I KNOW I WILL PROBABLY BE LYNCHED FOR THIS BUT....

[lissie]

I need to put on 4lb. Ive always been small and have struggled with anorexia for years but after seeing the fertility specialist on monday he has told me that i need to put on 4lb to reach a better weight for ttc. can anyone advise me?

Why would you be lynched?

Have no advice, I'm definitely on the other end of the scale (no pun intended) but good luck.

lol, have managed to put on 7lb in the last 6m but find it really tough to keep weight on anyway, even when i want to.

that said, i do like ice cream!

Well assuming you'd like to do it healthily, you could try eating things containing lots of good fats, like avocado, hummous, nuts.

What sort of stuff do you eat at the moment?

Are you are "running on your nerves type"? Always on the go - not stopping to eat proper meals?

If so try so slow down a bit. Eat proper meals. Full fat everything obv.

As a person who struggles with her weight - am a size 24, I can imagine that in actual fact it would be HARDER to put on 4lbs if I ws a naturally skinny type that it is for me (a naturally fat type!) to lose 4lbs!

lots of vegetables and pasta. we eat very healthily and i'm very aware of what ds eats, dont want him to have a bad food relationship.

buda, thats exactly it. im also so used to running on empty (been anorexic since i was 6) that i dont even notice now when ive not eaten iykwim

could have a look. i was on those before as a part of my treatment.

My brother (OK, male, so different metabolism, but anyway) had to put on weight to get into a different 'class' in his sport. He had to put on muscle, not fat, but I would have thought the same would be important for you, as it's healthier to put on muscle than fat. So he concentrated on high-protein foods, rather than high fat or sugar foods, together with his training cycle.

If you have 'issues' with food, then I suspect you would feel better about putting on weight if it wasn't fat weight and if it was combined with an exercise programme. I suggest you go to a local gym and have a session with a personal trainer to get some guidance as to what to eat and what to do to gain weight in the healthiest and most satisfying way.

Ok- a few top tips

-Always have cream based sauces rather than tomato ones.
-If you do opt for tomato ones,add a very good slosh of olive oil.
-Ful fat Greek yoghurt for breakfast every morning.
-Keep some sort of snack in your handbag-mars bar etc for whenever you feel hungry.
-Increase your cheese intake
-Butter on your toast.

All this is quite high fat but good for putting on weight and can be counterbalanced with olive oil for the short time you will need to do this.

Lissie - I used to struggle to put on weight (now I'm the opposite). Have you tried protein shakes on top of your normal diet?

Took me so long to type that Hatrick had beaten me to it

How about making yourself a sticker chart, and putting on a sticker every time you have a meal/snack, then ds can see it as a good thing.

Aah - previous anorexia. How do you feel about having to put weight on? Does it scare you a bit?

Prettycandles post had some sensible advice.

Or how about making up nice full fat fruity milkshakes for you and DS - good for both of you. He needs full fat anyway.

tbh buda its a bit of a relief. the decision has been made for me and if we want another baby then i have to do this.

What about keeping a food diary?

Could you get referred to a Dietician who might be able to help you?

Have you had counselling?

do the opposite of the atkins diet. eat more potatoes, pasta and rice. nuts are good too and full of good stuff if you are ttc. good luck!

lissie, what things do you 'like' to eat?

What about drinking some fruit smoothies with ice cream, and a little sugar in?

i see a counsellor weekly. and have kept a food diary for quite some time.

How about setting yourself specific eating times. So that you have to eat a good breakfast between whenever you get up and 8.30, snack at 10.30, lunch 12.00 etc.

It could help if you get into a routine of you know when you have to eat, and your stomach might eventually start reminding you again that it is hungry at these times, and your brain might start listening to your stomach again. If you see what I mean.

I was told I had to put on weight when I got pregnant, which was not easy given my levels of morning sickness. The only thing that worked for me was to increase eating frequency - always eat something (however small) every two hours.

Ideas which are healthy but nutritious (ds is on the light side naturally, just off the centiles, and we like to maximise his calorie intake healthily):

Olive oil with everything - cook vegetables in/with it, eat it on salads (the Germans like vinegar/oil dressing for salads - I can only eat salad with nothing at all myself)

Creme fraiche - we like simple boiled potatoes with creme fraiche (just dollop it on) and rocket/tomato salad.

Porridge for breakfast, with full fat milk and even a dab of cream, and fruit and a bit of brown sugar.

Put pine nuts into pasta dishes.

A very quick and simple meal - pasta, bit of parmesan, plenty of a fresh herb of your choice, and butter.

healthy but nutritious? pmsl. Think I meant something like healthy but calorific.