Weight Gain Help/Advice wanted

[Btd]

Ok since my arthritis has gotten worse (Started getting bad during the summer last year) I went to see the doctor(And continue to see one)...Well after the first check up she gave me painkillers and strong vitamins...They was supposed to help with the pain and bring my weight up...

Well this last time after a month and half of nothing but eatting and vitamins I only gained 1 pound....

I'm naturally slim and dainty(Tiny) but I know I have lost more then what I gained from the fact i've had to walk everywhere...

Well I was wanting to know what you guys do to gain weight and what types of foods and other things you guys do to keep it on...

Any advise is welcome...As sometime when I don't eat enough I just stay bed ridden for a few days...

Also any suggestions about fruits and Vegatables I can eat since I don't like a lot of fat and sweets...

Edit:

My current main diet is below....I have reasearched and I already follow all there advice but still lose...

Salad(Yum)
Water/Coke/Milk(What ever is on sale at the time)
Little bit of red meat
Small amounts of bananas(Sometimes Oranges)
sweets/Fats rarely (Once every two months or so)....
Lots of wheat/whole grains

[odinsdottir]

All I can think of is to eat a lot of pasta dishes as that is one thing weightlifters use to bulk up with.... Add nuts, avocado, mango, and dairy like that spoonful of sour cream on your soup that is popular with chefs... the sprinkle of cheese.....


odinsdottir

[Btd]

I eat lots of pasta and Cheese....I'll add the others to my diet and I'm trying to ween myself off the salad....and i've forced myself to eats more fats/sweets and my family is helping....

Thanks a bunch I will add that to my over all diet as well as way more fruits but i'm good with the Dairy and pasta ...I'm also cutting back slowly on my excerse(sw) and i'm going to get some diet advice from my doctor next visit....She wants my weight up before doing anything else...

[Misty Glen]

[Fireflake]

I find it beneficial to eat a bigger breakfast. Studies have shown that a big breakfast is lots better than a big lunch or dinner. Nuts will help out to gain weight. Avacado is really great (High protein/calorie content).

[Btd]

Thanks Guys....I'll take all this advice

[ChocolateGal]

Ok for 1. You must eat healthy while gaining wieght or there could be a possible chance of diabetes. Eat heaps of friut and vegtables as well as some sweets. You can find some sites on google that have calarie intakes. Here's one i found recently:

http://www.annecollins.com/calories/index.htm

hope that helps!

Good fortune be with you..

Choco

[Btd]

Oh that will help alot thank you so much..

[Vitani]

Alrighty...Don't know if any of my advice will be valuable to you, but I'll post it anyway...

The advice everyone has given so far is the general idea of weight gain, and some of the easiest ways to do it so I'll try not to repeat anything thats already been said if I can help it. The 2 things you've got to remember is that 1) Bulking up properly takes time, and as much dedication as weight reduction, if not more ( crazy as it sounds, I know! ) and 2) Bulking up by means of quick, fatty calories isn't going to benefit you in the long run...

I know plenty of women who dream about being in this kind of situation, and have visions of hamburgers and milkshakes for breakfast, and chocolate-gluttony...But its a very, very unhealthy thing. Your body can only process so many toxins from the daily diet before your liver especially starts to become stressed...From your current diet ( while its not a complete account, the "gist" of it is healthy ) I would assume your bodily functions are in proper working order...

Cutting back on the excercise is a good start, because you need to be consuming more calories than your expending....But don't quit altogether. I don't know how severe your arthritis is - but I recommend swimming to everyone with impact pain...Its excellent excercise without overly straining already sore joints. I wouldn't recommend too much walking, depending on where it is... ( ignore me if I'm being too nosy, sometimes I am and dont mean to be lol....Where abouts is your ATS located? ) but if your coping with "shanks pony" travel without pain, then by all means continue....
I live day to day in terms of my own pain load - And I find yoga and pilates to be effective ways of getting a bit of excercise without straining myself...Theres plenty of books in libraries on the subjects so it need not induce any cost to learn a few techniques, if the idea appeals to you...The intensity of the workout depends only on your level of fitness, so anyone can do it...

Ok, I've rambled enough...Sorry..I tend to waffle on

More calories: This is an absolute no brainer lol...But you have to make smart choices. Generally, active women should consume somewhere between 1,500-2000 calories a day. Work out how much you eat in a regular day, and try to add at least 500 onto it...If you can make it 1,000, even better. It should help your weight creep up by about 1/2-1 pound a week, depending on your metabolic rate. Its a good idea to keep a food journal...Jot down the time you eat, what you eat, and portion sizes. At the end of the day you can use that to calculate your calories. The next day, try to beat it. Doesn't have to be big, it just has to be a steady increasement...An apricot has 16 calories, so even adding something like that as a snack ( takes maybe 10 minutes to eat ) will boost it. There are tons of online calorie counters so that part shouldnt be hard.

Its all well and good to increase your calories but do it the smart way...Protein is an effective bulker. Carbohydrates add energy, and the excess sugars in them if not burnt, will be stored as fat, but try to go for starchy carbs like potatoes, kumara, and rice. Beans peas and pulses are a good source of carbohydrates, protein and fibre. Choose things like lean red meat ( yes, I said lean lmao, because too many animal fats will clog your arteries ) fish ( ESPECIALLY oily types such as salmon, mackrel and tuna ) and dairy products over bread....I've never been an advocate of bread unless its handmade. Store bought, sliced varieties ( even the multi grains >.< ) tend to have highish levels of salt and sugar...Ick. Plus, making it yourself is fun...And you can add all sorts of things. Try making fruit loaves for sweet breakfast toast...Yum
Keep your fluid intake up too. Water, water, water. No calories, but your body needs it before any other kind of liquid. I don't know how much you currently drink, if its not alot, aim for at least a litre a day. The ideal goal is 2-3 litres of fluid a day, but remember that you get alot of moisture from food too, especially things like watermelon, celery and lettuce, and don't forget those cups of tea or hot chocolate, the water in those should be included in your daily goal also so dont panic about having to chug-a-lug water all day long, it soon adds up by itself....Even though it seems a waste to be drinking nothing to help your weight, it flushes out toxins that will inhibit the intake of the things your body does need. Milk and fruit juices are great, full of vitamins and minerals, but dont buy juices with added sugar...Like Choco said, you don't want to induce adult-onset diabetes Even though its good for you, try not to drink too much juice, 3-4 glasses a day should suffice. Check calorie content, some are higher than others and if you like the taste, opt for them. But if you find yourself reaching for soft drinks, opt for juice instead to curb the sugar craving...

Remember the good fats, your body does need them. A simple ( but not foolproof ) rule of thumb is a good fat is liquid at room temperature. Butter, lard etc are fine to eat in moderation but dont rely on their calories to help you gain weight. Try to get at least one serving a day of something like olive oil but if you can, don't heat it...Heating good oils ruins their nutritional benefits. Likewise, snack on nuts and seeds whenever you like, but not the roasted kind. Try to opt for non salted if you can, or at least brush some of it off if you can't. Excessive sodium hardens the arteries, and promotes the retention of water...You'll gain weight, but its only fluid, not muscle and fat. Since you like salad, you'll find that part easy...Have whatever veggies you like, sprinkle on some nuts, croutons if you like, heck, even bacon bits ( make your own, dont buy them )...Then coat in a dressing made from olive oil, an acid ( balsamic vinegar is yummy ) crushed garlic and a little seasoning. Two birds with one stone

Up your serving size...General rule of a healthy diet portion is the same size as the palm of your hand ( not including fingers )...So try and go a quarter or half as big again. Have a larger glass of milk, a bigger bowl for breakfast, an extra piece of fruit. Do what you can manage.

Above all, don't stress about it. The more you worry about it, the more likely you are that you'll actually lose weight instead of gaining it. Don't weigh yourself every day. Once a week maximum...Once a month is more ideal. Don't let the scales be the judge, let the mirror and your clothes, even your friends and family. They'll all tell you when you start to fill out more reliably than a set of scales. And don't forget to get good, quality sleep. It's part of the 3 R's...Repair, Restore, Replenish. Our bodies do that while we sleep....Its not called beauty sleep for nothing

Sorry for waffling on and on...trust me, I have ALOT more ( nutrition is one of my "things" ) so your welcome to pm me if you can stand it...

*offers cookies to perk everyone up after reading such a giant post*

[Trinity]

i wish i could help, but im having similar issues. i weigh 92 pounds and i can not gain weight. i just keep losing.

[milon]

*edit*

[shadow_spinner]

Well, I'm no dietitian, but I know that if you like cheese, it helps alot. I think it's pretty healthy for you; and it's tasty, too. I've heard of people who have stopped eating cheese and lost 15 lbs. before, just from that. Find a kind you like and then just try to sneak some in every once in a while; cheese and crackers, cheese on your sandwich, etc.

Oh, and there's also plenty of calorie counters out there on the web. Try going to ASK.com and typing in "How many calories a day do I need?" it comes up with a bunch of counters that show you how many calories you need to at least maintain your current weight.