Posts by spunkysmiles

Original Post by tangerine89:

I thought I should revive this topic because I have another suggestion that fits this category. I came here looking for a forum/group that would help me gain weight because I naturally have a difficult time gaining. I have to say that the "Weight Gain" forum is a bit misleading because it is more of an ED recovery forum. I don't have anything against those trying to recover, and I was able to get some good advice from them, but their struggle is very different from the struggle of a person who just naturally has a difficult time gaining weight.

I'm not necessarily suggesting you create a new forum, maybe just rename the current Weight Gain forum. It's misleading.

 Very well put, Tangerine.  I didn't know how to explain it, but I felt the same way.  In no way at all do I think it "isn't good enough" to be a weight gain forum, but it's just not, by true definition, a weight gain forum, it's an ED recovery forum.  I made some great friends there and think those who are overcoming ED's are some of the strongest people alive.

That said, the struggles going on there are entirely different than those of a basic "need to gain weight" theme.  The mindset and worries relate more to those of someone trying to lose [typically eating too much of something or worreid about upper limits, etc.]. due to the fact that it is a struggle to overcome and ED more than it is to gain.

I too would love to have a forum for those of us who are fighting to gain because it is difficult physically, not because of a mental block and a fear of an actual weight gain regimen--not because someone like me is better, but just because it would be nice to have someone to share the seems-to-be uncommon struggle with.

Afon,
unfortunately, regardless of how long you’ve been off, the real criteria is when your bodies ready.  Most likely in it’s state of being underweight an unfed, it hasn’t been able to repair you in 1 year or ten years.  It has to build your fundamental health before it will tend to the other stuff like muscles and biomechanics.

Spek,
On the activity note, I repeat: activity now will not cause your body to build fitness, muscle, increase metabolism, or any of that.  When you are in a compromised state it does just the opposite—scares your body more and increases the damage even if you eat back the calories. Because your body needs resources to build you back and restore your health—the basics [organs, heart, function] first.
Also, I noticed you seem to like to compare weights with everyone.  Remember, it’s not about who is sickest…if anything, compare this: who is going to be living to the max next year?  And who, ten years from now, will be sloggin with permanent damage and more crap to put up with than ever? If I’m going to “win” anything it’s to reverse the damage and get to max life asap!

Charlie,
Good for you eating a whole muffin…but I didn’t mean replace the rest of breakfast with it!  Even  normal breakfast would be a muffin or two, plus a few things like cereal, a drink, yogurt, with it.  A gainer diet means that plus!  C’mon now—you said your mind feels completely different, now make your life different so your results can be different!

Xfalling,
If you can’t eat a slice of cheese cake when your trying to gain, how do you expect to live the rest of your life?

Agru,

Um, I think that cereal is 170 cals for 1-1/4c?  Plus I think your ED is twisting what I was saying again.  I don’t think you underestimate calories, in fact I think you overestimate.  My point was that “real eating” involves real bowls of cereal and plates of trail mix, not one bite or measurement portion!  The “portion size” just helps you calculate.  So if you have 2 2c bowls [as is pretty normal without even gaining with anyone I’ve ever known] you can calculate it as 4X1c value.
I’m sorry you had a rough time going to the bathroom! My problem isn’t that I can’t go.  It’s that I kind of go or start to go, plus prolapse and have a lot of other stuff come out, and then endup with a huge mess and lots of pain and still “need to go.” I’ll go through a whole roll of toilet paper just to deal, ugh.

Dana,
Wow that’s one of the main things I’m being tested for.  My endoscopy is at the end of the month.  I’ve been told if it is the case the meds will help a lot, but I’ll still need a modified diet.  It’s a little ahead of the game for me to make changes, but I’d be really curious to know ways you’ve coped and also anything about your medication your willing to share.  I’m scared of meds, especially steroids, and don’t want to go in blind.

Aqua,
PB chips are like chocolate chips in the bakery aisle.  I love munching on those and butterscotch chips, and mixing them in oatmeal, trail mix, etc.

Dark,
Uh, I just have as many bowls as I want and then measure to see how much cals I get for it.  Even normal eaters do that—I’ve never lived with or hung out with a nondieter who measured one bowl of cereal and stopped.  Now since I’m trying to gain I substitute extra granola to the flaky stuff I love like honey bunches of oats.  Once I’m at maintenance I can easily adjust by just eating as much honey bunches of oats as I want without bogging it down in granola or adding as many nuts.

My interview for the hospital position is this afternoon!  Ahhh!

Dana,
You like warm soy milk too?  That is what I top almost every meal/snack off with to settle my tummy, warm me up, and make me smile. In the morning I spike itwith coffee for a caffeine kick.
Also, can I ask what type of colitis you have and what management involves? That is one of the IBD diseases I am being tested for so I’m curious.  If it’s too private you don’t have too share, but I’mnot touchy about those issues [down there and such]—that’s my life!

Spek,
I know you were asking Agru, but did you know that exercise when you are this underweight is only harmful?  I posted a bit about it in my posts to Lulu yesterday.
You don’t serve your body the benefits of exercise [fiteness, muscle mass, heart health, etc.] until you have first met the basic health demands.  A key sign that your body is minimally healthy is when you get your natural period.  Before that, your body is in such compromised.

Agru,
1c of low cal cereal and a bit of trail mix?  No wonder it only totals 330 cal!  I really think the next step for you is to stop tasting your foods and eat some real portions!  Goodness, even dieters are encouraged to eat 1/2c of trail mix! To give you an idea of “normal person portions:” at least a cup of that, couple cups of cereal and chex mix, and so on….I hope your takeout was more than a scoop to taste?
Whatever it was today-there’s a new challenge for you to take on next!

Afon,
What you really need to do to let your leg heal and be a better athlete long term is rest and recover along with eating more.

**Sorry about the limited shoutouts. I actually started writing them this morning before much had been posted, then got distracted to my “office” as agru calls it, kitchen or bathroom!  I don’t have time to catch up tonight, but here’s my daily so far:

I got up in the middle of the night [about 1am] and at some cottage cheese, a bagel, animal cookies, and mixed milks…but that goes towards yesterday’s resources for my goals, so starting over today:

Late morning [slept in for the first time all week!]:

2 big mugs of vanilla soy milk with coffee

Breakfast:
3.5c Honey Bunches of oats [fighting to get to the best crumbles at the bottom!] + 1c granola, lactaid milk, 2oz candied almonds—already made myself late cramming them in after an awful [messy in a NOT diarrhea sense + painful] bathroom episode, so had to take off though I’d planned some toast or something in addition to that.

Snack:
~2c apple pie filling + 3/4 c cottage cheese
chewy bar [agru-I have to get the store brand or on sale kinds for cheapness!]
pb chips
mug of warm vanilla soy milk with coffee

Snack:

The rest of my tub of cottage cheese + can of pie filling

Homemade elephant ear [fried tortilla + cinnamon sugar]

Snack:
Trail mix =2oz. nuts, 1/4c pb chips, package of M-M’s, handful of pretzels
warm milk mix [lactaid and soy]
Early Dinner/Late lunch [most of the afternoon was just consistent snacking]
sw with extra meat [4oz vs. 2-3 as I prefer], guacamole, tomato and few spinach leaves
[I can’t wait until I can just have the amount that tastes good and as many veggies as I want! Yay for rewards once I get to maintenance!
2 sweet potatoes chopped in wedges and fried in olive oil [= healthy fat + helps absorb nutrients!]
1c garbanzo beans
mug of mixed milks

**went grocery shopping to stock up on some of my foods [especially hard now because everyone I live with is either actively dieting or watching their weight!]

We now have three types of bread in the house! My flax seed + hefty bread, the normal 100 cal/slice whole grain bread, and the diet bread. Lol!

Late dinner [10pm-yikes!]:
1c mujadura imitation [basically fried lentils and rice] + sautéed pepers and onions
a couple more scoops of what was left in the pan when cleaning up
large pita with hummus
my delisious honeycrisp apple treasured treat [reward for getting the cals in!]
2c lactaid milk

Bedtime:
Definitely cereal, cottage cheese, a banana, and the pistachios [my fav kind of nut!] I just stocked up on. 
Who knows exactly-whatever it will add up to the usual 800-1000 to top of the tank full of resources to be put into good service overnight!

What a wonderful reward!  Since I was ahead on my calories by  my lunch-and-a-half today, I got to enjoy some deliscious veggies which I LOVE but never have time for much of [I have to prioritize cals I can count!]….and even better…the jumbo honeycrisp apple I’ve been craving all day [but again, no time for the diet fillers]!  I LOVED it despite my stomach at a low of the week.  I had almost 2c of veggies with my rice instead of all boring rice and sauce with only a little veggies, and oh that deliscious apple.
It is going to be so rewarding when I get to my goal and can enjoy eating as much fruit and veggies as I want instead of having to restrict it too a treat.

Update and I have to do something before I come back and respond to everyone:

Afternoon munching:
1c rice + 1.5-2c broccoli and peppers + margarine
finished a tub of cottage cheese + dipped a bagel in it
giant apple!

Glass of juice
silk + lactaid milks

Disclaimer: I am probably the logical dunce here, but I just have to say...

Who cares who eats what?!  Isn't the point what are your goals and what do you need to get there?

I need 4000 calories to gain weight.  I need to gain weight to get the most out of my life and have the best potential long term.

My sister needs 2000 cals to lose weight. I won't get into reasons why because that's besides the point BUT....

Why should I limit my self and where I can be because of what she's....eating?  I'd rather eat comparable to her than get to my real goals?  I don't think so!

Lala,
The poor body image is definitely an area I struggle in with you all, even if in a different way.  The funny thing is I never thought badly of always being the “skinny kid” until about high school when it became a negative thing and I was labeled “anorexic” in a derogatory way.  Then of course the vanity aspect picking up through puberty of wanting curves and sexiness—by the time I got to college I just wanted to hide my disgusting body.

Agru,
Thanks for the encouraging message.  I wish feeling came as easy as logical reasoning!

I think it’s funny that when I don’t post my food you automatically assume I must be doing bad!  Just holding steady here, but too busy to write it all down all the time.
That’s irritating about your mom.  You’re an adult and should be able to make your own decisions about what and when you eat.

Afon-
Oh it’s all about minimums now!  You can’t go to high, every extra calorie is more resources [tools and fuel] for your body to mend itself with.  Once it gets that done it can also give you a new spark to life!  Don’t put an upper limit on your potential, only a minimum to ensure you always move forward no matter what.

Gibbit,
Sorry about the mix up!  What kind of medical conference?  It sounds very interesting.  I love that kind of thing [obviously]—beyond what I have to do for school I still read medical journals and try to keep up with the latest research as best I can.
My stomach is about the same.  I’ve had a rougher time over night than usual though, which is the tough part because I already am in bed maybe 6 hours—so spending half of those struggling in the bathroom doesn’t help the next day!  And while it’ weird for me to see someone on here complaining about a bout of nausea or bloating as something to hold them back, I also have to appreciate that you guys are fighting through emotional challenges and illogical reasoning/feelings that I don’t have to put up with. 
We’re all taking on challenges to do what we need to do, and really getting to our goals isn’t easy for any of us.  That’s what brings us together for support—and what will make us all champions in the end if we can truly do what’s hardest for us.

Dana
Ack, I have the same issues with work schedules, though not as extreme.  On a slow day I can just eat all day, but when we’re busy it never works well.  I find it handy to have lots of drinks on hand to grab a guzzle whenever possible.  Not the ideal diet, but on days like that you just have to make sure you don’t let all the hard work you’ve done get undone, however it takes.
Be aware of lack of fat.  You don’t want your diet all carbs and protein either.  Not only can too high protein cause concern, but low fat is even more concerning.  That leads to brittleness, poor brain function, unstable organs, and amenorrhea. 

Alright I have to stop posting numerous times  a day!  My priorities are so messed up.  I mean I love you guys of course, it’s not about that, just that I really need the time.  As it is I have muchos eating left to do before I can try another night of “sleep.”

EDIT-

Just saw your last post agru--apparently the new fabulous food finds area already in the making.

Hey, learning to eat again can be fun!  And with gaining you have no upper limit, so take full advantage!

Why LET it be miserable?  Embrace the positive and have fun!

Gibbit,
I think what you did with the sign the other day was funny! So for what it’s worth, you made me laugh.  I’m not in to politics and all the attacks get to me, so I like that kind of amusement to lighten it up a bit—but I can see how it would work some people up.

Aero and slr,
I think you have to just start doing it.  One step at a time, doing the things that scare you.  That’s the only way they’ll stop being scary and the only way to ever get to where you want.

Charlie,
Whole muffins today?  More than one portion?  C’mon now are you on a cut-off-resources from your dying body, or a weight gain diet now?!

Lala,
OoOo…how can I see the pictures?

Agru,
Just forget about what everyone else is doing.  You know what you need.
Families are the worst for comparing.  Heck I’ve got one sister on a diet and everyone else super into controlling to eat less.  House is stocked with diet food, I have to buy  my own! It’s completely the opposite living in my apartment or with friends.  Normal foods, doing good to even have fruits and veggies in the house, and so on.  The bottom line is you’ve got to meet your needs—it’s your body and life after all!
Side note, parents eat weird period!  It’s like their own culture.

For the new foods, lunch yesterday was better, but dinner was stil the same.  You had your start, the main dish, but where’s sides and desert?  Congrats on overcoming the comparison challenges though.

With what I suggested, you were reading my words SO exactly that you’re losing the concept.  The point was a pastry/ice cream for desert with dinner plus one of those snack aisle munchies on the side.  When you get so focused on what exact muffin I mean you lose touch with the point of it and nothing happens, you just think [too hard] about it.

I think the additions are necessary along with switching types of food if you ever want to really learn how to eat normally.  It’s a different kind of fear or ED habit that you all seem to have [not just amount] with how you eat and what you eat: the more I chat with you all the more I think recovering is going to involve a lot more than just eating more calories.

Sorry I’ve been lacking on the dailies.  It gets time consuming to write it all down!

I'm going to get something done real quick between lunches, then head to student services to ask about the learning disability/testing accomodations. I REALLY REALLY hope there's a way!  That would be so wonderful, if my "slow test taking" could have a real "diagnosis" that got me the time I need to do at least as well as I am capable of!

Agru,

Hooray for homecooked meals! I love it when my mom cooks dinner.  Of course I’m always the only one who has everything on the table, then goes on to hit the pantry and fridge to add in my own items and make a full 1000 calorie meal.
Don’t get so bogged down in the no full-fat yogurt thing that you forget all the other options!  Let it go and stock up on some hardcore ice cream [Ben n Jerry’s, Edy’s fully loaded—not the lower cal stuff!], hit the snack aisle, and get bigger bagels and calorie dense items in a million otherways.
And yes you are overthinking, not unable to think!  It sounds like you’re scared or nervous too even now as you seem to get it, you question it.  I meant it exactly as I put it with the additions to your meals, not exchanges.  Same dinner, snacks with full fat products wherever possible and the sides.  You dinner plus some muffins and crackers. And so on.  None of it was in exchange for what you’re already doing.

I hope you’ve still been at at least 3000? Even that’s a minimal increase for you!  It will get easier with the changes, but I hope you still made it happen!  If not, start today, 3000 the min—no matter what!

p.s. Your breakfast still looks the same!  Where’s all the new challeges and changes you get so excited about?  One egg? Same items? Come on now, I can tell from all your posts you know what you want!  As usual, I’m not picking on you, just trying to cheer you on.

Dana,
Well, those are the carb guidelines even if you were trying to lose weight!  So even with your diet levels of intake you still need over 60% carbs for a healthy diet. 
That’s a really good idea to put honey on your French toast! And of course a late snack.  I can’t imagine going to bed with nothing but dinner, much less such a small one.  I need a meal right before bed or I’m in trouble.  Even if I just have one item and a glass of milk I’ll wake up hungry within an hour.

Xfalling,
Like I was saying to Agru, I don’t think it’s that your mind doesn’t work, I think it’s just blocked because of the fear the anorexia thing creates.  Somewhere you know what’s right but the ED blocks it from coming through.  I would think it’s a great idea to let someone else, especially those in charge of you, think for you until you relearn it all and have faced your fears so they don’t mess up your thinking any more.

Charlie,
Funny you should mention taking a break.  I decided to for-go my traditional post-breakfast study session and take a “morning of nothingness” today.  A real sacrifice for my school goals because I never do anything productive once afternoon rolls around!
Ok I have got to ask: Why ½ muffin?  [even nongainers eat more than one, much less a half!] Lowfat milk?  C’mon now, who’s goals are you eating for? Yours I hope!

Ahhh Tme for work.  I’m so sorry to everyone I missed!  I’ll try to update tonight and catch up better.

Original Post by agruskin:

hi guys-

so i was on the verge of tears asking my mother for help in getting enough cals today.  i was just so full and couldnt even think waht to have for dinner and wanted her to just make me something, well  easier said than done, so thank goodness for mayonnaise!  100 cals in 1 measly tbspn?!

sat-

AQUA-thanks for the suggestions, tomm im going to buy thomas bagels, regular fage, some junk food, dunno?? never heard of those books,

I’m still waiting on  the FIRST round of tests…

On the snacks, I don’t think it’s that your dumb, you’re just thinking about it way too hard and reading into what I’m writing too much.  Let me see if I can be really clear: don’t think—just take it as it is, no hidden strategies!

1. Look at your current daily
2. Plan new daily with new items: frosted animal cookies for example.  Add those to your meals and snacks.

Do you know what I’m talking about when I refer to the snack aisle of the grocery store?  I’m talking about the one with chips, chex mix, crunch-n-munch, flipz pretzels, and so on.  Stock up on some of those and add them to your intake as well as eating the whole fat kind.

For example:
Breakfast: large sized bagel with 2-3tb pb, 2-3 eggs cooked in butter and milk, trail mix with M-m’s and cheez its, and a tall glass of milk to top it all off

Sample Snack: 2 brownies as described, trail mix, package of flipz pretzels, milk

Sample Dinner:  great main dishes with the sandwhich and salad, but lacking in sides/deserts—add: chips and dip, crackers and hummus, etc. and some muffins

Does all of this make sense? It’s very straightforward, don’t try to make it complicated—you’re just confusing yourself that way.

Good to hear you eat the whole egg—but one?  Not picking on you, but just to let you know, my sister is currently dieting and even she eats 2-3 eggs at a time!

Remember that normal people eat things like mayo and ice cream.  As a gainer they should be a solid part of your diet in high portions.  Back in the dorms it was tradition to get pints of Ben-n-Jerry’s and eat the whole thing.  Serving sizes are for measurement purposes only.  Noone eats one serving for real life eating. 

Get the flipz, the ice cream, the chex mix, some fig Newton cookies, some bigger bagels, and beef up your meals with those as demonstrated above [you can mix it up! That was just an example.]  You’ll learn to eat like a real person by practicing just like you did with increasing quantity.

If you eat like this getting 3000 calories won’t be so painful!  It’s hard for you because you still have a lot of diet-style eating, but you want to eat normal amounts.  With more normal foods [snacks and full fat and bigger portions] and eating sooner, it won’t be such a nightmare!did they help in some way?

thomas bagel square, 1 slice bread, 1.5tbspn PB, trail mix, apple, hard boiled egg(yes, yolk too) ~650

100 cal brownie type thing so topped w/almond butter+trail mix, glass of milk~310

sandwich w 2 slices of cheese, veggies, fage w sauce, plum, cookies+fluff~600

1 cup ice cream 250

chicken salad sandwich(chicken, mayo, salt+pepper), veg salad w avocado+almond butter ~550

On the snacks, I don’t think it’s that your dumb, you’re just thinking about it way too hard and reading into what I’m writing too much.  Let me see if I can be really clear: don’t think—just take it as it is, no hidden strategies!

1. Look at your current daily
2. Plan new daily with new items: frosted animal cookies for example.  Add those to your meals and snacks.

Do you know what I’m talking about when I refer to the snack aisle of the grocery store?  I’m talking about the one with chips, chex mix, crunch-n-munch, flipz pretzels, and so on.  Stock up on some of those and add them to your intake as well as eating the whole fat kind.

For example:
Breakfast: large sized bagel with 2-3tb pb, 2-3 eggs cooked in butter and milk, trail mix with M-m’s and cheez its, and a tall glass of milk to top it all off

Sample Snack: 2 brownies as described, trail mix, package of flipz pretzels, milk

Sample Dinner:  great main dishes with the sandwhich and salad, but lacking in sides/deserts—add: chips and dip, crackers and hummus, etc. and some muffins

Does all of this make sense? It’s very straightforward, don’t try to make it complicated—you’re just confusing yourself that way.

Good to hear you eat the whole egg—but one?  Not picking on you, but just to let you know, my sister is currently dieting and even she eats 2-3 eggs at a time!

Remember that normal people eat things like mayo and ice cream.  As a gainer they should be a solid part of your diet in high portions.  Back in the dorms it was tradition to get pints of Ben-n-Jerry’s and eat the whole thing.  Serving sizes are for measurement purposes only.  Noone eats one serving for real life eating. 

Get the flipz, the ice cream, the chex mix, some fig Newton cookies, some bigger bagels, and beef up your meals with those as demonstrated above [you can mix it up! That was just an example.]  You’ll learn to eat like a real person by practicing just like you did with increasing quantity.

If you eat like this getting 3000 calories won’t be so painful!  It’s hard for you because you still have a lot of diet-style eating, but you want to eat normal amounts.  With more normal foods [snacks and full fat and bigger portions] and eating sooner, it won’t be such a nightmare!

On my tests, I'm still waiting on the first round. :-/

I’m on the go after work and off to meet a friend, but just wanted to check in!

Agru,

I was saying ADD some carb snack foods.  Why replace when you need more?  Plus real snacks and meals have both, a main dish and nuts and stuff, with the sides and snacks. So “plan” those crackers along with your pbj, trail mix, etc.  Add the cracker/cookie aisle to your grocery list and get ‘em in there!  You’re right-getting over 3000 will be a nightmare if you stick to your same old habits. Your meals need to be bigger sooner and that’s the main thing lacking.  You have main dishes, nuts, yogurts, and more than enough fruit.  Now get some new stuff in there and always the highest cal version!

For my eating, I’ve held strong with the ~500 cal increase this week following a 1lb gain—hoping the small increase will keep me ahead of my body so I don’t stay stuck.

Last night was an all time worse for my stomach, and the fight to eat then cope with the issues kept me up from 10pm-past midnight, and then up every hour during the night.  Suffice it to say I’m exhausted at work today!

Eating continues to be paying the price for my goals in tense discomfort right now.  I hope and pray that I can find some answers so that some day I can enjoy the food I really do love.

Gibbit,
60-70% is a good range, the next step is probably going to be to get your fat up to about 30%.  My guess is if you do that your carbs will drop slightly, but hopefully not below 60-65%.

Dana,
Carbohydrate fears again? Well you know the only way to get past it is to face it, right?  You were just over the minimum yesterday.  Keep practicing healthy eating instead of ED eating and he won’t be able to scare you so much because you’ll prove nothing bad [only good!] comes of doing it your [healthy!] way.

Agru-CONGRATULATIONS!

I wondered when I saw you started out your day mostly the same as usual, not really another step up!  I don’t mean that in a mean way, just an observation.  Why  not try a big bagel at breakfast, 2 eggs, juice, and adding some planned snack foods as sides and with your snacks?

With snacking I wasn’t suggestion you just wing it, but take a step towards being able to do that by scheduling some of your eating the same type and nature of  future random snacking.

For instance, instead of relying JUST on trail mix, yogurt, and fruit for your sides and snacking, plan in something “snacky”—crackers and dip, those frosted animal cookies you said sounded good, or something like that.  That way you’re not eating randomly yet, but you’re practicing and learning the type of eating that leads to normal eating instead of just increasing your calories.
Also, never just eat veggies unless they have sauce or are cooked in oil!

So after my 2nd practice test trial I am more frustrated than ever!  I can figure out the answers for the most part, just not fast enough particularly with the ones that involve reading and problem solving.  Then if I do speed up, I  mess up.  The thing is I just can’t see how they would let me take an untimed test [WOW would that be nice!] for being a “slow test taker.”  Do you know how that works?

Dana,
That’s not 2000 carbs at all. It would have to be 70% plus to balance off previous days much lower than the 60-65% ideal.  Plus breads and pastas have protein in them, so that right there adds up to a large percent of your protein needs.  The “protein foods” really should only be on the side, not nearly the main part of your meal or source of snack. You want a healthy balance, right?  You want what’s best for your health, not what makes you keep being afraid of things because of ED.  Carbs are your friend.  More energy, better function, better digestion, more muscle % of body weight.

Aqua,
Like I said on the other thread, shopping won’t be so expensive if you aren’t living off of produce!  You can only get so many health benefits, then they just hold you back, mess you up, and drain your wallet.  Fruit and veggies on the side, more calorie dense foods, and you can live mighty darn cheap and eat even more, yet still healthy—actually healthiER.

Gibbit,
Might as well take advantage of eating out and lots of food to eat like a gainer! Think how you might eat without ED just normal, then you should have more than that if you’re trying to gain.  Heck, now’s the best time to splurge to the max!

Charlie,
Thanks for the vote of confidence.  I wasn’t questioning your nutrition knowledge either.  My post was probably confusing, but I definitely think you should go for full fat wherever possible.  But also look for ways to add.  You could also use a lot lot lot more carbs!  Get yourself to a normal diet plus gaining version by adding carb sides to your meals and real snacks [juice WITH the eating], plus always the highest calorie/fat option possible.

Yikes this posting takes too long! I must get ready for work if I’m ever going to make it in/out of the bathroom, eat, and get to bed at a decent hour!

An observation—a couple of you are eating egg whites?  That is not only obviously a hard core diet food, but you are skipping not only much-needed calories but a TON of nutrients!  The egg yolk is one of the most nutritious foods out there because it has everything necessary to feed the baby chick!

Agru,
I guess I feel like it is more of an intelligence issue with me.  I’m just slow and dumb and can’t think fast enough?  Aren’t actual disabilities more complicated than that?  I would LOVE to have the opportunity for an untimed test, I’d probably get 2X a better score.  I just doubt they’d take “I’m a slow thinker” as an excuse.

With the snack breaks, unfortunately my whole life is one of those! I already take too many breaks—and they usually are to eat, deal with stomach issues, then get carried away on here, then just a wee bit of work MAYBE before I start over again.
That’s what I was doing for the stool sample [the two containers].  It’s hard to explain, but I couldn’t even get my complicated pooping to land in the big one between my problems and my prolapse going WAY to the back of the toilet.
I wasn’t talking about unplanned snacking, but while you’re increasing plan extras in a way that resembles normal eating munching until you are able to really do it.
  Maybe “planning” some snacks that resemble unplanned snacking would be you making the changes you referred to and taking a step towards being able to truly snack randomly?

By the way, don’t “try” to make 3000, make it 3000, or more with 3000 the absolute minimum.  That’s the only way realy progress will happen for you!

Xfalling,
High fiber foods.  Use granola mixed with cereals that have <5g of fiber instead of the fiber one and all that.  Limit your fruit and veggie intake to 1 serving per meal, on the side of a plate of easy [low fiber] carbs, for half, and the other half split between protein and fat.  Once you reach maintenance you can increase the fiber foods [those 5+ g of fiber carbs and fruits and veggies] and they will help you instead of making the whole process harder on your digestive system and holding your healing back.

Theo,  Sounds like me on oh so many nights.  Even last night it was slowly and methodically: rest of cottage cheese, banana [easy fruit to digest], 2oz nuts, and then crackers and milk to top it off over my minimum.  Not what I felt like at the time, but hat I need long term to ever be truly healthy! 

I’ll try to come back with my daily intake tonight!

I think it's because a large portion of your foods are the "health specialty types."  If you got several hundred calories worth of the cheap stuff like pastas, breads, nuts, cheese, spreads, and ate more calorie-dense foods, then had the produce on the side it would be a LOT cheaper, AND you could eat twice as much if you needed to.

Lala,

I LOVE lentils! Actually mujadura [a middle eastern lentil dish] is one of my favorites, but I haven't been able to replicate it.  A close taste though is to fry some thinly sliced onions n about 1cm oil and add the lentils in. Then put it all in a pita with hummus.  A wholesome and healthy dish--you get a complete protein with the legume+grain as well as the iron [lentils and chik peas in the hummus], and some fat to add the filling aspect and help you absorp the nutrients.