DaradysMom

I would not increase calories, just go for more dense soups and hot foods.

I love to dump a small can of chick peas in a bowl with a diced jalepeno, a little diced onion, a tablespoon of sour cream and some cilantro, cumin, salt and pepper. Definitely my favorite lunch: delicious and hits all my nutrient goals.

First, find a new nutritionist. Second, fill your lunch box with baggies of grapes, single serve baggies of nuts, bananas and oranges or clementines, in addition to your regular lunch. You will not stick with something that causes you misery, even if you lose a few pounds. These easy snacks will get you through to the next…

Eat them along with grapes, which are very filling. They get mixed with raisins a lot, but grapes are better for feeling full.

Be careful lifting too often because that actually keeps you from gaining. When you lift, the purpose is to cause tiny tears in the muscle, which then are repaired and built back stronger after a few days. You need at least two days between workouts of each group so you can heal. If you don't heal, you don't gain. If you…

Go with milk. Milk is a base, which neutralizes the acid in your stomach. Don't go with skim, try 2%, so you get some fat but not too much. If your stomach gets too irritated anyway, try whole milk for a couple days. The denser the milk, the better it does neutralizing that acid. Acid is what usually causes irritation from…

Have a glass of chocolate milk. It's got a lot of what you need for recovery without blowing your calories. Plus it's not heavy, so no bloated stomach.

Peanut butter and a banana is a great snack that's high in calories but also excellent for nutrition. After you exercise, have a glass of chocolate milk. It restores your sugar, adds nutrients and doesn't weigh down your stomach - great for recovery.

I would recommend some of the bagged nuts that can be carried in a purse or pocket. They have the mixed ones with dried fruit. They're easy to eat on the run and give you some great nutrients.

I'm curious about what else you count and track. Some people would just call that record-keeping and suggest you get a job as an accountant. If you track everything going in and out, that's called good business in some jobs. People who are very left-brained tend to be neat, meticulous and good at saving. Your boyfriend…