Will my work accept me if I become very fat and obese?!
Question:
Will my work accept me if I become very fat and obese?
I am a valued contributor at work and also viewed as a leader. Lately I have become much larger (I have put on 100 pounds in the last two years) and now weigh 375. My size does not affect my work and I plan to continue getting larger. Lately more of my fellow workers have noticed that I am quite fat (I guess very obese since my "ideal" weight is 220) as I waddle by their office or sit in meetings. The jokes of my getting stuck or breaking chairs have been made. I know they smirk and point at my wide girth and stomach. I hope they continue to accept me. I get my share of the fat comments - eating lately, storing for winter - but that is normal for us who are large and obese. I wonder how other fat and obese people deal with this. I would appreciate comments from either fat and obese people or those who work with them. I know I am going to be this way for a long time and will be even larger and rounder soon. I would like to have them accept me as a very obese man.
Answers:
Given your current size and goal, your concern and quesiton is a good one. Where I work, my jobs have been in accounting, which generally means spending days working at a desk or in meetings. I have risen the ranks to management. During my not quite 15 years with the same company, I have also gained a lot of weight. I started with them after college when I weighed around 250. When my wife and I married, I found she loved to cook and also liked me large (that came out later). I really enjoyed her cooking and my eating, and during my first five years of so at work, I filled out quite a bit - about 400 pounds. The gaining was gradual - 30 or 40 pounds a year. At first some of the women I work with used to make comments but then they became used to me and my size and are supporters. I know that my size was noticed then. For the next five years as I continued to get more responsibility, I kept putting on more weight. My days would consist of working, walking and spending time at home - often eating. I did notice that my work was not affected. By the time I was 30, I had reached 500. Buying clothes for work was a challenge - tough to find pants in my size although shirts are easier. Good thing our work has a business casual dress code. I started to notice that more people outside our accounting group would stare or make jokes about my size. I had to make sure I had a special chair at meetings so I could fit. My own group has accepted me for what I am - very very large and a very good employee. The time between 400 and 500 made me notice that I was moving and walking more slowly but still not having problems. The last five years my weight gain slowed somewhat - I am up to 550 now. I definitely pay attention to balance and pace since there is more in new places that moves. Work continues to be good - my group accepts me, many outside our group can't believe how large I have become. I am probably viewed as a good young performer who won't progress further because of my size but that is OK. I like what I do. I find getting to work is more challenging. Sometimes I drive. Generally I take the bus (close to home and work - a block or so each time). At my current size I do have to allow much more time to get from A to B. I have been fortunate that on the bus I usually can bet a seat (actually two based on how much room I take) - that will often be a handicapped seat as those are the only ones available. My size does draw attention and stares - it always has. When I move around at work, I have to pay attention to passing in hallways and doors since I take up a lot of space. I also have learned to build in enough time to get to meetings since I don't wnat others to think that just because I am very large I will be late. All in all - work handles it - some accept and some don't. Outisde work some of my friends cannot believe how fat I am - especially those who knew me at school. Others who have been friends for a while are glad I am happy as I am. I think some are concerned about how big I have become but know I am still healthy (for one who is 550).