Me
I started this blog to talk about what it’s like to weigh ~400lbs, and how it does and doesn’t affect my life.
For the curious:
My height is 5 ft 8 inches.
Bust: 58″
Waist: 57″
Hips: 67″
BMI:60
Lean body mass: 42.2% (by hydrostatic weighing)
Currently I am not trying to alter my weight, either up or down. I do exercise, but it’s for my own selfish reasons not weight loss or gain.
Photos
Humans are frequently visual creatures. I feel if I’m writing about living in my body, it’s important to show what my body looks like. The photos I’m using put the focus on my body, not my face. This is to fit the theme of the blog, which is about my body, but it also helps to maintain a bit of anonymity.
I also link to photos like those in Kate Harding’s BMI Project to help put mine in context.
me, stretching
Anonymous?
As I am writing about things like my health and my family’s health history, I am currently not using my name on the site. I am also not showing my face. I will also not be using the real names of friends or family.
Fat Acceptance
I don’t intend to make every post about fat acceptance. But I find myself writing in a context where fat acceptance is assumed. If this is a new idea for you, bop over to the “About Fat Acceptance” page.
Comments
Comments are welcome. I reserve the right to moderate out comments preaching weight-loss programs, weight-loss surgery, or general fat bashing. I also frown on general rudeness.
Why Living400lbs?
I originally was going to name this blog “Living ~400lbs”, but WordPress does not support the tilde (~) character. Dang. ;)
Can I Email You?
Yes. My email is: living400lbs AT gmail DOT com.
Hi. I just came over from Shapely Prose…just wanted to “introduce myself” cuz I feel weird and a teeny bit voyeuristic lurking on people’s personal blogs without at least saying hi. :)
Hi & welcome, Corey ;)
I made it to the age of 50 finally. I used to be slim and beautiful (so says society) now I am 250 lbs. I haven’t had a picture taken of me in more than 13 years. I made the decision and just havent done it.Now I am looking for a photographer who specializes in the female body and could make me feel more comfortable. I’ve got an idea of what I want the photo to look like. I want a true photo, but I want to appear “otherworldly” ..you know kind of like a fairy but one with an attitude. Lots of flora and fauna and then me. ANy suggestions or do you have a list of photographers in the louisiana area (New Orleans, slidell, covington) that might want a true challenge?
Sorry, I don’t – perhaps someone else does?
I am male and have been totally blind all my life. These facts do not in themselves define me of course, but they give me a particular perspective. As part of that perspective, blindness is less common to most people’s experience than maleness, and so might be more interesting.
A point that I’ve made elsewhere is that my initial impression of a person has nothing to do with their appearance. In other words, by the time I find out what someone “looks like” in my tactile terms, I already know if I’m attracted to them as a person. I am pleased about this. It probably means that i keep the physical aspects of attraction more separate than sighted people do.
It so happens that, for as long as I can remember, I’ve been physically attracted to women who would be defined as fat. However, as I just said, this comes later in a developing relationship. A questionable analogy might be that you may have a general idea that you prefer Paris to New York City but, in the end, the quality of your experience will come down to what you do while you’re there.
I’m saying all this because I’m very aware of the extent to which a visually dominated world distorts people’s ability to have a self image which isn’t battered by what others think it should be.
(Yes, a non-visual world has its own distortions, but that is another discussion.)
The totally heartless way in which commercial interests are prepared to exploit fear of difference and fear of illness in order to make money, makes the fact that I, as a blind person, may walk smack into the odd pole, seem like not such a bad deal after all.
All credit to you for setting this up, and good luck.
Reg
I wrote a little piece on Gina Kolata’s Article “Does Exercise Really Keep Us Healthy?” You will find we have a similar stance, although you are a much nicer person than I. (http://gregalario.com/?p=437) I applaud your effort with your blog. I am impressed with your journey to find a healty lifestyle. If there is anything I can do for you, don’t hestitate to ask.
Sincerely,
Greg Alario
I am glad I found your blog! I am a slim…well too skinny guy who has always loved what I like to call “fluffy” women. I think everyone should love themselves the way they are. I always say, why worry about what you eat? Why deprive yourself the pleasure? We don’t know if we have the promise of tomorrow, so live it up today. I also tell people, you can be overweight and healthy! Keep up the blog, I will blogroll you, I think more people need to have your attitude! Bravo!
AH! Sorry I cannot comment! I am drooling over the bookshelves in your photographs! lol
Hmm…where was I? Oh yes: great to see you here!
Cheerio!
:) kristin
I also stumbled over from Shapely Prose, and I also am drooling over those bookshelves!!!
Love the blog!
Hee! The bookshelves are from Ikea, their “Billy” bookshelves in birch. The books, well, they’ve been years in the collecting… ;)
Hi! I came over from SP too. I like your writing. I really relate to, “You need to eat a sammich” (or, “‘we all’ get to decide what kind of body YOU should have!”). I wish I could see your face but I totally understand why you’d decline!
Reg wrote, “It so happens that, for as long as I can remember, I’ve been physically attracted to women who would be defined as fat. ”
Well gee, I think about 97% of women would be defined as “fat” (see SP’s recent post re: Jessica Simpson), so really MOST guys like fat chicks! (tongue firmly planted in cheek).
Ms. Living400lbs., I am liking your blog very much!
Hello, I just stumbled onto this site. I too am a 409 girl. I am not as lucky as you seem to be. I cannot walk too far or stand for any length of time. I am 5′ 3″. Both of my knees should have replacements but I don’t think that I could handle the therapy with all this weight.
I just love food, cooking, eating, sharing with friends. It is my passion. Just wanted to share a little about myself. I will keep reading and enjoying all comments.
Welcome! I am between 5′8″ and 5′9″, so we are definitely a little different. I did injure my leg about 18 months ago and ended up doing physical therapy to “fix” it – which I still need to keep up on. Part of why I post about exercise is to show that I do DO it, and partly because I am consciously adding it to my life, which means I’m THINKING about it.
If my life were setup so I just walked a mile to work? I probably wouldn’t think about it so much ;)
Oh, and about food? I discovered today that if I hop on the office treadmill at 1 I can, if I choose, watch 30-Minute Meals. Generally I find these good for giving me cooking ideas, so I like this :)
Hi!
Found your blog through Shapely Prose and am thoroughly enjoying your posts.
Connie
You’re blog is awesome….I too am living at 400lbs. Actually down to about 380 now that it is summer….
I love who I am and could give a damn about what other people think. I plan on getting healthier but not because I’m FAT.
You rock!
Hi…found your blog completely by accident. I hate most blogs as being self-absorbed claptrap, but yours is interesting. Great links and no whining/crying and apologizing for your size. I am also a large woman. A bit over 400, but once weighed over 500. Had gastric bypass and lost 140, but did not became anywhere close to thin. Have only regained some of the weight these past 12 years. I eat moderately most of the time (who among us is perfect), exercise as regularly as I can, eat very healthy food, have a very active sex life and am SICK TO DEATH of this schizophrenic culture of Eat this! (Insert your fast food restauranct commercial here) followed by Hi..I lost X lbs on the NEW Jenny Craig!! Your blog is a breath of fresh air. I may drop by from time to time to see what’s doing and to have a conversation.
Hi there;
Got this from my Mom so I don’t know who the author was, but I thought it would be great to share here. I just love this!
Recently, in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tanned woman appeared in the window of a gym.
It said: “THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?”
A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.
To Whom It May Concern:
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans). They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins, stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Barren Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.
Mermaids don’t exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don’t have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Therefore they don’t have kids either. Not to mention who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?
The choice is perfectly clear to me; I want to be a whale.
P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver and a coffee with my friends. With time we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren’t heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, “Good gosh, look how smart I am!”
I’m glad to have found your blog as you are one of my favorite commenters over on SP.
It feels good to see a photo of someone who looks like me! Well, I’m much shorter with dark hair, but our body shapes are similar. I’m looking forward to reading more of your thoughts!
Thank you! :)
I hope you don’t mind me blog-stalking you… I’ve thought your comments elsewhere were smart, and your posts here are of the same quality. :)
Nope, I don’t mind – welcome!
Love the stretching pictures!! I’m a stretchaholic and I adore hearing about and seeing others stretch. So many people neglect it! Good job :)
Hi
Just want to say that I love your Blog and often link it to Fat Acceptance conversations at my own hangouts.
I like that you focus on fat topics that matter to most of us who have good and bad Fat Days. Talk like that is even more important in the Fat-o-sphere when conversation go all over the place.
William
Thanks :)
My current favorite story is how being fat saved an Australian woman from a flesh eating virus/bacteria?. Basically the virus got tired out before it ever reached her vital organs which is what would cause a skinny person to die.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24414113-421,oo.html
I wish I could find a way to broach the topic now that I work for the YMCA and most of the childcare providers like me are fat. Maybe I can help them to be a little more inclusive in their health promoting activities?
Wow, scary story!
Re: work, showing around a copy of MegaYoga or Health at Every Size might be a way to start.
hi again… I have put reading your entire blog on my todo list because I am a fan and appreciate your perspectives and your comments on my blog. I too hover around 400. I want to get some more movement into my life and I look forward to some commenting back and forth about exercise/movement and whatever else we feel like… cheers, Ivan
Hi. I really like your blog. I think that your point of view is great and should be expressed just like any other point of view. I love that you are focusing on your healthy lifestyle.
Hi. I am happy to have found this site, especially the links under Illustrating Size Talk.
I have battled weight all my life. In my 20’s I got down to a ‘normal’ weight. I went from a high of 215lbs to a fluctuation between 130 – 140 lbs throught diet and exercise. I am 5′2″.
I am happy with my weight loss but suffer from something….I don’t know what. I have no concept of my size now. In my head I am still 215 lbs. I still see ‘thin’ people as NOT me. If I see another person my exact height, weight and build, I think ‘wow she looks good’ as in I wish I looked that good – but I do look like that. I think this is called phantom fat or something. I don’t know.
Anyway, that is why I like the Illustrated section. It also helps to see other people’s fat so that I know that I am normal.
Hi, I too am happy to find this site. My mother weighs over 400 lbs and weighs more each year. Each year she does less and has more trouble walking, breathing, moving basically living. She can still drive but gets out maybe once a month to go to McDonalds or Wendys. She has alot of problems that I guess are common with weighing 400lbs. Namely all of the ones you mentioned but is now having difficulty walking from the chair to the bathroom. She has a walker, never goes anywhere except McD’s. I have watched her get bigger my entire life and do not know what to do. She asks for things I know are not good for her but how do I say no. Anyway I hope you stay healthy and positive and live a full life. Thanks for your blog.
Sarah –
Gaining substantial amounts of weight each year isn’t exactly normal. My weight has been stable for over 5 years; if we don’t count my last diet (lost 30, regained 40) it’s been stable for 10.
I don’t know if it makes sense for you to encourage her to exercise and (perhaps) see a doctor, but it might help.