Gaining weight with the least amount of food
Replies
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I wonder if because you have been eating so little if your stomach has shrunk a lot making you seem full all the time. You may have to stretch it back out again which will probably suck but it is a must. Also, your metabolism has bound to have slowed down making your food stay longer....once you speed it back up buy eating more and exercise even if it is just a short walk it should help you out. Im not sure what you currently eat, but If you are still wanting good nutritional value food you can simply add coconut or olive oil when you cook and that will add calories easy. So will nuts and any high carb starchy food.0
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Can you make the foods you are able to eat and just give your husband more and/or add something for him? Make your zucchini pasta. You eat however much of it you can manage. He eats his servings with a chicken breast and bread.
I understand about the carbs being tough for you, but what about protein? You are getting fat from the nuts, but not that much protein. This sounds like a really complicated problem that a dietician would need to work out.0 -
full fat options. breads that are 110 calories a slice instead of like 50. cook with olive oil. add some avocado to salads or sandwiches. cheeeseeeeee. beer? seeds are also good to put on salads, or in the morning have a piece of 110 calorie bread with 2 tbsp pb (190-210 calories) - bam over 300 right there. try to not have high calorie foods like fast food/fries stuff like that, although it's weight gain you don't want bad weight gain and bad fats in your body.
http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/highest-calorie-foods.php0 -
MFP is just a tool, and it's not designed to replace any professional help, which you very obviously need. I applaud you for signing up and taking initiative, and I hope that you can use MFP to help you eat more! But since you have a medical issue, the people here can only help so much. Consult a nutrition or specialist first and foremost. Good luck!0
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Yes of course. And as mentioned in previous posts, I am under the care of a general physician and endocrinologist. I am not trying to seek medical advice or even opinions on Addison's disease. I am just trying to find suggestions which will help me cope in my day to day life... In addition to, not in lieu of my medical diagnosis on prescription.0
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I'm not very familiar with Addisons disease. What are the foods that you don't tolerate very well? Which foods are you able to eat the best? Offering basic meals with multiple side dishes can keep everyone happy by offering everyone food that satisfies.0
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Sorry, a bit late to the party on this one.
Have you looked at any sites/books/etc for the Atkins or South Beach diets? Since carbs are your problem you could probably get a lot of ideas for foods and recipes with low carbs that won't make you crash.
As for dinner situation - try choosing meals where you can easily substitute your side for something low carb. So for the chicken fried steak example, go ahead and bread his portion but just pan sear/fry with no breading your portion. You don't necessarily need the gravy, do one potato for him and spaghetti squash and tons of veggies for you. It may take a few extra minutes to plan and an extra pot or two while cooking, but it'll be better than not eating or eating then crashing, especially until you and your endo doc get you on the right dosage of meds.
I'm sorry you're going through this. *hugs*0 -
Hi, this is totally amateur input. When my son was in Pop Warner football and the children had to weigh a certain amount for their playing category, the coach would recommend bananas as a quick weight gain food. I've since read that a banana is also one of the most "complete" foods. I've had medications that caused me to loose my appetite entirely. In that situation, foods that I could swallow without chewing really helped me. Lots of good nutritional input can be "hidden" in a smoothie. Good luck.0
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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."
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
Might I suggest investing in something like a Vitamix or other heavy-duty blender? It allows you to fully blend things up, so you can put in heavier/harder to blend (and more nutritious) things into your shakes, allowing you to not just get calories, but also nutrients in, without relying on sugary stuff.
Also, with the insulin issues, lean more on fat for fuel, then. You can even do this for the rest of your family, since fat and carbs are both pure fuel for the body.
The GOMAD (gallon of milk a day) method is the go-to for most lifters for gaining weight, but milk has a disproportionate insulin effect (ie - it has the same amount of sugar as a slice of bread, but will cause the body to release more insulin than the bread), so go with the lower-lactose versions of dairy - things like cheeses, cream, and full-fat yogurt. Use cream and coconut or almond milk (preferably home made, but if you get store bought, be careful of the additives) for your smoothie base, for example, then add in things like avocado or nut butters for more calories, leafy greens and berries for vitamins and minerals, and protein powder for...well...protein.
Also, do you like coffee? It might be worth trying Bulletproof Coffee if you do. You can easily get in 400-500 calories or more with a cup of Bulletproof Coffee, and it's all fat so it won't screw with your insulin. There are also variations on it, such as Mark Sisson's Primal Egg Coffee, which uses whole eggs or egg yolks, emulsified in the coffee for a more cappuccino-like drink. That variation has the added benefit of the nutrients in the egg yolk (including protein, choline, and vitamins).
Check out recipes along the lines of Atkin's, Paleo, Primal, and other low(ish)-carb/GI groups to get more ideas, too. Not everything may be your cup of tea, but there will be enough crossover for you to get ideas for foods.
Finally, perhaps start setting a timer and eat something, even if it's just a single strawberry with whipped heavy cream (to help counteract the sugar), or a small spoonful of peanut butter, or a bite of a sandwich. Anything to at least get you started eating. It's possible that it might be easier to continue eating once you've started, and even if it isn't, at least you've added to your calorie count for the day.0 -
If that's all the calories you're taking in, I would try and fill them with protein and fat since those are essential.
Peanut Butter, Steak, there are recipes on this site for fat bombs that would help too. Pizza is a good protein/carb/fat option. Is there no medication that can help get your adrenals under control? I take Ortho-Adapt for the opposite reason, but not sure if it's a regulator in general that can be used either way. Worth looking into.0 -
Eat more.
clearly you didn't read anything that she wrote.
try protein shakes! I use them in the morning and they totally help me to get nourishment without getting overly full!
mix a scoop of protein powder, a cup of milk (almond, coconut, or soy will work, too!), and a 1/4 cup of oatmeal for a drink that is quite tasty, healthy, and gives you about 350 calories 0 -
My daughter has always been thin and recently lost way and it freaked her out. She is using this tool to track her food and nutrition. In her case she is doing better as a vegan because she has stomach issues. I saw some of the above suggestions, but here are a few that really help bump up the nutrition and calories:
Fruit smoothies - add ground flax seed(watch quantity per day) and protein powder
Almond Milk - easier to digest and absorb than regular milk
Beans
Try making Zuchini bread or muffins - very dense and high calorie
Avocado or Guacamoli (no I can't spell) you can use it as a spread on sandwiches
Humus as a spread instead of mayo - It may not raise calories, but does raise the vitamins
You said you have children so I know time is an issue. If you eat protein bars in addition to meals instead of a substitute it they pack a nutrient calorie punch.
you may need to play around a bit with calories and quantities, but you want to watch the sugar. Too much sugar no matter what is not good, but healthy fats are great. Also look around in Whole foods or Trader Joes, they often have healthier frozen meals that you can easily heat for yourself when your busy.
Good luck! I hope you are able to get your Adrenal issue cleared up. I have a Thyroid issue, sluggish and I remember how I felt when it wasn't working properly. It is not fun.0 -
Try drinking your calories. They give stuff like Ensure to kids and older people who have no appetite and need to gain weight. Find something that tastes good in that vein and go to town on it.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?
Normally I would say add fat, go for calorically dense things like cheese and potatoes, but I don't know how that works with your appetite. What have your doctors said??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!!
He was still starving not because of the lack of carbs, but the lack of calories in general. That dish, as you've listed here, looks like it would be leaning more on the carb/protein side of the spectrum, but the most calorie-dense items are the egg yolks and olive oil in the aioli (assuming those are in there), which probably aren't a whole lot if that's the whole meal. It's a very bulky, but relatively low-calorie meal. Add a steak (calorie-dense food) into the meal, and add some fresh mozzarella to the pasta, and he'd be better off.0 -
I saw that someone above mentioned drinking Boost. When I was in treatment for my eating disorder, Boost is what they gave us if we didn't eat our food. It is definitely a decent way to get calories in without eating. There is even a Boost with double calories where you get more bang for your buck. Chocolate and vanilla are actually pretty good tasting.0
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Loss of appetite is really challenging. I can remember my mom struggling with this as she was going through chemo. There are appetite stimulant drugs that your doctor might consider if this goes on for a prolonged time. My mom had to take these. And of course, there is another option, though I suspect it's illegal in Texas. Anyway, good, good luck with this. I have a cousin with Addison's, and she did recover completely when her medication was settled, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.0
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Heavy cream, olive oil, nuts, pasta.. fettucini alfredo- eat one Olive Garden serving and you've got yourself 2000 calories right there...
Just judging from your post I would think you may have an eating disorder. No one feels stuffed on 500 calories a day whether it be an adrenal, thyroid or cortisone deficiency. If you wanted to you could eat relatively little and hit 800 in one sitting without any effort. You can drink one shake with whole milk and will be over 600. I get the feeling you being restrictive by choice. There are plenty of low GI carbs packed with calories..0 -
Try meal replacement shakes. I've seen Orgain, Boost, etc on top of eating whatever meals you can. You are eating less than 1/4 what you need to gain weight. You simply are not nourishing your body either. I know what it's like to have a severe loss in appetite because it happened to me last year. Plug your nose and down the hatch it goes with the shakes.0
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[/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]
"This"
Focus on calorie dence food. Much the way we do for preschoolers because they can't fit a large volume of food in their stomachs.
I would also recommend seeing a registered dietician for help. Optimim nutrition is essential when your eating so little. The tiredness you describe is most like attributed to low calorie intake and poor nutrition.0 -
My grandpa is older now and he doesn't have much of an appetite but we've found that the drink 'Ensure' helps him keep up his weight. I couldn't tell you much about the nutritional benefits tho...
Also, a few years ago my friend found out about a gluten intolerance she had and her mother fed her Boost. She was always under weight and I think that helped her. It was also a little bit funny because I was always a fat child and becides the weight difference we looked like we could of been sister :P
Boost Plus is 8 ounces and 360 calories and provides nutritional benefits: http://www.boost.com/nutritional-drinks/boost-plus
Ensure Plus is pretty much the same thing. 350 calories in 8 ounces: http://ensure.com/products/ensure-plus-retail
Hope I helped 0 -
Sorry, a bit late to the party on this one.
Have you looked at any sites/books/etc for the Atkins or South Beach diets? Since carbs are your problem you could probably get a lot of ideas for foods and recipes with low carbs that won't make you crash.
As for dinner situation - try choosing meals where you can easily substitute your side for something low carb. So for the chicken fried steak example, go ahead and bread his portion but just pan sear/fry with no breading your portion. You don't necessarily need the gravy, do one potato for him and spaghetti squash and tons of veggies for you. It may take a few extra minutes to plan and an extra pot or two while cooking, but it'll be better than not eating or eating then crashing, especially until you and your endo doc get you on the right dosage of meds.
I'm sorry you're going through this. *hugs*
This is a great idea! I love to cook, so a little extra work won't be too much trouble and my doctor did recommend diets such as the south beach one, but I'm not very familiar with its guidelines. I assume it's an atkins-esque low carb high protein regimine?
Thank you for your help 0 -
As Dragonwolf suggested, setting a timer would be a very good idea to remind you to eat. Doing a day's meal plan in advance, with what to eat every 1 1/2 to 2 hours when your timer goes off already organized will help. Even if you can only manage to eat 1/2 of what you'd intended, it is still an improvement on having eaten nothing. Cutting the mountain down to manageable mouthfuls, with perseverance and commitment, will help you see results.0
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As Dragonwolf suggested, setting a timer would be a very good idea to remind you to eat. Doing a day's meal plan in advance, with what to eat every 1 1/2 to 2 hours when your timer goes off already organized will help. Even if you can only manage to eat 1/2 of what you'd intended, it is still an improvement on having eaten nothing. Cutting the mountain down to manageable mouthfuls, with perseverance and commitment, will help you see results.
Yes! I meant to respond to that post as well. I think that will help me at least keep track of time. It's easy to let six hours go by without even realizing I haven't eaten. The meal plan is an excellent addition to that thought as well. Maybe I'll pre make some snacks/meals to increase convenience. Thank you for your suggestion) 0 -
Funny. I'm trying to lose weight while eating the most amount of food possible.0
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How about drinking an Ensure shake at least once a day along with whatever else you are eating? Or could you see a nutritionist to help you determine what to eat?0
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Hmmm sounds like Addison's, well anyway maybe you can add protein mix-- hmmm better yet maybe this something you should work out with your doctor and his nutritionist....BEST WISHES LUV : )0
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Pixie sticks0
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Heavy cream, olive oil, nuts, pasta.. fettucini alfredo- eat one Olive Garden serving and you've got yourself 2000 calories right there...
Just judging from your post I would think you may have an eating disorder. No one feels stuffed on 500 calories a day whether it be an adrenal, thyroid or cortisone deficiency. If you wanted to you could eat relatively little and hit 800 in one sitting without any effort. You can drink one shake with whole milk and will be over 600. I get the feeling you being restrictive by choice. There are plenty of low GI carbs packed with calories..
Two words - Addison's Disease.
One of the major symptoms is loss of appetite and inability to digest food. If your body isn't digesting food properly, then you're not going to be hungry very often, if at all. There are also many medications that will kill one's appetite, screw with the sense of smell (thus also screwing with the appeal of food), and make one physically ill if they eat more than a small amount or eat certain types of food. So if she's on any medication, that could exacerbating the issue.
So no, she isn't necessarily being restrictive by choice.0 -
Heavy cream, olive oil, nuts, pasta.. fettucini alfredo- eat one Olive Garden serving and you've got yourself 2000 calories right there...
Just judging from your post I would think you may have an eating disorder. No one feels stuffed on 500 calories a day whether it be an adrenal, thyroid or cortisone deficiency. If you wanted to you could eat relatively little and hit 800 in one sitting without any effort. You can drink one shake with whole milk and will be over 600. I get the feeling you being restrictive by choice. There are plenty of low GI carbs packed with calories..
Two words - Addison's Disease.
One of the major symptoms is loss of appetite and inability to digest food. If your body isn't digesting food properly, then you're not going to be hungry very often, if at all. There are also many medications that will kill one's appetite, screw with the sense of smell (thus also screwing with the appeal of food), and make one physically ill if they eat more than a small amount or eat certain types of food. So if she's on any medication, that could exacerbating the issue.
So no, she isn't necessarily being restrictive by choice.
Thaaaank you! I haven't been responding to people who are obviously not reading the post thoughroughly (to put it nicely)
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Get really creative with smoothies. Use heavy cream instead of whole milk. Use the highest fat ice cream. Add protein powder to it.
Here's a shake:
4 ounces heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup high fat ice cream, any flavor (hubs liked chocolate), left to melt a bit, but still frozen
3TBSP flax seed, ground immediately before putting it in the blender
40 grams ground cashews
2 scoops muscle milk powder
It's over 1200 calories in a 12 ounce glass. Add 2 tbsp peanut butter and there's another huge punch of calories.
95 grams of fat
51 grams protein
71% vitamin A
58% iron
78% calcium
ETA, you might need to add a little milk to thin it.0
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