Conference rocks::weight_control

421.0. "HELP! No more winter coats!" by BOXTOP::FIELDS () Thu Mar 23 1989 16:32

    I don't know about anyone else, but this time of year makes me more
    nervous than the holidays!  The moment of truth will soon be upon
    us - no more coats!
    
    I've spent the past 6 months comfortably conceiled in my ankle length
    down coat.  I was free to go anywhere and eat anything as long as
    I was safely hidden inside.  No one knew I was fat - until last
    night!
    
    I was at home, depressed with nothing in the house to eat.  This
    means one thing - off to the store for the usual form of entertainment.
    
    My 5 year old daughter and I were walking around the store, minding
    our own business when we passed a Hispanic couple.  He said a few
    words in Spanish after passing me.  Well, I've had more than enough
    Spanish class in my lifetime to be very familiar with the word "gorda".
    I'm sure every fat person knows this word!
    
    At first it really didn't register, but then I was in chock, was
    he talking about me?  And then I wasn't sure if I heard it right,
    and anyway why would he care enough about me to mention it to his
    overly thin wife.  They thought because they were speaking in Spanish
    that I wouldn't understand them and they could say what they wanted.
    
    I was shocked and mad, to upset to think of anything mean to say
    back in Spanish.  So, I'm walking down this long aisle of the frozen
    food section, it's all glass and I'm trying to get a good look at
    my backside.  Did I really look that fat?  I realized the coat that
    I always thought hid me so well now made me look like an overweight
    astronaught in an inflated spacesuit!  Or maybe the Staypuff man
    from Ghost Busters...
    
    Just then this horrible feeling came over me, wow, if he thinks
    I'm fat maybe other people do too!  I looked around the store, I
    felt everyone's eyes focusing on my rear end, oh no....they, they,
    they were all weighing me mentally!!
    
    Do people really see me that way?  Just because no one else has
    said anything to my face, do they think, "wow, look at her".  Do
    people only notice me for my - body composition?  I've never felt
    uncomfortable in the store before, I always just did my thing and
    no one ever bothered me before.  
    
    Then I had a worse feeling - Oh no, not that, it couldn't be....
    Was my secret out?  Did the other people in the store know I was
    there to get....food?  Did they think I got this way by...eatting?
    Did they think I was buying stuff that would make me even...fatter?
    I felt completely naked and exposed, I wanted to run, but there
    was nowhere to hide!  I've made getaways before, one time leaving
    a filled cart in the cookie aisle as I made a dash for the nearest
    exit!  This was after spotting at least 3 people that I had attended
    WW with, one was even a cashier!  I just couldn't take the pressure.
    
    But not this time, I decided they weren't going to chase me out.
    I boldly made my way over to the milk section and made sure everyone
    was looking as I put a carton of skim milk in my cart!
    
    I then came out of my shock and began to scan the store frantically
    for fellow fattys.  Just as I suspected - they were everywhere.
    I was safe!  I wasn't the only devotee to the art of eatting in
    this store, there were many other colleagues all around me.  Suddenly
    I felt reassured, we were actually the majority!  The rude thin
    people were the minority.  I suddenly gained momentum as I cut off
    every thin person who crossed my path, "Out of my way skinny!"
    
    I justified my devotion to this art as having the necessary funds
    for this obsession, after all it sometimes takes quite an investment
    to keep this appreciation going.  The thin people probably spent
    it on stupid things like cars, or clothes!
    
    Oh well, I peaked around the corner to see the original rude thin
    person in the check out line.  I decided to make another unnecessary
    pass through the bread aisle to give him more time to leave.  Half
    of me wanted to pass by and give him a look that would be understood
    in any language and the other half just wanted to make a getaway
    with the goods.                                                   
    
    I chose the latter.  I scanned the check out lines and finally found
    comfort in a fellow fatty who was a cashier.  Great!  One of us
    was on the *inside*!  I blew off 2 thin people in a mad dash to
    get into her line - made it!   My comfort was greatly increased
    as another fellow member came into line behind me, I was safe with
    one on each side of me.  I finally felt peace knowing I could safely
    leave without either of them judging the investment that lay in
    my cart!
    
    Marilee

Marilee, thanks SO much for the laugh!  I couldn't help but notice your
last name...any connection with the cookie queen?

Liz :-).

    Actually, I do have a sister-in-law named Debbie Fields, still no
    relation though.  Cookies are too dangerous for me anyway, could
    you imagine having access to an unlimited supply of chocolate chip
    cookies?

	My brother spent one summer driving an ice cream truck.  Can you
	imagine having Mr. GoodHumor parked in your driveway every night?
	I was about 10 at the time; my recollection is actually that I
	didn't do too badly with it, since we had to reimburse him at cost
	for what we ate (only fair -- he was earning college money).

	Beverly

	PS: I know the feeling in .0 of thinking everyone must be staring
	    at you.  Not fun att all.

    Marilee, you are hysterical!! I was laughing my a__ off reading
    that!!!!  Ufortunately, I know exactly how you feel.  The feeling
    that someone is checking out my "wide load" rear end is always there.
    No matter if I'm at work, in a store.....anywhere!!  
    
    Oh well....I guess I better just get rid of this excess baggage
    if I'm ever to feel totally comfortable in public......
    
    See Ya!!
    
    Did you ever consider becoming a writer?? You are GREAT!!

    But, are you laughing on the outside and crying on the inside?
    
    Some overweight people try to make others believe that they don't
    really care about being overweight by making jokes about their
    situation.  If you are truly happy being overweight then this probably
    does not apply to you.