Underweight, making me miserable

Hi, i'm 18, i'm 5'8" and i weigh 103lb. I'm pretty underweight. I hate it, i've tried weight gain shakes but the ones with like 1000+ calories are so thick they make me gag and i can't down them, i'd just be sick. I don't eat many calories, apprently i should be having 2533 a day to start putting on 1lb a week.
The problem is i can't find enough food to reach that many calories, i don't like most food either. I need a plan of food that i can have every day to meet that goal.
I say i need to eat more, but i can't find more because i've already consumed what i like.

My day is usually like this:
- Breakfast: some cereal and orange juice
-dinner: jam on toast or cheese on toast
Snacks: usually just have some crips, a biscuit and diet coke.
Tea: i have chips+something else every night
And before bed i've been having some cereal too.
I do have a protein shake that has 400 calories in it, but i don't make it often and it doesn't have that much left

I really need to put on weight because it is affecting my mental health and my personal life, i met someone i really like but i don't feel like i am ready to meet them with this body. And i really want to meet them in the summer. It is making my life miserable. Don't tell me to go to a GP, they'll just send me to a nutritionist and give me a leaflet about healthy eating. Please help, idk what else to do.

Join the gym?

You don't eat enough and the things you do eat are not that healthy.
Try adding more fruits and vegetables.
You eat too much protein which might cause even weight loss if you don't eat enough carbs. (I am not even talking about it being unhealthy for your kidneys and digestive system).

I was super thin and underweight 164cm was 39-40kg... now I am 43kg and still gaining.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 3

samina_ay

18

You need to gain healthy fat - working out helps and eat some protein, fresh fruit and veg :smile:

loads of it tho. Or try the vegan diet -unlimited food but it has to be plant based.

Reply 4

User1333171

12

Have breakfast plus three small meals during the day. And when I say meals I mean more than jam on toast. I sometimes bulk up my calorie intake just by having some snack noodles, pasta or rice. Not the healthiest long term as it's all carbs, but the habit has improved my energy levels and weight. I sometimes get microwave rice as it's quick and easy and it usually has a flavour so I can eat it when I can't face something bland.

Reply 5

Anonbabes

19

Original post by ejw.97

Hi, i'm 18, i'm 5'8" and i weigh 103lb. I'm pretty underweight. I hate it, i've tried weight gain shakes but the ones with like 1000+ calories are so thick they make me gag and i can't down them, i'd just be sick. I don't eat many calories, apprently i should be having 2533 a day to start putting on 1lb a week.
The problem is i can't find enough food to reach that many calories, i don't like most food either. I need a plan of food that i can have every day to meet that goal.
I say i need to eat more, but i can't find more because i've already consumed what i like.

My day is usually like this:
- Breakfast: some cereal and orange juice
-dinner: jam on toast or cheese on toast
Snacks: usually just have some crips, a biscuit and diet coke.
Tea: i have chips+something else every night
And before bed i've been having some cereal too.
I do have a protein shake that has 400 calories in it, but i don't make it often and it doesn't have that much left

I really need to put on weight because it is affecting my mental health and my personal life, i met someone i really like but i don't feel like i am ready to meet them with this body. And i really want to meet them in the summer. It is making my life miserable. Don't tell me to go to a GP, they'll just send me to a nutritionist and give me a leaflet about healthy eating. Please help, idk what else to do.

I'll be studying Dietetics in September hopefully! My aim is to become a Dietitian, one of the reasons are to help underweight people to gradually become in the "healthy weight" area as being underweight can make you develop diseases.

Well since, i've not studied it yet, I will give some advice, but would recommend talking to your doctor about visiting a Dietitian.

Breakfast: some cereal and orange juice ->Why not add a brown bread toast and add some margarine?-dinner: jam on toast or cheese on toast- why not jacket potato with cheese and beans? or that could be for lunch! DO NOT MISS LUNCH!Snacks: usually just have some crips, a biscuit and diet coke. -> Well even though they are considered at making you gain weight in the long term it could make you sick..Tea: i have chips+something else every night- Don't forget vegtables and fruits! you need a healthy dietAnd before bed i've been having some cereal too.- Not required surely? have a cereal bar or something..I do have a protein shake that has 400 calories in it, but i don't make it often and it doesn't have that much left-> Have no knowledge about protein shakes so can't help
hope i helped :smile:

X REMEMBER I AM ONLY AT COLLEGE! GO AND ASK A SPECIALIST!

Reply 6

999tigger

19

You need to eat more calories. the easiet way to do that is to eat calorie dense foods.- nuts peanut butter, seeds there are plenty of high calorie foods.

No time but just go and join mfp and jon the gaining weight forum, they will give you plenty of help. I would also suggest you think about dong some resistance exercise so you cna gain some more muscle rather than fat.

they will also give you ideas on how to uncrease your calories, but you shuld look at your diet froma nutrution side as well.

Reply 7

It's****ingWOODY

20

As some of the others have said, add in more calorie dense foods. 2500 is **** all when you can squeeze 1000 into an average sized spaghetti bolognaise, for example. Weigh 100g of dry/uncooked pasta, that's nearly 400 calories. Cook 200g of lean mince, that's another 250 calories. Add in half a jar of bolognaise sauce, that's another 100 calories. Sprinkle a couple tablespoons of olive oil in there, that's another 250 calories.

That's about 1000 calories in one meal, that'd fit into a medium-sized bowl. Wash that down with some milk and you've got even more calories.

Reply 8

Aristotle's' Disciple

19

Big bag of nuts wherever you go, covered in caramel they're delicious. 1 regular pack is like 2000 calories, Oh also you can try cofresh frozen peas with nuts for a spicier variety, I used to have those a lot, really tasty.

1000 calories 99p

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=261575052

2000 calories 99p

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=287548682

Personally I keep fats low always and use my avocado/flax oil when I do, but if you really can't handle food volume a high fat low carb low fibre method will help you put on weight for sure.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 9

thefatone

6

Original post by ejw.97

Hi, i'm 18, i'm 5'8" and i weigh 103lb. I'm pretty underweight. I hate it, i've tried weight gain shakes but the ones with like 1000+ calories are so thick they make me gag and i can't down them, i'd just be sick. I don't eat many calories, apprently i should be having 2533 a day to start putting on 1lb a week.
The problem is i can't find enough food to reach that many calories, i don't like most food either. I need a plan of food that i can have every day to meet that goal.
I say i need to eat more, but i can't find more because i've already consumed what i like.

My day is usually like this:
- Breakfast: some cereal and orange juice
-dinner: jam on toast or cheese on toast
Snacks: usually just have some crips, a biscuit and diet coke.
Tea: i have chips+something else every night
And before bed i've been having some cereal too.
I do have a protein shake that has 400 calories in it, but i don't make it often and it doesn't have that much left

I really need to put on weight because it is affecting my mental health and my personal life, i met someone i really like but i don't feel like i am ready to meet them with this body. And i really want to meet them in the summer. It is making my life miserable. Don't tell me to go to a GP, they'll just send me to a nutritionist and give me a leaflet about healthy eating. Please help, idk what else to do.

ok in all seriousness just eat nuts, keep munching on nuts all day, peanuts, almonds, whatever it is, just eat nuts

Reply 10

username2538449

18

Try to eat bigger portions and have lunch. I'm slightly underweight as well but I have a very different diet which works fine for me :u:

. In the beginning it will feel like you will never stop eating but you'll get used to it haha. Do you cook?

For example for breakfast have two slices of toasted brown/rye bread with butter, avocado and two poached eggs (easier than you think!). If you like you can add spring onions, (sun dried) tomatoes, olives et cetera. Have some full cream/greek yoghurt with banana, honey and nuts as well. Orange juice and tea/coffee on the side. Now this is a proper breakfast.

For lunch you can make sandwiches with peanut butter or for example cream cheese with smoked salmon. Have nuts or dark chocolate as snack.

Cheese on toast is not really a dinner :tongue:

I don't know if you cook, but have something with rice, fish and vegetables or a nice pasta to increase your calorie intake. Don't forget a dessert! :u: