Holiday ruined due to my weight.

[Emmas85]

I've got a trip of a lifetime booked to New York in January, been booked for a year in order to pay for it. I am so overweight, need to lose 7 stone to be a healthy bmi (size 18/20) I've tried every diet so many times and here I am still huge and I feel like I've ruined the trip for myself already. I am really unfit so am dreading the walking already, the plane seat, the plane tray not coming down and having to pretend I'm asleep so no one notices. I don't even know why I'm posting tbh but I feel a bit better having 'said' it out loud. Aibu to think it's ruined before it's even started.

I didn’t think a size 18-20 was massive. I’m sure that the average size in the US is larger than this

My friend and I always go for a good walk on New Year's Day. We're both 18/20 (size not age). She's a bit older than me and taught me many things including: no need to walk up a hill at any speed other than imperceptible; don't go looking for the world - sit down and wait for it to come past you.

As for the seat, well she didn't like trusting her baggage to the hold so wore everything intended for the four days away on the plane; must have been a size 26 at least in that get up. No problem!

No one will notice another person in NYC who isn't BMI perfect. You'll have a fabulous time. If walking is sometimes a struggle cabs are cheap, subways are safe, buses are friendly, there's a cafe on every corner and in every department store or mall.

It's a fabulous place to visit. Don't let a hangup spoil your experience. I've wasted 40 years wishing to be thin. Made it twice both to thin and NYC. Memories of NYC, in the long run, are more important.

First time NYC was a supermarket prize for 2. I offered to take 'D'H and both sons. 'D'H declined contributing towards all of us going. I shared the '2000 spending money' with DS1 and took DS2. It was a skateboarding tour with skateboarding stuff to buy for him at 12. I took him to 'Strawberry Fields' in Central Park on the Sunday morning and he asked me why. As we walked away he got it. Nothing said.

Be kind to yourself and enjoy.

Aww hope you have a fab time, and its never too late...man in my slimming world class lost one and a half stones in his first week. Son in law stuck to it a 100 per cent and lost 7lbs first week and 6lbs second week. He only had a stone to lose but he did it to the letter. I've no will power and so lose slowly :(
Hope you have a great time x

Be confident in who you are, enjoy yourself, it's a trip of a lifetime. Weight fluctuates but it doesn't need to ruin things for you. Try watching some body positive videos if you have chance. Be proud to be you

Have a fabulous time OP! Stuff the weight and go enjoy it. New York is easily my favourite city, magical ✨❤️

I didnt thik you were allowed to use your own seatbelt extnders because they havent been tested for safety standards

I didnt thik you were allowed to use your own seatbelt extnders because they havent been tested for safety standards

I did wonder about that but I put it on and showed them and they were fine with it, probably best to check though.

Fair enough gracie

Go and have the time of your life.You've saved hard,it will be a fantastic holiday.nobody will look twice at you because of your dress size!they will see an enthralled,happy woman with a beautiful smile.
Have a wonderful time

You've saved hard!😀

I’ve been thinking about your post and the replies all day. I hope I can help a bit too.

I am also size 18/20 and I am in NY several times a year for work. My take is you will fit into the seats on a major carrier like United Airlines, Delta, BA, Virgin etc without any seat belt issues - the transatlantic planes are bigger than the planes operated to/from Europe. Like many others have said you can often upgrade to the premium section of economy for a hundred or so pounds which gives more leg room. The seats aren’t wider but they feel more spacious.

You shouldn’t feel self-conscious about your size in the US, in most cities, the average size of people exceeds the UK and in the US people seem to be more comfortable with their size too. This 2019 article says the average woman in the US is a 16 to 18:
www.byrdie.com/average-body-weight
Now take into account the UK-US conversion of sizes: www.calculator.com.my/shoe-clothing-size#.XgwWzi2ZPBI
And bingo, at an 18-20 UK, you are the same as the average size of a woman in the US. No-one will look twice at your size.

For example, in a typical shop, Macys, say, you’ll find the clothes sizes of almost all of the lines go up higher than what in the UK would be Evans territory. So do a bit of shopping while you’re there because you will find better clothes in bigger sizes, more choice etc. Maceys, Penneys, even Saks Fifth Avenue or Nordstrom etc because you will probably catch the tail end of the sales. The Plus sizes in the US are 1x, 2x, 3x and I think 1x is about a UK 20 ~ I can fit into US size 16-18 and occasionally I buy a 1x. The point is, plenty of lovely variety. FWIW in the US, Nordstrom quality is like M&S (well, old M&S).

A PP said she lost weight in NY because of eating boxed salads in her room after being too tired from walking all over to eat out. If this happens to you, try the salads (self-serve takeaway) at WholeFoods, multiple stores throughout Manhattan, or Trader Joes.

You didn’t say who you are going to New York with, but if it’s someone who likes eating and you’re on a healthy kick, try going somewhere like the Chelsea market, loads of excellent cuisine types under one roof and a lovely walk through Chelsea on the Highliine (steps up and down, but the Highline is flat), nice views, and something a bit different.

Enjoy, OP. I also have an event in March where I haven’t seen people for 3 years and I’ve gained 3 stones. Not time to lose it all but I understand the panic and the leaving it to the last minute etc.

Oh no I'm so sorry to hear you feel like this Op, just focus on having a great trip and enjoying yourself and once you get back you can focus on trying to become more healthier, I'm a size 20 and I was in the exact same position I knew I had a holiday booked yet give up on my diets every week, and the plane wasn't as bad as I thought and neither was the holiday I wore clothes to flatter my figure and hide my lumps and bumps, the sales are on now so treat yourself to some new clothes and honestly just go and enjoy yourself OP

Fat people go on planes all the time. Most people in America are fat, as are most people in the UK.

Also, you could lose a bit of it before you go, surely? Even if you just lost a few pounds it will make a difference.

Enjoy your holiday. I love NYC.

If you are wanting to do some exercise when you get back, America is much better for buying workout clothes than here - most of the big brands seem to go up to larger sizes. I'm a similar size to you and struggle to find stuff that is decent quality and doesn't strain too much over my arse, but I was able to get nice leggings and tops over there.

I'm a size 24, and regularly fly long-haul trips around the world. I occasionally use a seat belt extender - depends on the airline as some are a bit tighter than others. But it's never an issue and I always enjoy the flight.

As others have said, in the US you'll be smaller than the average person , so don't stress about it.

Buy yourself a pair of Nike Tanjun sneakers. They are very comfortable and lightweight and lots of people will be wearing them in NYC.

OP Are you saying you have to lose 7 stone to become a size 18/20?

The best way to approach this is to improve your fitness. Begin with walking at least half an hour a day then gradually increase this to about an hour a day. In a month you should not only feel fitter but you should start to feel better about yourself also. It's important to food shop more intelligently. Buy protein rich foods that keep you fuller for longer and lots of vegetables. Instead of adding biscuits or cakes to your basket, try nuts and those special fruits such as mango, papaya and berries for those times when you start to feel hungry. Enjoy your holiday.

Oh gosh I have flown at a size 24 and there were no problems with belt or tray, and that was Ryanair.
Please don't let these feelings ruin your wonderful trip. Just take it at your own pace, be kind to yourself and have a fantastic time.
You know, I've been everything from a size 6 to a 24 (currently 20) and I've finally begun recovering from seriously disordered eating, and if there's one thing I have learned it's that your weight doesn't really make any difference to your happiness. Be happy now!

Forget the weight, enjoy yourself and have a fab time.

Are you sure you need to lose 7 stones. I am 5ft 8 weigh 12 stone 8 and take a size 18. ( sometimes 16). There shouldn't be any problem at all on the plane at size 18. Go and have a good time.

@Paintedmaypole are you sure that’s right? I’m 5ft 8, weigh 12 stone and take a size 10-12.

Yes, it is absolutely right. I think we are all different. I am older though. At 11st 7 I was still 14-16. I was surprised at the OP's post.

‘It’s too late now’ it’s never too late to start that’s the kind of attitude that keeps you stuck at your size. Do you have time to loose all the weight? No, do you have time to start being healthy and exercising today? Yes! Start literally with your next meal - choose something healthy or reduce the portion size a bit. Don’t have a snack/throw out the last chocolates - whatever it is you need to do just take a small step within the next hour and you’ll be on your way.

NYC is actually a great place not to gain weight on holiday - we averaged 20k steps a day!