topic Re: Want to gain weight! in Community Chat

Want to gain weight!

Ceci — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 05:52:04 GMT

Almost feel embarrassed to ask this question, but watching Andrew Lessman on HSN as he's selling his low calorie meal replacement.

Does anyone know of a healthy meal replacement for someone who wants to gain weight?

I am healthy but have trouble keeping weight on since I've gotten older (68). I've always been thin but in the last few years have lost weight. I'm not a good eater and tend to forget to eat if I don't remind myself. I'm healthy but even my doctor would like me to put on at least 10 pounds.

I do not like supplements like Boost or the others because they are full of sugar and junk I don't want to drink. I like Andrews meal replacement, have ordered it in the past but it is very low in calorie if you are trying to gain weight.

Does he make a regular caloric meal replacement?

Re: Want to gain weight!

KathyM23 — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 05:58:09 GMT

Go to your grocery store and buy Ensure and drink it. It contains vitamins and minerals and is for people who cannot eat. When I get sick the first thing that goes is my stomach and I lose weight - don't want to eat.

Ensure is what is given to those in the hospital and nursing homes to make sure they are getting adequate nutrition when the appetite goes.

It's a lot cheaper than Lessman and with ice also tastes good - sort of like a milkshake. By the way milkshakes will also help you gain weight and give you the benefit a calcium for your bones.

Re: Want to gain weight!

mom2four0418 — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 06:28:15 GMT

Ensure is not cheaper than Lessman's shakes. It is very high in carbs, sugar and chemicals.

Re: Want to gain weight!

kitcat51 — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 07:33:58 GMT

I had the same problem & my solution was to have a set time to eat meals everyday, that way I didn't skip & the meals I planned & ate were healthy. I know you want info on replacements but thought I'd share what worked for me...wish you the best on meeting your goal @Ceci.

Re: Want to gain weight!

Beauty$Junkie — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 12:20:50 GMT

While I do not have this problem, I do have a good friend with that same issue. I suggested to her that she should keep a food diary and write out a menu plan to get the number of calories she needs. You can include nuts, avocados and breads that are higher in calories, but I would not start eating processed foods. I assume your doctor has ruled out any medical issues that keep you from gaining.

Re: Want to gain weight!

Greeneyedlady21 — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 12:55:20 GMT

@Ceci Rather than asking here, I think the best thing for you to do is to make an appointment with a dietitian. Even if your insurance won't cover it, it's not expensive and it's money well spent. Research online and find a good one, they're not all good just like doctors or any other health professional.

Re: Want to gain weight!

SharkE — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 13:26:41 GMT

Bless your heart..

Re: Want to gain weight!

Zhills — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 13:37:33 GMT

Eat your regular 3 meals a day and drink the Ensure as an "extra" meal each day instead of using it as a "meal replacement." Two a day should help you gain weight that is healthy weight.

Re: Want to gain weight!

Still Raining — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 13:56:15 GMT

Are your existing meals well balanced? Could you just eat larger portions? Don’t skip meals.

Re: Want to gain weight!

LindaSal — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 14:31:03 GMT

I drink Andrew Lessman shakes everday and love them. While I do not need to gain weight, I would love to have that problem, my suggestion would be to add a banana and some frozen yogurt to your shake in a blender. You will be getting more nutrition and banana's while offering great nutrients also have a bit of calories. Best of luck

Re: Want to gain weight!

bonnie f — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 14:39:38 GMT

carbs i would say... i want to have this problem lol... but i heard its just as hard for some people to gain weight... but i'd have fun trying...

Re: Want to gain weight!

MyShadowLove — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 14:57:17 GMT

@Ceci....Quoting from your post...."I'm not a good eater and tend to forget to eat if I don't remind myself."

The answer is right in your own post...You need to make sure that you eat meals on a regular basis....even grazing throughout the day and just making sure that you get good healthy caloric intake...Also, rather than looking into meal replacement shakes, which can be loaded with carbs and sugars, it would be more healthier for you to make your own healthy smoothies....You can check online for some great recipes or even head on over to the Recipes Forum for some ideas...Just be sure that you don't substitute these for a regular healthy meal...rather add them in between your meals.

Just to share that I have always been on the slim side myself and, when I was in my 20's, I told my Dr. that I wanted to gain some weight....He assured me that I was doing fine and at a healthy weight, but I told him that I just wanted to add about another 10 lbs. to feel more voluptuous....lol...Anyhow, as I got into my 30's, my weight did increase to what I felt was more within a normal range for me and what made me feel better about myself...it has basically stayed the same throughout the years, give or take a few lbs. here and there every now and then....We each have our own personal metabolism rates which determines our caloric intake and activity levels to stay at our healthiest weights.

In your case, you are not eating enough and you need to maintain a more healthier eating pattern.

By the way, there is no need to feel embarrassed whatsoever...Your question is perfectly understandable and sharing with others can provide some helpful advice, as well as consulting with your personal physician.

Take good care of yourself!

Re: Want to gain weight!

CelticCrafter — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 15:24:43 GMT

It isn't easy for me to gain weight.

People will say just eat more - well in the course of a day, there is only so much you can eat without making yourself feel sick or so stuffed that you don't want the next meal.

And believe me, the comments about being so thin can be just as hurtful as saying something to someone that is overweight.

Re: Want to gain weight!

Beth-QVC — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 15:41:55 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC because it contains a live link to an external retailer

Re: Want to gain weight!

happycat — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 15:58:11 GMT

Do you like heavy cream or half and half? I had a friend in high school who couldn't gain weight, and every day for lunch, she would drink one of those. I don't think it helped her gain much, but she thought it kept her from losing any more.

Re: Want to gain weight!

Montana — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 17:20:50 GMT

I also think keeping to an eating schedule will help you. It helped me regain weight lost in the aftermath of digestive problems.

So I made a daily eating routine - 3 meals plus 2 snacks - which I stuck to without fail. I was never hungry, but knew there was no chance of gaining weight without eating regularly. So I ate, by the clock day after day. Eventually it paid off and I gained back much of the weight I had lost. In my experience it can be just as hard to gain weight as it is to lose weight. For me, it has been a real struggle.

For a while, I was stuck, so I added a protein powder as one of the snacks. I gained more pounds from doing that. For the most part, I continue to stick to my eating routine. and I weigh myself all the time to make sure I am not losing weight again.

What I miss the most is being hungry, I didn’t realize it but hunger added an element of enjoyment to my meals.

Re: Want to gain weight!

qbetzforreal — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 17:50:26 GMT

Protein shakes and/or add extra calories to your daily intake-like 3 meals plus 3 snacks.

Re: Want to gain weight!

ShowMe — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 17:55:16 GMT

@Greeneyedlady21 wrote:
@Ceci Rather than asking here, I think the best thing for you to do is to make an appointment with a dietitian. Even if your insurance won't cover it, it's not expensive and it's money well spent. Research online and find a good one, they're not all good just like doctors or any other health professional.

@Greeneyedlady21.....excellent idea about an appointment with a dietitian. When I was going in for my radiation treatments for my cancer, the radiation doctor had the dietitian come out to talk with me. I had lost a whole lot of weight, and they were concerned about that. Had gotten very weak too. So, the dietitian recommended that I drink one or two BOOSTS a day. It was provided for me by an organization here that will give it to you free, and also provides transportation to and from getting the treatments. She told me I could also mix the BOOST in with ice cream and make it like a shake. I chose the chocolate BOOST. They delivered 3 cases of the BOOST to me. I keep it refrigerated.

Re: Want to gain weight!

ShowMe — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 18:06:17 GMT

There are still some days that I am not really hungry at all, but do try to force myself to eat at least 2 full meals a day. And I do have snacks in between meals. Bananas are very good for you, yes I usually have at least 4 a week.

Another good thing to eat is oatmeal. It is a stick to your ribs thing, and I love it with fruit in it and make it with Whole Milk......

Re: Want to gain weight!

ShowMe — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 18:12:30 GMT

@Zhills wrote:
Eat your regular 3 meals a day and drink the Ensure as an "extra" meal each day instead of using it as a "meal replacement." Two a day should help you gain weight that is healthy weight.

@Zhills.....Yep, using it as a meal replacement is not a good idea. I look at it as a "treat" during the day. Mine is BOOST.