Calories/Weight Gain. HELP?!?!?!
I have an undiagnosed disorder which mainly affects my digestive system. And my energy levels. This can cause alot of abdominal pain which is made worse by eating/drinking. And I have chronic constipation which means there's not alot of room for new food either! I also have a dairy allergy/intolerance. My weight is considered 'dangerously low' (BMI= about 13.7-14.0) and has been like this for many months now. (Has been between BMI of 13.3-15.2 for the past 3 years) I have recently been diagnosed with osteoporosis, so I know this cant be good for my poor body. So I'm in dire need of gaining weight. Besides having your bones sticking out all over the place and looking really ill isnt exactly pretty... :(
If I lose anymore weight then I will probably end up in a general hospital being tube fed in some way. I would really rather be able to stay at home and gain weight myself than have to be in hospital. I'm sure anyone would.
Problem is I'm only really managing to get about 1700 calories max into me each day. I've tried bulking up food, making it more calorie dense, but there's only so much I can eat before I feel really sick and full and bloated. And left unable to do anything apart from eat and worrying about fitting enough calories into the day! :/
Today for example. My diet has consisted of:
Breakfast: Toasted Plain Bagel & 10g Peanut Butter, Water
Lunch: 2x crumpets & dairy-free margarine & jam, 9 Bar Original, Orange Squash
Dinner: Chicken & Vegetable Pasta Ready meal, 1 and 1/2 Cups Cranberry Juice Drink
Pudding: Iced Finger Bun
Snack: 4 Squares Plain Chocolate, 1 Fox's Mint Cream
Total: About 1650 calories
Any ideas of how I can up my calories? Any high calorie recipes or meal plans would be really helpful. I'm just really stuck, desperate and have no idea what to do. My bones may be totally mucked up, but I really dont want the rest of my organs going that way.
Please can you bear in mind that I have an allergy/intolerance to dairy. So anything containing milk is unhelpful, sorry :(
Thank you for your time =]
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Well, I would say trying to eat smaller things with more calories. I'm not saying go and eat at a fast food restaurant 3-5 times a day, but maybe go to Wendy's or Arby's once every other day, and maybe order dinner, since that is one of the biggest meals. Also when you go to the Grocery Store, Check the food labels of the things you are buying, bring a calculator or a pen/pencil and pad of paper and add up the amounts of calories in all of the things you think you would eat in one day. If you would eat only half, say the food item had 400 (Four Hundred) calories in it, just divide that number in half. 200.
I Hope I helped at least a little bit, or sparked some new Ideas in your noggin.
Jillian
Try drinking orange juice..it has calcium....Try asking a nutritionist for help. I have a problem with eating Too many calories...at least I'm not fat..(yet).
Eating Pasta and breads should do it.
I think you are not eating enough. By not eating dairy products you're not getting enough calcium. Get a good vitamin and mineral supplement. For breakfast have some bacon, eggs, hash browns, biscuits, O.J. For lunch try some sub sandwiches on whole grain bread, carrots potato chips, soups, English muffins with 'Nutella' More juice, like grape or apple. Dinner try some rib eye steak or pot roast with baked potato or mashed with gravy, corn or peas and whole wheat bread. Have some apple pie for dessert. Snacks have some energy bars, mixed nuts, raisins, carrots and apples and down it with a V8 juice.
You should gain a pound or two, good luck.
It doesn't seem like 1700 cals, and the food groups are all wrong, mostly. This is a bit complicated to answer but perhaps get a menu sheet from your health professional or a orthodox dietitian. Just try plain,honest cooking.Like mum's, if you know what I mean, and eat more or it, you don't seem to be eating enough so eat more. Bon appétit.
12 kilos overweight
Put a lot of toppings or seasonings on your food or eat a lot of fast food
me