For me, gaining meant enjoyment and developing a body I felt comfortable in. I feel like myself as an obese person, and I like my physical appearance. I was 200 lb before I started 8th grade, and I hit 300 in high school. The only time I've been under 200 as an adult was a few years back, and I never got below 190, which is still considered obese for a person my height. I didn't like it. Even that was too small for me.

Good recommendation!

We ended up getting a Chrysler Pacifica. It's easy to get into, and I have the ability to turn in the driver's seat because I'm not pinned behind the wheel. It's nice to have that piece of independence back!

After a year of rapid gaining, I've reached a weight -- 507 lb. -- I'm quite happy with, and I've made in some cases costly accomodations to be comfortable. I've invested in clothing I can wear for occasions that call for professional attire, adapted our bathroom, and put in heavy duty grab bars in our home. I also have a recliner with a lift and recently traded my sedan for a van. In other words, my life is built for a person my size. That said, I can also feel I'd be on the cusp of losing a lot of independence if I got much heavier, and neither my partner nor I are ready to give up doing fun things

According to the Mayo Clinic 's calorie requirement calculator, an inactive, 5'3", 507lb. 29 year old woman needs 3,000 calories or so to maintain. I've currently cut back dramatically from my prior intake to about 5,000 calories a day, and I'm eating a lot of fiber to feel more full. I'm hopeful I don't have to cut back more than that, but we'll see.

Is there anybody out there in say, the 400 to 600 lb range (or who is close to someone that size) who is maintaining? I realize a lot of factors are involved, but where did your daily calorie count settle?

Mine was probably this past Friday-after-Thanksgiving, which my partner and I designated as an all-day stuffing. I hit around 58 thousand calories, leaving a giant garbage bag of catering pans and paper plates. It was by far the most I've ever consumed (and probably ever will), and I barely ate for two days after. Unforgettable experience (and total experiment in gluttony) I'm thankful I had though.

I couldn't do it, lol. I'd probably end up completely immobile or I'd sit in the dining hall and eat until I popped like a balloon!

I'm a fan of the Golden Corral in Pittsburgh. I've spent hours there before trying as many things as I could, and the staff remained courteous and helpful, even after my seventh trip.

I traded my car today for a van, after getting too big to safely get behind the wheel of my Camry. My partner is incredible and always willing to take me wherever I want to go, but it feels good to have some independence back!

I feel like this is the flipside to the issues many women here run into with people demanding photos or sexual chat. I hear from men that they're constantly hit up by women (or people claiming to be women) scamming for money. I hate this trend, and I feel like this community wasn't always like that. Some of us really are here for connection and a place to belong.

Merry Christmas, all! I love fat bodies, especially big pot bellies, though I don't need for a partner to be fat to be attracted. My partner is actually long, lean, and in shape, and I'm crazy about him. However, I am incredibly turned on by my own obesity and the feeling of my wildly bloated, obese body against his lean frame. I love the reality of being very fat and all that entails, the sensation of stuffing to such extremes my belly, back, and sides strain, and the reward of seeing my rolls get thicker, my gut bulge past my knees, and hearing my fat thighs slap together. Unless health or other life changes necessitate it, I can't really imagine ever wanting to lose so much as a pound, especially now that I've reached a quarter ton!

That sounds right. I used one without issues around 440, but I seem to have exceeded their capacity.