I have two best girlfriends who I have known since junior high (about 19 years). I was 30lbs overweight at that time, and they were both very trim and popular with the boys. Still, we did everything together and had great times. They both had very stable and loving home lives, while mine was a horror show. My suffering became sort of our "thing".
Fast forward to now - I am still overweight (but working on it ) and both of these woman are very overweight - and gaining. Both are also having tremendous personal life issues which I know contribute to their weight gain. As the two of them continue to get bigger, I am getting smaller. Plus, I am happily married with two great kids, finishing up my advanced degree, searching for my dream job, and doing really well personally for the first time ever. And I feel guilty about it.
I can't help feeling that I'm throwing my hard work and good fortune in their face. And hopefully soon, I will no longer be the fat friend I always think of myself as - but will that oust me out of our friendship altogether? Do they NEED me to be the suffering fat friend?