Earlier this week, I wrote in my LiveJournal about "Americans getting too fat for x-rays and x-ray machines." Below is yet another article about unexpected troubles with being obese (from Deseret News Publishing Company's Utah News.)

In my opinion, there is a fine line between being a chub and a bear -- you can weigh 150lbs/68kg and still be a bear, but I don't agree with some guys that are obviously morbidly obese (for example, over 350lbs/159kg) that don't have a lick of body hair, act queenier than "Lamar" from "Revenge of the Nerds", as they pile helping after helping of ice cream and Donut-Burgers in their pie-hole without even chewing, mumbling the words that makes their behaviour appropriate in their minds: "It's okay, I'm a bear!"

Don't misunderstand me, I like men with more than a little meat on their bones! I like masculine big guys, and I believe that being a bear is more of a state of mind, "being a gay or bisexual man with an average to large build, body hair and/or facial hair, a rugged (butch) demeanor, temporal maturity, and an optional interest in leather." However, being so morbidly obese that your health is in jeopardy is simply dumb.

Check out some of the hot studs on Big Muscle Bears (see an example on the left), and then compare and contrast with the guys at Chubs N Chasers (see an example on the right.)

Yeah, there is some overlap between the two sites I'm using as an example, but I think you understand what I'm getting at here! Taking pride in yourself as a member of the bear community also means not using the label "bear" as an excuse to allow yourself to get "reinforced bed-frame size." It is not only unhealthy for you physically, how can you expect to have any pride in yourself when you can't climb one flight of stairs without getting out of breath?

* Please note: This is NOT a slam at any community! Only that if you're a "chub", be proud to be a chub, don't use "I'm a bear" as an excuse for being overweight! If you like being a chub, and have self-pride, GREAT! It's not for me though -- I've been there, done that. I currently weigh HALF what I used to weigh a mere eight years ago. (I used to have a 46" waist [and my 46" Levi's were damn tight!], I now have a 32" waist.])

notmypresident is working out like a madman to get his body image in sync with what he wants, and cruisebear replied to his blog entry with:

"You HAVE gotten So Fat:
I ran across one of my old tricks yesterday at the Lone Star and he gained about 40 lbs all in his belly and I was all over him. He wanted me to go to blow buddies but I wanted to yank him back to my SF apartment. He then suggested we go in the bathroom but I hate bathroom sex. I'm going to get him today and rub that belly for about an hour after I get off work and then give him the best blow job. Too bad he lives in Fresno."

... which proves that there someone for everyone...

Soapbox mode off -- on to the article:

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Two Units Ease Transport of Obese Patients,
Both Ambulances and Gurneys Wide; Winch Eases the Loading.

By Lois M. Collins

A patient's sense of security and the potential, too often realized, for back injuries among emergency responders have led Southwest Ambulance to include two "bariatric" ambulances in its fleet.

Each unit is designed to make it easier to transport patients who are severely overweight.

The unit, which is wider than a regular ambulance to accommodate the extra-wide gurney and still leave room for emergency crews to work, also features a winch system to simplify lifting the patient into the vehicle, according to Southwest's Rob Lund, an EMT intermediate.

The new gurney, which is about 5 or 6 inches wider across than the standard type, can hold up to 1,600 pounds.

It's not that the old gurneys were too weak to carry the morbidly obese passengers the ambulance service helps, says Southwest EMS administrator Rebecca Merrell. But sometimes the straps were tight or had to be extended. The side safety rails couldn't always be lifted in the narrower gurneys. And patients felt both less secure and embarrassed.

"This really keeps dignity" intact, she says.

The ambulance itself has a couple of interesting features, starting with a hydraulic lift system at the back that will lower the end of the ambulance 8 inches or so. It has a pulley system that relieves the strain on staffers, who must simply guide the heavy-set patient's gurney up the built-in ramp, the work provided by the winch.

The new capability comes with some tricky issues, Merrell acknowledged.

Emergency crews are not going to take the time to wait for one of the units in a dire crisis where every second counts. The other ambulances can carry the load, just not as conveniently.

And they're not going to start asking people who call 911 what the patient weighs. But they hope that learning the unit is available will encourage people who need it to ask for it.

Because so many health problems are related to morbid obesity, Merrell says, emergency crews may respond to the homes of some heavy people repeatedly and it's likely some addresses will be recognized by dispatchers as places where the new unit would be helpful.

Most of the time, she says, the request for that unit comes from the fire department that is already on the scene and knows it would be useful.

One unit is usually at the operations center in case it's needed while the other one's out circulating. And they certainly carry patients who are not overweight, as well.