of the chairs to the 3rd person doesn't have to sacrifice their room. Well, the gentleman (and I use that word loosely) that sat next to me was a prick. I could tell he wasn't happy about the accommodations as he got up more than once to talk to the flight attendant and I did hear them say "full flight". While I had the arm rest up, he said he had to have it down, ok it was doable. During the 4 hour flight I pretty much scrunched up so my seat mate could have his room. He was able to put down his tray, eat his chips, watch his movie, listen to headphones, even take a nap and at the end of the the flight he had the nerve to tell me that I should buy two seats next time because he was so uncomfortable during the flight. Yet at no time did our bodies 'touch' and he was more than able to accomplish everything he needed/wanted to do during the flight. What an asshat.
