I would like good tips on gaining weight

111katie · February 2016

I am definitely underweight at 85 lbs and a BMI of 15.1. I would like to be 110 lbs but I just can't seem to gain weight. Any suggestions?

T0M_K · February 2016

eat more calories than you burn

111katie · February 2016

I don't exercise, I'm scared to lose more weight.

AliceDark · February 2016

You burn calories just doing things like breathing and pumping blood. You also burn calories by doing everyday activities like walking across the room. You need to take in more calories than you burn doing all of those activities, whether or not you exercise, in order to gain weight.

111katie · February 2016

I try to eat at least 2500 calories

AliceDark · February 2016

1. How long have you been trying to gain?
2. What does "I try to eat 2500 calories" really mean? How much do you actually eat?
3. How are you tracking your food? (Food scale, measuring cups/spoons, eyeballing, etc.)
4. If you're in ED recovery, you need to talk to your treatment team. Much of the advice you'd get here may not apply to you and could be detrimental (for example, you should not exercise in recovery unless your doctors say it's okay. You could be at risk for a heart attack or other serious complication).

111katie · February 2016

I have been trying to gain weight for a year or two. I eat 2500 most of the time but I have digestive problems (causes chronic nausea) and am only able to eat 1800 to 2000 some days.

LHWhite903 · February 2016

You've...seen a doctor about this, yes?

SapiensPisces · February 2016

I would suggest talking to your doctor instead of MFP about this, as it sounds like you have other issues (digestive problems) that might be causing your difficulty with weight gain. These might be treatable or not, but no one here will be able to help with that, unfortunately.

Wishing you all the best for improved health!

111katie · February 2016

Yes, I have a gastro but they are switching me to a new one next week. I've been seeing doctors for three years, no results

erickirb · February 2016

I say lift weights and eat a little more. otherwise you will gain mostly fat. if you lift a large portion of your gains will be lean muscle.
New rules of lifting, starting strength, strong curves, are all good beginner programs.

111katie · February 2016

Good idea^^

111katie · February 2016

111katie wrote: »

Yes, I have a gastro but they are switching me to a new one next week. I've been seeing doctors for three years, no results

darrensurrey · February 2016

+

111katie · February 2016

Peanut butter gets very tiring haha

AliceDark · February 2016

Have you really been averaging, say, 1800-2000 calories for two years and not gaining weight? Probably not, and if so, you need to see a doctor because something's really wrong. Realistically, you're not gaining weight because you're not eating enough. Lots of people get caught up in the perception that they're eating enough and don't remember the many days they didn't eat, and then wonder why they're not gaining. (The same is true for people trying to lose; they remember the few days when they ate at a deficit and ignore the many days when they went over). If you want to gain, you need to consistently eat more than you burn, for a long period of time.

111katie · February 2016

I didn't keep good track until the last three months and I have actually been eating over 2500 the last two months.

darrensurrey · February 2016

111katie wrote: »

Peanut butter gets very tiring haha

LIES!! I could spoon a whole jar into my mouth in one sitting.

jgnatca · February 2016

Have you tried the various probiotic foods to see if they help you with the nausea/absorption? I'm thinking yogurts, kefir, and kimchi.

You can eat less of calorie dense foods for more calories. Peanut butter is mentioned. There's also cream (put it in coffee, tea, and shakes), cheese, butter, mayonnaise, creamy dressings, nuts, dried fruit.

jgnatca · February 2016

Bacon! How could I have forgotten bacon?

stealthq · February 2016

111katie wrote: »

I didn't keep good track until the last three months and I have actually been eating over 2500 the last two months.

If you're eating that much regularly and not gaining, maybe you have malabsorption issues? Have your docs checked for that?

mixa4u · February 2016

stealthq wrote: »

111katie wrote: »

I didn't keep good track until the last three months and I have actually been eating over 2500 the last two months.

If you're eating that much regularly and not gaining, maybe you have malabsorption issues? Have your docs checked for that?

Also, I saw sometimes salad or fruit for around 1000+ cals.

RoxieDawn · February 2016

OP so you are gravely nauseated and not really able to eat your cals everyday? So have been counting calories to eat 2500 and logging in MFP for the two months? Can you open your diary?

I am curious how you have been measuring your calorie intake..

I also see that you are 18 years old, so how active of an 18 year old are you? I know you say you don't exercise, but what do you do for fun activities? Could you be burning a lot more calories as well..

111katie · February 2016

I used a different cite until now. I drink ensure plus if I don't meet my calorie goal. And now that I think about it I guess I am fairly active so maybe I am burning more than I thought.

111katie · February 2016

darrensurrey wrote: »

111katie wrote: »

Peanut butter gets very tiring haha

LIES!! I could spoon a whole jar into my mouth in one sitting.

It is when you force feed it to yourself haha

111katie · February 2016

stealthq wrote: »

111katie wrote: »

I didn't keep good track until the last three months and I have actually been eating over 2500 the last two months.

If you're eating that much regularly and not gaining, maybe you have malabsorption issues? Have your docs checked for that?

I've had so many tests that it's not funny but I don't know exactly what they checked.

111katie · February 2016

jgnatca wrote: »

Bacon! How could I have forgotten bacon?

Can't eat anything fried or greasy.

111katie · February 2016

I think I am going to try to gain muscle weight since fat doesn't seem to stick. How many calories should I eat if I start working out?

Wheelhouse15 · February 2016

111katie wrote: »

I think I am going to try to gain muscle weight since fat doesn't seem to stick. How many calories should I eat if I start working out?

More than now is the easy answer. You need to up your calories to over 3000 to start I would say if you have been doing this for so long without results. The only problem is that you have some digestive issues and, as mentioned, you might have issues absorbing nutrients as well. Have they tested your intestinal flora? I'm wondering if you were on some strong antibiotics at one time that might have altered your flora. I'm just speculating but that could be part of the problem.

You'll need to find highly dense foods like nuts, oils, corn sugar etc that you can eat just to get your calories up. However, if you haven't been refered to an RD yet that might be the first step so you can discuss your goals and current situations with someone who is trained to deal with medical diets.

111katie · February 2016

So I have been doing some research and nausea is one of the main signs of fat malabsorption, I'll talk to my doctor about it.

Wheelhouse15 · February 2016

111katie wrote: »

So I have been doing some research and nausea is one of the main signs of fat malabsorption, I'll talk to my doctor about it.

That would explains the fried food issue but your doctor should be able to diagnose that more accurately.

I would like good tips on gaining weight

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