female. underweight. need to gain. suggestions???

SoccerGurl01

Hello I'm from California. Need help & motivation for weight gain. Not every one wants to be skinny. I have a fast metabolism and need suggestions to meet my goal of 120 lbs healthy. Thanks

Sabine_Stroehm

How old are you and how tall?

SoccerGurl01

I'm 28. 5'4". Current weight 109

christinas_06

Hi there! We are similar... I'm 26, 5'3", and around 114-116 nowadays. I miss my curves and want to get back to 120-125. I stopped working out and have gone back to tracking to make sure I eat over 2000 calories per day. What about you?

SoccerGurl01

Current cal intake is 2100 and have been maintaining that for about 1-2wks but will be increasing to 2300-2500 when I start work outs. It's so frustrating because I'm so scared of losing weight.

MissMary75044

.

terizius

^^ that first line was very important for me. Try to spread calories out evenly throughout the day. For me, that meant adding a snack or two between breakfast and lunch and a snack before bed.

bingfit221

Eat, eat, eat.

Just like they say in the bodybuilding world: "If you wanna be big, you have to eat big."
(Not that you want to be big of course)

SoccerGurl01

Thank you for all the suggestions. I really appreciate them. Whenever I tell ppl I'm trying to gain, they look at me like I'm crazy. Glad that some of you can relate and I not alone in this similar struggle

terizius

^^ Its a small group that is actively trying to gain weight. Just check out the traffic on the Gaining Weight thread vs the Others. That's why I spend most of my time here.

posionkiss

I'm in a similar boat. It takes no effort to lose weight and because of that I'm always on the low end of a healthy weight. I'm tracking to make sure that I don't skip meals because I don't 'feel' hungry. You're definitely not alone.

SoccerGurl01

Poisonkiss yes that's the reason I first began tracking. I get so busy in my day that I forget or just don't get the chance to eat. I don't eat fast food. Thank u Poisonkiss

_crystalorgans

I'm also tracking to make sure I don't skip meals because I don't "feel" hungry and still slowly gaining after having an eating problem due to high stress four years ago. I'm eating high calorie, protein , and at least 1,800 calories a day for now

_Waffle_

I track here mostly to ensure I get enough calories. My typical daily calorie requirement is 3,500 - 5,000 calories. Losing weight is easy but adding or keeping weight isn't that difficult. Bump the calories if you're dropping below your desired goal. It works.

giantrobot_powerlifting

Almonds.

jhepstall

The struggle is real! I've just started my weight gain journey in hopes to gain a healthy 15-20 lbs. Which is FAR from easy.. But a great meal plan that fits your daily routine is key!

aimsr23

I'm with you all on this weight gain journey. It's a struggle. I just started a meal plan and find it hard to meet my calorie intake goal. I'm 5'5, 109 lbs. What do you meals include?

terizius

I started taking a protein/weight gain shake as my first "meal" of the day, because I usually struggle to get AM calories. I also swapped out 1 or 2% milk for whole milk. Started adding cheese to everything. Larger portion sizes, more oil when cooking. It was also important for me to get at least one snack before lunch and one after, so that I don't get home from work with another 2000 calories to eat. Wine and/or ice cream for dessert. Just a few ideas that have worked for me. My diary is open if anyone wants to look.

JayRuby84

Get some nuts in your life =D

Liftng4Lis

Peanut butter, nuts, avocados, FOOD.

ctdelhart

I'm 18 and with this app I was able to gain 9 pounds. I have low blood sugar so trying to maintain my weight is hard enough I now weigh 106. Hoping to weight 125

SoccerGurl01

terizius wrote: »

I started taking a protein/weight gain shake as my first "meal" of the day, because I usually struggle to get AM calories. I also swapped out 1 or 2% milk for whole milk. Started adding cheese to everything. Larger portion sizes, more oil when cooking. It was also important for me to get at least one snack before lunch and one after, so that I don't get home from work with another 2000 calories to eat. Wine and/or ice cream for dessert. Just a few ideas that have worked for me. My diary is open if anyone wants to look.

This is such a help! I'm so busy in the morning that I forget about eating. Then lunch rolls around & I'm wondering y I'm hungry. Lol.

SoccerGurl01

Does anyone else get annoyed when people tell just to eat more or push fast food as a good idea??? I guess it's hard for others to understand that gaining is hard. And doing it healthy seems to them ineffective. I try hard to make good nutrient rich choices in larger portions. I don't want to eat fat!

JoRocka

SoccerGurl01 wrote: »

Does anyone else get annoyed when people tell just to eat more or push fast food as a good idea??? I guess it's hard for others to understand that gaining is hard. And doing it healthy seems to them ineffective. I try hard to make good nutrient rich choices in larger portions. I don't want to eat fat!

except that's the answer- eat more food- and eat higher calorie- less filling food. It may be annoying- but until you start doing it- you're going to be spinning your wheels.

and fat is delicious.

so no- only people like you get annoyed with it- the rest of us know better- so we answer this question regularly.

Springfield1970

JayRuby84 wrote: »

Get some nuts in your life =D

Heehee!! Yeah baby!

Springfield1970

SoccerGurl01 wrote: »

Does anyone else get annoyed when people tell just to eat more or push fast food as a good idea??? I guess it's hard for others to understand that gaining is hard. And doing it healthy seems to them ineffective. I try hard to make good nutrient rich choices in larger portions. I don't want to eat fat!

It's because most of us have something in our brains that make us LIVE for food. I'd love to shut it off! But I'm always thinking about food or my next meal. I just cannot imagine 'forgetting' about food. That would be a dream come true for me!

surfteam1689

Hi SoccerGurl01,

Have you ever tried the Spartacus Workout? It's FREE and you can do this in your living room. This will help you build more muscle, and still keep you lean. Here is the jpg file which shows you the exercises.

I couldn't attached the mp3 music file because it's huge, but you can still get it this way...
Click here, and you can hear the music and see the exercises.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJb9dyY8tKY

To download the mp3 file, copy and paste the same file address above from youtube into this website below, and it will separate the mp3 from the video, which you can then save to your computer.
http://www.youtube-mp3.org/

Now you have the jpg file, the youtube video, and the mp3. I just use the jpg and mp3 files on my computer when I am doing the workout.

Recommendations:
1. Start off with a Monday, Wednesday, Friday workout schedule (or Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday).
2. Plan on doing 3 sets, using just your body weight, or if you find that you can only do 2 sets your first week, that's ok. As you do the reps, use the music tempo.
3. Do 5 reps on your first set.
4. Do 6 reps on your second set.
5. Do 7 reps on your third set, if you can swing a third set.
6. Use the beats in the music and go slow, which actually burns a lot more calories because you are having to exercise more *muscle control*.
7. Drink at least 8 - 8 ounce glasses of water per day. I slam a large 16 ounces of water 15 minutes before my workout and another 16 ounces after my workout.
8. Eat more protein through the day. Use MFP faithfully!

Building muscle will make you look more tone, and help you gain good weight, not fat/flab weight. Being that you love soccer, you know exactly what I mean.
:-)

Springfield1970

Do you REALLY think the model in the photo hasn't lifted heavy *kitten* in his life?
For *kitten* sake

terizius

^^^ and that's why I get most of my info from scientific studies.. Pubmed is my friend, even if it doesn't have any pictures.

jessicamendes357

nakedraygun wrote: »

Almonds.

Almonds are great to help gain weight! I'm trying to gain weight too. I'm 5.6" and weigh 110lbs

lanab84

I'm 5'7" and weigh 115. I've been highly stressed for two years and lost 15 lbs. I weighed 128 when the stress started, and got down to 112. I'm sloooooooooowly gaining it back. It's interesting that us skinnies that want to gain weight have the same problem in reverse that those who want to lose have. They can gain super fast and losing takes forever, while we lose super fast and gaining takes forever. I miss my "curves"... I also miss my energy levels, and strength. Here's to keeping on pushing!