Brewmaniac

I've lost so much weight and just can't seem to gain any as much as I try. I'm down to 126 from about 140 in about 3 years. I'm trying to eat high calorie high protein but it's difficult at times. My wife is on the side of the spectrum, overweight and trying to eat low cal.

Any suggestions on weight gain?

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Ch'i

How tall are you?

Brewmaniac

5'9" and look like a refugee, skin an bones!

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maleficent

what about some of those weight gain powders...

or high calorie protein bars...

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Siege

Try telling yourself that you need to eat more when you eat.

When I was on my weight gaining stage, I noticed that I ate A LOT more when I consistently told myself that I wasn't full.

Well, that and I was using weight gainer for a little while too.

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Baraka_Guru

There's not much I can recommend because you haven't told us what you typically eat. I'll tell ya what: give me a brief glimpse of what you consider high calorie/protein. Tell me what kind of foods you typically eat and perhaps an example of what you eat in a day, and I'll tell you how to pack it on. I'm a "hard gainer" myself, but I can manage to gain it with some sound dietary choices.

It's not always what you eat, but how much and how often too. There are a number of tips I can give you, but I need more info first...

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Brewmaniac

Sorry it's taken so long to get back, for breakfest I try to eat a large bowl of yogurt and drink a Boost drink(15 g Protein, 240 Calories). Lunch a lunch meat sandwich with cheese. Dinner I eat a meat dish of some sort(beef, pork, chicken or fish) Salad or veg. some potato or rice. I try to push myself to eat more but it's very difficult, I also try to drink a boost before bed. I also try to eat nuts as a protein supplement.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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jorgelito

Brew, what are you trying to do in terms of weight gain? For health? Are you bodybuilding at the moment? Or are you just trying to fit into larger pants? Forget about protein powders and weight gainers. The eating plan you describe sounds like you're trying to lose weight or a hospital diet. Maybe you are doing too much cardio workout?

1st, your breakfast is WAY TOO small - sounds like a woman's breakfast. You need a man's breakfast (assuming you're a man). Try a stack of pancakes, bowl of oatmeal, 3 eggs, 3 bacon, 3 sausage, and some fruit juice and a banana to start. I used to make this breakfast EVERY MORNING while I was in college. You can up the breakfast after a couple of weeks as you adjust to it.

Then, have a mid-morning snack too. Try a pastry, danish, croissant, or muffin.

Max out on lunch. Sandwiches suck. Go for a larger sub, 12" minimum, like an Italian with everything, or a sausage and peppers. Philly Cheese steak is good too. Tack on a large 32 oz. Coke or some other soda or a large glass of whole milk and a bag of chips or a cookie/brownie. You could try eating a double-quarter pounder with cheese meal at McDonalds and then supersize it. Make sure you DON'T drink diet sodas. Then add an extra sandwich like a filet o fish or 9-piece McNuggets.

Mid-afternoon meal: 4-cheese, 4-meat pizza to hold you over until dinner time. A small, personal size or medium should suffice.

Dinner: Put it all on here!!! Lots of meat and potatoes with rich gravies and sauces to keep you interested. Include good sides like pasta, and cheese or cream sauces on everything.

Don't forget dessert!! Ice cream and cake, large portions.

Brew, try out this diet. You should see results in 1-6 months. Hopefully you will be able to put on at least 5-10 pounds with this diet. And don't forget to exercise. That is critical for building muscle mass. Otherwise, on this diet, you will just become fat.

You know, I just remembered. Another great way to gain weight is to drink more beer. Brew, you seem like a person that likes beer. beer is healthy and can put on the calories if you do it right. I don't mean pussy beers like Bud, Coors, MGD etc. I mean real ales, something amber at least or darker. Try to include a beer with each meal (except breakfast) and that will add at least an extra 150 calories, especially if you drink Belgian beers or other wheat beers. Of course, moderation and common sense is key.

Brewmaniac

Whoa jorgelito, I only wish I could eat like that, I'm a quadriplegic so I get zero exercise and I'm having a hard time eating what I am. I know if I ate as you suggest I'd gain weight. You sound like, the way I ate when I was 16-20, delivering appliances, my boss said I was a perfect eating machine(from Jaws). Those days are history.
I truly try to eat more but I just cramp up and don't want to eat. I need the highest amount of calories & protein in the smallest serving size. Oh, I do manage to drink a dark beer or two with dinner.

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jorgelito

Oh my. My mistake man, I guess I misunderstood.

You mention you cramp up when you eat? Is it lack of appetite? Maybe a philosophical approach is worth a try.

For me, I love eating. I love food and find it pleasureable (in moderation of course). The only time I lost my appetite is when I was either sick or the time I experience some major trauma. As a result, I lost 30-35 lbs in one month cause I "couldn't" eat.

Maybe you need to rediscover the joy of eating again. Is there any food you like? It's good that you like beer and the dark ones at that. In a way, there's a natural pairing there.

For example, if you like dark draughts like Guiness Stout, then it goes really well with a nice pot roast or corned beef and cabbage or any stew. Throw in a side of soda bread or a nice rye or other heavy bread and unsalted butter or even sharp cheese. Like Irish Gold.

Does that sound good to you (damn I'm making myself hungry and now I want a beer!!)?

Or how about something light? Like a lager and match it with some nice Thai food. Iwould recommend Singha (Thai beer) and some nice red curry, or tom kha kai (chicken coconut soup). Toss in some pad thai and life is good.

If you need high calories in small portions then the only thing I can think of is fatty foods like cheeses or meats in cream sauces. But since you don't exercise, I would be concerned about cholesterol etc..

Have you considered speaking to a doctor or nutrionist to develop a good diet plan?

Anyways, best of luck to you man and if you ever come to LA, then let me know and we will drink beer to our heart's content. There are some nice pubs with good beers on tap, even some "Belgian ales".

Kali

You should be so lucky.

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Brewmaniac

jorgelito, thanks for your suggestions, I actually love to eat it's one of my great pleasures and my wife is an excellent cook. My biggest problem is I physically have trouble eating large portions.
As I said above. I need the highest amount of calories & protein in the smallest serving size.
That's what I'm looking for.

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sadeianlinguist

Eat HEATHILY. Try adding some healthy but protein and fat rich snacks to your diet: Nuts, white cheeses (like string cheese), lean red meat. Dried fruit and low sodium beef jerky are excellent healthy, high calorie snacks!

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