Fat 2 Fit #75 – Travelers of Size
Written on September 26, 2009 – 12:11 pm | by Russ Turley
If you’re a large person, whether or not you’re losing weight, have you been scared when getting onto an commercial airliner. In the pit of your stomach you’re worried that you might take up more than one seat. In today’s feature section we talk to Steve Klassen. He had a situation recently where his size became an issue when getting on a Southwest Airlines flight.
We had some great questions and comments come in for this show. Calum emails and can’t eat all the calories that we’re suggesting. When you are eating “real” food instead of the highly processed and caloric dense food, it can seem like you’re eating constantly to get all the calories that you should into your body. Hamish wrote in about doing cardio to stop your body from going into a “starvation mode”. Stopping your body from going into starvation mode requires one thing, don’t starve. Mike writes in about reconditioning his brain when he was indulging in a cheat meal. And finally Maryanne updates us on her quitting the Phentermine. It almost cost Maryanne her job.
In the Web Report, Jeff shares two items. One is a weight loss simulator for women that any and all husbands should stay away from. He also has an article from Men’s Health that details a great week of eating for not much money. Russ found an article about running without all the cushioning in the shoe. It requires a different type of stride and not striking the ground with the heel. Runners chime in whether this type of shoe and running style will work for you.
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Geekfit: Too Fat to Fly
Southwest Airlines: Customers of Size
Run better by ditching your Nikes
Southwest Airlines passenger turned away at the gate
Weight loss simulator: men dont’ try this at home
10 meals from Men’s Health
Recipe of the Week:
Spinach Frittata
Homework:
The homework this week is to do an urban hike. Most of us travel the exact same streets day after day. Your goal is to explore on foot any streets, parks, paths or areas fairly close to where you live. Any place within a half hour of home that you haven’t been by in a few months, take a stroll past. You might just discover some nice areas that you might want to walk or jog by in the future. Just having a simple goal of exploration can burn calories. One more thing, if you discover a hill or a good set of stairs, make sure that you throughly explore them – sometimes it takes a few passes up and down…
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Tags: customers of size, southwest, travel
16 Responses to “Fat 2 Fit #75 – Travelers of Size”
By Miriam on Sep 26, 2009 | Reply
Hi,
Just downloaded this podcast but before I listened, I checked out the links listed here and could not get the “Weight Loss Simulator” link to work…says invalid URL. Will do a google search anyhow!
By Andrew on Sep 27, 2009 | Reply
Let me preface this by saying I love your podcast and I have been listening forever. I was around 310 pounds and now I’m about 240 and on my way to my goal of 215. This certainly is due in part to your podcast.
I can’t believe your opinions on this flying issue. If you are 5′ 10” 370 you need to buy an extra ticket. How the heck does the logic of ‘I’m fat and if you sit next to me it was your choice’ work? Because the person was late to the plane they should penalized?? They didn’t pay a ‘sit next to a fat person’ price. And you never once mentioned when you were feeling sorry for him that THIS IS ALL HIS FAULT. He has to be eating something like 4,000 calories to maintain that size. Take responsibility for stuffing your own face, that’s what I did.
And by the way, I had the same opinions when I was 310. When I would travel it would be with at least another person and I would make sure that I got the aisle or the window and the person I was traveling with was in the middle. And you could argue that this guy is traveling alone, that’s fine, it just means he needs to buy another ticket.
Another thing, you mentioned that people are getting larger and so they are making furniture larger etc. so they need to make the seats in planes larger. Flying is a choice in this country. You do not have to fly, you don’t even have to fly a certain airline, and you can even buy first class (btw, he was wrong about Delta first class. It is different on different types of aircraft and on the majority of aircraft the seat is much wider). My point is because you got so fat you can’t fit in a seat doesn’t mean the airline should fix that problem, IT MEANS YOU SHOULD FIX THAT PROBLEM. Take some responsibility for own actions, it seems like this entire country doesn’t want to do that. And if the country does get so fat that there is enough demand then there would be a discount airline called XL Air or something like that. It will form to service the demand of all the obese people.
By Russ Turley on Sep 27, 2009 | Reply
@Miriam Weight loss simulator link is fixed.
By Tim on Oct 2, 2009 | Reply
Hi Guys,
I have a non-biased, 100% consistent analytical way to approach the travelers of size issue.
Prior to boarding, have all passengers walk through a doorway that is the same width of the airplane seats. If they can’t easily fit through the doorway, then they have to pay for two seats.
The airlines have measuring devices for carry on luggage, so they should apply the same logic here.
This obese airline passenger issue is very symbolic of a MUCH MUCH bigger issue in our society when it comes to obesity, its cost, and how it affects everyone.
In the very rare event that I go to a place like Olive Garden, I just cringe, as the majority of the people in that restaurant are obese, to morbidly obese. They come in, and consume huge 1,800 calorie meals, loaded with sodium and saturated fat. I know that it will be my tax dollars that end up paying for their joint replacements, and artery bypasses. I know that when they fly, they will either spill way over into my personal space, or that part of my ticket cost could end up covering their extra seat.
Sure, I want to eat those same bad meals too, but I have the restraint, self control, knowledge, and long term vision to know that this will ultimately lead me down a wildly unhealthy path.
So why should part of my tax dollars pay for someone who has no self control when it comes to food, and the health issues they will face? Why should that person spill into my personal space on an airplane? Why shouldn’t an airline charge for an extra seat for this person?
In your podcast, we saw the affect it had on your caller. It became the catalyst needed for him to lose more weight.
With the state of our healthcare in this country today, and where it could be going, the healthy end up paying for the choices of the unhealthy. If all overweight people had to pay more for healthcare, or pay higher health care taxes, I can guarantee you we will see more obese people working to become healthy.
Volumes have already been written on this, and I could certainly go into more detail, but this is just my $.02.
For some background, I am a 30 year old IT professional, who travels quite frequently for work. I lost 50 pounds over a 1.5 year period, and have spent the past 2 years maintaining my body weight and shape. I live here in Eastern North Carolina, where you see a ton of barbeque, french fry, and hush puppy eating overweight people, so I’m probably more sensitive to these issues than someone who has always been thin and lives in an area like California.
In closing, as Andrew mentioned in his post, it is about taking personal responsibility. The lazy and mediocre love programs like Welfare, and organizations that “fight for the rights of fat people”. Why? Because it means you can keep eating what you want, or not working, and be taken care of.
Bottom line = If the obese have to pay more for certain things because they are obese, they will work to NOT be obese.
By Tim on Oct 2, 2009 | Reply
Also, here’s great article that pertains to Russ’ comment about amusement rides. I’ve recently started following this doctor and his writings:
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/weight-loss/disney-small-world-ride-a-casualty-of-the-obesity-epidemic/
By Russ Turley on Oct 2, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Tim. Great article on Small World. Interesting that Disney changed it’s ride to accommodate larger guests and the airline world still squeezes you into a 17″ wide seat. I guess Disney is just willing to do whatever it takes to take your money no matter what your size.
The article or another linked in it, also mentions that all the snacks in the park are carbohydrates laden. Churros, popcorn, ice cream, cotton candy, etc. I have to say that while that’s true, they do offer healthy snacks, if you want to pay $3.00 for an apple.
By Sue_L on Oct 3, 2009 | Reply
As a person of small stature (who has recently lost 60 lbs), I have experienced larger people sitting next to me and spilling over into “my” space. I have to say that I resent the idea that as a smaller person I am obligated to give up part of my seat to a larger person. I don’t agree with the “tetris” seating plan.
BTW: the airlines are trying to fit more people in each flight, because we all want low fares.
Overall I was not sympathetic to Steve. Sorry.
Sue L.
By Laura on Oct 10, 2009 | Reply
Here is a real story. I am small and as one doctor put it “height / weight appropriate”. I wasn’t always this way about three years ago put in some effort to lose weight, be healthier and be more physically active.
Also I am a consultant that make 1K status on United in 6 1/2 months.
Travelling full time is not easy to control your diet and exercise but it can be done.
A couple of years ago I was sitting next to a man that was morbidly obese (I am not being mean, by clinical definition that is what he was), I can’t venture to guess how much he weighted but it was pretty substantial. He could not put the arm rest down and he couldn’t contain himself in his seat. He ended up body pressing me from knee to shoulder. I couldn’t move over anymore … it was a nightmare. Within 10 minutes I went from being of a comfortable body temperature to sweating because he was hot and sweating … gross.
Frankly, I don’t really mind if people over-eat … it is their body and their life however, I do feel any encroachment that imposses on someone else is substantially rude.
The first commentor is correct. First class has wider seats both in the butt and in the shoulder area, it can be verified here at seatguru.com. And yes, I believe that man sitting next to me should have bought another seat.
I frequently have guys (not so much girls) touch a shoulder or bump me quite often but I am okay with that. We are in close quarters. But I vowed I would never sit next to a man / woman that could not put down that arm rest and contain themselves in their seat again.
Any why should the airlines charge everyone more for a ticket when those few should just get charged? Fair is fair, why would I pay for someone else’s problem? By the way, the infrequent time I do fly SWA … the big burly overweight guy always wants to sit next to me. Presumably to get the extra seat room that I am not using. Yes, I have tons of stories about this too. Life of a road warrior.
I am sorry Steve felt put out, especially since he can fit into his seat and is not that guy. But there are more people out there that are that guy and less considerate that Steve.
Thanks.
By Steven Klassen on Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
@Andrew – First of all, I appreciate your feedback on the whole situation; it’s helpful to see things from another perspective.
A few things:
“I can’t believe your opinions on this flying issue. If you are 5′ 10” 370 you need to buy an extra ticket. How the heck does the logic of ‘I’m fat and if you sit next to me it was your choice’ work?”
I tried to explain my particular dimensions on the show and it sounds like I wasn’t very successful. I’m not wide enough to “spill over” into someone else’s seat. I fit nicely into one seat, arm rests down. If I ended at the waist the person next to me would never know I was there. My mid-section extends out, not to the sides. I have to ask for a seat belt extender, but again, the person next to me isn’t affected.
Here’s the problem – my shoulders. If I sit with my arms alongside, I’m into the next person’s space. If I cross my arms, we’re back to zero involvement with the person next to me–but there’s also zero clearance between us.
If someone wants to sit there, I’ll do my best to make them comfortable, but my weight has nothing to do with the width of my shoulders. I carry my excess fat in my upper thighs and belly and most of my muscle in my arms and shoulders.
“Because the person was late to the plane they should penalized?? They didn’t pay a ’sit next to a fat person’ price.”
That was an unfair dig on my part–I have a pet peeve when it comes to punctuality. I’m always early, so I feel a twinge of “you deserve it” whenever I see someone running late enough to delay a plane. We didn’t do the show with a script, so candid responses are strewn throughout.
By Steven Klassen on Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
@Tim I agree with the pre-screening bit. It seemed a little too random for me and that was largely (pardon the pun) my problem with it. If they’re checking the weight/size of your carry-on to charge you beforehand, your physical size shouldn’t be a last-minute “gotcha” either.
By Steven Klassen on Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
@Laura I made A-List on Southwest on my last trip.
By Steven Klassen on Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
@Sue You must not have listened to entire story, then. I’m not the person spilling over into your seat. I’m the person who fits nicely into my own, does not cross over into your space, but was singled out to prove it.
Like Russ said, it’s a cautionary tale, nothing more.
By Steven Klassen on Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
@Andrew
“He has to be eating something like 4,000 calories to maintain that size. Take responsibility for stuffing your own face, that’s what I did.”
I can assure you I’m not eating 4k calories, but have had problems with overeating in a single sitting and eating the wrong foods.
I started at ~450 lbs and have lost over 150 lbs. It just takes work.