I got a HUGE Promotion Today
There might be some discrimination involved, but in your case it also might be they saw your ability to lose 150 pounds as a sign you're capable of successfully executing a very difficult task. We know the statistics on dieting, and most people, including your bosses, know when someone "goes on a diet" it won't last for very long.
They could just see your weight loss as a sign that you're capable of doing something that is very very hard to do, and thus have the ability to perform other difficult tasks that might be required in your new position.
It's not quite the same situation as where you were someone they didn't know applying for a position. In that case, discrimination of obesity might play a bigger role.
At any rate, congratulations on the new body, and the new job!
Sorry, I know I am a woman and not "supposed" to be on this site but I was just looking to see if guys experience the same kind of things that women do and it looks like you do.
First congratulations on your promotion. And like you said you really want to believe your promotion was all becase of your merit but in life all things are not fair and yes some of it may be based on your weight loss and your boss liking that you took this step to help improve yourself so he thinks you will be a good asset to the company.
I faced the same thing when I was overweight at my job - I worked with a bunch of brokers and one day one of them said "Do you think you can do this job, I mean it does not look like you are able to get out of the chair fast enough if I yell for you".... Needless to say that was the straw that broke the camels back, I quit that job got another job, had my weight loss surgery and now I have an even better paying job that than one and I went back to my old job not long ago and went in asked the broker if he could get out of his chair fast enough to give me a hug.
Sorry so long I know you guys don't have a long attention span....
CONGRATULATIONS!!!