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Weight Gainers: What did YOU eat today?

I am copying the many times copied thread, "What did you eat today?" in hopes of helping some of those who are just starting to gain and have no clue what to eat. I know that when I began weight recovery, I was eating tons of low-cal foods just because that's what I was used to. I learned the hard way that dense foods are essential to weight gain when you have high caloric requirements (at one point I needed 4500 cal to maintain my weight on BEDREST). Perhaps newbies can get some ideas if we post our weight gain meal plans! Even if you're not gaining anymore, grab an old one and post it!:]
Please note that every body is different and some will need more or less calories than others to gain. This thread is just so that you can get an idea of what you need.
Oh, and yes, I'm breaking the "no calories, no portions" rule, since it is pretty helpful in this case. If you want to post cals/portions you can. I just ask that you don't post if you're not eating enough, though as this is a weight gain thread, I would hope none of you are undereating.;]
I'll start....
Breakfast (875 cal)*

• 1/2 cup oatmeal (150) cooked with
• 1 cup evaporated whole milk (300)
• 1 mashed banana (100)
• 2 tbsp peanut butter (200)
• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed and cinnamon to taste (50) 
• 1 hard-boiled egg (75 cal)

Morning Snack (300 cal)*

• 1/4 cup mixed nuts (200)
• 1/4 cup dried apricots (100)

Lunch (660 cal)*

• 1/4 cup rice cooked in 1 cup chicken stock (300) and
• 1/2 cup canned or cooked chickpeas (145) and
• 1/3 cup shredded cheese (150) and
• 1/4 cup each onion, peppers, and tomato (30) cooked with
• 1 tbsp olive oil and curry powder to taste (120)

Afternoon snack (390 cal)*

• 1 serving baby carrots (35)
• 1/4 cup hummus (155)
• 1/4 cup mixed nuts (200)

Dinner (875 cal)*

• 1 cup of my insane Mac & Cheese recipe (515)
• 2 cups tossed salad (45)
• 2 tbsp rasins (60)
• 2 tbsp sunflower seeds (105)
• 2 tbsp dressing (150)

Evening snack (480)*

• 1 cup plain whole milk yogurt (180)
• 1/2 cup homemade granola (300)

About 3600 calories :]

Hi guys! I've kept up reading everyone's posts but decided to just observe for awhile, be accountable to myself with the food. It is encouraging to read about the progress so many of you are making. It seemed for a time things were on a downward trend but has picked back up again. Anyway, things are going a bit better for me. I'm slightly more flexible, more involved in life, less time on the computer. Gearing up for the holidays, I'll be going home for Christmas and I endeavor to make this trip a good one.

okgo: Congrats are in order! How wonderful that you were able to eat without counting calories, hope today is even better!

zebulancherry: You can do it!

mashed: Brie? Yippee! Glad to hear you were able to give yourself something you enjoy. You do such a good job articulating the inner conflict with ed, but soon your determination will pay off. I do at least 2500 come join me!

lala: You sister is so forunate to have you. Thanks for explaining the drama module.

aqua: I'm anxious to hear the details about operation billy goat, you made me LAUGH!

coffee bean and lady danger: Welcome!

clay: A man who can cook and kicks kung fu panda style? I'm impressed.

theo: Your free porridge references never fail to put a smile on my face. Why no crumpets at tea time? And marmalade, Paddington Bear likes marmalade. (Though come to think of it, I've never had marmalade...)

dana: High five!

Mashed and Charlie: Aw, thank you. :] This is a diagnosis on top of her ulcerative colitis. Caused by it, rather. She can't stand up for more than five minutes without feeling dizzy and faint, so it's really bad. She now has orange juice and I'm going to make her a nice, de-fibre'd cottage pie (lol). I've learnt how to mush the fibre out of carrots, and will put them in with the mash to thicken that along with soy milk. It's... a bit of a simplified pie, but it's comfort food. Nom.

Hey there guys, WTF HAPPENED!?!?!?! I thought this was an ED support forum but i dont see him anywhere in here. All i see is a gaggle of some of the strongest people i have ever met! Keep up the good work guys and know that you inspire me.

Last night i was sitting in my coffeehouse and The Village was on the tele. Check out this wicked awesome metaphor i wrote down! Our bodies are a cottage in the woods, eventually our cottage gets run down and needs repair, but since were in the woods we have to go into town to get the materials to fix everything. One morning i wake up to get 2x4's and a nailgun. however, this morning i hear a growling in the woods. I dont know what it is but i know i dont see anything and i also know a wolf when i hear one. I stay in today because this wolf scares me, my cottage isnt that messed up yet and the wolf wil go away soon. Summer and fall roll by and the wolf howls are still coming rom the woods and all the while my home is falling apart more and more but i ignore it so i dont feel bad about being scared to go into the city. All of a sudden winter rolls around and it is the coldest of any winter i have ever experienced. After all, i only have 2 1/2 walls left in my cottage. Finally, i start to get sick, lonely, im hungry and unhappy. Something has to change.

I take one step into the woods despite how scared i am and i find a couple tree branches i can use to support the east wall. The next day i test my fear a little more and i find enough thatch to patch up the roof. Lucky me cause it rained that night. Everyday i go into the woods from a diffrent direction and go one step futher than the day before. And everyday i find something that fixes my cottage and makes me feel a little better. I still hear the wolf but my house can stand on its own.

Then, i decide i deserve a game room, ive wanted one for a while so i decide that i deserve it. For that i have to go into the city though. 'If i move fast enough through the woods then maybe the wolf wont catch me', i think. The next morning i bolt like a bat out of hell and make the ten miles in 13.2 minutes. i buy what i need and bring it back to my cottage where i start to build the gameroom. I also think i deserve a new deck, and a rumpus room, a breakfast nook, a theater room, a moat and a clock tower!!! All these things i have wanted forever and everyday i find the courage to walk slower into the city and get what i need, There are even some days when i make more than one trip. A the end ofthe day i sit in my ginormous lay-z-boy and relax in the coolest friggin house in the entire forest as far as im concerned, and even if other people disagree they can suck it cause this house is exactly what I want.

Curiosity however brings me into the woods to look for the wolf, which is now sounding weak and sort of sick. I trace the howl and all i find is my old tape recorder that i used three halloweens ago that got caught on loop. I moved around my life when the thing that guided me, looking back, was not that important at all, and it came from me! I chuckle a bit as i break the recorder in my hand. My manly, strong, house building hand.

       - We are all cottages that are capable of being the most magnanamous house this side of the tree of life. and we all deserve what we want no matter what the wolf in our heads says. i need to believe this more than anything now cause my edema is filling the loose skin around my abdomen from when i lost alot of weight and its totally messing with my head for most of the day. But im sure it will go away. IM NOT GOING TO RESTRICT!!!! im going to go and buy a new shelf... and the Kung Fu Panda DVD.

Food-tacular!

B: Oatmeal, cup of Fage and a rozen banana

L: WW bagel topped with turkey and laughing cow cheese, baby carrots and sugar snap peas, orange

D: Two pumpkin pancakes, breakfast scramble with potatoes, onions, tomatoes and CHEESE!!!!!

S: Cup of Fage, granola, frozen banana, chocolate protein powder spoonful of PB. Banana Larabar (You guys got me craving one. And i needed a bigger snack since i fell asleep and woke up just before dinner)

*im gonna end the post here for now since i took up so much room with the 'Chronicles of ED' but i will repond later. Know that i love you guys and know that you inspire me to be better. ED is one, we are many!!!!

BUGGER I JUST DELETED A LONG POST (damn touch keypad..)

Clay - that metaphor is up there with my two previous favourites (Lion King/Hamlet and HarryPotter/Voldemort if you must know..) You are now up there with Shakespeare and JK herself. Not bad for a Wednesday evening! (Well evening here, might be different in Amerrycaaaah)

Weighing was (expletive.) Still no gain. Mum's devastated, I'm frustrated. And I don't even have the energy to reassure her or try and defend myself or make excuses because there are none. Clearly I'm still just not eating enough, which feels impossible because I'm trying so damn hard. Harder than I've ever tried in my life and yet nothing pays off, it seems. And Mum is furious at me and I don't even blame her because what have I given her to go on? I tell her all these things (I'm trying, I'm doing it, I'm eating more) which are TRUE but if it doesn't show in the scales, then it looks like I'm lying and that ED is winning. Which it isn't. And it won't.

I'm now even starting to doubt myself - maybe I can't beat this??? But I can't let myself believe that because everything will fall apart. I'm going to replace my normal 100kcal dessert (fruit and yoghurt) with a larabar tonight - not going to tell Mum because I want her to see I'm doing it off my own back.

I'm so, so sad and disheartened right now. Mum and I are booked to go to Morrocco in Feburary (my eighteenth birthday present) and I heard her on the phone earlier phoning to see if she'd still get a refund if she cancelled last minute. I don't think she thinks I'm going to be well enough to go, esp. after Greece when I was so run down afterwards. I'd actually be heartbroken if I couldn't, I've longed to go to Morrocco for such a while..

Sorry for the self indulgent rant (I seem to say that a lot.. yet I'm still self indulgent >.<) Just feeling really low and like a big fat thin failure.

mashed: aw im so sorry about you not gaining :'[YOUR NOT SELF INDULGENT=]  just keep upping:) i hate the whole socially accpetable thing too, my mum and dad make comments all the freaking time its like YOUR NOT MAKING ME FEEL ANY BETTER! argh im hoping my snacking of some trail mix throughout the day has upped my cals a bit, im still too low :[ i dont wanna eat more chocolate to fil up the cals cos i feel guilty but I WANT It, but i dont want ti to be a binge. UGH lol

clay - aw ilove you bro :)

xxxx

Welcome coffee_bean! Lovely progress you're making (:

Congrats okgo for moving off calorie counting.

mashed - I'm sorry about the lack of weight gain (: Know that you're trying your best, and that's what's most important even if it doesn't show up in the scales immediately. Keep up the efforts, and yay for determination to fight off ED. *hugs*

Today was...a mixed day. I got a UCAS (for UK) uni offer so I'll at least be going *somewhere* next year, which is nice, but I forgot that today was a short school day and I had to stay after, so I woke up late and had breakfast late and was so busy at the shortened lunch break that I didn't have time to eat much, and even though I got some food after school I know I'll still be so full at dinnertime and won't eat as much as I should. =/ There just isn't enough time in the day to get all the calories in :(

dolly: two words HAVE IT.

it won't be a binge, i promise. you won't lose control. go and get yourself a bar, sit in front of some good tv and enjoy it. trust me, it'll be worth it. i've been like this for so long now and it's ruining my life. IGNORE the ED voice - kick its ass and keep it up tomorrow.

sorry for being absent latelyy.. i've just been realyl weird since my firend died but just thought i'd drop in for some quick replie

mashed and dolly wow you guys amaze me really :)

clay good job with the cheese ! another fear down :)

can everyone post like a summary of how they're doing? i'd love to know you you guys are

Claire's staying in the hospital overnight for her transfusions. Bleh. Worried out of my fugging mind right now.

awww lala, just remember she's in the best possible care right now and she'll be home really really soon. hopefully the transfusions will bring about a good upturn in her health :) *hugs* and thinking of you muchly.

xxxxxxxx

Hrm, operation billygoat at therapy did not go over as planned! I soon as i walked into the clinic, the same thing that always happens to me happen. As in, I feel like the hapiness gets sucked out of me! I know that sounds lame, but that't the best way I can put it! And then my therapist wanted to weight me, which I hate b/c she shouldn't be dealing with the physical side of this. So I smushed my face against my mom's shoulder and went 'Mmmmmmmrggfffffffrrrrrrrrr" for a while. Stupid therapist is v. determined, made me be weighed. And I've lost weight. Brilliant. I don't know though, my mom's been weighing me on my digital scale, the one at the doctors is a slide-y one, and I've been gaining. So I'll weigh on my scale this weekend just to check.

Today at school all the people who made honor roll got to go to an ice cream party. I didn't want to be standing alone at lunch, so I went with my friends. I made an agreement with myself that I would eat half a bowl of ice cream, no toppings. I ended up eating a whole bowl with m&m's though, because I couldn't get rid of my ice cream very well. I know it's not a binge, it just feels like one because I wasn't planning this, I didn't control myself! This is why I don't like to challenge myself to new foods. It never makes me feel proud of myself after I eat a FF. It makes me feel weak, gross, and fat, like I am feeling right now. I don't deserve to enjoy food. Ugh.

lady- Well, congrats for getting this far! I know this sounds really scary, but the only way to stop yourself from exercising is to stop cold-turkey. I was an overexerciser myself, and I had to quit all my sports and dancing for a while until my mind and body was in a safe place. I used to drink ensures and boosts, but I'd much prefer to replace them with real food. A PB sandwich or nuts and crackers work well as replacements. You definitely need to eat a lot more, that's probably not even 1000 cals. You need fats! Add oil to your salad, peanut butter to your apple and english muffin, etc. Eat the ravioli! It's a great challenge to eat intuitively!

lala- Sorry about your sister. But now that the doctors know that she has anemia, they can start to fix it, right?

charlie- Ahh, sorry to dissappoint you on operation billygoat!

clay- The tele?? That's the coolest metaphore I've ever heard!

mashed- Sorry that you haven't gained yet. I guess it's proof that you aren't the exception to the hypermetabolism rule, you do need at least 2500 cals. Great job for taking the chance to have a higher cal dessert though!

Post food later, hopefully.

Hey all,

Soooooo you all might have seen me floating around these boards. I introduced myself a while ago, but only recently got the courage to finally post on the infamous "What Did You Eat Today?" thread. I've used this thread so many times for referrence, it's crazy. There are days when I really struggle to get to maintainance because I have no idea how I should sequentially eat, and this thread not only inspires me in what I should eat foodwise, but all of your words of encouragement help me believe that our bodies are definitely worth the recovery. I hope to get to know you all and become just as much of a supportive resource for you guys. You may only see me here sparsely, however. Logging is unfortunately one of my really big triggers. Hopefully I'm going to be working with my dietician and therapist to be able to start logging while I need to, and then fall back to naturally eating when I've restored my weight to a healthy balance. It's just the days I don't track right now, I'm usually not getting enough calories, which either ends up in a "binge" later on, or me losing even more weight. Looking for that ever-elusive balance. Aren't we all? So please, don't take this as any personal offense if I just suddenly drop off the face of these boards sometimes. Most likely it's self-care. Also, please feel free to ask for contact info. I'd love to get to know you guys.

Sooooo. Currently, here's my stats: I'm 18, college freshman, whoop whoop! 5'9, and somewhere around 132 lbs. Not the worst I could be, but I've lost my periods for about 2 years now, my frame is probably medium-larger, and I'm showing some signs of being underweight. I have/ am struggling with ED-NOS, mainly exercise bulimia/ anorexia. Trying to slowly change my habits, and it's slowly progressing. My dietician has set my goal weight for somewhere around 138 by hopefully the middle of second semester, and then see where to go from there. Right now, however, we're just focusing on keeping me at/near maitainance while exams are coming up, because I tend to drop weight when I'm stressed and honestly...gaining weight puts a lot of stress on me because of my ED and....it's a vicious cycle. So basically the mentality is right now: Eat maintainance at least, and if you gain a few pounds, great

Sooooo today I kinda made a big step ED wise. I was tired this morning (when I usually go to work out)...and decided to go back to bed! No formal exercise for me today and the world didn't explode. I was kinda afraid to eat normally at first, but I followed through, and I'm pretty darn proud of myself! However, I was wondering if you guys could critique my plate, and just give me some tips about maybe reducing anxiety at meal times? Thanks!:

Breakfast (8:30-9):

-2 slices of whole wheat bread, about 3 oz of turkey, honey mustard, and all the veggies
-6 oz stonyfield farm lowfat plain yogurt
-around 2-3 cups of coffee with some skim milk

Lunch (11-11:30):

-Hummus wrap in a big tortilla, lots of veggies

-another lowfat plain yogurt

-lots of baby carrots

-large apple

-string cheese stick

Snack(2):

2 wasa crackers

Dinner (5:30):

-vegetable tofu provencal soup

-salad with olive oil, dried cranberries, greens

-small piece of garlic bread (:o fear food!)

-1/2 cup vanilla bean ice cream (:o another one! TAKE THAT ED!)

Annnd planning to have a night snack after I get back from lion dancing to when I go to bed, probably somewhere around 9-10. I'm thinking:

1/2 cup oatmeal

1 tbs. almond butter

1 large apple

How does that day seem to you guys? Thanks so much!

I woke up.. in the mood to try anything.

Breakfast
-1/2 Oats
-1/4 All Bran
- Couple o' Blueberries
- 1/4 Soy Milk
- 1/2 9 Grain English Muffin (SCRAPING of cream cheese)
- Poached Egg

Snack
- 1/2 tub of Cottage Cheese
- Cut up Peach

Lunch
-----
THIS IS WHERE I NEED HELP!!
Any more ideas? I'm obsesed with food. I love eating. I just get stuck at the Nutritional Panel in the supermarket isles.. then endup having the same turkey sandwich...

X

lady- Peanut butter is your new best friend! It's a diet staple of mine. Make a sandwich with two slices of bread, two tbs. of PB, and a banana or honey and you easily have 400 calories in that alone. If you aren't the sandwich type, you could have pasta with pesto sauce, or a stir-fry with olive oil and cashews! Or a bagel with cheese and tomato sauce to make a pizza bagel. Lunch is so easy to make high calorie.

This is what stinks, i see so many good ideas. I'm from Australia. Geelong actually.. we don't have HALF the amazing stuff you do! I eat alot of Yogurts and alot of Crumpets/English Muffins.. i was told to fill on carbs. When i say i'm lost with this weight gain.. it's an understatement. I freak out making decisions, it takes half an hour and i have panic attacks.

I do have 100% Peanut Butter in the pantry but that's the crap thing.. i don't like nuts. So i tried finding recipes for cookies with nuts...truthfully i only like it in Malaysian Creamy Satay(In which my sister adds about 8 TBS.. i'm not kidding.)

Whilst in the middle of making it.. i chucked it all in the bin grabbed my keys and went for craves.

1 Tuna Sushi Hand Roll
1 Vege Sushi Hand Roll
2 x Inside Sushi Rolls with Tuna & Avocado

I was so stuffed afterwards having NO idea how many calories either. But Tuna, Rice, Avocado..i would think quite a bit. I'll find out after posting this.

Snack
Yogurt - 200
Apple - 100

Dinner will be
Chicken stuffed with Cheese spread mix/Garlic/Herbs.
Sweet Potato
Pak Choy Salad

I'm going to be in melbourne all day tomorrow driving around mostly.. so again.. another panic. Sorry guys, i'm having a crap day.

x

slr: hi again hun:)
lala: try not to worry too much, i'm sure she'll be fine, they're taking good care of her and it will all be for the best.Just imagine how happy you'll be to see her when she gets out.

Been doing a teeeeeny bit of yoga recently, really helps to make me feel energised.

2500 calories here I come?
Breakfast: usual
Snack: (im not big on morning snacks because it's so close to lunch at our school) Trail Mix + Plum
Lunch: PB + Jam Sandwich, Melon
Snack: Ryvita + Nutella
Dinner: New thing we're trying out a recipe book
Snack: Probably the usual soya yoghurt mix

Have an awesome, productive day everyone :]
xxxxx

I'm back again after falling off the gaining wagon in quite spectularly awful style :( Had another doctor's appointment yesterday, and basically I've decided to go for the referral to the ED unit so they can give me a kick up the bum to start looking after myself. On the plus side tho, despite the fact I haven't been eating well lately due to stress/workload and everything else, I haven't lost any more weight :) Stayed at 44kg so - onwards and upwards! Gonna have to start posting food me thinks so that I can kicked in the bum by you guys too when I'm not doing this right so:

Breakfast - Banana and custard porridge (OMG I just nearly called it oatmeal!) with Brazil Nuts (Massive FF! My mum bought them for me cos they have zinc in and I need to boost my immune system, but theyve been sitting in my drawer for weeks) 350 cals

Dolly: You will make 2500 cals - there is no "?" about it. Just do it. Break down that barrier

Clay: Great metaphor-y type thing. I had an AWFUL day foodwise yesterday and your post really motivated me to start eating properly again today, so thank you!

Lala: Really sorry to hear about your sister but she really is very fortunate to have someone as caring and supportive as you right now. She's in the best place and she'll be home again soon so try not to worry too much tho I know it's dificult. I've just heard that my grandma has had a stroke and so I know kinda how you're feeling right now :(

Ladydanger, Gingerbread (LOVE that name - I want to change mine to Gingerbreadgirl now!), Naskigi, Alserina, Coffee_Bean (don't think I've missed anyone :S): Welcome! I'm a newbie on here too so looks like we're all out in force together to beat ED! Yay for us!

Slr: *Hugs*. Stay strong

Mashed: Keep fighting, as long as you still want to beat this you can so don't get disheartened! Keep going - get to the 2500 mark and push higher!

Theo: Chin up, soldier! None of this 1800calorie nonsense. You are clearly an expert in this ED kicking mission so us newbies need to be looking up to people like you so do what's best for your body and your metabolism and what is worst for ED and get eating! Porridge for all! I'm so tempted to have porridge for Bfast Lunch and Dinner today...and I haven't had 3 meals in ages so that just proves how damn awesome it is!

OK: Massively impressed by the no-counting thing! Something I can only dream of right now!

Sorry if I missed anyone, but I need to get down to some work. Because I *LOVE* chemistry! Will post more updates later (I swear this site is more addictive than Facebook sometimes!)

EVERYONE NOT EATING 2500 WHO IS FEMALE: THIS IS THE NUMBER YOU NEED.

Minimum!

Sorry, but I'm almost a bit frustrated with the number of "I don't know how much I need to eat!" type posts I am seeing. 2500 2500 2500 2500! I think it's time for me to play hardball; without Agru around we need a stern voice of reason. It saddens me when I see "I fell off the wagon again..." "I wanted to, but I didn't..." "... but I don't like this/don't want it/I'm not sure..." because THE ONLY PERSON YOU ARE CHEATING IS YOURSELF.

Stop making excuses and DO!

Original Post by ladydanger_:

This is what stinks, i see so many good ideas. I'm from Australia. Geelong actually.. we don't have HALF the amazing stuff you do! I eat alot of Yogurts and alot of Crumpets/English Muffins.. i was told to fill on carbs. When i say i'm lost with this weight gain.. it's an understatement. I freak out making decisions, it takes half an hour and i have panic attacks.

I do have 100% Peanut Butter in the pantry but that's the crap thing.. i don't like nuts. So i tried finding recipes for cookies with nuts...truthfully i only like it in Malaysian Creamy Satay(In which my sister adds about 8 TBS.. i'm not kidding.)

Whilst in the middle of making it.. i chucked it all in the bin grabbed my keys and went for craves.

1 Tuna Sushi Hand Roll
1 Vege Sushi Hand Roll
2 x Inside Sushi Rolls with Tuna & Avocado

I was so stuffed afterwards having NO idea how many calories either. But Tuna, Rice, Avocado..i would think quite a bit. I'll find out after posting this.

Snack
Yogurt - 200
Apple - 100

Dinner will be
Chicken stuffed with Cheese spread mix/Garlic/Herbs.
Sweet Potato
Pak Choy Salad

I'm going to be in melbourne all day tomorrow driving around mostly.. so again.. another panic. Sorry guys, i'm having a crap day.

x

 Hey, I'm an Aussie too, but I'm in Brisbane.  And I don't like nuts either.  I thought I was possibly the only one here who wasn't a fan of peanut butter!  I also have problems deciding at times.  I think you had the right idea with going for what you were craving.  Listening to your body is important, and helps you get in touch with your hunger cues, and cravings, again. 

At the moment, I'm on a soft serve ice cream kick, and also I seriously craved hot chips today, so I got a large size--yes, that's large, ED, hah!--chips from Oporto.  Mmm. 

Try not to stress; you're doing well.  I know it's hard to relax during weight gaining, what with tackling ED and your body adjusting to food again etc, but food is meant to be enjoyed.  Make the most of the journey back to health and happiness.

Best,

Mel.

Original Post by lalabanana:

EVERYONE NOT EATING 2500 WHO IS FEMALE: THIS IS THE NUMBER YOU NEED.

Minimum!

Sorry, but I'm almost a bit frustrated with the number of "I don't know how much I need to eat!" type posts I am seeing. 2500 2500 2500 2500! I think it's time for me to play hardball; without Agru around we need a stern voice of reason. It saddens me when I see "I fell off the wagon again..." "I wanted to, but I didn't..." "... but I don't like this/don't want it/I'm not sure..." because THE ONLY PERSON YOU ARE CHEATING IS YOURSELF.

Stop making excuses and DO!

 Hear, hear, Ellie!  Remember Yoda's advice, fine people:  'Do or do not; there is no try.'