DOT Says Pigs Can Fly

The Department of Transportation in all its wisdom declared today that airlines must allow service animals on planes, including pot belly pigs and miniature horses.

Please know, this post is not about the need some may have for service animals to help them with their daily needs regardless of what type of animal it may be. I say, God Speed, and whatever gets you through the day is all right with me.

This is simply about the irony of it all. They throw fat people off planes for being too big to fly, but a horse or a pig, no problem. The article went on to say that if there wasn't a seat available for the animal, that a passenger might be asked to move to a new seat to accommodate the animal unless, that is, the passenger is willing share some of their floor space and leg room with the animal.

When's the last time someone was willing to share some of their seat with an overweight person let alone livestock?

Honestly, it boggles the mind.

I can hear it now, "Excuse me, ma'am, you don't mind if my pig sits in your lap do you?"

The passengers with these animals do have to promise that the animals won't go to the bathroom while on the plane. You know, I had a hard enough time house training my dog. I'm not sure I could get a horse to go...or not go...on command.

The airports will be required to have bathroom spaces and personal to take the animals for that all important last potty break before boarding.

All I'm saying is if a 300 lb pig can fly and not have to pay for an extra seat than so can I.

Emotional Eating

I already knew that I was and am an emotional eater.  I remember one time, years and years ago, my boyfriend at that time and I got into a big fight.  I left the house and found myself driving to McDonalds.  I will never forget the thought that went through my head.  I said to myself as I drove, "I'll show him." 

I'm not actually sure what I thought I was going to show him except that I could gain weight without putting much effort into it.  It was a light bulb moment, which I completely ignored even though I didn't forget it.

What has surprised me with this round of weight loss attempt is to discover that it isn't only the bad emotions that send me to fridge.  Even the happy emotions make me want to eat.  Here are two examples:

A few weeks ago, I decided to join a tennis club.  I was very excited about this because I love to play tennis.  I also thought it might be a good way to meet people with common interests.  Sometimes, I feel like I don't have much to look forward to, so I thought this would give me something.  As I was leaving the club, I was thinking about how motivating being a member would be due to the fact I would need to continue on my diet and lose more weight and exercise to improve my game.  So, what did I do?  As I am having these thoughts, I immediately drove to a restaurant and got something to eat.  The urge was overwhelming. 

The second example was today.  I might have a chance to take a trip next spring to Egypt.  Going to Egypt has been a life long dream for me.  The idea is very exciting.  Of course, one of the first things I thought about was the plane trip and those small seats!  That should keep me on my diet if nothing else does.  So what happens?  I get a strong urge to go eat fast food.  It should be noted that I haven't eaten fast food in over two months.  I pretty much talked myself into it, but couldn't leave at that moment, and by the time I could leave, the urge had passed.  I was lucky this time.

I find this whole thing pretty interesting.  I guess what it means is that I need to find ways, besides food, to not only deal with the bad things that happen in life but also the good.

Who knew?

Still Fat, Still Flying

Well, here it is, over two years since I started this blog. At that time, I was concerned that being over weight would make flying to England difficult. Since then, I have flown to England twice. In fact, I just got back a couple of weeks ago. Guess what? Being over weight made flying to England difficult. The seats were small, the tray table wouldn't lay flat across my lap, and let's not even mention the bathrooms. Let's face it, airplane bathrooms are a nightmare on a good day! Try stuffing 240 lbs into one and, well, it doesn't even stand talking about.

So, the $100,000 dollar question is why am I still over weight? I know the simple answer - I eat too much and don't exercise. Why do I eat too much and why don't I exercise? Now there's the rub. I think, I could even come up with an answer for that. Having said that, it still doesn't explain why I can't seem to get myself off the sofa for more than a trip to the ice box.

I'm a terribly smart person. If I want something, I go after it and usually get it. I don't stop or back down. That is unless we're talking about losing weight and getting into shape.

I'm back on the blog because I really want to get this all in hand. A new decade has started, and I'd like to see what I can do to change the direction of my life.

If nothing else, it should be interesting!

a moment is the answer to all of lifes mysteries!

Introductions

I read an article yesterday that talked about over-weight people and the size of airline seats. The bottom line, no pun intended, was whether or not larger people should pay for two seats. The truth of the matter is airlines are not going to give their customer's more room without higher costs. The population is not going to get smaller. The seats are not going to get larger. People's views on the heavy are not going to change.

Regardless on which side you may fall on this issue my problem is, I have a fat butt and I am flying to England in three months time.

My options are limited. One seat is about $1200 Economy class. Business class starts at around $2,600 a seat. Forget about First class.

I can't afford two seats let alone Business or First Class.

It's not that I can't fit into one seat. I can. The arm rest goes down. I lean towards the window and hold my breath and I don't touch anyone else. Of course, after eight hours in this position, I have cramps in my whole body and most likely have turned blue.

I live in terror the entire flight that the person next to me will make a snide comment, that I'll have to go the bathroom, or that my legs will have to be amputated from lack of blood flow due to the arm rest digging into them.

I'm afraid the only option I see available to me is to have a much smaller butt three months from now.

But how?