Under Weight...

[DarciesmumandTTC2]

Would weight be a contributing factor in achy & painful joints? Also a contributing factor in getting cold very quickly and turning blue? My GP first diagnosed Raynards Disease, but said it doesn't sound like it when I say my lips turn blue and I end up stuttering to talk.

I eat 3 meals a day and have never really snacked in between, I may eat small portions compared to other people but i've always been that way tbh.

I know i've got to eat more especially as I seem tired all the time ( started new job and doing the general mum thing - school runs, after school club runs, housework & shopping) but not sure how to increase my food load.

Any input I would be grateful.

thanks

Are you very underweight? Being seriously underweight/not eating might make to feel tired and cold... Why don't you ask the advice of yoru GP. Get him to assess your weight and maybe help you with an eating plan.

no my BMI is 17.93 should be 18. its not thru not eating as I eat my brekkie, lunch and dinner. I know i've got thinner - got an appointment with my GP at end of Oct as only time I can get into see him.

A bmi of 18 is still very low. My bmi is 19 and tbh I look frightful, and I am in treatment for an ED. Are you sure there are no eating issues there?

no I love food, eat most things just in small portions have always been like that tbh. My weight has gone down in the last 8mths because of illness tbh normally i'm between 8.5-9st which is a good weight for my height.

BooBoo - sorry to be nosy do you have an ED?

Yes. The jury's out of the diagnosis, it verges between bulimia and purging anorexia. A bmi of 19 gives the problem for diagnosis tbh as I am little (I statrted out 6 stone heavier last year before my problems kicked in) but diagnostically I'm not underweight.
If you say you eat small portions, is there an element of control involved? I have always felt the cold, even when I was much bigger, but this winter is going to be a challenge for me, purely because I don't have the reserves there. And I am tired all the time.
If you are sure there are no underlyign issues, I would try and increase the protein and carbohydrate in your diet, there's no need to eat donuts to put weight on, an extra bread roll or helping of cheese would help you do it sensibly over time.

Hope your getting it under control now.

Never thought of it like that - control! depends what I'm eating I guess but not really, I love pasta and rice, love a big roast dinner, depends how hungry I am I guess.

I'm not a sweet toothed person so don't eat alot of choc, sweets or cakes. Don't really eat crisps either.

Bump

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You may have an intolerance to wheat; a lot of people have and don't know it, try substituting with plenty of rye bread, ryvitas , whole rice and veggies, fruit on an empty stomach etc. Worth a try IMO!

Ppeatfruit - never thought of that - what does that mean? Would it help me put on weight?

Don't take too much notice of BMIs. some sportsmen are classed as obese by their BMIs and it's all muscle.
My BMI is around 19 and a dr told me it was perfect for my size. I have plenty of flab round my middle and no one would look at me and say I was skinny.

If you want to put weight on, you should eat more lean protein and carbs, and snack on 5 meals a day not three. So mid morning have a savoury snack, or nuts, or dried fruit, yoghurt and that kind of thing. Also maybe do exrcise so weight gain is muscle, not fat.

So more fruit, crackers and yoghurts my i need to put a stone on ideally as had alot going on in the last yr, illness stress moving etc have just lost weight not intentionally tho! I know I look thin so not good really.

Need to train my body to 'snack' between meals

At first when you start eating more, it is difficult and you will feel a little bit full (don't force yourself to eat till you feel sick though!), but over time, you will likely become accostomed to larger portions and more frequent meals, as your stomach stretches a tiny bit.

I'd recommend drinking a glass of juice or full fat milk with each meal (so 3 a day) which will add about 300 calories to your intake.

Also add healthy fats to food - about 2 tbs each day (so not even noticeable really) will give you 200 extra calories.

Snack on whatever takes your fancy - such as some fruit or a lump of cheese and some crackers. If you have a banana and 25g cheese and 2 crackers, that is another 300 calories.

Finally, have a bedtime snack (this also encourages you to eat your dinner earlier so you won't be too full) of a slice of toast and jam or peanut butter - this will add 1-200 calories.

Obviously you don't have to do all of those things at once, but if you gradually work up to all of them, you could be taking in an extra 1000 calories a day on top of what you were having before. Tis should be enough to at first stop the weight loss, and then start regaining.

Putting this in to practise:

B: 50g wholegrain cereal of choice (such as fruit and fibre), with 200ml wholemilk and 1 glass of orange juice. (400)

Snack: Banana and 30g nuts such as walnuts (250)

L: Two thick slices of bread with olive spread, ham/hummus/chicken etc and salad. Glass of full fat milk and a 2 digestive biscuits/hobnobs. (550)

Snack: 25g cheese and 3 oatcakes (250) or 1 cup of greek yoghurt and granola on top.

D: Good portion of oily fish/meat cooked however you like, 1-2 cups of veggies such as greens, carrots etc, and 2 cups of whatever starch you like, eg brown rice. With 2 tbs olive oil stirred in. Glass of orange juice. (800)

Snack: 1 thick slice of toast, 2 tbs peanut butter, jam or honey, and a glass of wholemilk (450)

That's about 2700 calories which may be enough to start you gaining if you aren't that active. Otherwise, you will need to add more to it. But you can see that it isn't a massive amount of food really, just very nutritious foods and normal portions

What can I substitute the milk for - can't stand drinking milk. I'm going to print that off thank you and start myself off on it :-)

Ah sorry - if you like soymilk or rice milk then use that... otherwise, another caloric drink that you like - you could have chocolate soymilk, vegetable juice, a glass of wine at dinner... as long as you are getting some calories and nutrients from it then it doesn't matter too much.

If you want to substitute solid food for the milky drinks then a handful of nuts, yoghurt or wedge of cheese or slice of bread and butter with each meal would serve the same purpose really!

Wine I can do of an evening lol! Smoothies is that a good substitute?

Smoothies would be a very good idea for a caloric drink - especially if you would consider putting some natural yoghurt in them or a tsp of flaxseed oil/walnut oil which will really boost the energy value and nutrition.

Been and done our weekly shop and got yoghurt, smoothies, fruit, nuts, scones, muffins, cheese, ham & salami! Aswell as dinner stuff