Naturally thin & trying to gain....anyone else?

I am just curious if their are others here who are naturally very thin. I am 28 yrs. old 5'1 and have been around 85-87 lbs. since I was a teenager. I have been trying to gain weight for along time and the scale never moves no matter how much I eat. I am naturally thin as I have a very small bone structure and body frame. I am healthy as I have been to my doctors and have had blood tests including a thyroid test and I also menestrate normal every month. I have NEVER had an eating disorder. I know I am too thin and I see it in the mirror and want to gain weight really bad.

I did once gain a few pounds after going to a gym and working out and building some muscle....but not to long after I stopped the muscle weight went down. I would like to do that again but have no money for a gym and work two jobs any way. I know eating a lot more nutritious calories would help but with two jobs there are very few times during a day I can eat.

Any advice on how to gain? I do have ensure weight gain in my fridge and drink them as often as I can which isn't always everyday.

Will my metabalism ever decrease as I age? I would love to at least gain 10 pounds and it just will not happen. I really, really hate being so small and thin and envy other women who are bigger and volumptous. I would love to be a little overweight instead of being under. I do not feel like a woman but like I am stuck in a teenager body for life...and that is how everyone treats me...like a teen.

Any advice, encouragement, and support would be great. I feel very alone and even on the internet it seems no one really relates.

Well apparantly I am alone with this problem. Don't think this site is going to do anything for me.

Sadly, I can't relate to you, but I'm sure you are not alone. Sometimes it just takes time to get an answer. Do you work out regularly? And if you gained weight by going to the gym, maybe you should consider doing that again. Sorry this isn't really helpful.

If you aren't gaining weight, you aren't eating enough. End of story.

Lift weights and eat at least 300 calories above maintainence every day. If you haven't gained any weight after 2 weeks up the calories another 200-300 calories.

I used to think I simply couldn't gain weight. The truth is, I was eating only 2200-2500 calories a day, and I needed at least 3300 to gain weight.

JUST EAT MORE. More calorie dense foods. Raisins, nuts, peanut butter, oatmeal, eggs, milk. Eat six meals a day of high calorie, nutritious foods and you will gain weight.

It's true, you need to eat way more if you want to gain any weight. I'm only 20, but I'm also just naturally really skinny. When I lost weight after surgery I was really scared about how low my weight had dropped since for me, the heaviest I've ever managed to get was 118 lbs (at 5'6.5).

Make sure you watch your calories: I only started counting after surgery to try and gain weight, but I think I only ever ate about 1500 calories each day... simply because I would be full. Also, I tend to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, which for now since I'm trying to gain weight, I consider "wasted calories" since they fill me up way too much for the amount of calories I get out of them (not to say I don't eat them any more, but I try to limit my intake to just enough to give me the required nutrients for the day). Anyways, in order for me to see any change in my weight, I've had to up my intake to AT LEAST 2500 calories a day, and I usually aim for 3000 (but it's really hard!).

Focus on eating calorie dense food, and unless you're worried about saturated fat or whatever, go for full fat dairy, like yogurt or 2% milk and avoid anything "low fat" or calorie reduced, like yogurt with sucralose instead of sugar (ie. the individual containers of sucralose yogurt are only 35 cal/100g, but if you get balkan style, with added honey, it's 100cal/100g). 

Eat lots of snacks in between meals (even when you're not particularly hungry) like nuts or soy beans (they have a higher protein to fat ratio than most nuts) and drink smoothies as often as you can (you can add in lots of things to smoothies that will add calories and you won't necessarily feel very full after).

If you need any more ideas, you can message me (so far I've gained 12 lbs!), and good luck!!

dear naturally thin... my older sister and best friend have been dealing with this for a long time, sometimes metabolisms are really fast and efficient... but you can bet that metabolisms do slow down over time. My older sister ate a lot of things that were rich in protein and healthy fat like peanuts of any kind, and both were smokers. If you smoke it tamps down appetite and may keep you from feeling the need to replenish your energy with food.

Also....my friend described herself...as the girl who had the skinniest legs. I know both of them felt bad at various times in their life but now my sister and friend have slowly filled out by not smoking and by keeping eating foods that are nutritious and full of good stuff( avocadoes, bananas, eggs, beans and rice and finally....have you ever tried to put on some fabuluous high heels? I mean women with thin legs can wear fabulous high heels and not think twice about arch pain..... just remember to focus on the positive...you are here and trying new things.

(I am over wieght but I remember not appreciating my self when I was slim.....I do try to find stuff that i like about myself even when over weight) but ps you are NOT alone!!!!!

Not alone! I'm also naturally thin at 120lbs and 5'9... I've also decided I am going to try this site to track just how many calories I consume a day(absolutely no clue right now!) and try to increase my intake from there.

you are not alone, im 17 and i'm 5'3 and weigh somewhere between 93-97 pounds. i eat constantly and also have never had an eating disorder, i always get full quickly but then am hungry again about a 1/2 to an hour after i eat.. i rarely get any exercise whatsoever, i have been the same size for as long as i can remember and i am hoping i will gain some weight as i get older but i doubt its going to happen because i have a small body frame.. i would just like to maybe get up to 110 or 120, somewhere in the hundreds lol.. i have always hated my size and knew i was too small .. not to mention the people always commenting on how tiny i am. i cant stand it anymore.. i've also had numerous blood tests and nothing is wrong with me. i drink ensure as often as i can and have begun counting calories. i know i am young but i feel like i will never ever grow out of this body. i also am sooo jelous of curvy women and would also love to be a little overweight than underweight.. but i just wanted you to know that you are not alone and anything i find that works for me i will share with you !

Well I'm naturally thin, and I want to gain an extra 10 pounds to be 190, but i'm not "skinny".  it's pretty easy to gain in my case.  just eat the right foods, and you'll gain...like pasta...avacado...meats...dairy.  all healthy though...not cakes and stuff. 

 

But one thing I know about slim women, is that they fill out with age. 

Hi,  I just found this site in hopes to track my calorie intake / day due to I want to gain weight.  I, like you, am very thin naturally and have been for my entire life. I have a very small bone structure so I am sure I will never get too big but weighing 125 Lbs would be nice.  I am 40 yrs old, 5'7" and still only weigh 115. 

I know that you (we) do need to increase caloric intake each day (thats the hard part) and that yes, we need to lift weights - Gaining weight is not going to happen overnight, but if you want it bad enough you have to start to eat more every day, even if its just add a meal and a few snacks.

 You said you work 2 jobs and don't have time to eat, well you can bring meals from home and eat them at your desk or on your 15 min breaks.  I have begun always carrying breakfast bars and peanut butter crackers w/me so that I can snack durring work.  I also cook meals on a day off and freeze them and that way I have lunch to bring to work every day. 

I also think that logging what I eat every day on this site and seeing exactly what my calorie intake is will help.  I have never been a big eater and know that is why I have always stayed very slim, But being under-weight brings major health problems w/it, so seeing you are still young try and change your eating habbits now, Hint...EAT MORE, but eat healthful too! 

Good Luck, don't give up & find time to take care of yourself!!!

I am also naturally thin, I've been my whole life. And I hate it! I'm 22, 5'6 and 108. I have gone to the doctor lots just wanting to gain but I'm perfectly healthy ( which is not a bad thing) and I just have a high metabolism and both of my parents are slim and also my half chinese is a part of why I have a small frame. I go through phases like I shouldn't care what other people think but it never ends! It's always the same thing - "Your so skinny!" It's like I know that, I wish i could just tell people there fat when they say those things but that's not appropriate in our society.

I have tried the supplement shakes and just a tip, it's going to make you gain but it will be in the stomach and face and some areas you may not want to gain. And it comes on fast and you can lose it fast once you stop taking the supplement. Plus there so disgusting!

I'm a little scared to do weight lifting b/c I have a friend that is skinny like me and is a stripper and she has lots of muscles which makes her look like kinda scary and she's all veiny. So I don't want to look like her.

I'm really going to commit to intaking at least 2000 calories/day and well see where that takes me.

 

 

Thank You all so much for the advice and support. I am glad to know that I am not alone. Even if I can't gain...it is just nice to know that t is not just me who is naturally slim.

I do get that I just need to eat more and I will really work on it. I feel like I already eat a lot but I suppose the only way is to eat more. I just wish my body would retain more. There have been days I have ate so much food I thought for sure I had to gain some pounds....but it just ended up going right though me and not sticking to my bones.

bstn90-I do need to bring more snacks to work. My day job, I work in an office and can do that but my night job is in a restaurant. I work a straight shift with no breaks and eating is not allowed.

I truly believe that this is just how my body is and I cannot force it to gain....but I am still going to try.  I hate all the "you are so tiny....eat!" comments. At 28 yrs. old it is not nice to hear.

 Hello I am 14 and just started this better diet thing today. I am around 5 feet 10 inches and weigh 115-117 (my scale is inaccurate). I eat more than all of my heavier friends and I still never gain much, so I guess I'm in the same boat as alot of people out here. My dad and mom both say they were built just like me, and both of them are weighing more than their doctors would like them too, so I'm not sure if i will put on more when i "fill out" or if I'm going to have to adjust my diet.

Good luck

folks, keep in mind that if you eat properly, and have no eating disorders, that this is your body type.  Don't be upset, and you don't have to really eat more, but you can eat more of the foods that will help you gain.  lots of fish and chicken with the skin, and avacodo, and drinking whole milk instead of low fat will help.  just keep it healthy... 

Potter

Hi, i can relate to you, i to am naturally slim and always have been, although i am bit bigger now than i was when i was younger, in my early twenties i fell below 6stone! now im thirty and im just below 7stone but no matter how hard i try the scales never budge.  Every where i go and meet new people they comment on my size which i really rude as i never comment on peoples bodies!

I just found this website and have strated to log what i eat, i hope this could how i will finally start to gain weight, i clearly do not eat enough and thats that!

Sorry to hear you feel alone,

friend

1. I just read your post, Im sorry I didnt find it sooner ( am new to this site) You are NOT alone!
2. Yes I can definatly relate to you. I am 64, 5'8 and have been thin all my life. As a child I was told "wait till you hit 35, your gonna get middle-age-spread!" well, Im still waiting! The most I have ever weighed is 127 and I ate like a hog to get that.
3. I am recovering from an ulcer and able to eat now ,that took me down to 103, after 7 weeks I am back up to 110 .
4. Hang in there and dont try to do it too fast. I will be glad to exchange messages if you wish, I hope I can be of some encouragement.

I feet that I am naturally skinny as well.  I'm 34 yo, 5'7" and 143lbs but I have kitchen table legs (that's what they call me).  Very hippie but I feel so skinny and weak.  I work full time, go to school part time and I have two children (15 and 4).  I tried to go back to the gym to gain muscle but my studies are consuming my time.  It's hared for me to eat 2500 calories a day but I try.  I just want to get back to 150 to 154lbs.  I see I'm not alone though.

I feel your pain..I could have written this. As far as the advice that with age comes weight gain--not so for me. I have had 2 pregnancies and have gone thru menopause and still  very underweight. Tired of all of the comments people feel they have to voice- since it's regarding thinness. I am very small boned so even if I put on weight I still look emaciated. In the past 6 months or so I actually have lost weight ( due to family issues- mucho stress) Should I find something that actually works to put on some pounds I will share- and hope that the same will be done in return.

I actually managed to gain 3 pounds. I know it is not a lot but after years of trying to gain......or I should say wanting because I lacked in trying sometimes; this is actually great progress. No one can tell I gained 3 lbs. but i can a tad with my clothes. I am actually not underweight for my height and bone structure.......I am just a small person.....there is a difference. I just want to get a little plumper to make my smallness not......well not sooooo small. I am sooo tired of ALL the comments everyday......YES EVERYDAY.....not a day goes by I dont hear some one say something about my smallness.

Thanks for the rest of you that shared your story to me. It is hard being here on this site because everyone else is recovering from an ED and I can't relate to that at all. I would never in my life ever think about having an ED. There are no support sites on the web for naturally thin/small women (not teenagers). 

Original Post by southernchick:

There are no support sites on the web for naturally thin/small women (not teenagers). 

even less support sites for natrually skinny guys! :) I've slowly gained 20 lbs since last year and most of what people have said is true, just need to eat more. I've also found  that regular strength training workout helps to stimulate body growth too. grats on the 3 lbs, I know that its small but to us naturally thin people, it means ALOT, keep it up!

You can say that again ak604! I've been a tall skinny dude all my life, and there is very little help out there. We are like the minority among minorities. On top of that, I'm recently a vegetarian- and when peoplesay that you lose 10 pounds when you become a vegetarian they aren't kidding. Also, I'm fairly active, yet the type of exercise I get is not "mass building"...it's more like yoga, hiking, jogging, and mountain climbing rather than lifting weights. My dad is of fairly average build, but my mom has always been like me...very underweight and quite manic! So with the genes, the diet and the lifestyle, I have always had plenty of excuses to just say "my metabolism is never going to allow me to gain weight!"

Then one day (after the girl of my dreams laughed and said I was 'grossly underweight' ...) I decided to ACTUALLY START COUNTING CALORIES. Once I did that I found out that I really wasn't eating enough. I never realized how little I was eating until I started counting. It always felt like I was eating a lot, and I basically was eating 3 meals a day (tho skipping breakfast sometimes). After the first few days, I felt like I was going to explode after eating 2,000 calories in a day. I realized that this wasn't good. After doing some research, I found that I actually needed to be getting somewhere around 2,500-2,750 or so to reach a healthy weight. Which basically means I needed to DOUBLE the amount of calories I was getting in a day.

So...I'm a few weeks into this...I've gained a little less than 5 pounds and I feel pretty good. I've also doubled up on my yoga practice, hoping to stay toned while I add on the pounds. As for tips...I've found that keeping a jar of peanut butter on my desk helps. I've tried to make a habit out of just eating a spoonful every once in a while, whether I'm hungry or not. Also, adding a spoon or two of peanut butter to my morning protein shake, and eating the shake along with breakfast rather than instead of breakfast helps. And, this probably isn't the best thing in the world, but once or twice a week, if there is a day when I'm just not getting close to my calorie goal no matter how hard I try, I'll go ahead and eat some friggin' cheese pizza or a 7 layer burrito or something. As someone that has always strayed away from junk food... it feels a little weird, and I know it's not totally healthy, but for cripes sake I'm trying to gain 20-30 pounds here! I think I can afford to cut myself a little slack. Anyway...this is a great topic. Let's keep this thread alive, the support is really hard to find!