looking for some weight gaining expertise ;)

I thought I had this whole weight gaining thing under control but I can't seem to gain at all (or I lose what I do gain!) and I'm absolutely RAVENOUS all the time and I've been getting these crazy night sweats, etc. I thought that all this hypermetabolic stuff was early on in recovery, but I've been working on this for about two months now and I've made very very little progress. I'm so desperate to gain I've been eating all the time and I'm not sure if I'm doing anything wrong. It's currently about 5pm here and I've listed what I've had so far today and what I'll have later. Would someone mind critiquing my food? Today was the first day I had any real exercise- I went kayaking on a lake with my family for about an hour but it was pretty restful. Just wondering if anyone has advice. Thanks to all!

breakfast: 4 egg white omelet with cream cheese and ham and green peppers, apple, 1/2 cup lactaid milk, 2 slices of toast with butter.

snack: toasted (with butter) turkey sandwich with ketchup, 1/2 cup milk, carrots, apple, 1/2 cup of mixed nuts

snack: protein bar (200 cals?), 1/2 cup of milk

lunch: regular turkey sub with lettuce, oil and vinegar, bag of baked chips, spices, protein bar

snack: 1 pint of lactaid free ice cream, carrots

snack: 250 cals of white chocolate pudding

dinner (will be): hamburger on the grill, sweet potato fries, mango, broccoli

snack: TBD!

 

I have a couple of suggestions, but I'm not sure how helpful they'll be.

First, maybe instead of doing four egg whites in the morning, you could use the yolks aswell? Egg whites are low in calories; you'd probably be better off using the whole egg.

I also noticed that you drink .5c of milk with some of your meals/snacks. I think that instead of .5c, you should aim for a full cup of lactaid milk with your snacks+meals. That would bring your calorie count up too.

I don't often post, but I do frequent these boards quite a bit, and I know you've been trying really hard to gain. I don't think there's much I can tell you that you don't already know! I'd recommend trying to drink something besides water [milk, juice, pop] with each meal and snack [ I know you're already doing that, but maybe just up the frequency?]

 

maybe add some more healthy fats? olive oil is easy and inexpensive. I used to drink alot of lactaid milk (I'm lactose intoloerant too) and I would just mix in olive oil in there. I stopped drinking it because I wanted to get my calories from solid foods instead. other than that, maybe its time to up your total calories per day. Also don't forget your carbs, the foods you listed seems like your carbs are mostly from the bread in your sandwiches. Do you like pasta, or baked potatoes? One baked potato is defintely better than fries. cool thing about healthy carbs like pasta, potatoes, oatmeal, long grain brown rice is they have a decent amount of calories in them.

Also, I think nothing beats exercise as a real "kick in the butt" to a body that is very stubborn at gaining weight,  as long as its strenght training and not endurance, or cardio. It took me a year to finally understood what works and what doesn't for me, so hang in there, best wishes!

another good high cal/healthy thing to put on turkey sandwiches is...PESTO sauce.  its SOOO yummy and made from basil and olive oil and pine nuts...all things that are really good for you. 

How about Beans !
Up that protein and build some muscle..
:D

Original Post by jbruno1:

another good high cal/healthy thing to put on turkey sandwiches is...PESTO sauce.  its SOOO yummy and made from basil and olive oil and pine nuts...all things that are really good for you. 

 

Second that! I LIVE on Pesto. I take it on everything - literally. My 'snacks' are mostly whole wheat bread and pesto, chucked in the micro for 30 secs until it's all soft and warm... (also trying to gain)

Do you like Avocado? You could chuck some in with your turkey sannie for the extra fats (Avocado seems to be everyones saviour here!) And as already said, up the lacto-milk to 1cup. Apart from that, well done sweetie! You're doing a lot better than myself when I started eating again. I'm proud!

you're trying and that's wonderful!!!  keep going.  :)

maybe adding peanut butter or bananas to your snacks.  I prefer peanut butter to regular butter but you might not.  Or Nutella on toast is good sweet snack.  its a hazelnut butter with chocolate.  Yummy!  Try adding a couple cups of fruit juice in between meals. 

Wow...you are truly inspirational! I wish I could force myself to eat that much. If you don't mind me asking, about how many calories is that?

I'm currently eating 3000 a day now and doing well!