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Dear Thin Friend,
I want to talk to you about what it feels like for me when we go out to eat, since I know our experiences are really different. Dining out and exploring a new restaurant may feel casual, though it certainly doesn’t feel that way for me. There are so many factors to consider when taking a super fat to a new place. And I want to go! I really do. I can’t wait to accompany you at that new hole-in-the-wall cafe where they say the scones are to die for. But first, lets talk about what goes through my mind when we try a new place.
Seating
“What is the seating like?” This is likely my first question. Are there booths or tables? Assuming the booths are too small for my glorious belly, I’ll need a table with chairs. Unless the tables of the booths are movable, which is a toss up because sometimes they are directly connected to the wall and I do not want to have to squeeze myself in. I still haven’t gone back to Red Robin after the embarrassment of cramming myself into a booth only to find I couldn’t breathe and had to relocate.
Oh, there are tables. Great. But how are the chairs? Are they sturdy? Or is there a chance of the chair breaking like that time at the pool with my family and friends where the plastic lawn chair crumbled beneath me? I’d like to feel secure. My thighs and ankles need rest after I had to put most of my body weight on them while seated at the last restaurant we went to, where the chairs were unreliable.
Spatial Reasoning
Can I even move through the restaurant? How tightly packed are the tables? Are the aisles roomy? Will my hips and rolls be brushing by people’s faces as I am lead to my seat? I would be mortified if I end up knocking over chairs and drinks on my way to our table.
The bathrooms. Is it a onesie? Or are there multiple stalls? Is there an accessible stall or are they all so tiny that my shoulders touch the walls? Can I reach the toilet paper underneath the dispenser or is it so tightly lodged between my thigh and the wall that its just a lost cause? Do I have to straddle the toilet in order to close and latch the door? Perhaps I’ll just wait for the bathroom until I get home.
Facing General Judgement
I must be seated around the edges of the establishment. I wont be able to concentrate on spending time with you if we are sitting in the center of the restaurant. The truth is no matter where I go, people will stare at me. Sometimes they try to keep their judgments to themselves so they’ll look away when I’ve caught them. Other times they just have fun with it and gawk. It’s not unheard of for people to take photos to mock me with their friends. Lets reduce the chances of this happening by finding comfortable seating on the boarder if possible.
Just Straight Up Eating
Being fat and eating in public is a risk in itself. Being a confident fatty and enjoying food in public is actually radical. I know that people look at me and believe I should quit eating altogether. But their judgment is trivial and harmful. It encourages shame and disordered eating for fat folks and I won’t stand for it. I’ll continue to eat and nourish my body in whatever manner I choose. But I want you to know that I am acutely aware of how people will see me. I’m not sure if this has ever crossed your mind.
Thin Allies
My hope is that you’ll help me in this. I know you care about me and want me to feel safe and have a fun time with you. Now that you know all of the potential issues that flood my mind when asked to go somewhere new, will you help minimize them? Can you check into the venue beforehand? Will you be able to park closely so that the walk isn’t too tiresome for me? Can you commit to taking the burden off of me when asking for accessible and comfortable seating?
These establishments were made with your body in mind – not mine. So, I need your thin privilege and ally-ship on my side. I need you to advocate for me in times when I am so tired of having to worry about all of these factors on my own. I wish for the anxiety to be minimal.
Can you do this for me? Can you help me feel safe to explore the world with you?
Forever Grateful,
A Super Fat
19 Comments
Seriouly almost cried! Im a social butterfly with clipped wings. My thin friends although friends for about 8 yrs now still dont think of sny of this exception of one . Even my husbands family still never considers any of this. I sometimes feel trapped in a thin world!
Thank you for reading Evie, I’m so glad you connected with this.
Ive reached this point. Where I look for tables instead of booths and pray my entire butt fits on it. In my beloved Chiropractor’s office every chair has arms and comes up with me when I leave. But I know Im not the only sufferer so I tell my sweet front office gal. Please, if you could. Get some chairs without arms because us big bottomed people need the room. It never occurred to them and she’s ordering a few chairs. I give up on not speaking up because Im tired of not being thought of.
That is SO good that you’re speaking up. More of us who are comfortable and confident to do so really should. I will commit to start notifying places like this too!
Omg you put words to how I’ve felt most of my life. Thank you
So happy to be helpful<3
Several years ago on Black Friday, my then-husband and I went to a national chain restaurant for breakfast as we waited for another store to open.
There was a brief wait to be seated. A woman in the middle of the restaurant turned to gawk at me, in all my superplus glory.
I had enough. As we were being taken to our table, I detoured to the gawker’s table. I looked her in the eye and asked if she wanted a picture. She sat there with her mouth open. No words came out.
I hope that I broke her from her atrocious behavior.
How bold of you! I love it. I will definitely be moving toward that kind of response in the future.
You’ve put into words,what I’ve always thought about.
Thank you for putting this out into the world.
Thank you for talking about subjects that are just not discussed. Including amongst those of us that understand. Even if we are comfortable with our size doesn’t mean the day to day is easy for us. How many times a day do we have to think or rethink our plans because of our size? It is definitely up to us to give ourselves and others the opportunity to talk, share and understand our perspective. It is the only way to educate and help all of us put to bed another taboo subject that has outlived its time.
Julia, thanks for reading. Im glad it was meaningful to you. Im trying to talk about all the things that are taboo within the fat community to talk about. Let me know if there are specific things youd like to read more about!
Whenever I do Disney dining reviews, I get shots of the chairs and also try out the booths on camera if I can. But you brought up a couple of important things I haven’t been covering — if there is space to move between tables and what the rest rooms are like. I will be adding this information to future dining reviews.
My wife and I were just having a conversation about this not even 20 minutes before I stumbled upon your blog! You’ve taken the words right out of my mouth and written them way more eloquently than I would have!
My wife and I face this struggle regularly as bigger ladies. Wouldn’t it be so refreshing if we could actually enjoy a dinner out without first worrying if the seating will accommodate us? Wishful thinking for now I guess ?
Keep the great posts coming!
There is something seriously wrong with anyone who would take a picture of you for their amusement. I’m so sorry you have had that experience.
??? Had to cram into a booth with my family on my birthday, easily one of the worst birthdays I’ve had! And to make it worse my family didn’t even care!
So raw, honest and vulnerable. Thank you for writing this.
thanks for reading and supporting <3
I really related to this – thin people have no idea how much anxiety there is related to a booth vs a table, or the fact that “fancy” places want fancy, uncomfortable chairs… even my medium-sized friends find them just right, never mind 150 additional pounds! I’m not saying I want the world to change for me, but I would so appreciate my friends understanding what’s in this post.
I feel like this was coming directly from my own thoughts and worries. I have been struggling with depression and anxiety so much that going out in public, ESPECIALLY going out to eat, causes panic attacks half the time. My husband loves to go out to eat and doesn’t understand why taking me to a Chinese buffet makes me feel uncomfortable. And when I ask him to get up and get me more food, it isn’t because I am lazy but because I am too embarrassed of my own body and I know that people are watching me and judging. I try to model self-confidence for my children, because I do not want them to struggle with the same things I have and I show them how to eat healthy. I have become the queen of ordering in. I don’t even grocery shop anymore, I have my groceries delivered to my house to avoid the embarrassment of being a 350-pound woman