At one of my favorite restaurants they have very wiggly wooden chairs that creak when you sit on them. I would go from chair to chair trying to find one without a wiggle. It was usually pretty unfruitful. I would love it if I had the option of sitting on the wooden benches they have. Whenever I went to a restaurant I would always request a table and not a booth. I was screwed one day when I walked in to a local diner and asked for a table to find out they have chairs with arms and the arms dug in to my legs.
I was also afraid of fitting in certain seats, like at the movies or a sporting event. My legs would start to lose sensation after a while. When I sat in a regular movie or venue seat I would have wiggle in. I would have to move side to side slightly while sitting down. I would of course love stadium seating at a movie theater. I always would put the arm up on the side where nobody was sitting. Unless I was with Hubby, then it would be the opposite. Not matter what my arms usually would not go on the arm rests because I was so fat and at my highest my gut would prop me up.
As far as transportation, I would have to take my winter coat off to drive our car because the seat belt was so tight. Hubby would fall into the driver's seat after I drove because the car seat would be so far back, I used to like to take the train to see my Mother every year for her birthday. I don't do it anymore because my work schedule doesn't allow for it. I do love taking the train. Most of the time the train is quiet and you can sit alone so there's plenty of room. Well, at least once I had to share a seat with someone. I assume he was a college student and he didn't seem too thrilled to be sitting with me. This was probably some time in 2009. He got on in Schenectady and I was getting off in Albany. That was the longest 30 minute high speed train trip ever. One year I went to go up for my Mom's Birthday and I had to take the bus. Well, it wasn't very comfortable to say the least and that was just one of the many reasons I will never take the bus again, even thin. The last time I flew in a plane I was 308 lbs and it was very tight and uncomfortable so I didn't even think of flying at 385. I don't know how really overweight people can do it. Yes, there's buying an extra seat but that's expensive! It just can't be comfortable. I remember sitting with a lady on one of the parts of my last plane trip and I had the window seat. I had to get up to use the bathroom. Talk about awkward. If I remember correctly she got out of her seat to let me out and back in. She was a really nice lady though.
Didn't even try sitting in lawn chair or outdoor lounge chairs, unless they were completely plastic or the XXL type. Those have a weight rating of about 300 lbs, but I sat in it anyway. The bar below the front of the seat dug into my legs when I sat in it. I went to a "Alive @ Five" to see Bo Bice of American Idol fame in summerof 2008 and sat in that chair. It was painful.
I don't even want to go into sitting on the ground or floor but for the sake of being a completist I will.The last time I remember sitting on the ground close to my highest weight was July 2010.
Hubby and I at Cooperstown on Induction Day 2010
That was the day I attended my first Cooperstown Induction Ceremony. It was bucket list thing. It was also probably the first and last time I'll see one of my beloved Expos inducted in to the NBHOF. We didn't think we'd need our chairs so we didn't bring them. So, I sat on the ground that day. Granted, I had started to lose weight on my own in March of that year. Well, I had to sit back holding myself up with my hands. I could not sit straight up because I had to make room for my stomach. My stomach would literally push me back. I couldn't fold my legs in either. So that made my uncomfortable situation even more uncomfortable. I had to keep shifting around because I was so uncomfortable. There were many standing ovation moments so I had to keep standing up and sitting down and that was a huge production. I can only imagine the view the people behind me got.
Getting buckled in to the Comet
Sitting in an amusement park ride was unthinkable and that's the love of my life, riding roller coasters. If it wasn't for the Great Escape employee whom helped me buckle my belt in October of 2011 when I rode a roller coaster for the first time in six years I might not have been able to buckle the seat belt myself.
So yeah. The more I lose the more I can't believe it was that bad. I really wasn't living.
More life at 385 to come. Sorry it took so long to get this one published.
