Need to put on weight fast but don't know how

[BrightLightsAndSound]

I feel like such a freak for this. As a result of anxiety I've now developed phagophobia. Its the worst thing I've ever experienced and its getting me so down. Basically a fear of swallowing - I become convinced my throat isn't capable of swallowing so I end up spitting my food out. Its so depressing, I walk around the shop looking at all the stuff I want to eat.

I know I need to sort this out and so will make an appointment to see my GP.

But in the meantime I desperately need to put weight on. I've always been skinny so as you can imagine with this phobia its just getting worse and worse and im starting to look really unwell.

Is it possible on a liquid diet to actually gain weight? Can anyone please advise? Ive got some huel, maybe I should eat more of that? Im drinking soup and having thin porridge.

Can I actually gain weight?

Hi.
Sorry you’re going through this. Take support wherever you can get it.
Go to your gp. Get a referral to a counselor and someone with nutrition knowledge (dietician?)

You could make smoothies with added cream, etc. That would pack the calories in, short-term. But, yes, the GP is needed.

Build up nutritious shakes? Made by nestle I think, boots used to sell them you can also be prescribed something similar but you need to get to the dr ASAP.

As a short term, pure weight gain solution you could just drink double cream or ice cream milkshakes?

Nutricia holmeward shakes can be perscribed by gp, hypnotherapy can be a option through referal from gp x good luck babe x

The gp can prescribe you a sugar/nutrient packed orange juice drink they give to recovering anorexics.

Slimfast meal replacement drinks are v nutritious and if you drank 10 a day instead of 2 you would gain weight.

Blended ice cream, bananas and nutella for high cal smoothie.

If you go to somewhere like go outdoors they sell camping food in powder form you can add hot water to and mix, often tastes nicer than it sounds.

Sorry you're going through this. I struggled with anorexia years ago as a teen and found solid foods difficult while recovering, everything made me feel sick. CBT can really help

You need proper medical advice as soon as possible.

go to your gp. my dd (sn) has lost too much weight and has been prescribed the build up shakes. they have 365 cals in them.

I had a period of being too anxious to eat and all that i could manage was mini milk lollies. What about a magnum or other type of ice cream?

Have you tried Complan?

@Auldspinster
Was yours to do with swallowing or more nervous stomach?
I'll try the lollies and all your suggestions, thanks for the tips.

I've been managing to have an evening meal because I'm not as bad when I'm around someone, also I've found that having a glass of wine seems to dull the feeling so swallowing isnt so much of a problem - but thats a problem in itself isnt it?!

Its a fucking nightmare, I will make an appointment with the GP, im just worried he might try to give me sedatives or something (?)

I don't have any practical advice I'm afraid, but just wanted to say please don't feel like a freak. I have struggled with dermatillomania (skin picking) for years and used to feel the same way. I have found that learning to frame it as a medical condition in your mind rather than "craziness/some weird abnormality" really helps - you wouldn't beat yourself up for having a physical illness, so try to think of this as no different, because it isn't!

Definitely possible to put on weight on a liquid diet. Smoothies with cream, ice cream, full fat yoghurt, nut butters/Nutella, avocado etc. are very high calorie. If you blend them really well you can also add a fair bit of oil without it being gross. Coconut oil works really well in a ‘tropical fruit’ smoothie and can easily add a couple of hundred extra calories.

Same thing with soup, add in extra oil, try recipes with cream and cheese etc. Risoni pasta in soup might be small enough for you to swallow.

LSA, chia or flaxseed mixes in your porridge will add some fat. Cream can also be mixed into porridge.

There’s also a lot of high calorie protein powders made specifically for people looking to gain.

Also little things like adding double cream instead of milk to coffee or tea add up too. Plus things like proper hot chocolate made with actual chocolate.

Cheese sauce made with butter, flour and whole milk plus full fat cheese should pile it on! You can make it as liquid as you need and gradually thicken it as you become more able to swallow. Use to cover all sorts of things - I had cheese sauce over vegetables the other night - sort of cauliflower cheese but with courgette, broccoli, onions and mushrooms,

BrightLightsAndSound mine was fear of choking and severe health anxiety which meant I feared having an allergic reaction to anything I ate (in spite of only having moderate hay fever).

Angel delight with full fat milk could be an option. Could you manage rice pudding?

Get a psychotherapist that specialises in eating disorders. The issue is in your head.
Hope you get some good help X

that sounds awful. Really sorry to hear that you are not well. Please see GP for advice. However I would be tempted to carry on with having a glass of wine and some company for dinners, and have a shake with added cream, ice cream for smoothies.

The meal replacement shakes could be a good option if you like the taste, they are now available over the counter you can buy them without prescription. I love full fat greek yogurt, so I would add that to any smoothie or soup. Custard? I love custard.

I wonder what full fat greek yogurt would taste like on porridge?

Maybe you should start with shakes with a thinner texture and increase in thickness if you feel OK?

Its important to have a mixture of carbs, fats and protein in your shakes or drinks as this will help to maintain your appetite. Don't go low carb as some of these shakes are lower carb and aimed at people who want to lose or maintain weight.

Is it definitely a phobia? I have a friend who sometimes experiences an inability to swallow. Nobody has got to the bottom of it yet, but they suspect GERD and also histamine intolerance. Interestingly enough, like a previous poster, she is terrified of having a major allergic reaction, but that could be due to the high levels of histamine causing allergic symptoms.

Sorry, bit off topic there! But definitely see your GP for weight gain advice.

I had tonsil cancer so now I can't swallow very well , I also have no saliva due to the radiotherapy, so I struggle to get food down.

Some days are better than others, but I always without fail have a smoothie in the morning.

I used to use full fat milk but it was causing too much mucus, so now I use the following.

Almond Milk (unsweetened)about a pint
A banana
Multivitamins
A kiwi
And Whole Earth peanutbutter 100g which contains 600 calories
And two tablespoons of flax seed.

The banana has about 100 calories, the kiwi about 50 , the flax seed about 75.

So for me the thing is if I have bad day, I am guaranteed at least 800 calories a day.

I'd love to have this problem. Come to mine Friday night, I'll show you how to demolish a bit fat curry with all the trimmings, family sized pavolva and still have room for a toberlone.

Oh shit... I just actually finished reading your full description I take it back. So sorry that was a mega shitty comment, im on day 3 of a fasting milkshake diet to loose weight and the hunger is really getting to me *starting to crack lol. I simply read the headline and jumped the gun, so I deeply apologise and am awaiting to be flamed by the rest of mumsnet. Oops.

Other than that grovelling, I agree you could probably put weight on with a mix of ice creams/milkshakes/those chilled coffee drinks that are about 6 million calories each.

Good luck with everything xxxx

Have you got a hand blender?

Most meals can be puréed down to a thin slop if they’re well cooked, and thinned out with milk or water.

I used to do big batches of stewed mince/potatoes/veg, and mush it down to freeze in small portions when my DC were babies. Doesn’t taste that bad at all- specially if you add a bit of apple or mint or cranberry.

GP/dietitian can actually help with this.

A few years ago my dd was poorly and couldn't chew/swallow as a result. Dd is always very slim anyway. But due to this she lost a couple stone in a few weeks - was a very worrying time.

She was on drip in hospital for a while but then was given fortisip/ensure which are milkshakes but contain extra calories and are fortified with nutrients.

Also we spoke to a dietitian and she gave us a sheet of first liquid and then sort of mash consistency ideas for foods/meals and how to make them more calorific without being unhealthy.

You can but the milkshakes yourself but I wouldn't recommend without proper advice.

Drinking/eating high fat dairy alone I don't think is advised.

Rapid weight gain or loss can be dangerous.

I have OCD myself and at times too anxious to cook/eat and had the shakes on occasion they're OK.

No HIGHLY unlikely to give you sedatives. More likely to refer you for talking therapy or even POSSIBLY prescribe a mild or low dose anti depressant or anti anxiety medication.

Will probably also want to rule out a physical cause, it's funny how our bodies work sometimes they react to a thing without us being properly conscious of it - it might be you've a wee scratch, or congestion maybe due to nasal drip or reflux going on.

My DH had to gain weight and he brought a weigh gaining shake online, it had 450 calories per shake. There are loads out there. I am sorry you are going through this, I hope the GP is helpful.