Gaining weight with the least amount of food
nichelle0126
Posts: 8
I am trying to gain weight as directed by my physician. I have a problem with my adrenal glands that makes it nearly impossible to gain weight. Please spare the 'I wish I had that problem' comments because its really not fun! My hair and nails fall out/off I'm so tired and very under nourished. I have two small children that require way more energy than I have. I downloaded the app to try to help me meet minimum daily nutrient requirements, but I come up short every single day. I am 5'8 and weight 110lbs. I've been eating on average 500 calories a day. I know that's not healthy-- and it is NOT intentional. Just eating 500 calories a day, I feel stuffed. I am forcing myself to eat even that much. Complete loss of appetite goes along with the previously mentioned adrenal condition. Since I can't seem to eat the proper amount of calories in a 'normal' manner, I am wondering if anyone can recommend foods to help me get the most bang for my theoretical buck. I only am able to eat small quantities per day, but I what I do eat needs to be more nutrient dense. Any suggestions?
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Replies
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Eat more.0
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I just Googled nutrient dense foods and got http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php
A good way to start at any rate0 -
This should get you started http://lmgtfy.com/?q=nutrient+dense+foods0
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I am trying to gain weight as directed by my physician. I have a problem with my adrenal glands that makes it nearly impossible to gain weight. Please spare the 'I wish I had that problem' comments because its really not fun! My hair and nails fall out/off I'm so tired and very under nourished. I have two small children that require way more energy than I have. I downloaded the app to try to help me meet minimum daily nutrient requirements, but I come up short every single day. I am 5'8 and weight 110lbs. I've been eating on average 500 calories a day. I know that's not healthy-- and it is NOT intentional. Just eating 500 calories a day, I feel stuffed. I am forcing myself to eat even that much. Complete loss of appetite goes along with the previously mentioned adrenal condition. Since I can't seem to eat the proper amount of calories in a 'normal' manner, I am wondering if anyone can recommend foods to help me get the most bang for my theoretical buck. I only am able to eat small quantities per day, but I what I do eat needs to be more nutrient dense. Any suggestions?
Find things that you like that are full of fat and/or starch and sugar. Use lots of oils while cooking, if you can.
Don't buy lean cuts of meat. If you're currently eating chicken, try to switch to beef or pork.
Are you more likely to drink than eat? Make some sort of shake that has a fair amount of sugar in it, along with some vegetables for vitamins and nutrients, and drink that instead of water.
potatoes, potatoes, potatoes. load 'em up with butter, bacon, sour cream, whatever.
If you like chocolate, add a piece after every meal. Or ice cream... the full-fat stuff. Or milkshakes with whole milk, if that's more appealing.
A big bagel with cream cheese in the morning could be good for almost 500 calories.
Look for foods that are "portable" so you can move them place-to-place with you during the day... that way you're not tied down to the meal table in order to eat...you can just eat wherever you are.
Good luck. It's not easy to have to force yourself to do something you have no desire to do. Think of eating the way the rest of us think about exercise: "I may not feel like doing it right now, but I know I have to, it's good for me. Here we go."0 -
advacodoes are very nutritious and supposed to be fattning:) pasta with cream sauces0
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What exactly are you eating now?0
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If you've talked to a doctor I'm pretty sure you know what foods you should be eating. Honestly you COULD eat nutrient dense foods, but honestly I'd go the opposite way.
High fat and high carb meals will trigger your appetite and helping you get calories in. A trick you can do is if you don't feel hungry is ask yourself "Can I eat?" not asking yourself "Am I hungry?" If you can physically eat just eat something whatever.. an apple.. some peanut butter... buttered rice.. doesn't matter.0 -
calorie dense foods are your friend in cases like this. Peanut butter, avocados, cook with lots of olive oil, full-fat dairy. Simple tricks like this can add up to a lot of calories really fast, with out adding a large volume of food.0
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Dissolve sugar in water. Drink it.
Eat peanut butter with a spoon directly out of the jar.
Protein shakes.
Drink milk instead of water.0 -
Can you give us an example of what you eat in a typical day? There might be ways you can add calories just with simple substitutions.
Other than that, I agree with the others. Adding cooking oils, butter, sugar, full-fat dairy and dressing, nuts and cheese will all boost your calories without you having to eat a bit chunk of food.
High calorie drinks are also your friend. You can buy shakes specifically for weight gain aimed at people recovering from illness (I'm sure the doctor has mentioned these). Orange juice is packed with sugar. Even coca cola - I know you need actual nutrients, not just calories, but you could add in the odd soda alongside the rest for an energy boost.0 -
Yep, yep, and yep. Carbs and fat together. As in the same meal.0
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+10
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GOMAD0
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The nutrition comprises of fruits that meet all the body requirements of the person & cannot take the risk of relying on a food that fills their stomach but does not provide necessary nutrition.0
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http://www.sweetcheetah.com/2013/07/diy-quest-bars.html
This recipe for home made qwest bars is delicious. It has been the undoing of my weight loss. I made some for a little girl that doesn't like to eat. She won't eat them, but I can't stop.
They are discussed on this thread. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1074514-homemade-quest-bars0 -
[/quote]
Find things that you like that are full of fat and/or starch and sugar. Use lots of oils while cooking, if you can.
Don't buy lean cuts of meat. If you're currently eating chicken, try to switch to beef or pork.
Are you more likely to drink than eat? Make some sort of shake that has a fair amount of sugar in it, along with some vegetables for vitamins and nutrients, and drink that instead of water.
potatoes, potatoes, potatoes. load 'em up with butter, bacon, sour cream, whatever.
If you like chocolate, add a piece after every meal. Or ice cream... the full-fat stuff. Or milkshakes with whole milk, if that's more appealing.
A big bagel with cream cheese in the morning could be good for almost 500 calories.
Look for foods that are "portable" so you can move them place-to-place with you during the day... that way you're not tied down to the meal table in order to eat...you can just eat wherever you are.
Good luck. It's not easy to have to force yourself to do something you have no desire to do. Think of eating the way the rest of us think about exercise: "I may not feel like doing it right now, but I know I have to, it's good for me. Here we go."
[/quote]
I really like this answer. I forgot to mention in the initial post that I can't get too crazy with the processed sugars and carbs. Because the adrenals aren't working, my body over compensates and makes insulin. Insulin isn't as effective or as efficient as cortisol (the missing hormone) so it takes a LOT of insulin to process foods. That over compenensation causes my insulin levels to sky rocket and I crash, even from just a bag of Cheetos for example. I am not diabetic though.
But I think I will heed your advice and make smoothies. I would rather drink than eat. The lack of appetite combined with the lack of time I have sometimes makes me forget to eat. After chasing babies all day I look up and it's four in the afternoon and I haven't eaten yet.
As far as what I am eating when I do eat: granola and peanut butter, part of a banana or a whole date, cashews or any type of nut, all of that is normal food I eat during the day. And at night, mostly to keep up appearances when my husband gets home (my entire family thinks I'm losing weight on purpose) I make something so rich and heavy with carbs that I can't eat it because I crash. He needs that food though because he works all day. For instance I made chicken fried steak with gravy and mashed potatoes last night. Obviously something I can't eat.
I'm going to do the smoothies and portable foods like you said and maybe come up with something dense enough with calories and nutrients that we can both eat for dinner. Thank you for your answer
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Ask you doctor to refer you to a registered dietician.0
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Are you being treated properly with hormone replacement or whatever is done to treat the condition? Endocrinology isn't exactly most physicians' forte. It sounds like your low appetite is a downstream result of the lack of cortisol release.0
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I'd honestly try bingeing, thus leading to a 'stretched' stomach and wanting to eat more in the future.. Just a try though, works for me..
Otherwise I'd invest in some sort of medication to assist your appetite...0 -
You can buy weight gain powders that you can mix with water or milk that have 1000 calories or so each.0
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For most trail mix it is 190 calories for just 1/4th of a cup.
Give that a try.0 -
A large peanut butter fudge shake from sonic =1940 calories.
Most Ben and jerrys pints are over 1000 calories.
2 mcdoubles from McDonalds over 800 calories
5 tablespoons peanut butter close to 500 calories.
The choices are endless.0 -
Even your husband thinks you are losing weight on purpose? You need to confide in him so that you have some support. The adrenal disorder and the added stress of keeping the secret are teaming up against your appetite!
The smoothie suggestion I think was a really helpful one. Being busy and not hungry would make it really hard to stop to eat! I think other mushy-type foods can be easier to stomach when nothing else sounds good. Maybe oatmeal with peanut butter mixed in, thick soups, mashed potatoes with some meat & gravy mixed in. Also, if you have an ice cream maker, go nuts with that thing :-) You could make fresh sorbets with very little added sugar, frozen greek yogurt with cashews, etc. A coffee drink in the afternoon would do double-duty to get some calories in and give you a caffeine boost. Since you are crashing after sugary items, go for sugar-free syrup, and full fat milk.0 -
Have you thought about eating a small amount every few hours? I have issues with carbs and blood sugar also, and it works for me. You can try protein shakes mixed in a blender with peanut butter. Also full fat dairy like cheese and protein, nuts, and dried fruit are calorie dense. I wouldn't eat a meal with carbs and starch. Can you tell your husband about your hormone and nutrient issues and why you can't always eat the same foods?0
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Can I ask what exactly the adrenal issue is and how you are being treated for it? I was diagnosed with Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency) early last year. This sounds like what you have, basically my adrenal gland doesn't produce any cortisol. Before I was diagnosed I was really sick and I had zero appetite. I would make myself a big dinner in the evening out of habit but then I wouldn't be able to eat it because after a few mouthfuls I would start to feel nauseous. Since being diagnosed I have to take cortisone tablets everyday to make up for the cortisol that I don't produce and once I started on these my appetite came back with a vengeance. So much so that six months later I had to come on here to learn how to control my eating again.
Have you seen an endocrinologist? If not then I would highly recommend seeing one.0 -
It seems a little more clarification is needed on my end. Sorry to leave you all speculating. I can tell my husband. He does know. But I don't want him to worry. I make these elaborate carb laden dinners, and try to eat it but can't. I do this I hopes of him thinking I'm getting better, again because I don't want him to worry. Instead of it seeming like I'm getting better, it makes it appear as if I am just choosing not to eat. Since I crash from too many carbs and limit my portions. I make this kind of food for dinner because we live in Texas and its very very hot. He works on site a lot of the time and I don't want to subject him to my diet of peanut butter and berries. His lifestyle require a lot more caloric intake then mine. For example, I made something I could eat one night -- zucchini pasta with tomatoes and a lemon basil aioli-- and he was still starving. I'm learning a lot from you all and really appreciate the thought most of you have put into your replies. I think if I make little adjustments to our meals, I can still get my calories in smaller portions while still providing nourishing food for my family thank you again everyone!! 0
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Can I ask what exactly the adrenal issue is and how you are being treated for it? I was diagnosed with Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency) early last year. This sounds like what you have, basically my adrenal gland doesn't produce any cortisol. Before I was diagnosed I was really sick and I had zero appetite. I would make myself a big dinner in the evening out of habit but then I wouldn't be able to eat it because after a few mouthfuls I would start to feel nauseous. Since being diagnosed I have to take cortisone tablets everyday to make up for the cortisol that I don't produce and once I started on these my appetite came back with a vengeance. So much so that six months later I had to come on here to learn how to control my eating again.
Have you seen an endocrinologist? If not then I would highly recommend seeing one.
Yes!! It's addisons! I started taking the cortisol about three weeks ago. I haven't seen any improvement thus far
you give me hope though. And today I am actually feeling HUNGRY! I miss that feeling. I'm such a foodie. I love to cook and to eat. And it's just so sad that I have been robbed of one of my most favorite things to do. Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel ) 0 -
I'm also a huge foodie and I couldn't understand when I was sick and I had no appetite. if you are on the medication you will definitely start to feel better soon. It did take me a while for my body to adjust to the medication and it was probably a couple of months before I finally felt human again. if you want any support through any of the symptoms/issues you are having feel free to add me (although I am certainly not an expert as I was only diagnosed last year).0
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Ask you doctor to refer you to a registered dietician.
This.0 -
I've had a similar problem with inability to eat. If you can drink liquids, and milk doesn't bother you, then I suggest you try Boost nutritional drinks. There is a whole line of them with different targeted benefits (weight loss, protein, weight gain, glucose control), decent flavors (when chilled), and decent nutrition. I drank the Boost plus ones in addition to whatever I was able to eat. Don't worry if you can't drink a full one in one sitting, if you can drink 1/2 or 1/3 every few hours that should help you at least maintain your weight.
You can also try ice cream if you are only concerned with increasing your calories. Ice cream is typically smooth and easy to eat has the added benefit of fun flavors to try to get you excited about eating.
There are also liquid nutrition stuff on the market that are supposed to be able to provide you with all the daily nutrient requirements in only about an ounce. I don't remember exactly what brand/product I was using, but it didn't taste good. You can look into something like this to try to boost the amount of nutrients for your body.0
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