Careful... once you get started it might be hard to stop until you probably end up gaining more than you wanted to.
At some point you'll still have willpower but it will be harder no to give in.
Far as what others would think, probably better not to worry about it too much. Guessing you don't plan on anything insane like 20 pounds in a month. Something like 70% of the US is overweight, and the obesity rate is only increasing.
Maybe gain slowly, too. Less shock to others. Also, I don't know what kind of activity level you have, but a slower gain would also give your leg muscles more time to acclimate to carrying around a heavier you.
5 years
