Just this past Saturday, director Kevin Smith was asked to de-board a Southwest flight from Oakland to Burbank, California because, ahem, his bum was encroaching on the seats of his neighboring passengers, which according to Southwest Airlines regulations, posed a safety hazard to his fellow passengers.

Southwest said in an official statement that his removal was for the “safety and comfort of all customers.” The airlines also extended their “heartfelt apologies” to Smith.

Smith, whose exact weight is unknown, usually purchases two tickets when he’s flying, but because he was forced to travel standby on Saturday, only one seat remained, leaving the director to squeeze into just a single plane seat.

After being forced off the plane, Smith Tweeted in a half-joke and half-threat to the airlines, letting them know that they messed “with the wrong sedentary processed-foods eater!”

Smith’s numerous films and television projects include Clerks, Dogma, Chasing Amy and Cop Out, which will be released later this month.

Read more related stories:

• Extremely Obese Get Two Airline Seats for Price of One
• European Airline Ryanair Considers Charging Fat Tax
• Six Ways to Stay Healthy at the Airport

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Kevin Smith Forced Off Airplane for Being Too Fat to Fly

Calm your mind by practicing mindfulness and meditation. Visualize a soothing environment, perhaps your destination, imagine and experience it using all of your senses. After returning from a trip to Bermuda several years ago, I started using this picture to help clients practice visualization. What do you see? (The blue of the ocean and sea rocks.) What do you hear? (The waves crashing, the cars passing above.) What do you smell? (Salt water and sunscreen). What do you feel? (The warmth of the sun, the sharp rocks, the firm sand, sunglasses on my nose.) What do you taste? (Fruit juice.) Choose a setting that is calming for you and immerse yourself in it using your imagination.

Even without leaving your seat you can relax your body. Starting with your toes and working yourself up to the top of your head, flex and tighten each muscle group and hold for a few seconds before relaxing. As your body relaxes, your breathing should slow, your heart will slow, you will have more oxygen in your blood stream, and you will begin to feel more calm.

Take slow, deep breaths. Fill your lungs to capacity before slowly releasing. Place your hand on your diaphragm and feel it pushing out as you breathe in and pushing the air out of your lungs. Make sure you get all of the carbon dioxide out of your system.

Think your way out of it. We have all heard the statistics that it is safer to fly than drive. Remind yourself that there are safety plans in place and your pilot is a professional, paying attention to the skies, not a distracted driver. There are many people working together to ensure your safety.

Distract yourself. Read a book, listen to music, work, talk to your neighbor, or watch the child squirming in his or her seat.

If all else fails, focus on the fear; notice it without giving in to it. Pay attention to how anxiety changes your body, including the temperature of your skin, your heart rate, the movement of your stomach, and the speed of your thoughts. Pretend you are a scientist making observations. Isn’t it interesting how our bodies react to our thoughts of fear? The more aware you are of what occurs in your body specifically, the more you can specifically address those symptoms and return to a feeling of calm.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

How to Fight Flight Anxiety

Unless your flight anxiety is high, my guess is that you tune out the spiel after your first flight or two (even Emily didn’t seem to be paying much attention); I know I don’t consciously pay attention and didn’t realize how the flight attendants turn their heads. Yet, almost everyone mimicked the flight attendant automatically.

What are you learning subconsciously? What messages are being integrated into your understanding subliminally? This is just one of the many reasons that I encourage people to turn off the TV for better sleep. Did you realize your brain is still attentive even when you are not consciously paying attention? How can you be aware of this ability and utilize it for your health?

Surround yourself with positive, healthy people. It is said that you are the average of the five people with whom you spend the most time. Are you spending time with those you wish to emulate? Do you have a workout buddy? Don’t forget to find a few health experts to follow on Twitter.

If you must fall asleep to something, find a positive, motivational, health-related podcast or turn on a yoga dvd.

Place yourself in healthy environments. Even if you only spend a small amount of time in the gym, you will receive a more powerful mental message at the gym then you will running the streets.

Take every opportunity to watch sporting events. Parents, go to your children’s games and practices. Rather than tailgating, go to the football game early to watch how the players stretch and warm-up. (It’s also a great opportunity to get some nice photographs.)

How else can you casually expose yourself to health-focused messages?

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Send Yourself Healthy Subliminal Messages

• Walk instead of taking the moving sidewalk. Or for a really great workout, cut your time short and sprint to your gate with all your luggage. Trust me, that is a workout!

• Pack your own healthy snacks and pass on the salted peanuts and spiced cookies. A small baggie of trail mix can easily fit in a carry on. The airline will provide water (or coffee if you had to get up as early as I did). Do not give in to the bright colors and temptations of McDonald’s, Cinnabon, or Starbucks at every gate.

• Avoid a stiff neck by lightly stretching and maintaining good posture. The better you feel, the more likely you are to make healthy choices. Move around as much as you can without disturbing your neighbors.

• Even while seated, you can work your muscles by flexing or doing light exercises. Belly dancing can provide many abdominal exercises that can be done under the discretion of a comfortable shirt. It’s also a good time to lightly work your glutes.

• Use the time in flight for some healthy reading and writing. Catch up on podcasts by Jillian Michaels or your favorite health expert. Read a new motivational or diet book, or learn more about the food industry.

• If you have a layover, utilize the time to walk through the concourses or do light exercises. Many airports have interesting sights and shopping; all have interesting people to watch. You can read your paper when you are stuck in your seat.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

6 Ways to Stay Healthy at the Airport

NWA's new flight attendant dresses, designed by Richard Tyler. Photo via Washington Post.

There has been controversy over weight issues with airline passengers in recent years. But now the issues are coming from within as employees of Northwest Airlines (now owned by Delta) are getting a bit perturbed by the uniform design approved by their employers.

Delta Airlines hired fashion designer Richard Tyler to design their flight attendants’ red dress uniforms. Tyler wanted them to “look sexy.” The problem is, some workers are complaining that they are too small.

The Northwest chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA has filed a grievance against Delta. They would like to see the company offer the red dress up to size 28. Currently, the uniform is only offered up to a size 18.

“I think red is an eye-popping color and it’s not subtle, and to me by not offering it in a size over 18, Delta is saying, ‘We don’t want you wearing that if you are over size 18,’” says Reller, who handles grievances for the union’s executive committee. “But the job isn’t about being sexy. It’s about safety.”

Delta spokeswoman Gina Laughlin responded:

“The majority of pre-merger Northwest flight attendants have given us very positive feedback about the Richard Tyler Collection,” she says. “The sizing of our red dress has not been an issue with Delta flight attendants since the program’s inception three years ago. This is AFA hype leading up to the election.”

When Delta announced plans for new uniforms, they said the decision would boost morale among employees and increase the airline’s bottom line.

What do you think?

(via: Yahoo)

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

NWA Flight Attendants Demand Size 28 Red Dress

But the European discount airline Ryanair isn’t being so kind. They took the initiative to ask the public what they should do with obese passengers. More than 100,000 people voted on whether or not they should charge fees to “very large” passengers. Twenty-nine percent voted for “excess fees for very overweight passengers.” And the “yeas” have it.

Making this sort of thing an online initiative is, if anything, bold. At worst, it’s very insensitive. I can’t imagine seeing an American company taking this kind of publicity risk, so maybe there are cultural differences. You can see the Ryanair poll here, and judge for yourself.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

European Airline Ryanair Considers Charging Fat Tax

With airlines already feeling the financial crunch from skyrocketing fuel costs, this may add to the burden.

No word on how the law will decide what constitutes obese enough to get the extra seat. The airlines appealed the measure, but the courts struck down their pleas.

Here’s what I found on the specifics to what is referred to as the One-Person-One-Fare Policy. You qualify, if you:

• are accompanied by an attendant for your personal care or safety in flight; or

• require additional seating for yourself, including those determined to be functionally disabled by obesity.

So, we ask you the reader… is this legislation a fair measure? Or are people getting undue favored treatment. We open the floor to you.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Extremely Obese Get Two Airline Seats for Price of One