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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 :]

Sophia, hello. :] Nice to see another person who takes in quite so many calories as me! Still, you're not at all cheating yourself and I doubt you eat out like this all the time, right? No harm in having some junk food once in a while at all! Part of a good diet is balanced eating and that includes burgers and fries!

What I will say, though, is you don't seem to eat many vegetables, fruit, dairy or healthy fats. These are all really vital and taking so many calories from Ensure could leave you worse for wear. Can I ask if you're recovering from an eating disorder or just looking to gain for other reasons? Not that it matters, really, but Ensure are only really helpful to people who have suffered severe malnutrition. You drink a lot of them, and I think it might be better for you to take in some of those calories in food and drink, not through Ensure.

If you're aiming for about 4000, try this:

Breakfast 850
Snack 300
Lunch 850
Snack 350 - could be an ensure, plausibly
Dinner 850
Snack 300
Total 3500

And 500 calories in liquid, minimum (that's a 500ml glass of whole milk for 300 and some juice for 200 (depends on variety)! Not too tricky!) Also, another alternative to Ensure is making your own smoothies. I have some recipe ideas for those if you'd like them, and it's somewhat cheaper.

If you've not seen it already, check out The Aim is to Gain: Advice on Weight Gain, Whatever Your Reason. It's got a lot of good food ideas INCLUDING a menu plan for 3000, and how to raise it to 3500 too, of all foods and drinks - no supplements or Ensure required!

Slr: Yup. At fourteen you'd be growing anyway so there's a fair chance, yes :D

Sophia; I'm not sure if you realize this - but the 560 calories for a cup of grits is BEFORE they are cooked. If you are eating one cup of cooked grits, it is only abou 130-150 calories total. In order to get that 560 calories, you need to eat about four cups cooked. Which is a lot of grits. Unless you're cooking them in about half a cup of heavy cream...in which case you might get around that much.

Ensure really isn't bad for your per say. And when you are trying to take in lots of calories - having some in liquid really can be a big help. I've known a lot of people who felt it was easier for them to get calories in through liquid than to ahve to actually eat their food. And since you aren't using the supplements as meal replacements, its not that bad. Like lala has said though - your diet while calorically sufficient seems to be lacking a lot of things necessary to provide you with a good assortment of vitamins and minerals. I know, you drink the Ensure which has all that stuff. But it is still good to get those things in via naturally occuring sources as well. And not to be crude - but if you were to eat more whole grains, fruits, and veggies - your colon would be eternally grateful.

I'm so, so, so, sorry.

I think you all are amazing. Its incredible what you have overcome and I know you have so much in store for you.  Keep it up!

Slr: You absolutely can still grow! I had my biggest growth spurt between my sophomore and junior year of high school.

Rebel: How're you doing? Feeling any better?

Gibbit:It does sound lik you have a similar background. How are you doing these days? I know a message got lost, but if you have any bits to share I’d love to hear about it-where you’ve come from and what you’re up to now with goals and plans to get there.  And I can’t really get any testing done at this point because I don’t have insurance. 

Lala: Congrats on that exam!  Hooray for getting a brain working again. J

Eskimo: I think you fit in just fine. At first I thought I was alone with my battles and I certainly don’t have as low a bmi as others on here, but the bottom line is we all have the same goal—healthy weight and the kind of eating that gets us/keeps us there!

I’m so sorry to bring things down you all—stay strong and keep up the good work!

As for me, I messed up big time and paid rapidly.  But while I am defeated but not beat.

hi everyone =)

i found this site about a week ago and ive gotta say that its AWESOME. ive been watching the forum on and off but this is my first comment.. youre all doing so well by the way!

a bit about me... used to be overweight (194lbs, im 5 '9 by the way), and went on a diet that i guess got carried away. i was officially 'diagnosed' with anorexia a few months back, and ive been seeing a psychologist since, btu its only recently that ive kinda accepted it.

anyway i weighed in the other day at 97lbs and its really starting to scare me coz im still losing weight! i have a dietician plan but i cant seem to follow it (ive been procrastinating starting BIG TIME) and im thinking about following the psychologists advice and checking myself into an inpatient program at the hospital. my names on the waiting list atm but its about 4-6 weeks long apparntly and i cant afford to lose more weight in the meantime

so anyway ive kinda babbled on but... is there any advice anyone can share about getting started, or if anyones been in the same situation (stupid thing to say cos i no a lot of u have) did inpatient help??? also, would any of u guys be able to give me any sort of clue about how many calories it would take for me to just stop losing? i no i need to gain, but i dont no if im ready to see the scales go up atm, and even if i could just hold me weight at what it is until i can get into the program?

i no i didnt post my meals or anything but i just wanted to contribute something since ive been reading the forum for a whilem thanks heaps guys. ure all such massive inspirations by the way! keep it up =)

Tears: I'm going to be very, very, very honest now. What you wrote? Is extremely triggering. Using "anorexic" in a throwabout way, as though it is just something to strive for, and not a disease, is very upsetting. I know you might not have intended to come off that way, but it is still very, very upsetting.

That said I realise how frustrating gaining can be, and how all-consuming food can be even though it's meant to be you consuming the food. On your nutritionist appointment - sorry, but what a douche. She told you less than you already know and to be so dismissive and rude makes me want to fly out there and smack her for you. Do go ahead with the elimination, and, honestly, if you have been eating more than her plan has laid out for you then eat more than her plan has laid out for you.

I would possibly try taking a multivitamin/probiotic combination tablet if you want to use pro/prebiotics to aid your digestion, because the casing of those protects the bacteria (which is what pre/probiotics are, bacteria that help the gut). Your stomach acid will not differenciate good bacteria from bad and breaks down that yoghurt regardless, bacteria and all, before they can all reach your gut. The suggestion for yoghurt with a probiotic, or live yoghurt, in lactose intolerance is because the bacteria partially "digest" the lactose before you even eat it meaning the lactose content is often minimal to nil. Though I still get trouble even from that. Bah. :|

Did your message to me cut off? XD There's a random J in there. Thankyou, though!

Flicky: Hi :] So, ah, your BMI is extremely low right now. At that BMI, it is dangerous for you to actively refeed at home even if it's a slim chance of doable. I would take the advice you have been given and check in to inpatient. It might seem scary, but, honestly, hospital is often the best way to go especially if your weight is so so very low, and as you have said you cannot afford to lose more. So, my advice to you to getting started is to go and check yourself in. Take along books, crossword puzzles, an MP3 player, a laptop if you're allowed.

What disturbs me is you don't want to start making an effort to gain before you go in - they will still admit you even if your weight goes up a little before you go in - and you need to be eating at least 2500 calories to do that. Build up to it, going by about 500 or so every few days (or at least get to 1200-1500 if you have been eating less than 1200 presently) and do not weigh yourself in the meantime. Water fluctuation makes for inaccurate weighing for two weeks because your body, well. Holds a lot of water, but nothing else. Really, though, I would go check yourself in ASAP. As in, within a few days. You're at risk of sudden adult death syndrome with a weight so low.

Good luck to you.

hi lala

thanks for writing back, and i no, ur right, i really do need to start puttingon weight fast. Its not that i dont WANT to make the effort - believe me, i just wish this whole thing would go away so i can eat normally like i used to. But im worried that I wont be able to get started on my own, which is why i was looking at going into inpatient, even though its a pretty scary thought =( coz i really do need to stop losing and start gaining. I dont no how long it will take me to get into the ward im looking at, the doctor said i can check myself in at any time into the paediactrics, but if i could i would prefer to wait and get a bed in the other ward. if thats possible that is.

anyway, thanks for ur help

Flicky;

I have been where you are right now. At this time last year, I was actually denied treatment because of how underweight I had become by the time my admission date rolled around. It was only a week and a half inbetween the phone consultation and the morning that a bed became available. You need to make sure you don't lose anymore, because the treatment program you are looking to get into may no longer feel comfortable taking you if you lose weight. Go to the pediatric ward if you are scared of doing this on your own for a few weeks, once the bed in the other ward is open - transfer out. It is better for you to be somewhere safe where you can get some kind of nourishment and have your condition monitored, than to risk spending the next few weeks in terrible fear and worry.

Hi guys,

I feel like I haven't posted here in forever, though in reality I think it's only been about 2 days. Sorry if I sound a little deflated - and Rebel and Lala thank you so so much for the blog comments. I feel so undeserving of all the kindness you've shown me :') - I've just had the longest most emotionally draining two days.. ugh.

The row with my parents wasn't really resolved very well this morning. My Mum didn't speak to me much but eventually we had a sort of chat which mostly consisted of me begging for forgiveness.. I am not a dignified apologiser.. I also can't bear that thing where you say you're sorry and someone accepts but then there's an awful atmosphere between you.. I know people need time to simimer.. But I'm lost without my family. I'm less than nothing and it hurts so badly when they're angry, even if I completely deserve it (which I do.)

I was then weighed in the afternoon which was fairly horrific. I gained just under 1lb (0.3kg) which is.. OK. I guess. Except it's not the 1/2kg (full 1lb) a week I need if I'm going to get to Morocco on time. Mum and I had a horrible conversation pretty much revolving around whether or not the trip should be cancelled.. which would destroy me (and her too) and eventually we reached the conclusion that I can just aboutget there in time if I make no slip ups whatsoever. So the pressure is really really on. I just feel so tired and vulnerable and emotionally drained at the moment that it's such a daunting thought.. I am determined.. but at the same time I'm so tired and sad. Michelle (my nurse) thinks I'm doing really well and said something along the lines of that my Mum needs to understand that I can't gain weight in the same way as an OP that I would in IP. I don't know how to say this to my mum without starting another row.. And I feel kind of backstabbed by Michelle (though I love her to bits) because she always promises that she's going to tell my mum that she thinks I'm doing really well (they speak on the phone occasionally to check up) and that I'm trying really hard but then she never does because my Mum always seems more angry after speaking to her than before. I know it's not a case of 'sides' or anything because we all have the same goal but it feels a bit like she's saying one thing to me and then giving a completely different impression to my Mum.. I don't knoww..

I can't be bothered to post my food today. The usual mass that ED hates me for. Sorry to sound so self pitying, I'm just exhausted and I've still got a load of homework to do because I spent most of the day in a state utterly incapable of doing anything except crying and cutting up my ruined jeans with kitchen scissors (this made Mum happy.) The only jeans I have now look so ridiculous, I have to keep hitching them up because otherwise my bum gets exposed to the world, and they're meant to be 'skinny' but they're like baggy trousers. I look like an idiot. And a shallow stupid one to care so much about freaking jeans.

Better go and finish my homework but I love you all and sorry again - I'll get back on positive track tomorrow but sometimes you just need to cry and be bratty.. meh.

Jem: Don't ever get down on yourself for wanting to have a gripe and a moan. Even if the apology was hard you did it and it will pass. I'm sorry about the weigh in, too, but you have to take progress as progress even if it's not quite what you wanted to see. Keep pushing and increase if you can.

One thing I have to say is stop viewing your food as a "mass" or the thing your ED screams at you for. Putting food in a negative light or as anything less than fun and a means for getting healthy makes it so much harder for you when you don't need it to be. I know you enjoy food and making things. Perhaps you should try doing something that's quite hands on for a meal this week, and get your whole family or as much your family as you can involved? Fajitas? Make your own pizzas? That sort of thing?

Have you mentioned to Michelle that things have been rough for you and your mum lately and that you'd honestly appreciate it if she had a chat with [your mum] about your progress? A sort of casual aside.

Take those new jeans as something to grow into, further encouragement to fit them so you don't look silly. If it helps any, I refuse to buy jeans that "fit" and keep my size ups on, which means I've had a few moments of the things starting to fall to my ankles. Good motivation against my ED: I don't want to be flashing my pants in public! >__<

Lala; not having the color of my panties become public knowledge is possibly one of the greatest motivations for me. I cannot begin to count the times....though I'm pretty sure its at least half a dozen.

Jemima; Ellie is right. It only makes you feel worse if you view your food as a "mass". It gives more power to your ED when you think of it as some kind of punishment to be endured. It's not. Don't let ED make you feel that way. Don't let it take away the importance of nourishment, of restoring and rebuilding yourself, or even the ability to enjoy. Those things will help you build more a more positive "relationship" with food - something we all need to do. Honestly you don't eat as much you think you do. I know you've heard this one before, but "Food is healing." Its not bad or good - its just a neutral thing that we need to survive. Sort of like Switzerland.  I know it is hard to feel like you deserve to get better when things are not going so well at home (oh! I really do.) But family always forgives and forgets. They will always love you, no matter the things they say in moments of frustration or upset. And if you keep going, and get through the hardest moments - you have just proven to yourself that you can overcome any adversity and that you are stronger now than ever before.

I just have to say I am so glad I found this site---it is hard to be the only underweight person I know------I am new--joined this evening-----and I am so excited to start gaining weight.

I am 32 F---weigh aprox 90 lbs--don't weigh myself anymore cux it makes me sad and then I woont eat----my target weight is 115 I am 5' 4"-----I am thin thanks to my family on both sides LOL--but I have weighed 115 before and I miss how great I looked!!!

I really think that with all the support here and help I will meet my goal!!!!!!!!!

BTW All I ate today was goulash for dinner oh and a huge glass of Carnation Instant b-fast with a hit of Quick for flavor------I am working on my appetite which I don't seem to have much of!!!!!!!!

Hi, Tracy. I don't know if you have yet but I suggest you read the following link: The Aim is to Gain: Advice on Weight Gain, Whatever Your Reason. You're going to need at least 2500 calories a day sedentary and more if you work out. Heck, you will likely need more in general. However, your weight is very low, and I would go and speak to your team or doctor if you haven't already. You say you are "thin due to family" but if you get such guilt after weighing that you won't eat, this tells me there is a lot more to it than genetics. Speak to your doctor.

hey pretties sorry i've not been updating or commenting lately, i had an awesome week and then it started slowly going downhill but don't worry it's more up than ever now.... at least as far as calorie uppings go.

had my monthly weigh-in with my gp yesterday at the hospital. he flipped out because my weight went down more and it pretty much hit the 85% ibw mark which i agreed i wouldnt hit as long as i wanted to stay in college and out of treatment. after begging him forever and trying to convince him that i'll gain it on my own this month he agreed to give me one last chance but i dont think he has much faith in me. 

regardless, i've done it before and i'll do it again its just hard because i don't feel like i need to gain anymore weight since i'm still so far from my lowest and everyone on here is so much tinier but i want to be healthy and  i know 16.6bmi isnt healthy its just hard to deal with. i've gone through so much within the past 7 months... gaining from 65 to 93 back down to 87 back up to 93 back down to 85 haha my body must be so confused. and i think it scares me a lot that i'm not like 20 pounds away from where i need to be but less than 10 so i figure its not really that essential even though i know i should be aiming towards the 100 mark.

ok sorry for the vent, i just spent all of yesterday in tears BUT guess what?! after the appointment it was dinner time and i was in there for so long i barely had a lunch so i ate chinese food at some restaurant with my mom for dinner. and i was the only one eating! and i didnt freak out and its been years since i've touched anything chinese besides white rice lol. my mom was really proud i could tell which made it all pay off. 

anyways i'm going to start posting my food again even though nobody seems to be doing it anymore lately. i can't let it stress me out i need to be proud of what i'm accomplishing rather than distracting myself from it..and NO MORE OBSESSIVE CALORIE TRACKING! i know what i need for each meal and at each meal i'll make sure i get what i need but no tallying up at the end of the day and so forth u nless i can deal witht he increases in a sane manner..

breakfast: oat bran, ccheese, raisins, craisins, grapes and almonds

rest tbd

ps. mashed..you can do it! you've come so far just keep it up:) you're beautiful and pretty soon you'll be wearing those fitting jeans in morocco enjoying wonderful ethnic food and having a blast. i am positive you can do it- i'll pray for you! i know what its like to work up to something like that which you want so badxx

:sigh: I have such a stomache ache (damned periods! birth control is truly a double-edged sword) But I've been forcing myself to finish every bite even if it hurts. And I need to go grocery shopping. For calorically-dense but "pain-free" foodstuffs.

Breakfast: Muesli with handful each of almonds and dried blueberries, protein powder/creamer mix, topped with applesauce. Big glass cranberry juice. Cup of pineapple.

Snack: Greek yogurt with honey and flaked coconut, raspberry-walnut bar, orange juice

Lunch: will be PBJ pita-wich. cup of veggies, cup of mixed fruit (ok, its melon and clementines, not exactly mixed) "yogurt"covered "fruits" mix ( I'm not sure its really fruit inside the candy-yogurt shell...but they are good)

Snack: will be Vanilla yogurt with ground flax, chocolate chips, almonds, cranberries

Dinner: will be pasta with ricotta cheese (mixing this with whipping cream starting tonight) and spinach. Broccoli with hummus dressing. And if my parents have fish, I shall be required to eat some too (new house rule - I must eat fish a few times a week at least for right now until I'm healthier)

Snack: Oatmeal with pumpkin pie filling, golden raisins, flaked coconut, and maybe almond milk if I don't have anything extra with dinner. Or maybe anyways. I'm a bit nervous about experimenting with too much today due to my stomach being upset and achey. But I need to buck up and deal with it.

Rebel: I was on BC and had been since I was 16, because I have dysmenorrhoea. That's painful cramps. The sort that make you vomit in pain and cry and be unable to move for days at a time. D:

I'm not on it right now because I need to know when I regain my period. The BC did not stop my period completely but the bleeding stopped. Mild spotting or discharge at best. But I would still be symptomatic - hungry, bitchy, cramps albeit nowhere NEAR as horrible as they were without the BC. Still, I want my period back, but I am dreading the cycle it returns... =__=; I am just very, VERY glad that once it DOES return I can go back on BC.

Ngemma: I'm sure your logical self knows this anyway, but comparing yourself to others, or devaluing your own need to be healthy just because there are "tinier" girls posting here is silly and your ED trying to worm its way in. 16.6 is still VERY low. Still DANGEROUSLY low. You're making positive steps again and I'm glad you're out to prove your doctor wrong, but just remember: if things really start to get tough on you and you feel you need to, keep the hospital option open.

ngemma- why does it matter that everyone here is "tinier" than you? because they're closer to death than you are? I know thats harsh. Im sorry, but I just wanted to give you a wake up call, 16.6 bmi is still in the very very dangerous zone. Plus there are higher bmi's in this thread, Im at about 18, but still need to gain. And anyways, it's not a competition to see who can be more unhealthy, we're supposed to be helping each other get healthier and gain weight.  What's your goal weight? at 85 lbs it seems you'd need much more than 10 lbs to be healthy. Either way, great job eating chinese and pick those calories back up!

rebel-  your meals look really good!whats the intake at now? I was so determined for a while trying to add heavy cream to all my foods because its such a great source of cals, but my stomach wouldnt have it :\ oh well, you're lucky and you should take full advantage of its caloriciousness! (nerdy word invention alert lol)

jem- hope the family issue has calmed down! you're doing great to eat through all that, just keep it up. and as ellie said, try not to refer to your food as massive, i feel like so many of us make such a point of trying to point out how huge our portions are when really they're just normal and probably still tiny and we're just trying to justify it though its still giving in to ed.

I'm doing quite well this week, picked back up to 3000+ not to mention I"m making myself lay around in bed as much as possible because i might be coming down with something. Also, maybe only Ellie and Jem will remember, but I get to visit our old friend Clay tomorrow!!!! We will feast in CC's honor.  I'M SO EXCITED!!

Gibbit; As of today, I'm shooting for 2700+, maybe 3000 within the next week or so. I imagine I get more than that anyways since my mom does prepare some things and I know she gives me a little bit extra of everything...but I'm trying to not take that into account anymore. Honestly I'm kinda proud of myself on that whipping cream thing. I know it'll be good and all...but I'm a bit intimidated by it. But volume-wise its perfect. You know, I'm fairly certain there is a soy version, but I'm not sure it's anywhere near calorically equivalent - maybe 20-30 calories per spoonful.

Enjoy your visit with Clay! I remember him. Well, vaguely anyways. Do have a good time though and savour your feast.

Ngemma; I know it is really difficult to push yourself to gain when you aren't at your lowest weight. I've been through those feelings too. But ask yourself this; do you really want to go back to the way you were then, and have to work your way allllll the way back up after the progress you've made? You are still woefully underweight and you deserve help, health and happiness just as much as anyone else. Don't worry about your body in comparison to someone else's - your body still needs need to be nourished and restored no matter the state of someone else. I know anorexia can be a very competitive disease, but the only way to ever "win" (if you wish to call it that...) in anorexia's eyes is to die. And we certainly don't want that. I like you - I want you to stick around for awhile, get healthy, find happy, and move on with your life. I hope you want that that for you too.