that's funny, the chair they got for me at work to support my greater weight was no wider either... seems funny that those two things wouldn't go hand in hand? eventually i got one without arms.

i think so... but there's an interesting nuance to your question. i initially went from thin to fat just through normal (if perhaps more frequent) enjoyment of good food and drink, and by reducing (or eliminating, maybe) my exercise routine.

i achieved a "high grade of obesity" during the pandemic, eating more and exercising even less (which i wouldn't have thought possible), mostly out of boredom. i wouldn't consider that an eating disorder, though.

your question caught my attention because a distant family member recently asked me if i had an eating disorder - to which i quickly answered "no." but in thinking about it since, and reflecting on comments from "normies" about my eating habits... by pursuing this lifestyle, have i developed an eating disorder?

i am not sure. i see my doctor in a month, and he may tell me. i was supposed to lose 20 lbs by that visit, but i am up 25 lbs... soooo..... we'll see how that goes!

my weight has mostly accumulated in my middle - belly, hips, but, thighs - my limbs got a lot less of it.

i have moobs, but not as bad as other guys i have met that are my size, and they don't stand out because my belly is so big.

the same as others have said, the fupa was the big surprise for me. i am a reasonably well-endowed guy, but by the time i was 300 lbs i had lost a lot of length as my fupa grew. as i continued to get bigger, adapting to its diminishing visibility was a big challenge. i am used to it now, though, and the adaptation process has brought about a lot of other experiences which i have really enjoyed, too.

here is a link to ray-norr - an absolute legend in bbw art! if you've never seen his work, definitely check it out:

deviantart.com/ray-norr

having been fit and athletic for many years, and having had some long-term relationships during that time, and now being very fat and in the best relationship of my life, i can confidently say... your weight doesn't really matter.

being fat or thin will limit your potential partner pool (my current partner and i met on wooplus - she does not find thin guys attractive, for example), but there are lots of people who find all body types attractive. finding a partner is just tough, and i would say that weight is one of the most superficial factors, and if it is the factor that kills your chance at a relationship with someone - they were probably best avoided in the first place!

thanks for sharing your experience and these tips, i really appreciate it.

while my situation is not as serious as what you experienced, i am facing some health challenges that require i lose some weight.

after being thin, healthy and fit until my late 30s, i gave up the gym and let myself get pudgy for a girlfriend... then i fell down the slippery slope of "more is better" and had a whole lot of fun, but also tripled in size. i didn't have any health impacts for a number of years, which i attributed to my previous healthy lifestyle... but unfortunately that didn't last as long as i had hoped!

i am going to try to make some lifestyle adjustments like you mentioned, and hope that i can maintain my well-being while still enjoying as much of this lifestyle as i can, relatively safely.

gluten is in lots of stuff, but it isn't a requirement for gaining.

as they look at gluten-free recipes and substitutions, they will find there are lots of options. as a plus, a lot of the time gluten substitutes are higher in calories, too - which means it can actually help you gain!

and every good pizza place has a gluten free option these days. they're usually not better, but they're often pretty good.

keep your eye on the "events" forum for meet-ups that are happening in your area, if you want to casually meet people as opposed to try and date them.

i've been to several over the years, and they are have mostly been grate. the best ones have just been at local pubs and are pretty informal. the last one my partner and i attended together, and it was very low-key, a nice night.

there are a hundred threads on this topic, so maybe do a search of those. but here are my points of advice after having gained 300 lbs:

1. increase your calorie intake. it doesn't really matter what - just eat more. eat larger servings, eat more frequently.

2. eat what things you like, and which inspire you to eat more, and keep eating. this was the biggest factor for me. eating more, better food - more diverse foods. this awakened the foodie inside me, which was the single greatest driver for making me really fat.

3. the top two will naturally result in this, but the third tip is: increase your stomach capacity. by pushing yourself past the point at which you normally feel full, you are literally stretching your stomach. it's capacity is increasing. it takes time, but you will know it's happening when you can eat more in one sitting, and you feel hungrier more quickly.

good luck, and remember to enjoy it!