I don't know if I can keep this up. Topic

Dietician 02/24/21 replied to U1189428076
Greetings 1189428076- Welcome to MyNetDiary! I responded to your question under "Ask a Registered Dietitian," as well.

Weight gain can be more challenging than people realize. Here are few tips that have helped others in your situation.
1. Don't skip meals- even if you get busy or don't feel like eating. If you don't feel like eating, try a shake or smoothie.
2. Weigh and measure your food to make sure you are not over-estimating your intake
3. Add back the calories you burn through exercise when tracking with the app. You can do this by turning on the feature, "add exercise to calorie budget."
4. Smoothies are your friend! Check out the smoothie recipes we have in the premium recipe collection. You can easily add some extra nut-butter and protein powder to the recipes to boost the nutrition and calories. Premium recipes: https://www.mynetdiary.com/mynetdiary-s-premium-new-feature-over-200-delicious-recipes.html
Here are some resources you may find helpful!
https://www.mynetdiary.com/protein-needs-for-muscle-gain.html
https://www.mynetdiary.com/weight-gain-for-many-people-it-s-not-as-easy-as-it-sounds.html
If you have tried everything and after 2 weeks are not able to gain some weight, then it would be a good idea to see your doctor to have them run some tests to make sure nothing is off with your health. Hang in there! Joanna (MyNetDiary Dietitian)

U1189788623 04/12/21
I am in the same boat, cannot eat when stressed and the last 6 months have been incredibly challenging. I do find the protein shake at lunch though the easiest to tolerate and it actually seems to boost my appetite. Push yourself even when you feel uncomfortable and before you know it, that level of food intake will feel normal. You can do it!

Dietician 04/13/21 replied to U1189788623
Hi U1189788623- Having a protein shake is a great idea when you find you don't have the appetite or time to prepare a healthy lunch! I like Orgain shakes made with pea protein.

Many people find that eating small portions of food is easier to tolerate when feeling stressed than large meals. Here are some snack ideas that you may find helpful-
Thanks for chiming in- Hope your stress levels begin to taper off- Best, Joanna (MyNetDiary Dietitian)
https://www.mynetdiary.com/superfoods-for-your-immune-system-try-these-20-immune-boosting-snacks-at-less-than-150-calories-each.html

U6582128 06/14/21
Protein shakes alone can fill you up and suppress an appetite. I found eating a meal first that’s then followed by a high calorie shake (1200 calories/16 oz of almond milk) allowed me to gain 30 lbs in six months. I was also lifting weights during this time, so my gain was largely muscle and little fat. And yes, it takes motivation and focus to eat and drink a lot of calories. The effort is worth it, however.

To make these shakes more enjoyable to the taste while being nutritious, I added blueberries, nut butter, a fiber boost supplement, greens boost supplement, and turmeric capsules.

I often had a hard boiled egg or two between meals, and sometimes I even drank another shake before bed.

Dietician 06/14/21 replied to U6582128
Hello U6582128-Thanks for chiming in! Glad you found an eating plan that worked for you and your health goals. Best, Joanna (MyNetDiary Dietitian)

Highland_Gigi 06/15/21
Have you tried adding calorie dense foods to help increase your intake? Foods like avocado, nut butter, oily fish, full fat dairy and healthy fats/oils can be a healthy way to increase your calories.

Dietician 06/17/21
I love all the ideas for weight gain! Another key is to stay tuned in to how your strategies work for you. For example, when U6582128 figured out that drinking the shake after meals worked better to maximize calories. Another tip to consider - Some people keep a decanter of olive oil on the counter and drizzle it over foods and mix it into shakes to boost calories. When tracking calories, just keep a 1/2 tablespoon next to it so you can measure and track how many calories you add. It is so healthy that you benefit from the healthy fatty acids and the calories. Also, if you like nuts, keep a jar of your favorite (almonds, walnuts) on the kitchen counter so you can grab a handful for a calorie boost. If you go to Costco or Sams, they sell them for a decent price in large bags. I keep them in the freezer to keep fresh.

You've got this! Brenda (MyNetDiary Dietitian)

4nd0 06/22/21
Gaining weight and making your stomach bigger it’s tricky, more difficult than losing it (for me). I had a similar problem when I was young, from 11 until 25 years old. And as you describes so well, this sensation of force-feeding it felt horrible to me. I expect you are doing well and you are being able to acomplish or getting a little near to your goal, bit by bit, right now. The secret they told me, as the dietician has said, is 5 meals a day (two of them snacks). Our stomachs are like muscles, and they need training. They can be very little or too big depending in how much we eat. And we need to eat healthy while we help it to get to the correct size. The size of our stomachs cannot be as we want over night. You can do it, Beatrice. I hope you are well. And I would like to read how you are improving. If not improving or not as much as you would like, we can read and talk to you to give you all our support in your goal. You are not alone. Best wishes!

Dietician 06/22/21 replied to 4nd0
Hi 4nd0- Thanks for chiming in with your personal experience. Much appreciated! Joanna (MyNetDiary Dietitian)

I don't know if I can keep this up.