If you’re employed inside a group atmosphere you’ll realize it’s not unusual for colleagues to have a whip-round to have fun virtually any event or occasion – birthdays, births, marriages, even leaving the group – so why not a big weight loss? Well one group has executed simply that and after we heard from one in all our discussion board members that his colleagues had purchased him a present to congratulate him on his new bod, we couldn’t wait to discover out extra, so we requested them just a few questions on what they obtained him and why…
Major weight loss can remodel your complete life and signify a brand new begin each bit as a lot as any of the aforementioned milestones. When his colleagues witnessed the gorgeous 100lb weight lack of MAN v FAT discussion board member pisces316 (aka Jeremy, ask him something on Talk) they felt impressed to recognise his achievement. The solely snag was, on this unprecedented state of affairs, they weren’t certain what to get him.
That’s not to say the group weren’t used to the gifting tradition – removed from it, they inform us, they often do one thing about as soon as a month to assist the group bond. Unfortunately, if not unexpectedly, these occasions tended to revolve round meals. Eating is, after all, a tried and examined social exercise that doesn’t alienate the non-drinkers, non-dancers and non-bowlers on the group. However, Jeremy’s colleague Jeff – the man accountable for organising these slap-up dinners – was understandably involved that a night of gastric extra won’t be probably the most prudent method to have fun weight loss.
Jeff’s eureka second got here when he watched Jeremy heading out to his automotive and observed the newly slim man saved having to pull up his trousers1. As you’ll little question have guessed from having seen photographs of males standing in previous trousers that at the moment are far too massive for them, when males lose weight, their garments not match. A brand new wardrobe doesn’t come low-cost, particularly whenever you’re on an extended journey – you might find yourself having to buy just a few new outfits each few lbs. The reply was apparent then – Jeremy would wish some new garments to go together with his new physique.
But Jeff didn’t go at it like a bull in a china store. He was delicate to a few issues that you simply’ll want to keep in mind in the event you’re considering of doing this for a buddy or colleague – the primary being a query of style. Most of us can in all probability depend on the fingers of 1 hand how usually we’ve obtained garments as a present and truly preferred them. The resolution: they’d get him a present card he may use in plenty of outfitters and let him select his personal new duds. As Jeff put it when he offered Jeremy with the present, “some new hot clothes for that new hot bod”.
The different factor Jeff was delicate to was that Jeremy would possibly really feel embarrassed to obtain such a present – not solely as a result of weight loss is a delicate topic for many people, but additionally as a result of in our society the place achievement of any type is mocked as usually as it’s celebrated, being singled out to obtain a present for something is certain to make most of us really feel uncomfortable.
Jeff handled this downside by being discrete. For a begin, he solely approached a choose few – these he thought of shut mates of Jeremy – to contribute. This backfired barely when a few of these who weren’t approached took offence, however we nonetheless reckon it’s a good suggestion. If nothing else, as Jeff identified, asking everybody to contribute could make a present really feel like an obligation. He additionally determined to preserve the presentation of the present low-key, asking the supervisor to name them to a convention room so Jeremy might be given the present card privately.
What Jeremy ended up with was a not-to-be-sniffed-at $200 present card to spend at T.J.Maxx2, Marshalls3 and Homegoods4 and a heat, fuzzy feeling at being recognised for his achievement. You can learn all about his response and the way our different discussion board members reacted to his story right here.
Here at MAN v FAT we had been massively impressed and, we’re not ashamed to say, greater than somewhat moved by this story, and we predict this could set a pattern. Let’s acknowledge and reward weight loss like we should always; discretely, perhaps, however emphatically, definitely – the extent of fanfare ought to clearly swimsuit the character of the recipient.
We assume a clothes present card would possibly simply be the right present for a man who’s lost plenty of weight, however with Christmas arising, now could be an excellent time to revisit our listing of important Christmas presents for males dropping weight – particularly because it lists just a few potential pitfalls.
We’d love to hear your concepts about what sort of presents could be appropriate and appreciated by the newly trim man, so why not tell us within the feedback or over within the discussion board.
1Jeff truly stated Jeremy “kept pulling up his pants” however I modified it to trousers in order that our British readers might be assured we weren’t speaking about underpants.*
2T.Ok.Maxx
3Don’t know
4Don’t know
*Writing these notes was probably my most Alan Partridge second – I ought to level out that I’m presently studying his new ebook Nomad and which may have rubbed off on me…
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