Am I Alone in Being Underweight? =(

As the title of the board suggests there are actually quite a lot of people in the same boat as you so you're not alone :-) 

Basic principle is that you need to take in more energy than you burn up to gain weight.  And it's tough to know exactly how much energy you're getting if you don't log it accurately.  Many underweight people, like you, will say they eat LOADS.... but find, after counting the calories that they're getting less than they think.  The Swedish milk probably contains more calories - enough to tip you from maintaining your weight to gaining.  You just have to find those calories elsewhere.

Fats and carbohydrates are the best place to look.  Oils, avocados, nuts, red meats and oily fish are good foods to choose.  And the complex carbohydrates... pasta, rice, wholemeal bread, noodles, oats.... will help too.  Eating more frequently makes it easier to get more calories.   And if you do some strengthening exercises you can convert some of the surplus energy to muscle-bulk.

So do start keeping a food log with CC.  If you aim for 2500-3000 cals a day as a starting point you should see some progress.   Best of luck

All throughout high school and up to age 28 I was 98lbs. After having my baby I finally reach 105lbs holding that down until age 35. Now that I'm getting older over 40 the weight is coming on and I don't no how to loose weight. Don't complain about being skinny because I was in that same boat. I use to complain and my friends would call me names. I try many things throughout my life to gain weight. Now I wish I was at least 115lbs because I feel fat now.

I am a hardgainer as many of you have detailed through these postings.  We are pre-disposed to be our sleek sizes.  If we ever did want to gain weight, often times it does take a little bit more than our well rounded friends.  It's tough, but with a little extra discipline and knowledge, one can gain weight without extreme measures.  I have a blog that talks about this very topic, if you ever free to take a look.  I highly suggest it.

http://hardgainers-review.blogspot.com/

I do understand why society has focused on the epidemic of obesity, since many people do suffer iller fates as a result of being overweight.  But still, It would be nice for some of us hardgainers to get some attention on the national scope like we are in this gathering of minds.  There just isn't enough information or knowledge out there to guide us through our lifestyle.

Howdy Sandra,

You're not alone. I've been small all my life as well. Up until I was 20 I was stuck at 92lbs, being 5'2". At 20 I joined the Air Force and they put me on a weight gain program. Upon graduation frlom Basic Training I weighed in at 118lbs. I quickly lost it over the next few months and was back down to 95lbs for almost a year. My pregnancy got me up to 150lbs, then straight back to 95lbs after birth. I've been working at it really hard for the past 2 years, fluctuating between 95 and 108lbs. I'm currently on a strict 6 meals-a-day diet, eating plenty of protein and carbs with every meal. I also lift weights at least 3x a week. I've managed to get up to 105 and maintain for 2 months now.

My best advice for weight gain is to supplement your meals with protein shakes. A good quality shake with different types of proteins in it will feed your body for hours so it doesn't start eating itself. I'm quite partial to BSN Chocolate Milk Shake after workouts and before bed. It's really good in my morning coffee, too!

Hard work and dedication will lead you where you want to go. Keep your faith.

Hello,

I have family members and friends who could never gain weight. They were chronically underweight. These people were tested for Celiac and were found to have it. Celiacs' lack an enzyme needed to break down gluten (found in wheat, rye,  barley, some oats, some soy sauce and some distilled vinegar). Once these foods were removed from their diets, their gastrointestinal tracts returned to normal and they were able to absorb the "MOUNDS" of food they had previously consumed, but not absorbed. It might be worth checking into.

Another idea, consider purchasing Lactaid tablets to help you break down the lactose in milk. Or try vanilla soy milk--tastes good and has extra calories because they add sugar to sweeten it.

 

Original Post by sandratc:

Hi everyone!

I just joined calorie count plus today, and it's because I feel different. Everyone hears talk about being 'overweight' and 'obese' but rarely is there talk about being UNDERWEIGHT. It's almost like it's non existent! Everyone is so focused on trying to be skinny, that people forget there are people who are born naturally skinny that are, amazingly, trying to GAIN weight. I've been skinny since I was born, and I am now 18 weighing 43 kg and am a 160 cm tall. According to my BMI, I am listed as underweight. So, what can I do? It seems like no matter how much I eat, I CANNOT gain weight! I've stuffed myself constantly with food, but that doesn't seem to help. It might also be that I am living in Hong Kong and I'm lactose intolerant so I can't drink milk, I could drink soya bean milk, but I find it gross. I'm born in Sweden and grew up on lactose free milk till I was 9, so the fact that I can't drink milk outside of Sweden, doesn't help. I do gain weight every summer when I am back in Sweden drinking milk, but I mean come on, there has to be other ways to gain weight? Some one, please tell me you're in the same boat. I don't know ANYONE else that is underweight, in fact, I don't even think I have met anyone else that is underweight.

I could really use some support and motivation. Heck, if enough of you scold me, I'll probably end up drinking soya milk just as thanks for being supportive. =)

 

 ?

i feel just as stressed as u

only i am intolerent to gluten, soy and dairies

i gave everything up and lost 30 pounds in like 2 months and i

i know im lucky to be skinny in this fat world, i never was extremly fat

my bmi has always been healthy, even before i found out that i was intolerent to so many foods

and i enjoy cooking so its not so bad for the food part

its just being so skinny and every time i try to gain weight i just lose more...so fusterating

i need someone to talk to also, it is a stressful situation

but i made christmas sugar cookies with rice flour that taste sooo good

but ya i try the whole eating all the time thing always having snacks on me and stuff

and i bring more food wiht me when i work, i work with babies in a daycare so lots of physical activity, so i need to eat more... but my main problem is i just can't seem to keep my weight and it scares me... but i have been told by many of my intolerent friends that lots of nuts and proteins are supposed to help with weight gain...

i suggest almond milk, rice milk or hemp milk since you don't like your soy

i am on that diet too and i just keep losing wieght... but i only started the diet because all those foods (gluten, soy and dairy) just make me extemely sick, but im not allergic, do u know how long it can take to start gaining weight again...ive never seen myself so skinny...