Ok, I’ll give you a bit of background history so you can understand my request;
I need a heart operation, my doc has said I won’t be put on the list until I’ve put on 2 stone. Something about lossing weight post op, and infection. I wasn’t really listening to the rest of it. I’m nearly 6 and half stone. I’ve got to get to 8 and a half, by the next time I see him in 2 months.
This is going to be so difficult for me. I’ve never been over 7 stone. I do love my food and have no problem eating. I just don’t know how do do this other than stuff myself silly with sweets and crisps. Which is fine by me, but doesn’t sound healthy.
I have to have a limited dariy intake, because of my bone condition,
Any one got any ideas? Or a bar of chocolate they don’t want! :teehee:
Over here in the States they sell weight gaining shakes at health food stores. It’s usually like a protein powder that you mix with other foods kind of like a milkshake or smoothie. Since it’s protein, it might be healthier for you than stuffing your face with sweets (although that’s probably how I’d do it! :teehee: )
Hi Nobones!
I’m personally never need to gain extra weight, but my hubby always needs that and i know how hard it is, as hard as loosing weight. From what i read and heard about weight gaining diets: Don’t stuff yourself with sweets, you only adding sugar to your blood. Include meat in your diet (not chicken or turkey - they are low on calories) - red meat. Eat potatoes, rice, beans, humus (if you know what that is and can get it). You need healthy fat and carbs.Nuts, avocado, raisins.
That’s something i found while googling: http://www.thedietchannel.com/Weight-gain-diet.htm
:teehee: I never heard the word “stone” before as a weight measure. how cute!
From the references I looked at, they want you to put on a LOT of weight!
As KnittingNat says, be careful about sweets and saturated fats. I’m trying to gain weight too, and I do basically what KnittingNat suggested. I don’t really follow a “diet”, I just try to eat more meat, rice, potatoes than usual, and I continue to eat the same amount of vegetables. I also eat snacks: nuts, cheese, yogurt. But I gained only 5 pounds in about 2 months! What they are asking from you is a lot more than that…
I’m surprised they didn’t provide you with the services of a nutritionist to help you. :shrug: I think going to a specialist would be the best way to ensure you remain healthy in the process. I don’t see the benefit of gaining weight if you end up with health problems… it wouldn’t be good for the surgery either! :??
Eat healthy fats…avocado, olive oil, nuts etc. High calories that won’t increase your cholesterol. It might also be good to ask your doctor what he/she would suggest.
Just looking at chocolate makes my butt bigger. When I quit smoking, I ate so much chocolate I gained 10 pounds in 2 months. ACK. I’ve since lost it again, but still… chocolate is bad.
Ok, I know, this isn’t funny. Ask your doctor for a diet plan. He should have given you the proper info when he said to gain weight. I know some people just don’t like having to eat more to gain weight, so you could try weight gainer shakes… check a health food store or fitness supplements. Look for the stuff that body builders drink. But ask your Doc about them first! Good luck and I hope you get well soon!
I had to put on a bunch of weight when I was pregnant with my daughter (I was so sick, I was still throwing up constantly at 22 weeks and way below my pre-pregnancy weight, had to have IV fluids because of dehydration, etc. This girl has been Trouble with a capital T since the day she was conceived). Eating lots of protein is the best, healthiest way to put on weight quickly. Eggs, meat, breads, etc. There are lots of shakes and things that have protein in them, but if you can’t have too much dairy, they’re pretty much out. Google “high protein diet” or “high protein foods” and I’ll bet you’ll find tons of suggestions.
Because of my chronic illness and medication, I am also significantly underweight. I’ve seen a nutritionist to try to stay at a stable weight. I would highly suggest trying to find one- check the local hospital to see if they recommend someone or ask the doc.
I don’t know if they have these in your area, but lots of health food stores here sell meal replacement bars (protein bars). (Larabars got a good review recently- they are dairy free, wheat free etc) They are a fairly balanced mix of fat, carb, protein and fiber. my nurtirionist says they are a better choice for a snack (in addition to your healthy meals) than sweets for someone who needs to healthily gain weight. I’ve also used the instant breakfast drink mixes to beef up the proteins and calories at breakfast. I hate the way they taste solo- so I make smoothies (add fruit and milk to the strawberry or vanilla flavor) or some iced coffee (coffee, milk and vanilla chocolate or mocha drink mix).
unfortumately, just eating more chocolate isn’t good enough for someone who medically needs to add weight.
Someone also mentioned the protein drink mixes for athletes- just read the labels so you aren’t taking weird supplements along with the protein. (they may interact with medications you need)
It is a tough “problem” to have- you get no sympathy from anyone!! If I had a dime for everytime someone said “I wish I could eat like you” or “I wish I could be that skinny”… No, No you really don’t.
WOW - hope all goes well with your surgery. There was a time I couldn’t keep weight on (I am 6ft tall and only weighed 110lbs) so while I did work with a nutritionist I found that adding calories to normal meals also worked well. I added nuts and coconut to everything I ate, used whole milk when I could, and added granola bars and snacks in btwn all meals. I would make bread with protein powder, nuts, dried fruit, oats etc. I found that some days I would have to make a list of foods and check them off the list to make sure I was over 3000calories…that way I couldn’t get busy and forget to eat.
Oh another thing I did was keep things in the bedroom so if I woke at night (which I often did at that weight) I could easily grab a snack.
If you find yourself feeling full try adding a meal replacement shake as many times our brains do not register full when drinking. Also, I found that not drinking during meals helped me eat more. If I drank milk or water with a meal I found that I ate less b/c my stomach bloated and I felt full faster.
I would go with the liquid supplements such as Ensure etc. I would look for a supplement or drink that has the word Pareve on it. That word means that it has no meat or dairy products in it. The best of luck to you. Please let us know if there is anything available here in the States that is not available to you in the UK.
I don’t have anything to add that hasn’t already been said. I work for Weight Watchers. I have told my members that before they get upset with their naturally skinny friend, remember that gaining weight can be as difficult as losing weight.
Best of luck to you. Please let us know how you are.
Wow! -Very sorry to hear about your health problems.
I suggest you go and see your Doctor again - It’s hard to think straight at the time your given fresh news, so I think another visit is definitely called for.
I’m such an air-head that I write down on a piece of paper what I want to ask and plonk it on the doctor’s desk. If I don’t, I forget, and then end up cursing myself five minutes after leaving the surgery.
The food supplement, Complan, is good for putting on weight but I really think your doctor should be giving you more advice and info.
My heart always goes out to those who are suffering with health problems. I am so sorry to hear that you are struggling. As the board nutritionist, I can only advise that you continue to eat only “real” food: good, healthy food, and eat every 3 hours, up to six or eight meals per day, if necessary. Your metabolism must be lightening fast!
Real food = fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, beans, clean meats (and dairy products - if not avoiding), olive oil, etc.
Fast food, junk food, snack food, convenience foods, etc.are not food!!
I wish you only the best as you seek to recover your health.
I was underweight for a while when I weighed 84/86 lbs at 5’2". I gained weight by eating my cafeteria food (:ick: I can tell you that was one mistake), eating ice cream everyday after school, and making sure I was never hungry. I just made sure that everything had a lot of fat in it. I know that’s not really a healthy way to gain weight, but it did work and am now 10 lbs heavier.
Good luck, I know how hard putting on weight is!
I used to have the same problem… then I hit my mid 20’s. I’m 5’9" or so and five years ago, I weighed in at 110 lbs… I’m now closer to 160. Mostly muscle from starting to work out and just filling in weight I so desperately needed. I now have a bit of extra weight… but I guess no one is perfect
I went through the same struggles for years, however. No matter what I did, I couldn’t gain weight and they wanted me at least up to 135!
