'I blame it on my genes': 700lb Californian woman enters the record books as the world's heaviest woman

By John Stevens


After reaching 700 pounds, Pauline Potter has officially entered the record books as the world's heaviest woman.

But the 47-year-old from Sacramento, California, now says she wants to lose weight so she can enjoy every day life again.

Mrs Potter had boasted that men think she is a 'sex goddess' and she has 'fantastic sex every day', but she now struggles with daily life and cannot turn over in bed and or fit in her car.

Record breaker: Pauline Potter has entered the Guinness Book of Records as the world's heaviest living woman

This big: Mrs Potter weighed 700 pounds at her peak and hopes to lose up to 500 pounds


She wants to lose as much as 500 pounds in order to be able to go dancing, go on road trips and fit in seats at the theatre.

The world record holder, who currently weighs 643 pounds, blames her upbringing as the main reason for her size.

She said that being overweight is in her genes and that as a child there was an 'overabundance' of food.

'My mom was over 400 pounds and my dad over 600,' she said. 'I have eight siblings all which are over 300, except one.

Appetite: Lunch with son Dillon involves crisps, chocolate eclairs, supersize soft drinks and KFC

In the pool: Mrs Potter goes swimming between three and five times a week at a warm water therapy pool where she does lengths to keep mobile

Fuel: Dillon takes his mother to the supermarket in a wheelchair where they buy doughnuts


'We were just raised, that if it was happy we'd celebrate with food, if it was sad, oh you fell down and skinned your knee, here's ice-cream.'

Mrs Potter said that she has repeatedly postponed losing weight, but has decided it is now time to do something about her size as daily life is becoming very difficult and she has to rely on her son for help.

'Everything is difficult from getting dressed to taking a bath,' she said. 'To reaching, you know, I can't put my own socks on.

'As far as my daily activity I do, everything is very difficult and thank goodness I have a very good relationship with my son and he is very helpful. He helps me do anything that's difficult.'

Before she was fat: Mrs Potter thinks the roots of her obesity lie in her childhood and her genes

Growing up: Mrs Potter said that her family used to turn to food for both celebrations and commiserations


The Californian mother tries to keep mobile by going to a warm water rehabilitation pool three to five times a week where she does laps.

But she has to use a mobility scooter to get around and can no longer get into her car.

Mrs Potter said that one of her problems is that she likes all foods, except sauerkraut and Brussels sprouts, and said she has food every one or two hours.

'I'd be happy at 200 [pounds] maybe 300 but probably more 200 would be my ideal weight,' she said.

Support: Mrs Potter said that she relies on her son for help doing everyday things that she cannot do along with her sisters

Too big: Mrs Potter cannot get in her car any more so has to use a mobility scooter to get around

'I would be in seventh heaven. I could dance, I could go watch Baseball games, I could walk into a Theatre and sit in the seats, I could go on road trips again with my son, we could go to Reno and gamble.'

Mrs Potter is looking for a nutritionist and doctor to help her, but said she also has the support of her network of friends online.

'I have a lot of friends online,' she said. 'I go online there's a support group on there with other heavy friends, so we talk quite a bit online, we exchange phone numbers, we talk on the phone or we email.'

Mrs Potter said she regrets getting as big as she has and would not recommend her lifestyle to anyone.

'I don't even know how to say, it's not fun, it's not fun at all,' she said. 'There is no physical freedom.'

'As far as even rolling over in the bed. Thank goodness I have an electric hospital bed, and I can grab on to the bars to roll over.

'I am mobile to a certain extent but it's difficult. I just struggle every day to hang on to what little bit of mobility I have. It's very hard.'

For more amazing records check out the new Guinness World Records 2012 out on September 15th. Visit www.guinnessworldrecords.com for more information



source:dailymail