weight gain options, yes you read it right

[Lily Powers]

As far as the starchy and sugary foods Paisley mentioned, from observation of the the inmates in our local jail (where sodas and beige food are the norm, and anything green and leafy is only found on the flora outside the facility), that seems to very true. But that weight gain isn't necessarily healthy. Are you looking to gain muscle? Specific workout programs can help you gain "bulk" in the form of muscle.

 

[crazydaisy]

yeast bad for you?

 

[Brooksie]

At one point I did think 'If Audrey Hepburn could celebrate her petiteness, so can I' But then :rage: kicks in sometimes..

But why does it make you so angry?

 

[Lauren]

Actually, Audrey was really insecure about her weight. When she first started in the 50s curves were IN. Edith Head didn't help her- thinking she was too scrawny and wanting to cover up her decollete because she thought she was too bony. Thank goodness for Givency. Shows what good clothes can do for morale.

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

I can also attest to the weight gain benefits of a cup of hot cocoa at bedtime. Made with whole milk, of course. In my case, it wasn't *desired* weight gain...but the cocoa was yummy just the same.

 

[Halfjill]

Ale yeast!

 

[SugarKitten]

Hehe, love the ad Halfjill!

Lady Pearl - as always having been on the lean side myself, what kind of weight are you trying to gain? Are you thin all over (not enough fat over all)? Are you slight (not enough fat and muscle)? etc...

All of these things are pretty different physically, and some might have better answers than other.

Similar to points raised in many weight loss discussions, science has not figured out how to make a skinny person stay less skinny, just like they have not figured out a way to make a bigger person less big (in a long term/life long, regular eating kind of way)

I'm thin, but not a bit slight (tend to look a bit brawny, oh well Rosie could rock it, so can I), but what are you trying to change? Have you spoken to a doctor or a dietitian?

 

[Paisley]

Are you looking to gain muscle? Specific workout programs can help you gain "bulk" in the form of muscle.

Normal muscular weight gain on women tends to look athletic and toned, not like East German athletes from some decades ago. Many of them were on steroids.

If you want to build muscle, use a program that involves heavier weights and fewer reps. Dinky little two-pound weights won't do it.

 

[ZombieGirl]

Sorry to stick my nose in it but if I may ask... what are your motives here? If you're trying to gain weight for health purposes I'd say your safest bet is consulting your physician or a nutritionist. That way you'll be in better control of your overall health. If it's just to conform to a specific era's definitions of beauty... I don't know. IMHO weight gain for weight gain's sake seems too risky, just as losing inordinate amounts of weight can affect one's health negatively. There are plenty of vintage styles that suit a thin frame. I'm sure there are FL'ers that can help you out in that department. Please just be safe and use good judgment. Again, please forgive me if I sound all self-righteous.

 

[Paisley]

Ask ten different health professionals about weight, and they'll suggest ten different things. But basically, there are two major theories of weight gain: calories in, calories out; and endocrinology 101. CICO states that, basically, if you eat fewer calories, or burn more calories, you'll lose weight, and vice versa. This is current medical orthodoxy, even though studies and everyday experience have shown that it doesn't result in permanent weight loss--and doesn't even work for some people. Endocrinology 101 is much more complicated, but grandma had the take-away message: it's starch and sugar that tend to put on weight. (Not that the weight gain is necessarily healthy, as others have mentioned.)

The best summary I've seen of Endocrinology 101 is here (Part I and Part II). If you want further information, look up science writer Gary Taubes, Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades, Dr. Robert Atkins, scientist Mary Enig, and a slim book called Fat: It's Not what you Think. (There are additional links about this subject in my blog.)

Go to a health professional, and you'll probably get a speech on "eating right" and exercising--in other words, calories in, calories out. The "eating right" part may include advice to eat oatmeal, whole-wheat pasta, lots of fruit and vegetables, and some lean meat. In other words, mostly starch and sugar. If, on the other hand, you subscribe to Endocrinology 101, it's no mystery why so many health professionals are overweight: they're following their own advice.

If you are interested in gaining muscle, you'll need sufficient protein and either sufficient fat or sufficient carbs. I did Body for Life for several years, which involves eating a lot of carbs, but for various reasons dropped it in favor of a low-carb, high-fat diet. (I lost weight on the high-fat diet--sorry if I got your hopes up. )

Whatever plan you choose, I think it's good to tailor it to yourself, but I don't think it's good to take a hodge-podge of different approaches at once.

 

[RockyHorror]

A friend of mine just went on a week long binge of hamburgers and bacon and things and gained 4 pounds, thats probably not the best way to go about things though. The only real suggestion I have is milk powder, you can add it to a whole bunch of foods without even noticing really!

 

[helenhighwater]

Pasta, bread and potatoes did for me. Great way to put on weight!

And as such (and some other reasons too), I've recently had a gastric band fitted. Or implanted. Or inserted. **use verb of your choice here**

In order for the operation to go safely, there's liquid diet involved beforehand (to induce ketosis to shrink the liver so they can get to the stomach safely) and during the healing process. Also, when they do the fills, a liquid diet has to be followed for a couple of days. And in order to survive on this, they recommend Complan. It works as a meal replacement for me, and I make it with milk and take a multivitamin + mineral every day. I spose if you were to have Complan (but do watch out cos it ain't cheap) plus you ate normally then it probably would help you gain weight.

(and for any of you reading this who have contemplated having a band, go for it! It's not easy and it's not a magic wand, but it is really helping me!)

 

[KittyT]

Hamburgers? Well, I had a chicken burger with fries and a fizzy drink today.

Yes those things will work, but I think you probably want to be careful about gaining weight in a healthy manner instead of using foods that can lead to other health problems like high cholesterol.

Too much yeast can be quite bad for you too, so i might opt out of the yeast option.

So use it in moderation?

One mighty obvious question... have you discussed this with your doctor?

 

[Paisley]

Yes those things will work, but I think you probably want to be careful about gaining weight in a healthy manner instead of using foods that can lead to other health problems like high cholesterol.

The lipid hypothesis is a very common belief. However, according to a report on the Framingham Study,

With one exception there was no discernible association between reported diet intake and serum cholesterol level in the Framingham Diet Study Group. The one exception was a weak negative association between caloric intake and serum cholesterol level in men. [As to] coronary heart disease–was it related prospectively to diet. No relationship was found.
​

The researchers looked at calories, protein and fat consumption, but as far as I know, not carb intake. (According to the Eadeses and William Davis, it's carbohydrates that raise triglyceride levels.)

George Mann, M.D., a heart researcher and former director of the Framingham study, wrote,

For fifty years the public has been told by officials of the American Heart Association and the National Heart Institute that this epidemic [of coronary heart] disease is caused by dietary saturated fatty acids and cholesterol. That advice is quite wrong. It is the greatest biomedical error of the twentieth century. The advice lingers, for selfish personal reasons and commercial avarice.
Source: Fat: It's Not what you Think by Connie Leas, p. 15.​

Readers might also find it interesting that the LDL level your doctor reports to you is a calculation, not a measurement, and that the size of the LDL particles is important.

However, even doctors and laymen who don't subscribe to the lipid hypothesis have various ideas on whether cholesterol levels are even important, how much and what kind of fat to eat, how much plant material to eat, whether to take vitamins, etc. I'm sure the ideal diet varies by individual.

 

[helenhighwater]

I do believe they've recently said that eggs aren't full of cholestrol. They always held them up as baddies but have since said, no, go for it. It may be because they feel that eggs are very good nutritionally and so outweigh the cholestrol risks, or they're just jim dandy.

 

[LadyL]

Since no one has pointed this out - it is possible to be underweight or normal weight and still be overfat or "skinny fat" - i.e. have a high body fat percentage despite normal/low scale weight. Body composition (amount of muscle vs. fat you carry) is important at every size. So if you are looking to gain weight, you want to gain healthy weight, not just fat and bloat. I recommend eating a high protein diet and considering weight lifting. You will not bulk up; it is impossible for 99% of women to accidentally bulk up. Believe me, muscular looking women have worked hard to look that way, you won't wake up one day looking buff! But the point is to put on a few lbs. of muscles for every few lbs. of fat to keep your body composition healthy.

 

[Paisley]

I do believe they've recently said that eggs aren't full of cholestrol. They always held them up as baddies but have since said, no, go for it. It may be because they feel that eggs are very good nutritionally and so outweigh the cholestrol risks, or they're just jim dandy.

Eggs have quite a bit of cholesterol. But you're right that they aren't unhealthy (unless you're allergic to them).

The fat and cholesterol you ingest don't automatically turn into body fat or clog your arteries. Newer theories of heart disease involve inflammation rather than fat or cholesterol intake.

 

[CaramelSmoothie]

Depo Provera. That is a birth control shot that made me gain 30 lbs. in 6 months, that I have since lost after strenuous cardio sessions. Of course you'll have to deal with your hair shedding like crazy and unpredictable menstrual spotting but hey, it works!

 

[Foofoogal]

Newer theories of heart disease involve inflammation rather than fat or cholesterol intake.
__________________

I so, so believe this is what will be found out. From personal experience. fftopic:

Each persons physical makeup is so different.

 

[therizyflapper]

hello everyone! im so happy i found this thread! iv always been a slim girl but i alteast had curves and a booty.... about 3 years ago allot of stuff happend in my life and as a result i got very sick and dropped allot of weight very quickly..... i went form 126lbs to a frail 100lbs... iv been slowly gaining weight back.. but not quick at all... im not only 103lbs and im very sad that i have basically lost all my curves and it happened completely out of my control iv tried weight gain shakes with no success.... just a crummy tummy after i dont have the best appetite sometimes, which i feel contributes allot to my low weight... i was wondering if anyone here had any ideas i want to gain healthy weight, so i dont wont to load myself if with fatty foods and carbohydrates to gain weight hahaha my goal is to just not be as thin as i am right now, i would like to have more shape like i use to have so if anyone has any tips that would be amazing!

hugs to all,
TheRitzyFlapper