I'm a 300-pound digital nomad who learned to feel comfortable traveling full-time as a larger person with these 7 helpful tips

Because my mother is from Mombasa, Kenya, I traveled extensively as a child from my home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I was born and raised. We took six trips a year to visit family in Kenya, England, Amsterdam, and Berlin.

But from ages 19 to 32, I did not travel at all even though everything inside of me wanted to, because of self-image struggles.

I was tormented by thoughts of squeezing into airplanes seats or possibly having to pay for two seats, not fitting in beds, and feeling embarrassed by my weight in other countries.

So for years, I decided not to put myself in that situation – until I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to speak at a conference in Sydney, Australia, in 2012 that inspired me to face my fear.

Since then, I've adjusted to traveling full-time as a larger traveler. As of this writing, I am about 280 pounds. The following tips are ones I picked up along the way that help me stay comfortable and confident.

I'm an entrepreneur and work as a freelance writer, publishing books, authoring educational courses, and consulting.

When that invite to Sydney arrived, what should have been an easy yes was instead me with weeks of mental battles about whether I could travel with my weight struggles.

But the trip to Australia was a turning point. After the event, I sat in Sydney Harbour thinking about how life is short and I traveled to a bucket list destination, which for so many years I thought was impossible.

Sitting there, I couldn't imagine missing out on that moment. I vowed to get back on track with travel and live my best life from then on.

I now have a better self-image and outlook on life. I am working hard to be more active and eat healthier so I can live a long, healthy life and be there for my children and grandchildren.

Once my wife and I became empty-nesters in 2021, we committed to making travel a part of our everyday lives by becoming digital nomads and living abroad. We sold our home, car, and material possessions to become full-time location-independent travelers who worked remotely.

This decision meant I could no longer let my weight prevent me from traveling.

We left for Puerto Rico in October of 2021 and have been traveling full-time since. I'm writing this article from Lisbon, Portugal, with a stunning view of the Tagus River.

Since that trip to Sydney in 2012, I've traveled to 83 countries, as of this writing. While you don't have to travel full-time to feel comfortable with it, making a commitment to travel helped me confront my fears.

Early on, when I booked accommodations based solely on pictures, I would often arrive in hotels and Airbnbs in other countries to find spaces that were clearly designed for smaller people with little elevators, tiny staircases, and not enough room to stretch out.

I now know to only book accommodations that have wide stairs, at least a queen-size mattress, and enough toilet space (smaller toilet areas are far too common). Because I live and work abroad, I always look for a dedicated workspace, two bedrooms, and a full kitchen, too.

Booking with intention has helped life be a lot more comfortable as a larger traveler. Though, there are still situations where it will be harder to find what I need. Europe has lots of small, historic buildings and even now in Lisbon with two bedrooms in a three-level apartment, there are tight spaces.

Airbnb is my first choice for lodging for its apartment-style homes with lots of amenities. We do book hotels, but typically on shorter stays. Unless I'm willing to pay for the penthouse, room size and amenities tend to be limited.

But before I book, I always message the host or property to ensure the place I'm staying has everything I need to live a comfortable life.

I'm not afraid to ask questions like, "How many square feet are the rooms?" "Is there a dedicated workspace?" "How big are the beds?" "Are there stairs? If yes, how narrow are they?" "Is there an elevator, and what floor is the accommodation on?"

We take over 60 flights every year. That means sitting comfortably in an airplane seat and being able to fasten the seatbelt.

Airplane seats aren't the friendliest for larger travelers. Most likely, I'll have to ask for a seatbelt extender, and I have had many experiences where the airline did not have one handy, which can quickly become an uncomfortable ordeal.

I've had flights that were delayed because they needed to get a seat belt extender from another flight, or a gate agent had to bring one. When it finally arrived, I felt like all eyes were on me.

One strategy I used was buying my own seatbelt extender on Amazon that I now always keep in my carry-on bag, just in case.

Traveling solely in premium classes is expensive, and we're not millionaires. But I do strategize a few ways to make it easier.

Since travel is a major part of our lives, I prioritize spending money on travel and use credit cards with travel-friendly perks to earn points for upgrades towards business and first-class seats. When I book through Airbnb, I also earn Delta SkyMiles. These strategies help to acquire points quickly while traveling, which can help offset the costs of more expensive cabins.

If we can't afford a premium cabin, we book exit rows seats. While those seats may not be as wide as business or first class, they do have a lot of legroom.

If all else fails, I squeeze into an economy seat, but always choose the aisle so I can lift the armrest.

My father died at 54. My wife was a widower when we first started dating. Life is short, and I'm thankful that the invitation to Sydney was a turning point to realize I would no longer let my weight keep me from living the life of my dreams.

Life goes quickly, and it feels like just yesterday we were kids. Now, we're grandparents wondering where the time went. I do not want to come to the end of my life with regret.

If you're reading this and are a larger traveler who is hesitant about booking a trip, there are ways for you to travel comfortably. For me, it started with addressing my mental hangups and self-image struggles. I worked with therapists and read books I found to be helpful, such as "Eat, Pray, Love," "Atomic Habits," and "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck."

Each of us is different and faces our health in different ways. It's not an "either-or" situation. You can be larger and travel.

I'm going to keep working on my health while traveling to amazing countries all over the world. I fully intend to learn even more ways to experience and enjoy travel and never let my weight stop me again.