Gaining weight is so hard

kynsie2

Gaining weight is so hard and frustrating. Add to it that I get zero sympathy from any one and always the same comments, "Eat more" or "I wish I had your problem"
I'm 55, 5'2" and weigh 98 pds. I have never weighed over 110 except when I was pregnant and then I got up to 128.
I quit smoking finally 5 weeks ago, and even that hasn't helped.
I do have an ulcer and GERD so that makes it harder. But we have completely changed our diet in the house, so a lot of foods are out.
We don't eat any foods that come out of a box or a can. No fried foods ever. No hot dogs, hamburger or for the majority, no pork.
So my problem is to even get 1,700 calories a day and I want to have at least 2,000.
Example:Breakfast was a bowl of cheerios, small banana, 8 oz of Kefir
lunch: Peanut butter sandwich with strawberry jam and a bottle of ensure
supper last night, grilled salmon with garlic, 2 servings of beets and a glass of water with a fresh lemon squeezed into it.
Sometimes I will have some strawberries before bed or a splurge of a ice creme bar.
We also walk 20 mins a day.
How and what do I eat that is healthy and yet gain weight?
So very frustrated.

kirili3

Add some grains alongside your dinner. It can be something superhealthy like quinoa.

DR2501

Like most on here I found it surprisingly easy lol.
I think what you mean is gaining weight HEALTHILY is hard. Your choice of foods and portion sizes are more what someone weight-conscious would eat.

I think you either need to eat more calorific foods, or simply eat more.

jec285

How to gain weight:
1. Don't eat salmon, beets, and water for dinner

rf1583

Like most on here I found it surprisingly easy lol.
I think what you mean is gaining weight HEALTHILY is hard. Your choice of foods and portion sizes are more what someone weight-conscious would eat.

I think you either need to eat more calorific foods, or simply eat more.

I agree with this. I started out just like you 5'2", 98lbs. I'm now around 104. It was definitely hard at first because I was trying to eat healthy. Most of my food during the day is but once I embraced eating ice cream which I don't even really like it helps make it easier! Don't be afraid to eat some "bad" foods to get those extra calories. I second adding a carb like a potato or something to your dinner and eat some snacks throughout the day. I eat apples and bananas during the day as snacks that don't make me feel overly full but give me calories too. I mean most days I just feel full a lot and I just suck it up and eat even when I don't want to because I know I need the calories. The gains I've been making are worth it!

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Archon2

Every night, make yourself a milkshake with real, full fat ice cream and full-fat milk. Drink it. And eat a tablespoon of extra peanut butter with it. You problem will be solved IMO.

0somuchbetter0

Meat (why no hamburgers or pork? I can understand hot dogs because yuck), potatoes, nuts, avocados, chocolate, cheese, eggs, whole milk, butter, bread, ice cream, pasta, cream sauces.

fannyfrost

My daughter has serious stomach problems and lost a lot of weight. She wasn't looking good and I was getting nervous. She went vegan. You would think the weight loss would be worse, but her stomach got much better and she gained 9lbs.

You can eat healthy and gain weight, but your watching your calories. I agree add a carb to dinner, but you can also do the following:

Chocolate almond milk
Protein Shakes
Fruit shakes

Also Ice cream isn't so bad, its still milk. A milkshake is another idea. If you drink milk, I saw an article that said chocolate milk is a great recovery after a workout.

Make healthy choices, but stop watching portions. Eat what you like, eat healthy food and watch what makes the GERD worse. Milk might be one of those things, if so Coconut milk, Soy milk or almond milk ice creams are good choices.

Oh my daughter added one sugary drink a day. Just one for calories, but not too much sugar.

juliemouse83

I would also up the calorie dense foods: Cheese (whole fat, not fat free), avocado, an extra tablespoon of peanut butter, ice cream (yummmmmy!), some good complex carbs like sweet potato, breads (whole grain or wheat), etc.

JoeCampbell85

I had a similar problem when I was a teenager. I was a long-distance runner. At 17, I was 165-170 lbs and 6'2. I was nearly two dimensional. I ate like a horse though. It wasn't until I joined the army (at 17) that I gained any weight. Thanks to basic I put on 30 lbs and another 15-20 in AIT. You know what did it? A lot of strength exercises and bad eating. Army food isn't exactly healthy. It's purposely calorie dense.

So, longer story long, ditch this salmon (ok, eat the salmon too, it's good for you) but eat some delicious high calorie food....all the time. It's possible for anyone that doesn't have a worm to gain weight. It does, however, take a paradigm shift.

Annesoucy1957

Hi, you could add:

Avocadoes in your salads or sandwich

Bulghur, barley, whoke weat couscous, quinoa

homemade bean salads

Unsalted nuts

Greek yogourt or labne (drained lebanese yogourt)

Ground turkey instead of ground beef

You have a very healthy diet good for you. Dont change your eating habits for gaining weight just add some healthy higher calories ingredients and good luck.

estaticaa

Use olive oil. It's a healthy fat and really high in calories. A tablespoon alone is around 120 calories. And have whole milk and full fat yogurts. I can say that these two have largely contributed to my unwanted weight gain. I didn't know it at the time and thought that avoiding "junk" food would be the answer to stay at a healthy weight - obviously I was wrong. Then again, I didn't know much about calories back then. Looking back, considering I rarely ate "bad" foods, I'm 99% sure the exaggerated amounts of olive oil and fat yogurts were responsible for most of the weight I gained.

PinkyFett

Try developing Hashimoto's. It's very easy

butlersoft

I managed to get up to 365lbs just by accident!! I guess I'm just gifted.

You and me both, Sir !! :-)

levitateme

Eat everything you're already eating but add in a couple of protein shakes made with full fat milk, fruit, honey and/or whatever else you like.

ETA: Since you don't like anything packaged, I assume protein powders are out. I make smoothies with 1/4 cup low sodium cottage cheese and 1/2 cup milk and everything else I just mentioned. High protein and tastes like a milkshake. People are always like "cottage cheeeeeese??? In a smoothie? ewwwww," but trust me. Mango + CC + Milk + ice + honey (or maple syrup) = the best thing ever.

kynsie2

Yes, how to eat only healthy foods and gain weight. I don't want to eat empty calories from sugars and processed stuff.
Trouble is, I am never hungry or sometimes I get so busy I realize I forgot to eat.
Eating more is really it, but what to eat that is healthy and calorie rich.
Thanks.

kynsie2

I have never had quinoa. But I have read about it.
I guess it's time I try it!
Thank you

gsager

You just have to eat more calories than you burn, consistently.

kynsie2

Thanks.
I guess a milkshake would be good in the evening. Maybe a banana milkshake?
Some vanilla ice creme and add a banana?

JoeCampbell85

If you want to keep it healthy, add oils to more stuff. Olive and flax are best. Cheeses are good. Carbs that are low in fiber are good as well since they won't keep you feeling as full. White rice instead of brown rice, etc. Protein is going to make you feel full for longer but cooking a big turkey, cutting it up, and snacking on it all day would be a good, relatively inexpensive source of protein.

You may have to eat even when you aren't hungry. I'm not saying to eat to the point of nausea. Even at a cut I have to eat when I'm not really hungry. Healthy food will do that to you. :P

kynsie2

That meal was just last nights meal, but pretty typical.
The day before breakfast and lunch was the same but dinner was grilled chicken, (extra virgin olive oil), baked potato (loaded with butter, my vice) and roasted broccoli with garlic.
I did have some strawberry shortcake smothered in whipped creme.
I don't eat hamburger unless it's grilled because it really upsets my stomach along with causing a bit of stomach pain. I can't tolerate the grease.
I'm going to try adding a milkshake every night and add some kind of fruit.
Avocados, nasty nasty taste. lol
Thanks everyone

JoRocka

I managed to get up to 365lbs just by accident!! I guess I'm just gifted.

completely unhelpful.

Purposeful gaining of weight and muscle is difficult. It's significantly more difficult than losing weight.
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OP- find foods you eat- and eat more of them. Any high calorie- "empty" foods- (these foods usually are labelled 'junk') are great options.

peanut butter, ice cream- milk- chips- pasta.
nuts- butter and oil to everything- bacon- eggs- milk- reeses- peanut butter and jelly- cheesecake in your smoothies.


My question about the burger upsetting your stomach- have you been eating a low fat diet mostly? Because often times that's what happens- people eat a low fat diet- go for one burger- get sick and swear off burgers because they are unhealthy- and the reality is their gut just adjusted to a low fat diet and the extra fat threw the balance out. If that's the case- you can rebalence by adding more fat in slowly.

kynsie2

Thanks
Yes, we cut most fats out.
The hamburger we do buy is the leanest kind we can get. If we cook it out on the grill or it doesn't bother me as much.
For people who are trying to lose weight people say "just don't eat as much"
And for gaining they say "Eat more"
As everyone here knows, it's not usually that easy.

JoRocka

So... outside limiting medical conditions- any reason why you are on low fat?

and if there aren't any limiting issues- start ramping the fats back up.

You need fats- low fat is the worst thing to happen to this country and trying to gain weight on low fat is a chore.

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dieselbyte

So... outside limiting medical conditions- any reason why you are on low fat?

and if there aren't any limiting issues- start ramping the fats back up.

You need fats- low fat is the worst thing to happen to this country and trying to gain weight on low fat is a chore.

^This.

Cut out most dietary fat? Why? You need it.

And yes it is that easy.

^And this.
Dietary fat is essential for hormonal balance and and a whole host of health reasons. Weight gain will be considered healthy if you have a healthy lifestyle - weight & cardiovascular training, along with other choices. Staying away from certain foods doesn't make you healthy. The fact of cutting out an entire essential macronutrient group is considered unhealthy. Eat all the foodz.

_lyndseybrooke_

How to gain weight:
1. Don't eat salmon, beets, and water for dinner

This. And....ew.

KCNutritionCoach

Why is it that you would like to gain weight? Your BMI is in the healthy range (very low end, but still acceptable). I suspect that the smoking kept your metabolism high in a very unhealthy way. Congratuations on quiting smoking, that's the best thing that you can do for your health. Unless you have current health problems I would accept your weight. Some people are just made to a little thinner. If you start losing weight, I would start adding healthy fats to everything such as avocados, olive oil, nuts, etc. But, if it is purely for asthetic reasons I wouldn't worry too much about it. I have the same BMI as you and I am healthy and don't look too skinny.

xDawnsgrace

granola, whole eggs, bagels, 100% fruit juice, pasta, oatmeal, yogurt, olive or coconut oil, nut butters/nuts, full-fat dressings, whole wheat bread, avocado/guacamole, bananas, dark meat, nutritional shakes(such as ensure, boost, ect), protein bars, ice cream, donuts, sweetened condensed milk(say in coffee and such), beans, potatoes, sausage, chocolate, mangoes, coconut milk, whole milk, trail mix, greek yogurt(not fat free), edamame, sunflower seeds..

most of these things are healthy while being calorie-dense. You shouldn't shy away from fat too much, as fat is essential in every diet. Dietary fat is healthy, and you want to gain weight! Adding just a tablespoon of oil to a meal would add 120 calories to your day.

Unknown

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