counting calories... to gain weight

nadams
nadams Posts: 5,877
edited April 2024 in Clubhouse Archives
Just got back from the doctor. I seem to be slowly losing weight every time I visit... I'm 6ft, and only weigh 129 as of today. I try to eat lunch and supper regularly, but sometimes my stomach doesn't cooperate and I end up skipping lunch.

To see if I'm capable of gaining weight, my dr want's me to try to gain 4-5 lbs in the next month. Obviously, he still wants me to eat fairly healthily, but he said snacks like Oreos and milk and that kind of thing might be in line. Any suggestions on snacks that are high in calories? But are actually stuff a normal human might eat/drink? My dr could only suggest Oreos... and milkshakes. Just looking for something to mix it up. I checked my snack closet, and the calorie numbers did surprise me. Oreos were at the top of the list.
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Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on

Comments

  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited August 2005
    Peanuts are a great size putter-oner. They have a good bit of fat but also have protein and for the most part arent that bad for you.

    You might also think about getting a mass building shake. Most taste pretty good and have a bunch of protein, carbs and low fat. These will help out when your appetite isnt much.
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited August 2005
    MacLeod wrote:
    Peanuts are a great size putter-oner. They have a good bit of fat but also have protein and for the most part arent that bad for you.

    You might also think about getting a mass building shake. Most taste pretty good and have a bunch of protein, carbs and low fat. These will help out when your appetite isnt much.

    Exactly, run down to a vitamin store (GNC, etc) and buy a weight gain supplement. They come in a powder form that you mix into a liquid (water or milk). They have different kinds of flavors too. These shakes have a lot of calories and it should do the trick. Some of them have 2200 calories a serving!!

    http://www.gnc.com/category.aspx?id=47&lang=en

    Good luck
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited August 2005
    Damn I wish I had your problem. I'm 5'9" and trying to go from 196 down to 170 by September 12th. :eek:
  • neomagus00
    neomagus00 Posts: 3,899
    edited August 2005
    i vote that that's a dangerous idea, you're only supposed to lose (or gain, i suppose) 2 lbs a week, and that's a lot...

    naadams, i'm nearly in the same boat as you, i'm 6'1" (i think) and pushing 145... so do those weight gain things just put on fat, or are they actually useful?
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited August 2005
    for starters lots of tuna and grilled boneless chicken (no skin)
    high protein diets work well.

    maybe some whey protein from GNC. I'm assuming you're looking to gain weight with exercise not just gain weight only yeah?
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,535
    edited August 2005
    Start the day with a couple of McGriddle sandwiches or something like that from McDonalds or Burger King. Eat lunch or skip it, it probably doesn't matter. Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. Eat a normal supper, but avoid salad and other undigestible stuff that just fills up your stomach. Meat and potatoes, salmon if you like fish, works well for supper. Load up on something high fat and high calorie before you go to bed. Ben and Jerry's or equivalent ice cream. Pasta, macaroni and cheese, works as well. The protein shakes never did anything for me.

    It may not be healthy long term, but it should allow you to pack on a few pounds.

    Probably the best thing you can do is hit the weights and avoid aerobic exercise for a while, especially in summer heat. Some skinny guys, me included, don't gain weight unless they work out and gain muscle mass because the fat doesn't stick to us.
  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited August 2005
    Well, I never have been able to put on a lot of weight, I have a high metabolism which runs in my dad's side of the family. But the problem is that my weight is going down, and I haven't been excercising any more or anything.

    I think the biggest problem is, my stomach is kinda finnicky.. for instance, if I "started the day with a couple of McGriddle sandwiches", they would probably not stay in my stomach 'til I got to work. Peanut butter sounds good... I can actually eat that. I usually eat a pack of peanut butter crackers for breakfast, but I'm sure that little doesn't do too much.

    I'm just going to have to see what I can actually _eat_ and go from there.
    Ludicrous gibs!
  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited August 2005
    I also have good and bad days... today was a better day... I actually ate about 3/4 of a footlong cheesesteak. Not sure what's on the menu for supper, but I did have some oreos when I got home. They're pretty tasty :)
    Ludicrous gibs!
  • thehaens@cox.net
    thehaens@cox.net Posts: 1,012
    edited August 2005
    Simply put, your body is expending more calories than you are taking in. One pound of weight is equal to about 3600 calories. With that in mind, if you take in a surplus of 3600 calories per week that you are burning, you will gain one pound. What kind of doctor recommends Cookies and Milk? There are a lot better sources of food that have a high density of calories. Peanut Butter, as others have mentioned are a good source of Calories, most coming from fat, and a good source of protein, of course in your case you need not worry to much about the ratio of fats and proteins if you goal is to gain weight. Ditto on the keeping away from High intensity cardio. Instead you may want to work out more with resistance training and perhaps walk, just to keep up with your cardio health. A good High Calorie shake, (if you don't want to buy over the counter) would be 2 Cups of Whole Milk, 1/4 Cup of Applesauce, 1 Package of sweetened oatmeal, 3 tbl. spoons of peanut butter, 1 Banana, and 2 scoops of Whey protein isolate. This mixes up well, and can well suit you to supplement your regular eating habits throughout the day. By the way, you can get the Whey Protein from http://www.worldclassnutrition.com/worldclassnutrition/eassimprot5l.html for a substantial discount than your local GNC. I personnaly use the EAS product as it mixes really well, and tastes good in the shake that I make daily before I go to work. (chocolate).

    Scott
  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited August 2005
    I think what my doctor was trying to do was find something I might like to eat, versus some nasty looking and tasting protein shake. But thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll have to try out some of the tastier sounding ones...
    Ludicrous gibs!
  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,535
    edited August 2005
    nadams wrote:
    I think the biggest problem is, my stomach is kinda finnicky..

    That's probably the best place to start. It doesn't make sense to throw more food into yourself if it won't stay in long enough to be digested. You may want to try drinking one of those little bottles of Danactive each morning for a week and see how your stomach feels. Dannon doesn't seem to sell the product in all the grocery stores here, so you may have to look around for it where you are. Also, eliminate caffeine entirely and see if it makes any difference for you.
  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited August 2005
    N... N... No caffiene? I don't drink soda, but I drink an ice tea in the morning, water at lunch, and usually ice tea in the evening with supper.

    Oh, and everything I eat stays in my stomach... I haven't thrown up at all since the last time I was actually sick over a year ago.
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  • nellis8166
    nellis8166 Posts: 292
    edited August 2005
    Nad,
    I can totally relate to your problem. For years I had the same problem as you and I could not eat much because everything made me feel like crap. It turned out I had acid reflux. Now with one pill I can eat whatever I want whenever I want. I'm 6'1 and weighed about the same as you for a long time. Have you had an upper GI?
    I found that a lot of it was more in my head than anything else. I have a very high stress job which does not help. Reducing stress as much as you can helps too. I wish I could be more help to you because I have been there and it sucks. I guess my best advise would just eat whatever tastes good to you and lots of it. Best wishes,
    Nat
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited August 2005
    What are you taking for your acid reflux, if I may ask? I was thinking of trying out some over the counter Zantac 75. I seem to eat a lot of tums some days...

    I haven't had an upper GI yet. I hear they're wonderful fun. I try to keep my life stress-free, but I have a tendency to stress over stupid things. I've been trying to get over that, but some events in my past are working against me. It's a little more stressfull these days as I'm trying to find a full-time job, and finding it very difficult when you don't have that slip of paper called a college degree.

    College would be a whole 'nother stress-inducer.
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  • jtgranby
    jtgranby Posts: 887
    edited August 2005
    My suggestion is to find a new Dr. Did he or she do any kind of work ups for the weight loss? As someone suggested UGI to r/o acid reflux. Of course this is a public forum and this is a personal health issue. Maybe a few Rolling Rocks would help with the calorie count :D
  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited August 2005
    not really willing to find a new dr. This guy delivered me, and has been my family doctor ever since. he's been in it a long time, and I trust his judgement.

    I think I know what's causing the weight loss, I just need to gain some, which was the purpose of this thread :). Thanks guys.
    Ludicrous gibs!
  • nellis8166
    nellis8166 Posts: 292
    edited August 2005
    Nad,
    I did have a script for Previcid but now I just take Prilosec over the counter and it works great. I can relate to stressing over every little detail because I do the same thing. I'm not nearly as bad as I used to be, I have learned to just take things one step at a time and what ever happens happens. There is no sense stressing out over things you can't control. If you eat a lot of tums I would try Prilosec over the counter for a week and see how you feel. Did wonders for me. Another downside to eating a lot of tums is they can build up and give you kidney stones. That is the worst thing in the world. I went through it once and would never wish it on anyone. I had to pass 4 of those little **** all at the same time...ouch
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited August 2005
    Nadams,
    My wife (Debbie) is very petite and has always had a hard time putting weight on and keeping it it on, this is mostly due to her diabetes. The one thing that works very well for her is drinking a can of Ensure/Glucerna/Instant Breakfast with each meal. Eat until full before drinking any of these. It worked for her and that was no small feat. The increase in calories is huge...in no time you'll be gaining weight that you never knew you could.

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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited August 2005
    Sorry, but your doctor gave you some real bad advice. On this issue you cannot trust his judgment. Most doctors know a lot about medicine, but they know a damn thing about health. Emlyn is right, fix the source of the problem. If it's stress, a medical issue or whatever it is, deal aggressively and smartly with that issue. Once you do that, you won't have to worry too much about gaining weight.

    Now if you really wanna gain weight, the best thing to do is to adopt a healthy lifestyle (notice that I didn't say, "diet"). This means lots of fruits and veggies, exercise, vitamins, 8 hours of sleep, plenty of water, etc., but don't eat a bunch of junkfood! Your goal is to be healthy and gain weight. Your body is smarter than your mind. If you eat healthy foods, you'll naturally settle at an optimal weight.
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited August 2005
    To quote John Belusi from "Animal House": "I suggest that you start drinking heavily"

    A lot of good suggestions about nutrition. Pizza, beer, peanut butter, ice cream, protein shakes, eggs, bacon, red meat, etc. etc., all will work but you must eat regularly. I doesn't have to be a belly buster feeding everytime. Just eat. Especially before bedtime. Your body can't metabolize the calories.

    I'm curious, do you know your cholesterol levels?
    Carl

  • Mazeroth
    Mazeroth Posts: 1,585
    edited August 2005
    "To see if I'm capable of gaining weight, my dr want's me to try to gain 4-5 lbs in the next month."

    This statement makes no sense. Of course you're capable of gaining weight. Input = Output.

    My brothers are both very skinny. The one (26yr) is 5'11 and weighs 120lb, the other (28yr) is 5'9 and about the same weight. The one that's 5'11 eats and eats and eats. His metabolism is just unreal. He once did an experiement. He ate a meal and downed a can of corn with it. Within 8 hours he had corn kernals in his toilet. Yeah, his digestive system is crazy!

    Well...I meant to make a point in this post but it's late and I have no idea where I am. Sorry :D
  • LiquidSound
    LiquidSound Posts: 1,261
    edited August 2005
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  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited August 2005
    I've heard Frank Z's advice before. Eat your 3 meals a day and then add an ensure shake between each meal and right before bed. Makes sense, the calories are relatively well balanced and healthy

    Which reminds me, a decent sized snack right before bed! Maybe a bowl of pasta with a little butter and cheese to keep you stomach from getting upset.
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited August 2005
    Mazeroth wrote:
    Within 8 hours he had corn kernals in his toilet.

    What's next, a sesame seed bun?
  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited August 2005
    This thread is filled with bad advice. My goodness, the worst time to eat is right before you go to bed. Your body operates on cycles. There are times when it's most advantageous to eat -- that's when your sympathetic nervous system is running at high capacity, which is during the daytime. At night your body is preparing for rest, so when you consume food late at night, you are working against the natural rhythm of your body. Thus, the food you consume undergoes a lengthy process of putrefaction and diminishes the body's ability to assimilate nutrients. Sure, you might gain weight by eating late, but it's very unhealthy for you to do it that way. Don't fix a problem by creating a new one.

    My advice -- don't take anyone's advice. Do your own research.
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  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited August 2005
    Early B. wrote:
    My advice -- don't take anyone's advice. Do your own research.

    Would that include yours? ;)

    Remember, the goal was to gain weight to see if he could. This may mean several unhealthy habits.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited August 2005
    Encouraging someone to do anything unhealthy is a dumb idea. Following their advice is even dumber.
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