How to increase weight?!

@arthi_88 (1516)
India
February 16, 2009 1:30am CST
No its not a typing error and I am dead sincere about the question! Though I luckily have a stable disproportionate sport person figure my Mom has somehow forgotten to put on weight with her age an has an extremely slim figure! Its awful, doesn't suit her age and though she is healthy she looks sick in a family of all oversized people..She has high blood pressure and I take the blame for it as I am always outside and she is always worrying about me without any reason-she is a MOM after all! Can you all suggest few tricks as to how my Mom can put on some weight in a healthy manner? Theres lot written about losing weight but hardly anything about gaining...
5 people like this
25 responses
• India
16 Feb 09
Best way to increase weight going to gym every day. Dont think gym is used only to weight reduction. If we do exercise daily we can keep our body in a moderate condition. whether you may thin or fat you can keep your body in a moderate and balanced condition only through exercise.
1 person likes this
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
16 Feb 09
I don't think Mom will be comfortable going to a Gym though she does Yoga at home with me regularly to keep the blood pressure in check..
1 person likes this
• India
16 Feb 09
I your mother is not comfortable to go gym then yoga is very good. Even my mother is practicing yoga to control Blood pressure. Then suggest her to eat fatty food and energetic food. But make sure her doing exercise. Not doing exercise and taking fatty food leads to other problems.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
16 Feb 09
Maybe eating a lot would help. I have tried this and it is effective. I take a lot of rice in every meal. Drink protein drinks and milk before going to bed. Multivitamins or vitamins can also help increase your weight. It gives you an appetite to eat more so that you will gain weight. I took clusivol before and centrum and it helped me improved in weight. I also tried going to gym for my concern of gaining weight. And i can say that it helped me trimmed my body to where i wanted. It helped me also to get hungry fast and eat more and drink more. Exercise not only rejuvenates your body but will give you a healthy feeling.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
18 Feb 09
Use caution when excercising while trying to gain weight. Excersize does increase the appetite but it also stimulates your metabolism. In my case my metabolism is very fast so even though I ate tons of food...the excersize just melted it off. She does need to excersize though. One thing that helped me a lot, I think is that I stopped going to my weight gain,excersise group in the evening. Instead, I began doing all my excersises in the morning before I ate breakfast. It became my routine. I got up and did pushups, situps and jumped rope. I got in the shower and by then I was famished. I'd eat a good breakfast and then I rode my bike to work. I had break before lunch and would grab a snack and coffee. Then lunch and afternoon break. After riding my bike home in the afternoon, I was done with excersize. I would eat dinner. Later have a snack and then go to bed. Now being older...I cut out the bike ride twice a day. I do all my excersizes in the morning and then eat small amounts several times thru the day and do no excersizing. the calories seem to stick.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
16 Feb 09
She takes lots of rice already and doctor has said her not to eat forcefully so eating a lot when she doesn't want to will be harmful for her..You have provided lots of options and thanks for that..
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
She hardly looks at herself in the mirror early in the morning as she needs to help everyone get ready for work or school and then go out to teaching herself..I think she will need to get up more early to do exercises before eating in the morning. Thanks for your advice.
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
17 Feb 09
You are a true daughter of your mother, as you seem very concerned about her health and weight. It would be better if she takes advice of a qualified Doctor for increasing her weight, as she cannot take anything and everything, because of blood pressure. Some of the persons are thin otherwise, even if they consume lots of food, their weight does not increase. There is nothing wrong, if a person looks slim and younger. She can try taking banana with milk everyday, this will help her increase her weight.
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
20 Feb 09
You are doing a great favour to your parents, specially to your Mother. It shows that you are very caring and Keept it up! Please also consult a good dietician or a Doctor.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
I am the only daughter of my parents and my brother is too young and just a teenager so ultimately it comes on me and my Grandma to look after my parents after all their hard work daily. I was planning a new diet chart for my parents so wanted to incorporate tips from myLotters for my mother after checking it with my physician. She takes banana and milk regularly during breakfast/ Thanks for you time. Have a nice day!
@aweins (4199)
• India
18 Feb 09
hi arthi_88 , my dear friend, MOM is MOM, and it is very much true that when children re out , half of their minds ar wt their children, where they are, what they have eaten, ow ae they, and so because of that worry and tension, one cannot ain weight. there are a lot of weight gain supplements available in the markeet but they are not recommended. insted have a a good helping of protein enriched foods , fruits and products which contain more fat. eat lots of protein and fats as it is very helpful in incresing your weight nd fat. taking nutritious food , exercising daily, going to the gym, doing low weight and repitions. most people think that thin people sould not exercise or else they would get even more thinner. but it is not so. it is recommended because the more they exercise , the more they feel hungry and the more they eat.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
21 Feb 09
Exercising is good and my Mom is regularly doing yoga and also following few of the tips given by the fellow myLotters.Lets hope it helps.Thank you.
@jaffna (778)
• India
16 Feb 09
everything depends upon the diet you follow.It is very easy to increase your weight than reducing.While reducing our weight needs a lot of excercises,you can increase your weight by sleeping well and most often than the normal hours.Take some fat-rich items for meals.Chicken and egg will put on some pounds over us and avoid taking too much of hot water and tea.Daily an icecream will also help you to increase your weight.These were the things i followed up when i was concentrating on increasing ma weight and it really helped
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
18 Feb 09
Actually jaffna, take it from one that tried desperatly for years to gain weight...not any easier than trying to take it off....both are very difficult. I tried everything and joined weight gain programs and all...In a program that included excersise...I lost a pound each week and that was while treating myself to Burger King after each session! I gained the pounds after I resigned to stop worrying about the weight. I got up to 118 pounds and there it stayed and with excersise, I had muscle tone. At one point, I fell sick and lost down to 115 and from there went downhill...struggled and got back up to 118. Later on in life, I was on meds that caused me to gain weight. Even at 118 I could use a few pounds...I gained more than a few. I went up to close to 150. That was way too much for me and it was not a healthy gain...in all the wrong places!. It took me 3 years off the meds to get back down to 118. I'm 52 and I think I would like to gain a few pounds but it isn't easy at all. My mom passed last year and weighed only 65 pounds. We did everything to put weight on her. I took care of her and I know she ate well...the pounds just did not accumulate. Her metabolism just prevented it. If she excersised as she should have due to other problems...she'd lose even more. It was kind of a lose-lose situation. Don't ever think that losing is harder than gaining. It just is for some people.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
16 Feb 09
Well Mom actually have to avoid food rich in fat and cholesterol to keep her pressure maintained..But the ice cream a day is a good idea..
@agrant10 (1476)
• United States
16 Feb 09
I used to be real skinny and I also wanted to gain weight. This past year I gained 20 pounds in one year. I ate a lot of ice cream and I really packed the pounds on. I would eat my dinner and let my food settle then I would eat two glasses of butter peacan ice cream. I really like the weight because I'm tall but you can still tell that I have gained weight.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
Eating ice cream is a good idea and a really interesting one. Thanks!
@agrant10 (1476)
• United States
18 Feb 09
thanks
@enola1692 (3323)
• United States
17 Feb 09
Hmm I would tell u to send her to my house I have a bad habit of fatten people up I love baking anyway when my granny was sick they had her drinking ensure an boost shakes to gain weight
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
Habit of making people fat? That may keep people away from your houseand some will become fan of yours! Thanks for sharing your opinion of shakes and ensure.Have a nice day!
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
16 Feb 09
Is she dieting still? That's actually normal for people who've been into sports for their lives, and there are people too who are just blessed with slim figures. If you're afraid of her being malnourished, check what she eats, perhaps it's better to bring her to a dietitian to be sure which nutrients she lacks and what or how she could be able to have more of those she lack. Plus, it's important for moms and grandmothers to have more sun. More sun would help them feel good and have the vitamins for their skin. Perhaps she doesn't have sun that's why you feel she looks sick. Don't worry too much, if the doctor says she's fine, then she's fine. It's better to have a slim body when you're a lot older than to have a bulky one. Bulky one gives a lot more problems. Oh, by the way, have you checked her blood sugar levels? or Glucose? Higher blood sugar levels keep a person slim (sick slim). Good luck! Happy Mylotting!
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
She doesn't have diabetes so far and thank God for that..Mom does spend lot of time outdoors and I agree over weight people do have more problems related to health but my Mom is underweight for no reason. Have a nice day!
@vimaal (3361)
• India
18 Feb 09
Hi arthi, eat very well and eat healthy foods. take care.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
Thanks Vimaal for your concern and all the best to you too. Have a nice and healthy day.
@dropofrain (1167)
• India
17 Feb 09
This is very unusual question. I think you should be happy that out of all oversized people some one is there who is fit. You should all take inspiration from her. Still if you want her to gain weight then you should feed her with banana with milk or mango with milk. These things help you gain weight at higher speed.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
Ha! Ha! Like a response stated I wish I had her figure but for her age Mom is underweight..That is what bothers me..She takes banana everyday during breakfast as its compulsory for every family member-that's my Grandmom's rule. Thanks. Have a nice day!
@sweetyethot (1737)
• China
17 Feb 09
Do remember to have a balanced diet.Its really important to eat a balanced diet.Exercise daily and get rid of unnecessary worries.lol.Its hard to lose weight whist gaining weight should be very easy.Plus,try four meals a day.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
Yeah its very important to have balanced diet. Thanks and have a nice day!
• India
17 Feb 09
Hi Arthi, I have many idea to put on weight if its not a genetic problem. Many people are having fire in their stomache, in that condition whatever person eat, it would not be help to gain weight. Remedy of that problem is in ayurved, consult ayurvedic doctor. Normally there are many food to gain wait 1) She can take Sprouted pulses as a breakfast in the morning 2) if she is not having sugar problem eat much rice and after meal eat two banana 3) For proper digestion after meal, she can drink buttermilk with zeera powder 4) consume coconut water regulartly 5) Can use soyabean in a regular food(rich in protein) 5) To clean stomache every morning,it is must for good hunger, take one table spoon castor oil every morning. after consuming castor oil,no eating and drinking up to half an hour. All this things i have tried and got good results. Best luck to your mom
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
Thanks for the useful tips..I have passed down all of them to Ma and she is quite happy! She prefers these to chocolates though I have opposite taste. Ayurved is truly good but I don't know any Ayurvedic doctor. Ma is practicing yoga too and hope that helps her the way it had worked in my case. Thanks again and Have a nice day!
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
16 Feb 09
These suggestions are good. Some people can't gain weight because of their metabolism. She may even have a thyroid condition. Definitely talk to a doctor or dietician. They can suggest foods to eat that would slow down her metabolism. You can still space out meals and eat small portions and then "starve". This is a weird suggestion, but her body will be expecting all these meals and then she can change her routine and diet and it may trick her fat cells into storing fat. If she has high blood pressure something may be going on with her body. She can eat high carb. meals to see if that will help with high calories. Good luck and wish I had that problem.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
Be careful with your wishes friend! God is too clever! I don't know if she has thyroid problem so thanks for mentioning that. Starving is a good idea but since Mom has to be so active all day it won't serve for her..Thanks for your tips.
• China
17 Feb 09
Mid-morning and afternoon snacks should be nutritious, not junk. trail mixes contain healthy nuts, dried fruits and can add healthy calories to your mother diet.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
Mom doesn't even touch junk food so that's fine. Thanks. Have a nice day!
@di1159 (1580)
• United States
16 Feb 09
Since her blood pressure is high, I would consult her doctor before doing anything different. She might be able to drink protein shakes or those other shakes sold which help increase calorie counts. These would be in addition to her normal meals. Again, I would check with her doctor first. Good luck!
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
I will check all the tips provided by friends here with my physician. Thanks for your advice.
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
16 Feb 09
Eating foods that are high in protein along with a strength building exercise routine could help. I know that when my husband wants to put on weight, that is what he does.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
Protein food are fine but exercises have to be dealt with caution in Moms case as she has high blood pressure. Thanks.
@wheel416 (1019)
• Canada
16 Feb 09
Hi there Arthi, Boy can I relate to this discussion! Let me explain. I have always been slightly overweight and needed to watch my food intake because I'm also a wheelchair user and not very active. I always said I wish I could be one of those women who could eat whatever they wanted and never gain weight. Now, I say be careful what you wish for you just might get it. In the past 6 to 8 months I have managed to lose 30 pounds (and I'm only 5 feet tall) without trying and without increasing my physical activity level. I know the reason, I have some ongoing health issues that we're sorting out the outer complicated and difficult to solve. Now that you know about me and a little bit about what's going on. Although I'm not underweight yet I'm concerned that very shortly I will be because I have no extra weight to lose at this point. Because I am still continuing to lose weight I have tried to increased my calorie intake in order to just to maintain my current weight. If on the other hand I wanted to gain weight I have to increase those calories even further. That is hard to do. I feel as if I'm eating every second of every day as it is. It sounds like your mother is generally healthy and that's a good thing. You say that she is very physically active and is doing some yoga to control her blood pressure. These are all very good things. You are absolutely right if you want to gain weight it is important to do so with healthy calories and with healthy foods. Fried foods and saturated fat are very high in calories but are also very bad for your health and will lead to heart disease long term. The key is to it eat as healthy as possible and increase the amount of food each day if at all possible. I start with a multi vitamin each day and two cans of the Ensure plus (that's the brand name of a nutritional supplement that has 24 vitamins and minerals.) I drink the Ensure so that I can maintain a healthy and balanced diet with all the nutrients my body needs. Then I start eating. It sounds absolutely bizarre to say it but I start with the healthy stuff first. Yogurt, cheese, fruit, nuts and granola just to name a few. I start with the healthy stuff first so that I can pack in the nutrients. Then I know at the least I'm gonna have a balanced diet and if I don't manage to eat anything else it's not the best but it's OK. Then you can increase your calories by eating foods that most people avoid. High calorie snacks like nuts and trail mix is are good because they have the right kind of fat. They have the healthy fat if you will, the essential fatty acids or EFA's they actually help increase your good cholesterol and lower the bad. Then if I'm still hungry or can manage to put anything else down my throat, whichever the case may be. I start with the not so healthy foods that everyone else likes too much of. Chocolate is my downfall but, it does add extra calories and at this point without it I probably would be underweight. But even the chocolate you can make healthier. For instance the research tells us the dark chocolate is better for us than milk chocolate. So, I'm slowly weaning myself off of milk chocolate and trying to adjust to dark chocolate. I've started with 50% cocoa and I'm working myself up to at least 70% or more. I hope this helps you, because as you say there's not much help out there for those of us who have the opposite problem of gaining more, or least maintaining our current weight. The important thing for you to do is to make sure that she eats the healthy fats. The French fries, fried chicken and potato salad smothered in mayonnaise is not the right way to do it. I wish you all the best and until next time, happy Mylotting.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
Wonderfully explained. I hope you too get some healthy tips from the other responses and hope your health issues are solved quickly. I will keep all the points you have mentioned in mind while planing Mom's new diet chart. I should have my Moms figure at this age and she should look something else!Have a nice day!
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
16 Feb 09
hello. is she taking in some food supplement? or multi-vitamins to boost her appetite? i think that would surely help!
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
She is taking multi vitamins prescribed by the physician for the past month..Lets see if that helps.
@mermaidivy (15394)
• United States
16 Feb 09
Eat 3 meals a day. Sleep before 11p.m and wake up early like 7-8 am.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
We all follow this rule..
• United States
16 Feb 09
Well I would suggest her to eat some foods with high fat. Eat a lot of chocolates and cakes and pastries etc. Add a bit of butter in her diet. Though eating fast food is obviously not good it is also somewhat of a good way to add weight. Eat fried foods and stuff like that. Chips like lays, pringles etc... Overall such fatty foods under supervision would be the best way I think.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
18 Feb 09
Chips and fast food? She has high blood pressure friend and moreover she doesn't allow us to put a finger on any kind of fast food in her presence then eating them herself is impossible! Thanks.