What should I eat to gain weight?
Replies
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Obviously everything is fine in moderation, but advising her to switch from fruits/veg and fish etc to just pizza and brownies to stack on the pounds is probably going to feel crappy, especially as she's specifically asking for foods similar to the style she normally eats, and if she's found something that works then great - she should stick with it and just adjust slightly.
NOBODY did that. They, and now I - so we - are suggesting she add some of those foods to her diet in order to reach her goal.
Why is that always the extreme argument some people try to say that others make, when it's clearly not?
eta: Ninja'd by Alice.0 -
I don't understand why all you guys are acting like the only high calorie foods out there are things like pizza/chocolate/etc. You can 'eat healthy' and still gain weight, as long as your calorie goal isnt super high. Obviously everything is fine in moderation, but advising her to switch from fruits/veg and fish etc to just pizza and brownies to stack on the pounds is probably going to feel crappy, especially as she's specifically asking for foods similar to the style she normally eats, and if she's found something that works then great - she should stick with it and just adjust slightly.
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Easy ways to add calories includes the above food in moderation as easy calories, but they shouldnt be the be all and end all (dont stop eating fruit & veg etc, they might not be high in calories but you still want those nutrients). You can also start cooking with oil (olive oil ~120c per tablespoon), nuts are great for calories and fats with pecan, pine and brazil being some of the highest, nut butters lead on from that pretty obviously with almond butter being delicious and just beating out peanut, dried fruit can have a loooot of calories (eg cherries are 226 per half cup) but if sugar is something that concerns you I'd double check the labels, avocados tend to have over 300 calories each, then you get into grains, dairy, eggs, fish, bananas, butter etc.
So you know how the OP will feel by eating certain foods? And who stated to switch from eating micronutrient dense foods to pizza and brownies??
If you read the tread and was open minded instead of having a bias, you would see we are telling OP that no food is inherently "healthy" or "unhealthy". The fact is, for some individuals, eating a ton of micronutrient dense foods to pack on weight just isn't the option. What good is a plan if in the end you can't follow through? There is room for all foods in a balanced diet.
Yes, you can add oils and the like, but is that honestly enjoyable? That seems like a waste of calories to me.
And I feel awesome eating my pizza and brownies by the way...
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I don't understand why all you guys are acting like the only high calorie foods out there are things like pizza/chocolate/etc. You can 'eat healthy' and still gain weight, as long as your calorie goal isnt super high. Obviously everything is fine in moderation, but advising her to switch from fruits/veg and fish etc to just pizza and brownies to stack on the pounds is probably going to feel crappy, especially as she's specifically asking for foods similar to the style she normally eats, and if she's found something that works then great - she should stick with it and just adjust slightly.
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Easy ways to add calories includes the above food in moderation as easy calories, but they shouldnt be the be all and end all (dont stop eating fruit & veg etc, they might not be high in calories but you still want those nutrients). You can also start cooking with oil (olive oil ~120c per tablespoon), nuts are great for calories and fats with pecan, pine and brazil being some of the highest, nut butters lead on from that pretty obviously with almond butter being delicious and just beating out peanut, dried fruit can have a loooot of calories (eg cherries are 226 per half cup) but if sugar is something that concerns you I'd double check the labels, avocados tend to have over 300 calories each, then you get into grains, dairy, eggs, fish, bananas, butter etc.
@Metazoick NO ONE said to ONLY eat brownies, pizza, chocolate, etc.
We all suggest eating nutrient-dense foods like fruits and veggies. We suggest eating calorie-dense foods like nuts, seeds, nut butters, avocados, olive oil, coconut oil, fatty fish, etc. We are simply saying that there is absolutely nothing wrong with eating ice cream, brownies, and pizza to help her meet her calorie goal and macros.0 -
Maybe I overreacted, if so I apologise, but my response was mainly due to nobody saying anything like 'in addiction' and simply listing high calorie foods that the OP most likely wasn't looking for from the wording of her first post and simply stating to just eat those things, and due to people acting as if 'eating healthy' would entail having to eat a stupid amount of veg as though that were the only alternative. I totally agree that those foods are fine in moderation, as I said, I just didn't want OP to think she has to stop what she's currently doing and switch to ice cream for fear of not gaining the weight. My bad if I read the tone wrong.NOBODY did that. They, and now I - so we - are suggesting she add some of those foods to her diet in order to reach her goal.
Why is that always the extreme argument some people try to say that others make, when it's clearly not?0 -
I don't understand why all you guys are acting like the only high calorie foods out there are things like pizza/chocolate/etc. You can 'eat healthy' and still gain weight, as long as your calorie goal isnt super high. Obviously everything is fine in moderation, but advising her to switch from fruits/veg and fish etc to just pizza and brownies to stack on the pounds is probably going to feel crappy, especially as she's specifically asking for foods similar to the style she normally eats, and if she's found something that works then great - she should stick with it and just adjust slightly.
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Easy ways to add calories includes the above food in moderation as easy calories, but they shouldnt be the be all and end all (dont stop eating fruit & veg etc, they might not be high in calories but you still want those nutrients). You can also start cooking with oil (olive oil ~120c per tablespoon), nuts are great for calories and fats with pecan, pine and brazil being some of the highest, nut butters lead on from that pretty obviously with almond butter being delicious and just beating out peanut, dried fruit can have a loooot of calories (eg cherries are 226 per half cup) but if sugar is something that concerns you I'd double check the labels, avocados tend to have over 300 calories each, then you get into grains, dairy, eggs, fish, bananas, butter etc.
no one suggested ONLY eating those things.
I see a lot of food you have added that you have to eat a lot of in order to get significant calories.
Plus-come on- cherries vs a snickers bar?
which one is easier to eat? a snickers bar.
which one gives you a better marco profile? a snickers bar!
which one is going to help you lift better- a snickers bar!
no one is saying drop eating a moderate diet and getting the foods you need- chicken- steak- veggies- more veggies- butter, olive oil, but come on- ice cream + oreos. is a win.
We aren't talking eating all 3000+ calories in pizza and ice cream for 6 months straight- that's absurd. But no reason to not fill out the rest of your day with delicious high calorie food that doesn't leave you feeling over stuffed.
You don't get bonus points for being 'extra' healthy on a bulk.0 -
I don't understand why all you guys are acting like the only high calorie foods out there are things like pizza/chocolate/etc. You can 'eat healthy' and still gain weight, as long as your calorie goal isnt super high. Obviously everything is fine in moderation, but advising her to switch from fruits/veg and fish etc to just pizza and brownies to stack on the pounds is probably going to feel crappy, especially as she's specifically asking for foods similar to the style she normally eats, and if she's found something that works then great - she should stick with it and just adjust slightly.
-
Easy ways to add calories includes the above food in moderation as easy calories, but they shouldnt be the be all and end all (dont stop eating fruit & veg etc, they might not be high in calories but you still want those nutrients). You can also start cooking with oil (olive oil ~120c per tablespoon), nuts are great for calories and fats with pecan, pine and brazil being some of the highest, nut butters lead on from that pretty obviously with almond butter being delicious and just beating out peanut, dried fruit can have a loooot of calories (eg cherries are 226 per half cup) but if sugar is something that concerns you I'd double check the labels, avocados tend to have over 300 calories each, then you get into grains, dairy, eggs, fish, bananas, butter etc.
no one suggested ONLY eating those things.
I see a lot of food you have added that you have to eat a lot of in order to get significant calories.
Plus-come on- cherries vs a snickers bar?
which one is easier to eat? a snickers bar.
which one gives you a better marco profile? a snickers bar!
which one is going to help you lift better- a snickers bar!
no one is saying drop eating a moderate diet and getting the foods you need- chicken- steak- veggies- more veggies- butter, olive oil, but come on- ice cream + oreos. is a win.
We aren't talking eating all 3000+ calories in pizza and ice cream for 6 months straight- that's absurd. But no reason to not fill out the rest of your day with delicious high calorie food that doesn't leave you feeling over stuffed.
You don't get bonus points for being 'extra' healthy on a bulk.
You do however, get bonus points for waking up early and training...
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Thanks for the comments but I want to make a lifestyle change to eat healthier. I started working out to gain muscle and I already eat three meals a day. The things I ate today were in the morning I ate peanut butter banana sandwich, then I Workouted, after my workout I drank a mass&weight gainer shake. For lunch I ate salmon, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. For dinner not sure what I am going to eat. What other foods would you recommend besides junk food.
I see your are taking the path labeled "no gains" ...
good luck getting into a surplus eating clean ..
and the food that everyone listed are not "junk" they are just calorie dense foods that will help you get into a surplus and hit your macro/micro goals.0 -
FatFreeFrolicking wrote: »Thanks for the comments but I want to make a lifestyle change to eat healthier. I started working out to gain muscle and I already eat three meals a day. The things I ate today were in the morning I ate peanut butter banana sandwich, then I Workouted, after my workout I drank a mass&weight gainer shake. For lunch I ate salmon, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. For dinner not sure what I am going to eat. What other foods would you recommend besides junk food.
I don't think you understand how difficult it will be to eat strictly whole/non-processed/clean/raw foods… whatever you call it... and end up in a calorie surplus. I don't know anyone who could eat 500 calories of broccoli or asparagus.
By the way, it's not junk food. It's just food. It's energy. It's food that will help you meet your goals. That's what you want, right?
for real ..sometimes I pre log my day and think Ok, I should be close and realize I am like 600 calories from 3100 ..that is when I do a happy dance because that means I can have 400 calories of ice cream and some cookies...0 -
I don't understand why all you guys are acting like the only high calorie foods out there are things like pizza/chocolate/etc. You can 'eat healthy' and still gain weight, as long as your calorie goal isnt super high. Obviously everything is fine in moderation, but advising her to switch from fruits/veg and fish etc to just pizza and brownies to stack on the pounds is probably going to feel crappy, especially as she's specifically asking for foods similar to the style she normally eats, and if she's found something that works then great - she should stick with it and just adjust slightly.
-
Easy ways to add calories includes the above food in moderation as easy calories, but they shouldnt be the be all and end all (dont stop eating fruit & veg etc, they might not be high in calories but you still want those nutrients). You can also start cooking with oil (olive oil ~120c per tablespoon), nuts are great for calories and fats with pecan, pine and brazil being some of the highest, nut butters lead on from that pretty obviously with almond butter being delicious and just beating out peanut, dried fruit can have a loooot of calories (eg cherries are 226 per half cup) but if sugar is something that concerns you I'd double check the labels, avocados tend to have over 300 calories each, then you get into grains, dairy, eggs, fish, bananas, butter etc.
Well hello there captain Strawman ..
please find the one person in this thread that advocated a diet of pizza and brownies all day ..
OP asked what foods would put her in a surplus and everyone responded....when you are trying to add weight/bulk the surplus is the most important part..but no one is saying eat 3100 calories of brownies all day. ..0 -
If you want less processed foods- you can load up on fatty foods such as oils, avocados and nuts. High starch and carb foods will include bananas, potatoes, rice, etc.
But as far as healthy foods- all foods can be healthy in moderation. What people call "junk food" isn't the best option to eat tons of because of the way the foods are processed and all the additives. But in moderation, they won't hurt because your body is equipped with the organs to filter out the "junk". But there are plenty of alternatives that don't have as much of the "junk" you can find recipes online for clean eating or check out your local whole foods or similar store. You can still find pizza, cookies, brownies, ice cream and more that are not as highly processed with all the added stuff. You can still eat 3 meals a day with all the nutrient rich foods you currently are and then add in a couple snacks and a dessert that are more calorie dense foods.0 -
Well hello there captain Strawman ..
please find the one person in this thread that advocated a diet of pizza and brownies all day ..
OP asked what foods would put her in a surplus and everyone responded....when you are trying to add weight/bulk the surplus is the most important part..but no one is saying eat 3100 calories of brownies all day. ..
Like I said before I probably just misinterpreted the sentiment and I apologise for that - I've met people before who used bulking as an excuse to completely ignore fruit/veg/other 'healthy' foods and live on tubs of icecream and takeout pizza and I just wanted to make sure OP didn't feel like this is the only way to ever gain weight, or that anything healthy is low calorie and that there's no overlap.
Another note for OP, though: if by eating 'healthy' you're talking about wanting relatively unprocessed foods, maybe you could make it at home? Homemade pizza means you know exactly what's in it, can add more of what you want (veggies etc), plus it tastes amaaazing and will probably have a ton of calories in it
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OP, please look at the physiques of those advising you to consume items such as Pizza, Burgers, Ice Cream, and "Junk"...and feel free to throw me in the ring as well as an advocate of such foods.
Now please look at the physiques, or lack there of, of those telling you to eat "healthy".
Clearly we know something they don't.
You should listen to us.0 -
It depends. Are you trying to gain muscle or a more voluptuous figure? If you're wanting to gain muscle, you'll need to work out with weights and eat lots of protein and high, but healthy carbs. If you want to gain voluptuousness then eat anything your heart desires
Not true. I eat everything, I lift weights and I am gaining all kinds of wonderful curves. You can have it all
Those are some dangerous curves!
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Well hello there captain Strawman ..
please find the one person in this thread that advocated a diet of pizza and brownies all day ..
OP asked what foods would put her in a surplus and everyone responded....when you are trying to add weight/bulk the surplus is the most important part..but no one is saying eat 3100 calories of brownies all day. ..
Like I said before I probably just misinterpreted the sentiment and I apologise for that - I've met people before who used bulking as an excuse to completely ignore fruit/veg/other 'healthy' foods and live on tubs of icecream and takeout pizza and I just wanted to make sure OP didn't feel like this is the only way to ever gain weight, or that anything healthy is low calorie and that there's no overlap.
Another note for OP, though: if by eating 'healthy' you're talking about wanting relatively unprocessed foods, maybe you could make it at home? Homemade pizza means you know exactly what's in it, can add more of what you want (veggies etc), plus it tastes amaaazing and will probably have a ton of calories in it
There is always a healthy middle ground and you will find that those who advocate pizza and ice cream have very healthy diets as a base then load up cals on top. We are just lucky when we bulk that we can add some of the "junk" without fear of gaining weight because that's the plan!
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That was my rule when I first showed up here trying to figure out how to gain. It's really good advice.beastcompany wrote: »OP, please look at the physiques of those advising you to consume items such as Pizza, Burgers, Ice Cream, and "Junk"...and feel free to throw me in the ring as well as an advocate of such foods.
Now please look at the physiques, or lack there of, of those telling you to eat "healthy".
Clearly we know something they don't.
You should listen to us.
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Wheelhouse15 wrote: »It depends. Are you trying to gain muscle or a more voluptuous figure? If you're wanting to gain muscle, you'll need to work out with weights and eat lots of protein and high, but healthy carbs. If you want to gain voluptuousness then eat anything your heart desires
Not true. I eat everything, I lift weights and I am gaining all kinds of wonderful curves. You can have it all
Those are some dangerous curves!
Why thank you @Wheelhouse15 :flowerforyou:
OP, eat whatever you please. Again, as everyone previously stated, you can eat all the healthy food you want but if you are struggling to maintain a surplus you are losing the race.
What I eat daily, it changes but toast, peanut butter, whole milk, eggs, spinach, cheese, yogurt, oatmeal, nuts, hemp hearts, granola, cereal, pasta, risotto, veggies, salads, soups, meat, fish, oils, pizza, burgers, ice cream, cake, cookies, pretty much everything under the sun. Have fun with it, explore, try new foods, have dessert everyday. Don't make this more difficult than it has to be.0 -
Wheelhouse15 wrote: »It depends. Are you trying to gain muscle or a more voluptuous figure? If you're wanting to gain muscle, you'll need to work out with weights and eat lots of protein and high, but healthy carbs. If you want to gain voluptuousness then eat anything your heart desires
Not true. I eat everything, I lift weights and I am gaining all kinds of wonderful curves. You can have it all
Those are some dangerous curves!
Why thank you @Wheelhouse15 :flowerforyou:
OP, eat whatever you please. Again, as everyone previously stated, you can eat all the healthy food you want but if you are struggling to maintain a surplus you are losing the race.
What I eat daily, it changes but toast, peanut butter, whole milk, eggs, spinach, cheese, yogurt, oatmeal, nuts, hemp hearts, granola, cereal, pasta, risotto, veggies, salads, soups, meat, fish, oils, pizza, burgers, ice cream, cake, cookies, pretty much everything under the sun. Have fun with it, explore, try new foods, have dessert everyday. Don't make this more difficult than it has to be.
OP ^ listen to this one...curves and all ...0 -
chips.. whiskey.0
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dieselbyte wrote: »I don't understand why all you guys are acting like the only high calorie foods out there are things like pizza/chocolate/etc. You can 'eat healthy' and still gain weight, as long as your calorie goal isnt super high. Obviously everything is fine in moderation, but advising her to switch from fruits/veg and fish etc to just pizza and brownies to stack on the pounds is probably going to feel crappy, especially as she's specifically asking for foods similar to the style she normally eats, and if she's found something that works then great - she should stick with it and just adjust slightly.
-
Easy ways to add calories includes the above food in moderation as easy calories, but they shouldnt be the be all and end all (dont stop eating fruit & veg etc, they might not be high in calories but you still want those nutrients). You can also start cooking with oil (olive oil ~120c per tablespoon), nuts are great for calories and fats with pecan, pine and brazil being some of the highest, nut butters lead on from that pretty obviously with almond butter being delicious and just beating out peanut, dried fruit can have a loooot of calories (eg cherries are 226 per half cup) but if sugar is something that concerns you I'd double check the labels, avocados tend to have over 300 calories each, then you get into grains, dairy, eggs, fish, bananas, butter etc.
no one suggested ONLY eating those things.
I see a lot of food you have added that you have to eat a lot of in order to get significant calories.
Plus-come on- cherries vs a snickers bar?
which one is easier to eat? a snickers bar.
which one gives you a better marco profile? a snickers bar!
which one is going to help you lift better- a snickers bar!
no one is saying drop eating a moderate diet and getting the foods you need- chicken- steak- veggies- more veggies- butter, olive oil, but come on- ice cream + oreos. is a win.
We aren't talking eating all 3000+ calories in pizza and ice cream for 6 months straight- that's absurd. But no reason to not fill out the rest of your day with delicious high calorie food that doesn't leave you feeling over stuffed.
You don't get bonus points for being 'extra' healthy on a bulk.
You do however, get bonus points for waking up early and training...
also- i get the work out too!!!! so you know- double awesome- bonus points AND my actual workout LMAO
<happy dance>0 -
I came onto MFP with exactly the same mindset as the OP due to being told to eat healthy by loads of different people. It's true though that none of these people had the type of figure that I am trying to achieve so just show's what they know! After taking advice from all of the experienced gainers on here I now have incorporated bread (GASP), Pop Tarts, chocolate, pizza, beer, spaghetti, wine, etc back into my eating plan. I pretty much eat my balanced meals throughout the day and then to make up my calories I top up on whatever will put me into a calorie surplus at night. Working wonders for my strength in the gym so no complaints here, thanks guys 0
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I came onto MFP with exactly the same mindset as the OP due to being told to eat healthy by loads of different people. It's true though that none of these people had the type of figure that I am trying to achieve so just show's what they know! After taking advice from all of the experienced gainers on here I now have incorporated bread (GASP), Pop Tarts, chocolate, pizza, beer, spaghetti, wine, etc back into my eating plan. I pretty much eat my balanced meals throughout the day and then to make up my calories I top up on whatever will put me into a calorie surplus at night. Working wonders for my strength in the gym so no complaints here, thanks guys
that's what we call a winner.
congrats my friend!0 -
I came onto MFP with exactly the same mindset as the OP due to being told to eat healthy by loads of different people. It's true though that none of these people had the type of figure that I am trying to achieve so just show's what they know! After taking advice from all of the experienced gainers on here I now have incorporated bread (GASP), Pop Tarts, chocolate, pizza, beer, spaghetti, wine, etc back into my eating plan. I pretty much eat my balanced meals throughout the day and then to make up my calories I top up on whatever will put me into a calorie surplus at night. Working wonders for my strength in the gym so no complaints here, thanks guys
Realizing this with only 61 posts probably gives you a MFP IQ of 200+0 -
JeffseekingV wrote: »I came onto MFP with exactly the same mindset as the OP due to being told to eat healthy by loads of different people. It's true though that none of these people had the type of figure that I am trying to achieve so just show's what they know! After taking advice from all of the experienced gainers on here I now have incorporated bread (GASP), Pop Tarts, chocolate, pizza, beer, spaghetti, wine, etc back into my eating plan. I pretty much eat my balanced meals throughout the day and then to make up my calories I top up on whatever will put me into a calorie surplus at night. Working wonders for my strength in the gym so no complaints here, thanks guys
Realizing this with only 61 posts probably gives you a MFP IQ of 200+
Cheers Jeff!! After ndj1979 blasted one of my very first posts I knew there was more to this gaining business than 'clean eating' lol0 -
I came onto MFP with exactly the same mindset as the OP due to being told to eat healthy by loads of different people. It's true though that none of these people had the type of figure that I am trying to achieve so just show's what they know! After taking advice from all of the experienced gainers on here I now have incorporated bread (GASP), Pop Tarts, chocolate, pizza, beer, spaghetti, wine, etc back into my eating plan. I pretty much eat my balanced meals throughout the day and then to make up my calories I top up on whatever will put me into a calorie surplus at night. Working wonders for my strength in the gym so no complaints here, thanks guys
that's what we call a winner.
congrats my friend!
Thanks Jo! It was actually after reading quite a few of your quotes on this forum that I seen the light. And haven't looked back since 0 -
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beastcompany wrote: »OP, please look at the physiques of those advising you to consume items such as Pizza, Burgers, Ice Cream, and "Junk"...and feel free to throw me in the ring as well as an advocate of such foods.
Now please look at the physiques, or lack there of, of those telling you to eat "healthy".
Clearly we know something they don't.
You should listen to us.
Well. Your advice is really good, however, the OP usually can't look at the people's pictures that are saying "eat clean" or "junk food isn't good for you" because their profiles are usually private with no pictures. Sigh.
I'm pretty sure only one post kind of said that the OP had to eat clean or to avoid all junk foods, almost everybody here agreed that it's all fine in moderation.0 -
I came onto MFP with exactly the same mindset as the OP due to being told to eat healthy by loads of different people. It's true though that none of these people had the type of figure that I am trying to achieve so just show's what they know! After taking advice from all of the experienced gainers on here I now have incorporated bread (GASP), Pop Tarts, chocolate, pizza, beer, spaghetti, wine, etc back into my eating plan. I pretty much eat my balanced meals throughout the day and then to make up my calories I top up on whatever will put me into a calorie surplus at night. Working wonders for my strength in the gym so no complaints here, thanks guys
that's what we call a winner.
congrats my friend!
Thanks Jo! It was actually after reading quite a few of your quotes on this forum that I seen the light. And haven't looked back since
oh YAY!
my epicforumdouchebaggery is helpful! most excellent- I like to hear that 0 -
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Why is @JeffseekingV entire post behind bars on mobile I can't even read it! Have you been bad? 0
This discussion has been closed.
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