I am accustomed to being the fattest person anywhere I go, and I think my weight is even more pronounced because my belly bulges forward SO much. I will say, in my hometown, in rural PA, it's common to see overweight folks. Living in Philly, I encounter a lot of young, fit people who run, play leisure sports, etc. The average 29 year old seems to be thin and active, so sometimes, people assume I must be older, even though I have a youthful face

I have had knee issues as well since high school. I had less pain when, for a bit, I dropped below 200 pounds. Because I'm over 500 and plan to stay this big, I've started doing little things like short daily walks to mitigate some of the aches. This new routine plus stretching seems to help, albeit not eliminate, discomfort in my back and knees.

They do. And it's bizarre, because usually, you're just minding your business. When someone brings it up. They will ask if you have tried fasting. No boo. I'm 500 lb. Does it look like I miss a meal?

I also enjoy the grilled cheese burritos. I usually get three of those, two quesadillas, and five soft taco supremes as my go-to order.

It's been said I have "an appetite".

Yes, if you can call putting away 9"x13" pans of stuffing and mac and cheese plus veggies and bread in one sitting, you might conclude I have an appetite. 😉

Those Doritos Locos tacos are delicious!!

I love this topic, and I think the answer is, it varies from person to person. Some people are influenced by family lifestyle, others initially start eating as a trauma response or for comfort, and then there are those of us who just, well, love fat.

In my case, I'm a fat person in a thin to average sized family. I remember being very very small, before kindergarten, and loving cartoons where a character ate a lot or visibly ballooned up. I was also chubby by the time I was three or four, and I remember people commenting on my fat cheeks and pot belly. By first grade, my mother was pushing healthy snacks only, but my father was a little more lenient. Still, I wasn't exactly pigging out, because where would a 6-year-old get access to tons of extra food? Nevertheless, I started to get properly fat, and by 4th grade I could no longer fit in the school desks. I also remember the issue being raised at my pediatrician's office, and he just treated it as an issue of eating too much and playing too little.

I will add, I've always had a proclivity to being sedentary. Sports or physical activity didn't interest me. I liked to write, draw, and I loved movies. Not exactly burning a bunch of calories.

By 3rd and 4th grade, I started to stash household snacks in my bedroom, and that's when I really put on weight. I hit 200 before 8th grade, and in high school, I went up to 300 lb.

Interestingly, teasing as a fat kid didn't bother me. Classmates would comment that I tired out more quickly in PE, that I had a big tummy, or that I had gained weight over the summer. I knew all of those things were true, so I didn't really perceive the teasing as an insult. I think the fact that I didn't react negatively meant I didn't get teased a whole lot. There was no payoff to anyone who wanted to make fun of me.

In high school, I also started exploring the internet. I lurked on this site as a guest before I was old enough to join. I looked at pictures, read A LOT of fiction, and usually stuffed my belly while I was doing it. I also got a part time job, meaning I had money to satisfy my appetite. Then there was college, when I could eat whatever I wanted, when I wanted. This was when I decided I would one day become not just fat, but super obese. It's also when I had my first real feedee experience.

I said all this to say, there was nothing about my upbringing that would have overtly encouraged this lifestyle. My interests also predated the knowledge there could be anything sexual about eating and gaining. I'd definitely have to say it's nature for me.

I should add the caveat that I have always been a big eater. When I was in high school, I would bring a lunch, buy a lunch, and then usually eat at the diner where I worked after school before starting my shift. I was over 300 pounds at graduation as well. In other words, my stomach was probably already very well stretched out.

I will also say that some people just struggle with stuffing. There are a lot of factors, including food intolerances and biology. What works for one person might not work exactly the same way for another. However... I have never met someone who didn't put on weight and grow their appetite by pushing every day. It's expensive, there are side effects, but it absolutely does work. Just be sensitive to your body. Push hard but not too hard so you don't turn yourself off from stuffing. Good luck!

Sounds delicious! God, I miss these monster breakfasts!

Such a beautiful sentiment. Truly, thank you.