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How To Prevent Breaking Camping Chairs Due To Weight

August 14, 2009 by Mary

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for details.

Breaking A Lawn Chair 

Sometimes you encounter a situation that is so embarrassing you don’t even want to talk about it.  But then you try to mention it on Twitter so you can hopefully laugh it off. Yeah, I broke a chair.

My fat self sat down in a lawn chair and it broke. Hard.  Painfully.  Fat people clearly do not belong in lawn chairs, nor do lawn chairs belong in houses as a substitute for real furniture.  Luckily I was alone when it happened, so it wasn’t as terribly embarrassing as it could have been.  But I had to tell my roommate that it happened and now I have to buy a new chair.  Awesome.

I’m pretty.  But the chair breaking incident places so much doubt in my mind.  I know it is a flimsy lawn chair but it’s definitely not a fun experience.  It is also fascinating how outside events and experiences can change the way you feel about yourself, even if only temporarily (I’m not forever going to dwell on this).

Also, semi related, I’ve been very interested lately in looking at photos of different size people.  No one ever correctly guesses my weight or size.  Probably because weight looks different on different people.  I like Kate’s BMI Project and the Height/Weight chart, both of which use photos to illustrate the numbers.

How to Prevent Breaking Lawn Chairs

The number one tip you’ll get for not breaking thes flimsy chairs?

Sit PROPERLY!

The main reason why I broke that chair is because I didn’t sit down properly. I flopped my weight down at an angle and then felt horrified as I felt it break. I’ve sat in that chair dozens of times without incident, at higher weights than I am now. Why didn’t it break then? Why have other chairs not broken? Because I was careful, sat properly, and didn’t put the chair under unecessary stress.

When you weigh more it is unfortunate but you will have to take precautions before doing things like sitting in lawn chairs. Just take a second to make sure you are sitting down carefully and at the right angle and you will be much less likely to break something!

Prevent Breaking Chairs By Buying Extra Durable Chairs

A good way to prevent breaking chairs due to your weight is to make sure you only sit in chairs made for someone of your size. I’ve learned that some cheap camping chairs like the one I broke are made for bigger people and are extra durable. I’d recommend getting an extra durable chair like this one:

extra durable portable chair

ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Camp Chair with Shoulder Carry Bag and Padded Back/Seat

It’s heavier than most of the camping chairs you find because it’s made to be so durable. It’s also got tags on it saying up to 800 lbs for use, so you have a good chance you won’t break it due to your weight.

I definitely plan on purchasing a more heavy duty durable chair for use on lawns and camping trips. I don’t ever want to be the one that breaks a chair again!

Filed Under: Body Image Positivity Tagged With: body image, fat


« Women Are Mean – Will That Ever Change?
Julie & Julia, Plus More Broken Chairs »

Comments

  1. Marlie says

    August 14, 2009 at 8:39 am

    I like to look at those pictures too. But it’s weird, because I see people and think they look great, and then find out they are my size(weight and height). Maybe they just photograph better than I do.

    Was your roommate cool about the chair?

  2. Hanlie says

    August 14, 2009 at 8:52 am

    Never mind pretty! You are freaking gorgeous!

    I’ve broken so many chairs in my life… I don’t even sit in those molded plastic ones anymore!

  3. Wendy says

    August 14, 2009 at 9:00 am

    Lawn chairs don’t count. Those can be broken if you just look at them hard.

  4. Lynn C says

    August 14, 2009 at 9:02 am

    Heck, I broke a lawn chair the other day when I threw it at the lawn care guy. (ok, I didn’t throw it AT him, but I did throw it because I was MAD at him. I’d have rather thrown it at him, but hey, I also don’t need to serve time for assault…)

  5. Yum Yucky says

    August 14, 2009 at 9:38 am

    I broke an old TV table once when I threw it at my husband because he wouldn’t put the new TV stand together right away. Long time ago, anger issues worked it. It’s all good.

    As for you, your beyond cute. And lawn chairs don’t count. Really, they don’t.

    (Mary guest posted Yum Yucky today. Yay!)

  6. Kathryn Lantz says

    August 14, 2009 at 10:18 am

    I once had a doctor say (as i stepped onto the scales) “Holy CRAP! I didn’t expect that number! You look a lot smaller than you weigh! You should go to those carnivals and do the ‘guess your weight’ games! You’d win every time!” … was that a compliment?! I have no clue. I’ve been told it’s because i carry most of my weight around my organs. Not good. But i’m workin’ on it! :)

    I have yet to break a chair though, BUT i was on the same couch that another larger person decided to flop down onto which broke pretty good. Heard the splinters and everything. That embarrassed me enough! I tend to stay away from all chairs that look like they *may* not carry my ass! :)

  7. DadShrinks says

    August 14, 2009 at 10:54 am

    My darling, you are sexy, not just pretty. Seriously. That’s a great pic!

    I stay away from lawn chairs completely. I’ve broke several – always far too embarrassing.

    Let’s keep on losing weight and feeling better and someday the lawnchair thing won’t ever be an issue again!

  8. Gemfit says

    August 14, 2009 at 11:05 am

    Pfft, lawnchairs are badly made and designed to break. I’ve broken one that had been out in the sun for a while. The plastic really degrades.

    You, my merry friend, are GORGEOUS. There’s no question about it.

  9. Losingmythighs says

    August 14, 2009 at 11:10 am

    Cool chart- thanks for the link!

    As for the chair- those things are poorly constructed anyway- I’ve seen children break them- dont take it to heart.

  10. The Fit Mission says

    August 14, 2009 at 11:15 am

    I am sooo sure I have broken a few in my time. In front of people not in front of people it is all embrassing. I have been in those white chairs and my A$$ didn’t fit and i squeezed it in and it broke the arm rest a little more suttle then the whole chair but still embrassing.

    I would like to donate $5 to your buying of a new Sterdy chair. Email me let me know where you would like me to send it. I know you are out of work and out of your parents homes and struggling just like most of us so i want to share and help.

    STERDY CHAIR FUND: $5

  11. BodyByPizza says

    August 14, 2009 at 11:18 am

    I am calling bullshit on that chair. Look at you!!! No way you’re a chair-breaking kinda of girl. Fahgetta’bout it. I am sure that chair was at least a trillion years old.

    Check out Fat Daddy’s take on lawn chairs: http://fatdaddyrantsblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/nsph-vii-lawn-chairs.html

  12. Tina2967 says

    August 14, 2009 at 11:27 am

    The chart of pics is really cool, yup everyone does hold their weight different.

    Hang in there, it was probably a junk chair made in China anyway!!

  13. cindie says

    August 14, 2009 at 11:47 am

    You poor thing! Sorry that happened to you!

  14. janetha says

    August 14, 2009 at 11:51 am

    i break more than just chairs. i am a clutz. i have learned laughter is the best recovery!

  15. workout mommy says

    August 14, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    you are more than pretty, you are HAWT!!!

    as for the chair, I am sorry. I am sure that it was not a fun experience. If it makes you feel any better, my husband broke our couch. (yep, the couch!)
    I remind him about it everyday, which now I realize is probably not what I should be doing.
    have a great weekend!

  16. Art says

    August 14, 2009 at 12:11 pm

    I have broken chairs before. So embarrassing.

    Nobody ever guesses my weight right either. They are usually way low. Sigh.

  17. teresa says

    August 14, 2009 at 1:13 pm

    So sorry about the chair. I’ve done that before. My poor mother, who was very large at the time (she’s lost a LOT of weight-YAY Mom), broke one at a family reunion she was at with cousins she hadn’t seen since childhood when she was very slender. She was mortified.

    Don’t let it get you down. It was the chair.

  18. Cammy@TippyToeDiet says

    August 14, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    ack! I do feel your pain. I broke a lawn chair by sitting in it. Unfortunately it was positioned at the top of a hill, so that when the chair legs broke, I fell backward and did a complete backwards somersault down the hill. The good news that only my parents were there to see me, and I was able to laugh it off by holding my arms up like the gymnasts do when they dismount. Still, it was embarrassing.

  19. wildfluffysheep says

    August 14, 2009 at 2:58 pm

    been there done that. sucky. but its on my motivation/100 reasons not to be fat list.

  20. Mary says

    August 14, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    Just realized if you take the comma out of the title it reads, “Pretty fat and breaking chairs.” Also accurate, hehe. Go proper punctuation!

    Anyway….

    @Marlie
    My roommate was fine about the chair. He said the note I wrote him about it cracked him up and he didn’t care as long as I bought a new one. So I will. He is going to tease me about it probably but he teases about everything. :)

    Kathryn
    You know my take on doctors (check a few posts back). They are ridiculous in the things they say.

    @Fit Mission
    Omg, really? I heart you!! I will e-mail you. I went to go look at the lawn chairs earlier and decided I needed gas more than to replace it immediately. So I bought gas and will have to wait until I get some $$ from the temp job I have next week. Thanks!

    @Cammy
    I bet that was embarrassing but now it is a pretty funny story to tell. At least you have a funny tale.

  21. Andrea@WellnessNotes says

    August 14, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    I love the picture! You look so beautiful and happy! But I also know how outside events can make me feel insecure, vulnerable, insecure… And somehow they usually happen in pairs or threes to me… I’m glad Twitter was an outlet for your when the chair incident happened… Hope it helped a bit…

    The BMI chart and the Height/Weight chart are great ways of showing how ridiculous these charts are. I hadn’t seen them before; thanks for sharing!

    I love Fit Mission’s idea of starting a sturdy chair fund (sturdy chairs are REALLY important!). I’ll donate $5 too! Just email me your address.

  22. Jody - Fit ta 51 says

    August 14, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL & good you know that! This stuff does make us think though BUT don’t get down on yourself. You are doing what you can & that is what counts!

    As for BMI, weight & the rest. People always assume I am taller & weight less than I do. Weight due to my muscle & I weigh more… height, I guess cause I stand up straight & they think I am about 2-3 inches taller than I really am… got me???

    I always score higher in those body fat charts than I am….. I like the links you provided on that.

    If you are happy with yourself, that is what matters!

  23. MackAttack says

    August 14, 2009 at 5:30 pm

    I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opted to stand or motioned Dan to sit on a flimsy looking chairs…I’m terrified of breaking them! But I’ve seen more than one skinny dude break a chair…Those pictures are really eye opening, thanks for sharing!

  24. Suzanne says

    August 14, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    I’ve never had that experience, but like other commentors, I usually try to avoid flimsy chairs too. Glad you’re not dwelling on it! I’m going to go over and check out those photos too.

  25. South Beach Steve says

    August 14, 2009 at 6:33 pm

    Mary, I don’t think anyone should fault themselves about breaking a plastic lawn chair. As others have pointed out, they aren’t really the most sturdy chairs anyhow.

    I also want to second the thoughts of everyone else, you are really an attractive lady. Don’t ever let anyone tell you different.

  26. MB says

    August 14, 2009 at 7:10 pm

    My skinny friends break those lawn chairs all the time, they are so cheaply made.

    You look amazing in that picture. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

  27. Bella says

    August 14, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    It happens to the best of us, unfortunately. At least no one saw you! You are beautiful, inside and out!!! Hopefully the replacement chair is a lot sturdier than that cheapo that broke. :)

  28. Dana says

    August 15, 2009 at 5:41 am

    YOU ARE A BEAUTY!! I WOULD KILL FOR YOUR GORGEOUS TEETH! Don’t even give the chair thing a 2nd thought. Just look at you!

  29. Tina says

    August 15, 2009 at 9:38 am

    You are gorgeous!

    I once cracked one of those $600 Aeron desk chairs. Whoops. And I had been offered a “larger” chair (I guess they come in sizes) before that. I was so humiliated to be asked that I brightly said, “No, this one’s great!!!” And it was, but I slowly cracked it over the course of a year til it came loose.

  30. Tina says

    August 15, 2009 at 9:39 am

    I agree with you about the funny versus soul crushing distinction though.

    This happens to almost everyone, but it’s hard not to take it heart when you feel self-conscious.

  31. Kimberly says

    August 16, 2009 at 10:03 am

    I think a broken chair is a part of every fat girl’s life at some point.

    When it happened to me I was mortified and wanted the earth to swallow me whole. Of course that was back when I was at one of my heaviest points.

  32. Corporate Gifts says

    August 17, 2009 at 5:53 am

    You are looking very pretty and nothing else.

  33. Chubby Chick says

    August 17, 2009 at 11:01 am

    I despise plastic lawn chairs ! They should be outlawed!

    I’m sorry you broke the chair. But don’t feel bad… they are cheap crap!

    And… you really are beautiful. :)

  34. Boo's Place says

    August 17, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    I too broke a chair it was the first ever that I have EVER broken. It wasn’t mine either! which made it all the more himilating. Its depressing. I’ve been really depressed lately, i know I’ve got to do something and know that if I just get up I will feel better. Here’s to no more broken lawn chairs

  35. Callie says

    August 20, 2009 at 7:14 pm

    Thanks for the links to those two sites. I was actually searching for something similar when I stumbled onto your blog. I broke a lawn chair…when I was maybe 16 years old…at a size 14. Clearly it was a crappy chair but I was NOT alone and refused to go to any family reunions after the incident. I still have a hard time trusting lawn furniture.

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