Some of you may have never noticed this about me, and I completely understand because my awesomeness is overwhelming but.. I’m fat! Save your ‘what the health’ comments because all it does is make me want bacon and then YOU become part of the problem.  This post isn’t about weight, this is me  helping out my fellow frequent travelers who take up a little more space.

OR A LOT MORE SPACE… WHAT-EVS.

There are a few key things that I have learned throughout my travels. Whether you are starting out new or established here are a few things that I believe will help you.

1.) Everyone can see you’re fat. Stop sucking it in and be comfortable in your space.. ALL OF IT.

When I first started flying I’d often go between Dallas and Kansas. Short haul flights usually belong to older planes and older planes mean smaller spaces and shorter seat belts. I would use my blankee, yes I travel with a blankee, over my lap to give the impression that I had my seat belt on or something else that would trick the attendants eyes away from the belt so I didn’t have to face the embarrassment of admitting that it didn’t fit.

This was completely unnecessary. If you find yourself on a flight where the seatbelt is too short ASK FOR A SEAT BELT EXTENDER! The flight attendants have this ninja move where they slightly lean in your direction and all of a sudden there is an extender in your hand and no one is the wiser.

Honestly, I request an extender even when I don’t need it because regulations state that it simply has to be around you and if in the glorious moment that I am allowed a row to myself I lift all the arms, add the extender, make it super loose and lay across my row!

(P.S. If you want to avoid requesting an extender, you can buy your own on Amazon just don’t use it in the emergency exit row. That’s against the rules)

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2.) If you cant do it – don’t do it and WHO CARES.

Like seriously if there is something that you cant do – DONT do it and don’t worry about it. My skinny friends are always trying to convince me that I can do things when the sign obviously lists my weight as one being too heavy. Don’t feel like you are letting anyone down. You are simply letting your life UP!  Ain’t nobody trying to die cause the zip line broke or the breeze from the water slide picked my big butt up like a jet and next thing you know I land on the concrete. #HardPass

I have traveled the world and there are a billion things that I can and HAVE done and there will be a billion more cause I will do them, within my #weight limits, okay!

3.) People are gonna stare.. bask in it!

If you are one of my fellow fluffy women and you haven’t come into the realization that you are a preferred choice then please travel abroad. In Jamaica I was set to be kidnapped, In South Africa  I received many proposals one even came with a ring.

THIS GUY LEGIT WENT TO A NEARBY STORE AND BOUGHT A RING BEFORE COMING TO SAY HELLO TO ME! 

In Thailand where the vision of beauty is as white and small as possible I was inundated with you are so big.. and brown… and BEAUTIFUL. They were so amazed that I was the complete opposite of what they considered beautiful yet.. was so beautiful to them.

You know me – just out crushing beauty standards!

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You will be the center of attention. With great power comes great responsibility. Use it well.

4.) You are physically stronger than you think.

I ballroom dance so I got a little stamina but I am definitely not your gym role model. In pole class I can get up once but that second is a no go cause  this core strength is yet waiting to manifest.  That being true I have done many things on vacation that have superseded my normal standards and all it took was for me to try! Take the hike, scale the mountain and that cute guy at the bottom of a rope has a pulley system and he is strong so – trust him. You’re in good hands. (then get his number)

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5.) GET NAKED

I know you weren’t expecting that but.. Getting naked has been one of the most freeing  things that I have ever done. The human body is weird.. and when you are in a room full of naked women and men (tee hee) you can fully see that nobody, and I mean nobody has the body that we are ‘supposed’ to want to achieve. Its quite funny really. Butts and boobs and thighs and acne oh my! Getting naked opens up a space where personality wins and you find out cool things like being ‘brown all over’ as I get so graciously reminded every time I release this greatness.

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#MyLifeIsLikeAMovie

Its an awesome world out there just waiting for you to own it. I pray you do!

Courtney

Starring Courtny, @starringcourtny