The Terror of the Airplane Seat

I am sitting in the Alaska Airlines lounge waiting for my flight to board.  It's delayed. As AV would say, Le sigh. I am, however, so unbelievably happy to realize that I am no longer terrorized by the airplane seat. Before RNY I would dread flights, and travel with my own seat belt extender to avoid the humiliation of having to ask for one. I would obsess about the location of my seat, who would be next to me, and feel super self conscious, sure everyone was judging me.

Post RNY, and over 100 pounds down, the airline seat has lost its power over me. I no longer dread flights, don't care what seat I sit in, and have officially retired the seat belt extender.  I don't spill over into the next seat, lift the arm rest with my hip or have the tray crammed against my tummy. 

While there have been so many wonderful moments since this journey began, I have to say that this is one of my favorites. It is remarkable. Life is remarkable.

For those of you just beginning your journey, you have so much to look forward to. Enjoy it. The journey is half the fun.

Maryann

I'm a big traveller and this is something that I am SO looking forward to. I'm not even lying that I have chills right now for you! I've paid lots of money for first class tickets so I didn't have to deal with it when I was just having an OMG I cannot deal with the embarrassment anymore year.

Congrats on a huge achievement :)

Oh wow! Congratulations! I am a frequent flyer too, and this is high on my list of goals/NSV's I'm looking forward to.  

OMG!  I sooooo totally know what you mean!  I could've written your post myself.  I flew on Alaska from San Diego to Seattle and back last September, when I was at my highest weight.  Going there I was lucky and got upgraded to First Class for the first time in my life - it was fabulous.  But coming back was probably the worst 3.5 hours in my life.  I was in the first row behind First Class and the arm rests do not lift up in that row.  I was with my Mom (she's thin), and it would've been okay if we could've lifted the arm rest and I could've shared part of her seat, but nope.  Didn't happen.  I was literally jammed into that seat at almost 300 pounds and it was horrifying.

Now I look back at that day and know it was my last "fear of flying" day.  Since I've lost over 60 pounds, I imagine my current self in that very same seat, only sitting with a 5-lb Sparkletts Water bottle and two gallons of milk on my lap/under my butt (60 pounds of liquid).  

I'm far from thin yet, and I'm tall so leg room is always a problem, but I'll never be that squashed in girl ever again.

Thanks for you post, it was fun to read and I'm so happy for you!!

You'll be surprised at how much extra legroom you will have. I'm 5'7" and I can now cross my legs in the seat. No knees squished up against the seat in front of me. 

I am so happy for you.  This is one of the things I am also looking forward to post surgery.  Since putting on more weight I have dreaded taking any vacations or flying to see family (to let them meet my 1 year old son) because flying has become so anxiety provoking for me.  I am not a super great traveler as it is, but feeling self conscious and anxious and nervous because of my size does not help things.

Congratulations!!

Maryann, 

Thank you for your post. This year traveling to Costa Rica at my highest weight, I couldn't get the seat belt buckled on 2 of the 3 flights. I was so embarrassed and this is what prompted me to finally get serious about having the surgery. 

I am 4 days post-op and needed another reminder of why I chose to do this. 

A flight is what also sent me over the tipping point for surgery. It wasn't the first time but something hit me and I wrote my Mom an email telling her how I wanted to have surgery and following that trip she offered to help me pay for it. Life changing trip 2 years ago in July.

I'm flying for the first time post WLS next month and my biggest fear now is forgetting my special butt pillow lol! Hello tailbone, ouch!

I hear you!  I travel a lot and it is sooooo much different as a normal sized person.  I could actually get out of my seat while the tray table was down!!!  Whoa.  :)