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Original poster

I want to gain weight

34 replies

Zamummy · 27/01/2023 07:36

Hello everyone, I know most people want to lose weight. However, I want to gain some weight. What advice would you give me? I was 64kg before and lost 10kg during my first pregnancy nearly 2 years ago. I am now 21 weeks pregnant for my second baby and only gained around 3kg so far as I was struggling to eat properly. I find it hard to put on weight again! Any advice?

OP posts:
DuncanBiscuits · 27/01/2023 07:37

Look at a biscuit.

Or is that just me?

DuncanBiscuits · 27/01/2023 07:39

Sorry, that was flippant.

Full fat everything, three good meals and two snacks a day. Nut butters. Protein shakes.

I wouldn’t go down the ‘eat as much crap as you like’ route. There are more important things than just weight.

PritiPatelsMaker · 27/01/2023 07:40

If you are struggling to eat, what do you fancy eating? I know it might sound like a silly question but there's not much point in us recommending things if you can't face them Wink

One thing that was recommended to me when I was trying to gain weight after a major accident was to drink a pint of full fat milk a day.

If you have log fat milk, spreads and yoghurts, swap to the full fat versions too.

Corty02 · 27/01/2023 08:38

It is important that you gain a weight that you are comfortable with and do it correctly. Usually people lose weight on a calorie deficit - try to maintain a calorie surplus. Make sure that all the necessary micronutrients come from food, so that it is good for both you and the child.

AtleastitsnotMonday · 27/01/2023 20:35

Unfortunately I've had to gain weight on many occasion. It's a lot harder then most people appreciate. Particularly if, like me you have had periods of eating less that have caused your stomach to shrink. I found it easier to eat little and often rather than big meals.
The first thing i would say is spend some time doing your research, read product labels, you would be amazed at the difference in calorie content between what would appear to be similar products. Bread is a prime example. You can get bread that's 60 calories a slice or bread that's 160 calories a slice.

If you want to pack in the calories you need to find products that are high calorie but low volume. This is where nuts and full fat dairy are your friends. Add ground nuts or nut butters to dishes. Add butter, cheese and cream based sauces. Use oil based dressings for salads and add croutons. Add cheese to pasta dishes and butter to potatoes.

Maybe you could give an example of a typical day's food and we could suggest adaptations.

WeWillRockyou · 27/01/2023 21:01

What sort of things do you normally eat, if you give us an idea we might be able to suggest ways to add calories to your normal food.

Original poster
Zamummy · 27/01/2023 21:07

AtleastitsnotMonday · 27/01/2023 20:35

Unfortunately I've had to gain weight on many occasion. It's a lot harder then most people appreciate. Particularly if, like me you have had periods of eating less that have caused your stomach to shrink. I found it easier to eat little and often rather than big meals.
The first thing i would say is spend some time doing your research, read product labels, you would be amazed at the difference in calorie content between what would appear to be similar products. Bread is a prime example. You can get bread that's 60 calories a slice or bread that's 160 calories a slice.

If you want to pack in the calories you need to find products that are high calorie but low volume. This is where nuts and full fat dairy are your friends. Add ground nuts or nut butters to dishes. Add butter, cheese and cream based sauces. Use oil based dressings for salads and add croutons. Add cheese to pasta dishes and butter to potatoes.

Maybe you could give an example of a typical day's food and we could suggest adaptations.

Thank you to everyone for your comments. I usually have bread with something for breakfast, for dinner I can have rice or pasta. That's the only meals I get. I wish I could cook more and have more to eat. I can have some mandarin or banana here and there

OP posts:
LindorDoubleChoc · 27/01/2023 21:10

Peanut butter, avocado, cheese, full fat Greek yogurt with honey, butter on all your vegetables, nuts as snacks, dried fruit as snacks, whole milk on cereal and in coffee - those are all relatively healthy foods to eat to gain weight.

Gunpowder · 27/01/2023 21:22

You need more than two meals a day when you are pregnant even if you aren’t trying to gain weight. And two meals of just carbs and the odd bit of fruit aren’t enough, you need protein, fat and veggies too. So instead of toast, have scrambled eggs and tomatoes or avocado on toast, if you are having pasta have it with a meaty or cheesy sauce and lots of olive oil and with a side of veggies and hummus. Milkshakes are a really good way to gain weight. You can put dates and peanut butter in them which are dense in calories but healthy too.

Why can’t you prepare your own food? Do you feel sick?

tornadoinsideoutfig · 27/01/2023 21:22

So you were 54kg before this pregnancy and 57kg now? Sounds like a healthy weight for a woman, assuming average height? It's normal not to gain much in the first half of pregnancy, the baby is still very small, I gained 9kg all 20 weeks onwards.

I would focus on getting plenty of high nutrient value foods in, aiming for a calorie surplus. Full fat dairy, eggs, meat, avocado, coconut milk based curries, root vegetable soup with bread and butter, porridge with nut butter and banana, and so on.

NerdyBird1 · 27/01/2023 21:26

Same happened to me OP, was already thin and then lost a lot of weight in all three pregnancies and it's been a pain to get it back.

I find j have to eat non-stop to be able to gain weight and never allow myself to feel hungry. Difficult when working again and not at home all then time.

I just cook big starchy meals (lots of leftovers). Chilli con carne with rice and (naan/paratha), mash potato, pasta/sauce/mozzarella, porridge and cereals.

Looking for more ideas from this thread too🤞

Original poster
Zamummy · 27/01/2023 21:27

tornadoinsideoutfig · 27/01/2023 21:22

So you were 54kg before this pregnancy and 57kg now? Sounds like a healthy weight for a woman, assuming average height? It's normal not to gain much in the first half of pregnancy, the baby is still very small, I gained 9kg all 20 weeks onwards.

I would focus on getting plenty of high nutrient value foods in, aiming for a calorie surplus. Full fat dairy, eggs, meat, avocado, coconut milk based curries, root vegetable soup with bread and butter, porridge with nut butter and banana, and so on.

Thank you all again. I am a little ashamed to say this... but, I cannot afford to buy a lot of food in the supermarket. I have a child and he eats most of the money I get. I am not working and by myself at the moment. It's a bit complicated...

OP posts:
TooMinty · 27/01/2023 21:30

How tall are you OP? 54kg wouldn't be too light for me at 5ft. It's more important to eat a healthy balanced diet when pregnant than just eating lots of calories.

ladydiggins · 27/01/2023 21:31

I lost a lot of weight with my one & only pregnancy 2004/5. I couldn't eat a morsel most of the time but no sickness as such. I subsisted on Campbells cream of celery soup and a couple of other random items - DD weighed true to form throughout and was born a healthy weight.

My menopause has been 3 monthly cycles of severe vomiting/weight loss when my period was due. Weeks of being unable to eat. My Mum was just like this.

Original poster
Zamummy · 27/01/2023 21:31

TooMinty · 27/01/2023 21:30

How tall are you OP? 54kg wouldn't be too light for me at 5ft. It's more important to eat a healthy balanced diet when pregnant than just eating lots of calories.

I am 5"5 = 165cm. I look very skinny and everyone has noticed

OP posts:
IntentionalError · 27/01/2023 21:31

I recommend the pies, chips, cheese, chocolate cake & beer diet. Works for me.

TooMinty · 27/01/2023 21:31

Sorry, cross posted with you. When I was pregnant there were free vitamins and I could apply for vouchers to buy fruit and veg. Maybe ask your midwife? x

YourGazeHitsTheSideOfMyFace · 27/01/2023 21:33

You should ask your gp for a food bank referral. I’m sure you’d be priority as a pregnant woman. If you’re losing weight because you aren’t getting enough to eat, then filling the gap with contributions from the food bank should be enough to get you gaining again.

Dartmoorcheffy · 27/01/2023 21:36

Can't you go to your local food bank? They will help. I'm sorry to.sound harsh but if you can't afford to eat how on earth are you going to be able to.raise another child?

tornadoinsideoutfig · 27/01/2023 21:39

Zamummy · 27/01/2023 21:27

Thank you all again. I am a little ashamed to say this... but, I cannot afford to buy a lot of food in the supermarket. I have a child and he eats most of the money I get. I am not working and by myself at the moment. It's a bit complicated...

Show quote history

Stick to the basics and don't waste money on low calorie foods. Sweet potato, carrots, cauliflower and onions are cheap for veg. Whole milk, porridge oats, and banana is a good breakfast. Peanut butter on toast, an egg on toast, cheese on toast. Coconut milk adds a lot of calories to a curry, you can use veg and a tin of chickpeas, or red lentils for dhal, serve with rice.

Please get a food bank referral if you can't afford to feed yourself.

LadyVictoriaSponge · 27/01/2023 21:40

Tesco meal replacement shakes are 200 calories per drink, more if you add full fat milk rather than skimmed, 10 shakes cost about £6 they are really nice and a quick relatively cheap way of getting extra calories if you don’t have a large appetite, so much easier to drink calories than eat them, they do about 4 flavours I think and have a lot of added vitamins.

Luckydog7 · 27/01/2023 21:40

Not sure why people recommend fat in this situation. Fat is highly satiating and eating a lot will make you feel unwell and you will want to skip your next meal (this is why low carb diets work, fat kerbs appetite)

Sugar/carbs will increase your appetite, you can do this with 'healthy' sources, fruit, oats, complex carbs. Try and get fat in there too which will increase palatability. Beans on buttered toast, bananas, tomato pasta topped with cheese. Cerials. Basically the opposite of a low carb diet.

If you have little appetite already then eating fatty food like eggs and bacon or even eggs on toast will mean your are more likely to be too full to want to eat again for a while. Carbs are digested quickly and hunger returns faster. At least generally (and certainly in me)

Original poster
Zamummy · 27/01/2023 21:41

Dartmoorcheffy · 27/01/2023 21:36

Can't you go to your local food bank? They will help. I'm sorry to.sound harsh but if you can't afford to eat how on earth are you going to be able to.raise another child?

That's a good question! This pregnancy wasn't planned and I was on the pill. I didn't want to go for abortion. I breastfeed and won't need much for the first year. I will try to get to work as well

OP posts:
Original poster
Zamummy · 27/01/2023 21:43

YourGazeHitsTheSideOfMyFace · 27/01/2023 21:33

You should ask your gp for a food bank referral. I’m sure you’d be priority as a pregnant woman. If you’re losing weight because you aren’t getting enough to eat, then filling the gap with contributions from the food bank should be enough to get you gaining again.

I've always had a stable life and no problem with money. To be honest I am just ashamed to go to a food bank and ashamed to tell anybody

OP posts:
AtleastitsnotMonday · 27/01/2023 21:47

Is the child's father on the scene? You are carrying his child, if he isn't already could he offer some financial help?