trying to gain weight

[BK_Adores_Chase]

and was dissapointed when after two weeks of an extra 250 calories my weight didn't BUDGE...I am going to weigh myself again in two weeks and see what happens.

[sparklesandglitter]

Why do you want to gain weight?

[lrb3211]

I don't know why you want to gain weight, but I can say that Ramen might do the job.

[UltimateX820]

To gain especially if you work out you really gotta eat, I put a basic equation below to help you.

A. Your weight in pounds.
B. Multiply A by 12 to get your basic calorie needs.
C. Multiply B by 1.6 to estimate your resting metabolic rate (calorie burn without factoring in exercise).
D. Strength training: Multiply the number of minutes you lift weights per week by 5.
E. Aerobic training: Multiply the number of minutes per week that you run, cycle, and play sports by 8.
F. Add D and E, and divide by 7.
G. Add C and F to get your daily calorie needs.
H. Add 500 to G. This is your estimated daily calorie needs to gain 1 pound a week.

[Abrupt]

You must also consider a variable metabolism.  Some people when they consume more calories their body compensates by burning more energy...and the opposite for reduction in calories.  The 500 per week to gain a pound per week is a baseline average and the formula that Ultimatex820 provided is a much better base.  For myself I had to extend beyond what was typical to gain weight and after I hit 215 I was unable to eat enough to gain anymore weight...I simply had too much excess energy and even forcing myself to "be lazy" was ineffective.  I consumed milk, peanut butter, and weight gain mixes as the mainstay of my extra intake.  It got to the point that I was constantly eating and had 7 big meals a day and was no longer enjoying food for the most part.  I did find for myself that a higher fat intake seemed to be better than simply increasing carbohydrates, but I no longer remember the ratio I used.

[ULuvCeCe]

To gain especially if you work out you really gotta eat, I put a basic equation below to help you.

A. Your weight in pounds.
B. Multiply A by 12 to get your basic calorie needs.
C. Multiply B by 1.6 to estimate your resting metabolic rate (calorie burn without factoring in exercise).
D. Strength training: Multiply the number of minutes you lift weights per week by 5.
E. Aerobic training: Multiply the number of minutes per week that you run, cycle, and play sports by 8.
F. Add D and E, and divide by 7.
G. Add C and F to get your daily calorie needs.
H. Add 500 to G. This is your estimated daily calorie needs to gain 1 pound a week.

Thank you for that. I too struggle at gaining weight. I have been little my entire life. I am 27, 5'7" and weigh 100 lbs and people constantly think I have an eating disorder which is extremely hurtful. Just as bigger people get hurt at being made fun of so are skinny people. I eat about 5 times a day, have been told by numerous doctors that I have a normal metabolism, nothing wrong in my blood work and my thyroids are fine. I would LOVE to be 120, the largest I have ever been is 135 and that was when I was pregnant, I'm the only person I know that wanted to keep her baby weight but nope back to my original weight within 2 weeks!

[tuyetmai]

I want to gain some weight too.  Some how I cannot gain any even I watch it hard.  All the food I eat seem to be gone.

[BK_Adores_Chase]

Thank you for that. I too struggle at gaining weight. I have been little my entire life. I am 27, 5'7" and weigh 100 lbs and people constantly think I have an eating disorder which is extremely hurtful. Just as bigger people get hurt at being made fun of so are skinny people. I eat about 5 times a day, have been told by numerous doctors that I have a normal metabolism, nothing wrong in my blood work and my thyroids are fine. I would LOVE to be 120, the largest I have ever been is 135 and that was when I was pregnant, I'm the only person I know that wanted to keep her baby weight but nope back to my original weight within 2 weeks!
[/quote]

EXACTLY!  People also assume I have a disorder...I am 5'9" and 115 lbs...I want to weight about 125...I am hoping the weight gain will hide my collarbone that sticks way out, my wrists that stick way out, and add some curves so that I look healthier.  OH, AND maybe a booty would be nice but I'm not trying to push it haha.  I am like a stick and just want a body, that's all.

[kapeh12]

One thing to consider - even if you may appear to be underweight, are you healthy?  Perhaps for "you", being underweight is your normal state to being healthy (kind of like some people who have a higher or lower body temperature from the "normal" 98.6).  My sister, when we were growing up, was very thin too - I remember as kids we could see her heart beat under her ribcage (was so weird and a little gross) - but I can assure you she ate like a horse.  She always had lots of energy and would burn calories effortlessly.  Rather than feeling like she had to gain weight to be "normal" in other people's eyes, she embraced her thinness knowing some day it may no longer be the case.  We did have a cousin who was anorexic so we fully understood the difference between healthy thinness and unhealthy thinness.

Today, she's in her late 30's and 5 kids later and I'd say she basically looks "normal" now.  She still really doesn't put that much work into maintaining her weight...yet   

The one thing she wished she did more of was weight train.  Even though she's finally put on more weight, she realized weight wasn't everything.  She knows she's lacking in strength - she can do everyday things, but if she had to do a series of push-ups or sit-ups or other exercises like that, she knows she wouldn't be able to do them.

So for those who want to put on weight - perhaps (if you can) work with a nutritionist and council with a personal trainer at a gym about incorporating strength training into your lifestyle.  The benefit is strength training will require increased calories (and the nutritionist would assist with ensuring they are "good" calories), and since muscle is heavier than body fat, your weight will increase.  Plus with more muscle tone/definition - even if you are thin, you'll look fantastic.

[ULuvCeCe]

Thank you for that. I too struggle at gaining weight. I have been little my entire life. I am 27, 5'7" and weigh 100 lbs and people constantly think I have an eating disorder which is extremely hurtful. Just as bigger people get hurt at being made fun of so are skinny people. I eat about 5 times a day, have been told by numerous doctors that I have a normal metabolism, nothing wrong in my blood work and my thyroids are fine. I would LOVE to be 120, the largest I have ever been is 135 and that was when I was pregnant, I'm the only person I know that wanted to keep her baby weight but nope back to my original weight within 2 weeks!


EXACTLY!  People also assume I have a disorder...I am 5'9" and 115 lbs...I want to weight about 125...I am hoping the weight gain will hide my collarbone that sticks way out, my wrists that stick way out, and add some curves so that I look healthier.  OH, AND maybe a booty would be nice but I'm not trying to push it haha.  I am like a stick and just want a body, that's all.

lol if there was one thing I gained from pregnancy it was *bleep*, even after I got done nursing I still gained a whole cup size so I couldn't complain too much about not getting to keep some of my pregnancy body   But yes I too would like to look healthy, my wrist bones, collarbone and my boney hips are right there with you!

[BK_Adores_Chase]

One thing to consider - even if you may appear to be underweight, are you healthy?  Perhaps for "you", being underweight is your normal state to being healthy (kind of like some people who have a higher or lower body temperature from the "normal" 98.6).  My sister, when we were growing up, was very thin too - I remember as kids we could see her heart beat under her ribcage (was so weird and a little gross) - but I can assure you she ate like a horse.  She always had lots of energy and would burn calories effortlessly.  Rather than feeling like she had to gain weight to be "normal" in other people's eyes, she embraced her thinness knowing some day it may no longer be the case.  We did have a cousin who was anorexic so we fully understood the difference between healthy thinness and unhealthy thinness.

Today, she's in her late 30's and 5 kids later and I'd say she basically looks "normal" now.  She still really doesn't put that much work into maintaining her weight...yet   

The one thing she wished she did more of was weight train.  Even though she's finally put on more weight, she realized weight wasn't everything.  She knows she's lacking in strength - she can do everyday things, but if she had to do a series of push-ups or sit-ups or other exercises like that, she knows she wouldn't be able to do them.

So for those who want to put on weight - perhaps (if you can) work with a nutritionist and council with a personal trainer at a gym about incorporating strength training into your lifestyle.  The benefit is strength training will require increased calories (and the nutritionist would assist with ensuring they are "good" calories), and since muscle is heavier than body fat, your weight will increase.  Plus with more muscle tone/definition - even if you are thin, you'll look fantastic.

yeah sometimes I'm like....well am I making myself unhealthy by putting on this weight..I mean I only want to gain 10 pounds but what if that's not healthy for me because my body is used to being so thin...I don't know!  I dont even like to wear short sleeve shirts because my arms are so freakin skinnny..

[loulizlee]

I almost said I hate all you skinny people (just kidding).      I'm sure gaining weight for some people is just as difficult as losing weight is for others (me).  I wish you success and good health!