I recently read an account by Sticki of going to a MacDonald's and asking to have a burger without a bun, and a glass of water. The reaction of the waitress who served her made me laugh, and started me thinking about how we are perceived by others, outsiders to this way of eating, who think we are all eccentric at the very least.

Russ tells about two sisters, one thin and one overweight. The thin one, who had no sympathy for her overweight sister, was sent out made up to look fat herself, and came back in tears.

My own contribution relates to a time when I went for a job interview as an Accountant. I had been unable to get my suit or even my sports jacket on because of increasing weight, and would not be able to afford a new jacket unless I secured the job. The interviewer was affronted when I turned up just wearing a jumper, and was totally unsympathetic when I explained that I had outgrown my suit and jacket, and could not afford a replacement without his job. He visibly shuddered, muttered about not giving a job to "that sort of person", and ushered me out. It wasn't just the lack of acceptable clothing that he objected to - he actually found my weight, and its tendency to increase uncontrollably - horrifying. This was before I started low-carbing, of course.

Anyone else with an experience of any sort to share is invited to contribute here. Any real-life story involving how the outside world perceive and react to us is welcome.

Andy