Most embarrassing "big" moment
 

So I had to ride a long in the back of an ambulance the other night (I was not the patient) and I was too fat to buckle the seatbelt! I was mortified and joked about it, which I do a lot of in regards to weight issues. I have been doing well on IP 100%, and I know I need to continue at 100% so my weight is no longer a barrier!

I have had more than a few such moments! Good for you maintaining a positive attitude and staying strong! :D

Look at what you have already accomplished so far. You have found a program that works and have already began your journey. Your positive attitude will help lead you to success. I wish you success!!

This board and the people here are wonderful!

I've posted this before but what the heck I'll play along.

Oh so many embarrasing moments where to begin?

At a friend's extened family's home having a BBQ - the only seat is an old wood bench, I am always careful about where I sit and decline when it's offered. But the host insists - It holds me and my 3 kids is his assurance - I sit down and almost immediately the legs break on one side sending me rolling into the grass one way and my plate of food sailing through the air the other way.

Collapsing any folding chair that I happen to find myself seated in - always fun.

While I'm on the chair kick - nothing says fun like plopping yourself in a chair with arms - various parts of yourself spilling out/over the chair only to stand up and have the same chair stuck to your azz - awesome.

Numerous crotches torn out of pairs of pants - always at the most inopportune times.

On holiday and trying desparately to find some place that carries my clothing size to buy beach wear - sweat pants and a t-shirt is no fun in the sun and sand.

Huffing and puffing going up a flight of stairs and trying to have a conversation with your coworker. Who has a paniced look like she is searching for the nearest AED in case you are having the "big one".

Having to get out of or off an amusement ride because the lap belt won't go around you.

Speaking of lap belts - airline seats - a big mouth flight attendant announcing at full volume - "Sir you need to buckle your seatbelt" and when I say it doesn't fit around me she says even more loudly - "Then you need to be asking for an extension" with every eye in the plane now turned my way.

The moment of panic when you realize that you may have to take your shirt off for any reason.

I also have deep stretch marks on my torso - lucky me - years ago a big mouth college roommate asks me "what's with the racinig stripes on my upper body?" Then goes on to explain to all the others sitting at our table in the dining hall that I have stretch marks. -Got him back though - caught him mastuarbating in our room and made sure everyone in the dorm/university knew about it.

I've lost count of the number of times I've caught people watching what and how much I am eating while at restaurants. They seems to be wanting/expecting me to have a plate heaped beyond capacity and seem disappointed if it's only a regular size portion.

I've lost count of the number of times I've been subjected to both clumsy and brutally direct questions from people I don't know about how much I weigh.

Last year while visiting my parents we all went to their local town's restaurant for lunch. Sitting there is an elderly loud mouth former school teacher who takes one look at me and loudly announces in her crackly voice "Wow you sure have put on a lot of weight haven't you? With every head in the place now turned in my direction.

Went along clothes shopping with a thin friend and was told quite loudly by the peon staff working in the store that they don't carry my size. Yeah I figured that ding dong but why announce it to the world?

As I remember more I'll continue to add them.

I'm finally at a point in my life where remembering these things helps motivated me to stay on plan instead of medicating with food like I've done in the past.

Was bound to happen...I teach little ones: in the past two years, I've gained about 20lbs. So guess what? Yep, a little sweetie asked me if I was going to have a baby, I said no, and she probed: then why is your belly so big? I had to answer right??? We do teach them to be critical thinkers...I swallowed my pride and simply said, well I guess I eat too much junk food and not enough healthy food. This story wouldn't be so poingnant without this: 2 kids asked me the same question that day. 2. Eye opener much!!! Out of the mouth of babes...

Newday: been there, done that! Years ago, when I worked with older kids (K-5), I had one fifth grader tactlessly suggest that maybe I would look pretty if I lost weight. Last school year, one of my preschoolers matter-of-factly said, "You have a big belly". I did pretty much the same thing you did, told him I eat too much bad food and it made my stomach too big.

I totally hear you and understand. If I didn't joke/laugh I'd cry - sometimes I'd cry later. I was asked to go with the team from work to various events and car pool always brought fear into my veins. My car being two door I rarely was able to drive others, and I didn't fit into others cars or if I did the seat belts didn't fit (aka I didn't fit the seat belts). I would try and back out of the invitation or drive myself (find an excuse to have to drive myself) or if stuck with carpooling in someone else's car put on the belt and then just hold it across me in the back seat so nobody would notice I couldn't buckle it for a short ride. Our own cars it was more comfortable to buy a seat belt extender. I purchased my own seat belt extender for the airline, and made sure the plane type used the type of extender I had, etc. I fell out of my office chair reaching for something on the ground because I just couldn't bend, the team saw me do it. Going to a restaurant - hoping we didn't get a small booth where I couldn't fit, etc.

We are the same height, and I started out a bit heavier than you - take a look at the progress photos (click my name, view public profile) - that was in around 7 months. It seems so far away looking forward, but looking back it was in the blink of an eye. I need to update the photos again. I am in misses size 16 jeans now, from a womans size 30. I fit in the air plane seat with room to spare a few weeks ago, and the tray worked rather than resting on top of my stomach. I have had to move the car seat up to reach the wheel more comfortably now (less of a fat bottom girl, sits back further in the seat).

You are doing wonderful. Keep it up! The memories of the past will help us remember where we came from, and help us not go back there.

I've had a young niece ask me, right in front of the entire family one Christmas day, "Do you have a baby in there?" She was poking at my belly the entire time. :o

Worst one though was when I was one of the last getting on a Southwest flight. As far as the eye could see, nothing but middle seats were open. I kept walking, searching and hoping that there would be something in the back. I could see the eyes of people pretending to look down, but really watching to see that I didn't turn into their row. Finally, I got to the back row and had to squeeze between the two people on each end. They looked so disgusted. One sighed loudly with frustration. No one made any room. I had no arm rest. I sat with my arms folded across my chest, holding my elbows, for the entire flight. When I finally stood up, my chest was so cramped up, I thought I was having a heart attack. I didn't care. If I was having a heart attack, I wasn't going to admit it to anyone around me. I walked through the entire airport feeling like I couldn't breathe and all the way out to the car where I was finally able to sit and stretch out and relax while my chest uncramped. I can't say I ever laughed about it. In fact, I cried my eyes out and still don't really like to think about it in detail, but maybe it's time to unpack these things and put them away.

((hugs)) to all. How wonderful to have a place to share these things with people who understand.

Ahh the pregnancy questions. Three times for me. I do have a beer/wine gut. Stomach is where it shows most on me. Once was asked by nephew who was 10. Okay can get over that. Just new into a job covering a girls maternity leave was introduced to a truck driver in front of about 8 twenty something mechanics (I am 35 so older than the crew anyway) and this 50ish truck driver asked me if I was also expecting. Nice! The other time I was already pregnant with last baby only about 4 months along and another mechanic, again a 50 + man who I worked with for over a year at this point asked if I was about 7 or 8 months along. Again in front of a lunch table full of younger mechanics. Pretty humiliating. What is with these older men? Don't they know better by now? A guy should never as a girl unless he KNOWS.

Yeah, I've gotten that pregnancy thing in the past, too. I once heard a comedian say you should never ask a woman if she is pregnant unless she is acutally in labor. Good advice, I say!!

One New Years I went to sit on a friend's bed while we were all chatting, and wouldn't you know, the damn thing broke! Super embarrassing, they kept telling me they were about to buy a new bed anyways.

While at a bon fire with friends, I was standing and they told me to take a seat in one of the folding chairs. I did and everything was fine. When I got up, discovered the legs were all bent and crazy. To my defense, it was an old chair though :-/

And yes, I've had pregnancy comments. While working with seniors, I had one male ask how far along I was. I explained that I wasn't pregnant, just fat. Awkward!

I know it's not the point of your story, but I wanted to add something. Everyone that has sat in either the aisle seat or the window seat with no one in the middle is ALWAYS hoping that the middle seat will remain empty. I just wanted to point this out..... Even if you were "skinny minnie" walking down the aisle with only empty middle seats left, everyone is hoping you don't pick their row. Hopefully, this view point might take a little of the sting of your horrible memory. :hug::hug::hug:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

These stories make me so sad :( I guess they can be cathartic, though!

Let's promise each other that we will do our best to replace our sad/embarrassing memories with just as many (or more) pleasant memories when we are at more comfortable body weights and do things that we'd never imagined we'd ever be able to do (before or again).

And most importantly, when we encounter others that are overweight and in situations where they have just done something embarrassing, let's be the ones who give them a hand, a nod, a smile, a touch, a hug - anything to show we understand (and that we too have been there). Hopefully, just that one person responding and showing that we are all human and that each of us does matter will make the difference in the memory that they keep.

I check when I get my boarding pass the day before is anyone has booked the middle seat... it builds my hopes there will be more room, but lately it's always crushed to hear "we have a full flight folks, we can check any carry on items for you here". Great point JenRem!

There was a thread about someone starting or trying to start a movement to wear a bracelett - basically as a symbol to say I wasn't always this size... let me see if I can find it....http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...ort-women.html I just bumped it up.

I laughed at this and I'm talking couldn't catch my breath laughter, but once at a friend's cookout, I sat on this sort of delicate looking bench that someone much smaller than me had just vacated and it broke into a million pieces. I just laid there and laughed because it was so hilariously outrageously embarassingly funny to me.

Having a breakdown and trying to hide in the middle of a store because I was balling my eyes out. It was the 4th store my mother took me to that day trying to find a dress for senior prom. I couldn't find any that fit. I will NEVER forget that.
Most recently it would be me shying away from fair rides because the last one we went I really wanted to ride something but I could buckle the safety belt. That sucked. But a few more pounds down and I plan to go zip lining :) wooohooo!

Oh....I can so relate to many of your comments. Airplanes, seatbelts in other peoples cars, avoiding taking shoes/socks off, careful where I sit, booths at restaurants, awkward questions, fair and amusement park rides, etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc ....

I am changing my situation and hope to NEVER do those things to others. We cannot tell what a person's backstory is just by looking at them (skinny or fat).

I love it that some of you are adding a good story or future goal to the embarrassing moments.

My embarrassing moment - Christmas concert for my child, packed room (of course) I left for a minute and came back to my isle seat in the middle of the room, not on the outer edge but right smack in the middle. I sat down to the welds breaking on the metal chair and a huge crash noise of the chair crumbling to the ground. I stood up very quickly stating "well, I guess no dainties for me tonight". They brought me a new chair but I really didn't want to sit on it in front of everyone watching. I was sure praying that the welds would hold me on this one.

New replaced moment - being offered a small vest as the first vest handed out for a diving group and it was in front of the group.

Of course the difference was 200 people, many who knew me, bad moment to 10 people, who didn't know me, good moment but I will take what I can. ;)

Have a great day everyone!

I am encouraged by your weight loss, you look amazing!

I hadn't planned on telling this story but maybe it will help me over this mental hump I've been battling. I got married in 2011. My husband has 2 girls. The 19 year old moved in with us. I had tried very hard to bond with her (we hadn't spent very much time together before the wedding). One day she brought the new boyfriend home to meet us and after some general convo he ask "are you finding out what the twins are?" Long story short she had been joking at work that I was "fat enough to be carrying twins" And he genuinely thought I was preg with twins. Needless to say my husband went off on her she appologized but it hurt me to my core!

:-) I am inspired by everyone here. It's a such a great place to get encouragement. Thank you.

My pet peeve- people calling me "big guy". Drove me nuts, it's as though they couldn't see past my obesity (no pun intended).

Kids are cruel...but your stepdaughter takes the cake :(

@newday.... Yea I usually can take the insults laugh them off and cry privately later but this one was just mean. I try my best to make it motivation but I don't think can ever put the effort into the relationship like I did before. She has since moved out so not having to see her is easier for me. She now lives in another state so I'd like to think when she sees me after goal Ill feel like "haha showed you" but at the same time I feel like she may feel like my loss is due to credit of her. Just a lot of mixed emotions there.

...you've all inspired me...I don't usually share these things...

I was taking a safety course and it required a specialized suit. The usual suit didn't fit me, ok it did but I couldn't move in it (I would have split it). So one of the instructors quietly came over to me and said "I think we have something that will fit you how tall are you" (he was actually whispering) so I told him and I thought "wow, he's very nice, how gentle and sweet is that". So then I put on my suit.

Now picture this. I'm the only one in this particular suit. We're all standing in a circle getting ready to hear what we're going to learn next. So there are approximately 30 of us in the circle. So the 'gentle/sweet' guy steps into the middle of the circle and announces (with a very raised voice so everyone would stop chatting)..."Can I have your attention EVERYONE, if you have someone who doesn't fit the XX suit you can put them in the X suit" and pointed directly at me. The entire class all turned and looked at me!!! Not one person said a word, they all stared and there was this awkward silence. Each and every ONE of them...all 58 eyes from the students and 5+ instructors!!...I just looked around and said (with a laugh) "OK...!!!....everyone stop looking at the chubby one!!! and then laughed. I brushed it off with a laugh....but I was mortified, crushed and embarrassed...and I thought he was being gentle.

I was tired of making jokes about my weight, to help people and me not feel awkward about it.

New moment (there are many now).....but the day I was engaged, about an hour after the VIP asked me (after the shock wore off)...it occurred to me that I could try on ANY wedding dress in the store(s). I'd have more then one option to try on and I wouldn't have to 'guess' at what looked good on me. :)

Her behavior was beyond cruel BUT maybe since you were the newbie in the house she would've found something no matter what to be mean about. I'm sure it doesn't help but with a person like that it's a no-win. You might have to try to kill em with kindness.

I don't know about embarrassing - I was more livid with anger and hate at this one.

Moved to Florida, was out trying to meet as many headhunters as I could so I could get a job and this one witch looked me up and down and said "Well, it's obvious you haven't been saying no to the brownies."

I very calmly replied - Madame (she was about 15 years older than my 38) "it is obvious you value different things than I. Since you were so rude as to stare at my clothes, shoes and handbag before making such a rude comment, I feel I need to inform you that my shoes alone cost more than everything you have on, including your jewelery. I refuse to submit myself to such vileness and we will not be doing business together." Then I got up, walked out and drove my car off.... I got about 2 blocks away before I had to pull over because I was crying so hard I couldn't see. How could anyone be so willingly vicious?

Now she wants to be my friend on facebook and will help me look for a job since I have "whittled myself into a new person"

I just politely replied that I prefer not to have posionious people in my life in any capacity.

Current Weight - 188

Yes, she was mean. Hopefully, it is something she will not continue as she matures in life. Some people are just mean and I think sometimes they just kind of don't know better (such as what's appropriate to say out loud vs. a thought that should never be spoken) or don't have a good filter.
I've been overweight since Jr. High. I didn't become obese until early/mid-twenties. One of my uncles had made comments out loud to me alone or around other people about my weight while I was growing up. Nothing super cruel as I can't recall any specific statements, but comments that make me dislike this part of him. Now, many years later he has gained weight (due to medical conditions, age and overeating - doesn't have that super metabolism he had when he was young and didn't realize how lucky he was lol!) He has never offered a real apology. I don't think he'd know how to do a proper one even if he felt bad enough to do so. Which I don't think would've ever occurred to him because I never let him know that the comments long ago hurt me. I believe in his own way he's apologizing by making statements about how he now realizes how hard it is to lose weight.
I think many skinny/thin people who've never had to struggle with weight/gaining weight have no clue what it's really like for us who have. I assume (and we all know I shouldn't do that, right?) that those thin people think most of us are "fat" because we eat too much and are lazy! When in reality, we know it's 1000% (I meant one thousand, not one hundred) more complicated than that!

So, happy for you. I'm not a crier, but almost reached for the box of kleenex! :hug: Please, share with us a picture of THE dress when you get it; would love to see how radiant you look anc celebrate with you!

WOW! Okay, I'm going to date myself and some of you young people will not know what I'm talking about lol! I would describe you as Carla from the TV sitcom "Cheers". She is the actress Rita Perlman (married [still] to Danny Devito). I loved her character because she was always so quick witted with responses back to people (and usually sarcastic to boot). Whereas, I'm the one who walks away after having someone say something rude/insulting to me - shocked and hurt. And it's days later that I think, "I should have said...... such and such" as my response. How, I'd like to go back in time and replay so I would be ready and could say MY line, lol!
Good for you for standing up for yourself. With rude people like that, I feel that's probably the only way they will understand that what they just said was NOT appropriate.
And I'm so glad that you got the opportunity to discount her again in your lifetime, by refusing her to work with your, now that your appearance has become more "acceptable" to her.
These are the type of people that I really hope encounter the other side of Karma and the sooner the better! :hug:Jen

BTW, at age 40 - I'm getting better at standing up for myself and although I may not have the most witty response, I don't let the person get away without me telling them how inappropriate they've just been.

Me too!