Weight Loss Trying to Gain Back

Updated on March 05, 2008
S.C. asks from Phoenix, AZ
27 answers

i have been trying to gain back wait for the past 7 yrs. i got back most of it but my doctor says i need to gain more. i eat junk food and everything i get my hands on but i only gain a few ounces. you see i got sick 7 yrs ago and lost a lot of wait. how can i gain weigh? i get tired of everything i try to eat thats fattening.

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N.F.

answers from Las Cruces on

i know for my daughter they said just to add things like butter to everything because it slows down the digestive process so things get absorbed more, so maybe this would help you too. try adding the fat stuff with the high calorie stuff? or I'll look into finding that machine where i can pass my extra weight to you and save you some work? I wish right? I hope this helps though. my daughter had the same problem for a little bit and they said that would help.

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M.J.

answers from Phoenix on

I also had trouble gainining weight. Junk food does not help. If I ate between meals, I didn't eat the next meal. I decided to concentrate on good healthy meals. I also didn't want to get addicted to eating before bed by eating junk. I went to a health food store and got the type of powder that weight lifters use to gain weight. It added 400 calories at bedtime w/o acquiring a sweet tooth.

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J.M.

answers from Orlando on

Hi! Most people now days don't have this problem! My husband's family is all very thin, though, and don't seem to ever be able to gain weight. They have said it may have something to do with a thyroid issue. I don't think the goal is to eat a bunch of junkfood or fatty food. You don't want to end up with your original weight, but heart problems or high cholesterol too. I would get some advice from a dietician, if possible, and perhaps have a doctor check into the thyroid issue. Perhaps you also have a very high metabolism. It may help to eat more, but make sure you're eating good foods. Digestion problems or something like celiac's disease may also affect weight gain. Sounds like you may have to delve a little deeper with someone more experienced/professional than this forum, although it's a start. Also remember, muscle weighs more than fat... add some muscle by working out or weightlifting, rather than eating junkfood. Good luck! Wish I could give you some of the fat I haven't lost since my last baby! :)

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H.L.

answers from Phoenix on

hey S.,
i was reading what you wrote and was wonderinf if you have ever tried protein shakes? Its a powder you can add to things. Also they have a powder specifically for gaining weight. Body builders take it and my brother is a wrestler, he has to take it to make it into his weight class. You might give it a try.

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D.A.

answers from Phoenix on

Hello S. C,
You appear to be struggling with the reverse process of weight loss that affects approximately 1/3 of all Americans. It is unfortunate that our society is still not aware that weight gain is a serious problem, too. May I suggest that first you must relax and reduce the stress associated with your desire to gain weight. Aromatherapy, relaxation tapes, jacuzzi moments and any other form you are familar with :-)

It is critical that you involve your doctor in your plan to gain weight, hopefully he will refer you to a nutritionist. A very effective plan of protein shakes with high fat content will provide a balanced diet. If there is an obstacle in seeing your physician, I highly recommend a Hi-Health or GNC store, the staff are very helpful in putting together a very tasty combination of goodies you may enjoy more than junk food.
Please avoid junk foods because eating high sugar, bad cholesterol, and saturated fats will do more harm to your body in the long run (i.e kidney problems, diabetes, cardiac diseases, dental problems, cancer, and so much more).
I am an educational psychologist and professor of psychology, I discuss eating disorders, related to prior illness or not. I strongly recommend that you discuss your issue with a caring physician, who can run the appropriate tests to rule out issues related to your genetic make-up, metabolic rate, and many other factors.
Today is Monday and a wonderful time to begin your journey to balanced health. I hope you make the call today.

I wish you Love and Peaceful Moments,

D. A., MA, CRC, Doctoral Learner
URL: http://whiteappleinstitute.org

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K.M.

answers from Flagstaff on

I had a similar situation. After having each of my kids I got very sick and went down to 108 lbs - and I am 5'7 1/2" so I was WAY to small. I can't give you advise on how to gain weight - that will have to come through a doctor or nutritionist. However, the advice I would like to give you is this: RIGHT NOW start exercising regularly and EAT RIGHT! Quit eating the junk food. I ate whatever I wanted to and didn't exercise - I was skinny, I didn't need to be careful. After a few years I started gaining weight - and it hasn't stopped! I am now overweight and have really struggled with trying to eat right and exercise. I wish I would have had the sense to take proper care of my body BEFORE I started gaining.

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L.B.

answers from Phoenix on

My husband went on a program when he was in high school for this very same thing. The difference between the two of you is that his was just a metabolism thing.(no illness) There are programs out there to help with this problem. You'll have to check with your doctor though since you were sick, just to make sure that your body can handle the types of programs. I can tell you one thing, eating high fat foods won't make you gain weight they'll just clog your arteries and raise your cholesterol. CALORIES make you gain weight. Bottom line you have to bring in more calories than your body is burning on a daily basis. Whole foods that have not been processed over and over tend to have more calories because there has been less removed from them. However, they are healthier for you that hi-fat, hi-sugar foods. It will take some research to find out how many calories are in foods that are not labeled, such as fruits, veggies, eggs, and things like that, but it will be worth it. The internet is great for that stuff. I hope you are able to find a solution and stick to it so that you can be healthy again.

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K.R.

answers from Phoenix on

I wouldn't eat the unhealthy high fat food, it'll cause other problems. Eat lots of protein and healthier carbs like rice and potatoes. I actually am trying to at least maintain my weight right now if not gain more and I will be going to the doctor to get tested for an overactive thyroid, it can be a serious problem. Have you been tested for that?

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J.J.

answers from Phoenix on

i dont have any advice but if you come acorss some good ideas, plese let me know. i went from 178 lbs to 100 (most days) in a year. i try everythig i can to gain the weight but sometimes i lose two or three punds in a day. i have tried eating evry two hours and that sometimes helps but if i am somewhere where i cant sit for a meal every two hours i lose weight. yes, i am very active but i try to replace the calories as soon as i stop moving. i eat junk fod but not that much. mostly regular meals throughout the day. i usually have tow or three breakfasts befroe noon and a couple of lunches and dinner and then another serving of dinner before i go to bed. id ont have a thyroid problem or anythign medical. jsut when istrarted trying to lose weight, i couldnt stop losing it. and im not even trying anymore. its frustrating because everyone is alwasy asking what si wrong with me but nothing is wrong ive had every test imaginable. i usually eat oatmeal and juice as soon as i get out of bed , then eggs and toast about 9:30, then cereal or a sandwich around 11. i eat lunch around 12:30 anythign form chicken to a burger or a salad with some kind of protein and so on so forth

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S.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Eat alot of bananas, one every hour or so helped me gain weight at one time.

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I.G.

answers from Phoenix on

has your doctor suggested that you might have a tape-worm, I have relatives who have one and it usually end up eating up your nutrients...has your doctor suggested a diet for you.
Regardless of how people says about diet for large people, there are diet for people like yourself who wish to gain weigh. You sound like your have a very great motabulism. My son has a similar problem...I just tell him to eat right. There might be something else that is not necesaily right.

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S.S.

answers from Flagstaff on

How much you weigh is a small part of health and how you feel. If you want to feel good, stop with the junk food and eat well. I suggest vegetables every day. The highest calorie ones are avacodo and olives. Try raw nuts and potatos. All beans are especially nutritious, especially lentils. Black beans, navy pinto ect... they are all good sourses of iron and calories. At least half a cup a day, but not much more. Eat a large variety of all kinds of nutritious foods, and do what you can to make them taste good and enjoy them. Good luck!

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S.K.

answers from Tucson on

I have been in a similar situation before. My best advice, is to gain back the weight through high-calorie, nutritious foods, rather than junk food. And don't stuff yourself till you feel sick, because that feels unpleasant. Try whole-milk, nuts, avocados, cheeses, fatty fishes (like tuna and salmon, but be careful of high mercury levels!)etc. It might be a slow weight gain, but at least its through healthful means. Good luck!

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T.L.

answers from Tucson on

If you like bread & peanut butter, make at least one pb sandwich a night & drink a glass of milk with it. A friend of mine gained 20 lbs in about 3 months by eating 2 a night right before bed...

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T.N.

answers from Phoenix on

Exercise actually helped me gain weight and muscle, and being healthy was my biggest goal overall. My excessive weight loss due to nursing was unhealthy and I wanted my health back. I started feeling deprived of nutrients and it affected my emotional well-being. Looks were secondary--I did miss my curves and got tired of people telling me how horrible and skinny I looked--but being healthy should be the primary focus in my opinion. So exercise, but be careful not to overdo the aerobic exercise, and focus instead on weight resistant, muscle-building exercise. That really has helped me gain some weight in a healthy way and I feel like I look great now. You'll want to eat a lot of protein to aid you in building muscle: nuts, meat, beans, tofu, dairy. Eat high caloric food, but try to eat healthy as well, like Oatmeal with whole milk, sugar, nuts and raisins, on it as opposed to a candybar. Being healthy affects you physically, mentally, and emotionally, so please don't sacrifice your health just to gain weight. A doctor or trainer should be able to better help and educate you in this area.

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C.W.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi!
Someone had almost the same question yesterday so I'll tell you what I told her. I was 98 lb. when I got pregnant and my doctors weren't too concerned because I'm just a small person. But then I had trouble gaining very much weight pregnant and while breastfeeding my baby and I both got stomach flu so he was nursing more and I was eating less and plummeted to 91 lb. So...to keep froom having to stop breastfeeding I had a month to gain back as much weight as possible and I did! I had Carnation instant breakfast once a day as a snack, not a meal replacement. I switched to real mayo. I made guacamole several times a week with the real mayo, avacados and salsa and ate that with chips before bed, or spread it on my sandwiches, quesadillas, tacos, etc. Plus, I did do a little more chocolate than usual :-). I totally gained 8 lb. in one month and think I may have reached the 100 mark. Hopefully I won't gain 8 lb. every month but I really needed to get back to a safe zone quickly. I would suggest in addition to making this kind of effort that you ask to have your thyroid tested just in case. And, if you're truly eating really well and staying healthy, maybe God just made you smaller and that's okay!

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L.S.

answers from Phoenix on

You are probably not getting what you need nutritionally and your body obviously will not respond to the junk food and will never give you what you need to rebuild your body.
I was also sick with candida and chronic fatigue a couple of years ago and felt like I was dying. I weighed 90 pounds and felt horrible. Any ways I found a product that helped me get my health back it is called juice plus and it is 17 fruits and vegetable in a capsule. I also take their nutritional shake( and a meal replacement) that is loaded with great whole foods no corn syrup like "ensure". Go to www.juiceplus.com and read more. I have a friend that takes 2 shakes a day to insure that he maintains his weight. Also whole wheat bread would be great to add to the diet. If you need more info just email me back.

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Z.P.

answers from Phoenix on

First of all I want to say eating junk food isn't the answer. The quality of the weight you gain is important. Protein shakes will probably help. Eat full meals and then have protein shakes between meals. That is what the doctors wanted me to do for my daughter who was very thin. I didn't do it though. I don't want my duaghter thinking her whole life that she should be fighting to look like everyone else. She has a healthy appetite and eats plenty of fruits, vegetables, protein, and really anything. I don't give her sugars and junk foods. So I know she is healthy. So, if she is thinner than average... well at least she is healthy. You know my sister has been working her entire life to gain weight. She has a small body type and is very thin. She has made herself miserable over it.

If you are eating healthy and frequently then maybe your body type is just meant to be thin??

I am glad you are no longer sick. My suggestion is just eat healthy foods that you enjoy. Don't make food a "chore." Learn to be happy with your body. I know that is easier said then done.

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C.F.

answers from Phoenix on

Junk food has empty calories. I wouldn't recommend eating that for gaining weight. The best thing to do is to eat often, eat foods that are high in protein and work out at the gym to build up muscle since muscle weighs more than fat.

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G.N.

answers from Phoenix on

hi there!! i just want to say i totally know what you are going through!! i am kind of sick right now, prolly not as severe as you were but i cant keep things down without throwing it up. its driving me nuts. i am happy you felt confident enough to come ask us for help because it takes a lot of courage to ask for help!!! the best suggestion i would have is just to start small with healthy foods. there should not be a time frame in which you need to gain weight as long as you are gaining in a healthy manner. and exercise your body so it will want more even if it is by walking. i hope you got your strength back, but walking is always a good workout. good luck and keep us posted.

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I.W.

answers from Phoenix on

oh my gosh, don't make yourself sick in the long run by trying to gain weight eating junk! that stuff will give you diabetes, high cholesterol, risk of heart attack, unhealthy looking skin...look at fresh food that has a lot of calories and have that, like nuts, trail mix, healthy grains like steel cut oatmeal eaten with whole milk, fresh fruit and walnuts. increase your portions and eat healthy dark european chocolate, a bit every day before going to bed.
stay away from products which are unhealthy for you, like anything processed, sodas, anything that comes out of a can or box. drizzle healthy olive oil on foods and sautee chicken, vegetables in it. take 2 TBSP. of flaxseed oil.

Ava, when you post *your* need some time i hope you will find more compassion from other mothers than the one you gave S.. unless you are a moderator you were way out of line and extremely rude. why bother writing to "help" hurt someone's feelings?

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L.A.

answers from Phoenix on

Sorry about your illness....Have you tried the bulking up powder drinks from places like GNC?

Or a milkshake and/or cookies right before bed worked for me....not in a good way :)

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M.S.

answers from Phoenix on

I would see a nutrishionist. Eating all that junk food is not good for you, especially if you were sick. It can compomise you immune system. I have been doing acupuncture for the last 13 years, maybe that would help. But I would definitely find a better way to gain back the weight thanjunk food. You could regret that decision down the road. You could try doing research on the internet.

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K.B.

answers from Phoenix on

Don't eat so much junk food, your body doesn't accept it well so it rejects it. Eat healthier whole grain meals that will help you gain good weight, not fatty weight that will put a little on but generally won't help. Try to keep a balanced diet as well....

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G.V.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi S.,

The last thing you want to do is pollute your body with junk food and get sick all over again. It is the consumption of junk food, contaminants, and our toxic environment that damages your immune system, which allows you to get sick in the first place.

There are many "healthy" fats that you can consume to help you gain weight in a healthy way that is good for your body and good for your immune system.

I am a Holistic Health and Nutritional Consultant and would be happy to work with you if you'd like to gain weight. You can call me at ###-###-####

By the way, I was in a similar position of trying to gain weight; so I can sympathize with you. I also know how to gain it back the right way!

Best wishes to you :)

Warm Regards,
G. Van Luven

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D.H.

answers from Flagstaff on

Be careful with the junk food. You don't want to give yourself diabetes. You can get it if you are thick or thin. Just take care of yourself with healthy food and hopefully your body will restore itself naturally. I can promise you wont get back to a normal healthy weight with junk. You could be lacking very important minerals in your body too that could be causing the problem, so try to eat all sorts of different healthy foods instead of the same ones all the time. Potatoes and bananas and milk and sunlight can be very nurtritional for you. They have more vitamins than most fruits and veggies. If you have a steamer and you slice the potatoes into circles with the skin on, you won't boil out any of the vitamins and it tastes great! Good luck!

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A.V.

answers from Albuquerque on

If you want help, call Dr Penny Edwards. She is great and very good at helping with nutrition and exercise, and will help you gain good healthy weight. Her number is ###-###-#### Good luck, A.

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