Member

Posts: 32
From:
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 05-22-2003 12:50 AM            

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Hey! This has been kinda an ongoing problem for me and I was wondering if anyone could throw some advice or input my way. Im female, under 18 but pretty much done growing, and i cant seem to gain any weight! Im about 5'7 and 110, i would reallllly like to gain at least 10 pounds. Im sick of being insecure about being skinny and wearing size 1, believe it or not. Lately I have been eating 2000-3000 calories daily and doing some light excercising, but i cant seem to get above 110 for more than like a week!! Am i doing something wrong, could i have a tapeworm? I also read an article about how its possible that milk drinkers are more likely to be skinny, and im a HUGE milk drinker. Should i start drinking something else? ahhh...

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Senior Member

Posts: 240
From:Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 05-22-2003 05:04 AM            

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Well I suppose its easy to say don't worry about it. In time you'll fil out.

You need to eat nutrient dense food. Meat and eggs are good. Not too much fat. Plenty of snacks. Milk is OK if it agrees with you but I believe its for cows!

You could always get a dietician to make something up for you? Brekkie could be bacon/sausages/eggs on toast, or baked beans - that sort of thing. Porridge made with whole milk and topped with maple syrup! Morning tea - sticky bun with butter. Lunch couple of rounds of sandwiches eg chicken and salad. Meat and three vege tea with dessert - rice pudding/apple crumble, ice cream.....Oh, afternoon tea - handful of raw nuts? But don't neglect the fruit, especially bananas. And don't pig out on Big Macs or you'll get into bad habits.

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Senior Member

Posts: 240
From:Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 05-22-2003 05:06 AM            

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I forgot - by all means worm yourself, expecially if you live in the country and/or have animals . ITs one of those routine things you should do once a year anyway. And do some weight training to put on some muscle.

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Senior Member

Posts: 160
From:
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 05-22-2003 10:24 AM            

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It sounds like you are at a normal weight.
I would see a doctor if you thing your weight if caused be a tapeworn, and ask your doctor if your weight is OK.
I think you need to work on your insecurities, because you are a normal weight person in a fat world(2/3 overweight it was on todays news). A poor self image is alive and well everywhere and today is your chance to take a bite out off it by saying I'm great the way I am.
GOOD LUCK

[This message has been edited by bradford54 (edited 05-22-2003).]

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Newbie

Posts: 4
From:Auke Bay ALASKA
Registered: May 2003

posted 05-22-2003 07:49 PM            

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I do think that, yes, you are underweight for being 5'7", but I would definately reiterate that it is in no way "abnormal" for a girl your age to be at these figures. Yes, increasing your caloric intake will improve your chances at gaining weight. But make sure that these calories are not "empty" that is refined sugars, white flour based carbo's, and such which are easily stored as fat in our body. And I am assuming you would like your weight gain in muscle not fat right? Nuts, whole-grain breads, peanut butter, soybeans, and milk (2% or whole, but skim is fine too ). Sounds like a good start to me! Oh and keep up with the exercise, this will definately help aid in muscle growth, and is a great habit to get into for later, not to mention that it will also ignite that appetite to get in more bulk!
Good luck!

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 1187
From:
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 05-23-2003 09:03 PM            

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What I've done in the past to gain weight, is to eat lots of seeds and nuts...lots of cashews, almonds, peanuts, and sunflower seeds etc.

But, even at my age, I have to be careful of eating too many peanuts, because they will seem to allow me to break out in a few pimples. I think it might be because of the oil. Check the calories that you can obtain with nuts - they are a lot.

I'm only suggesting snacking on nuts, in addition to a regular healthy balanced diet. That's how I've been able to increase my weight, if I feel I have lost too much due to my exercising.

If I want to lose the weight, I do the opposite. I stop snacking on these high calorie foods, and just stick with the regular meals. For me, it's because of all the running that I do - that makes me burn up a lot of calories.

With my diet, I avoid processed foods, so with the nuts I consume they typically do not have salt or additives. Even my sunflower seeds are raw without the added oil. That's just my preference...but I would think if you ate as many of these seeds and nuts as I do, that you might want to look into what might be best for you - without all the extras that food companies add in.

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 1187
From:
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 05-23-2003 09:16 PM            

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Another thing I do to gain weight, is make my own natural banana milk shakes. I thought I would mention this, since you like milk, and it seems to be good for you. I don't add a lot of milk, but it's something that someone can modify to taste.

Just take three bananas and about a cup of whole milk or more, add a few cubes of ice, and blend with your food processor. With my heavy-duty food processor (a Vitamix), I add about 10 pistachio nuts too. This combination makes it taste similar to ice cream - especially if you add lots of ice. Since, I avoid processed foods like ice cream, this has been a good substitute. I can drink huge glasses of this, and find that it is very gentle to my system. I seem to be able to have "almost unlimited" amounts.

When strawberries and blackberries are in season, you can mix them in too. There's all sorts of creative combinations.... Again, I have these drinks in addition to my normal meals.

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Junior Member

Posts: 9
From:Keansburg, NJ
Registered: May 2003

posted 05-25-2003 11:00 PM            

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My sister went through what your going through, she drank alot of Milk Shakes, hope this helps )

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Newbie

Posts: 1
From:Fremont, CA, USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 05-27-2003 07:18 AM            

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Hi,

I can't really give advice on gaining weight, I would suggest consulting a doctor, but I do have a comment for the people telling you not to worry. My sister was a size 0 and had two children and got to a size 2. She was told by a doctor when she was your age, to gain weight, because being too thin can have serious medical complications as you get older. I don't mean old I mean in your thirties you could be looking at bone density problems. If a doctor says you are ok, then he/she can suggest ways to gain aesthetic weight. If it isn't ok, an m.d. can give you help or refer you to a professional who can. I do envy you your problem though.

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