Park yourself at a McDonalds and eat every meal there

Actually I never started out by saying that I eat pretty healthy. I said I have a pretty healthy appetite, but that I both foods that are both healthy and unhealthy. I enjoy snacking on fruits and veggies just as much as I enjoy snacking on chips. But I do try to stay away from fast food.

And when I say people don't get it, I was referring to people not understanding that some people actually DO have a problem putting on weight... and the fact that people don't get that it can be a problem just as much as people who have a hard time losing weight. And that it is just as rude to walk up to a complete stranger and tell them they are too skinny or need to gain weight as it is to tell a fat person they need to lose weight. ASM knows what I am talking about. Some people just really don't get it.

And as far as my food intake and proper balance, you're right... I don't get it. That's why I was asking for suggestions. Whenever I do research online for a properly balanced diet, it's usually for helping people to manage their weight... as in keeping it off and consuming things that will help them to burn more calories.

ASM gave me some good ideas for everyday foods, but that recipe for the protein shake is exactly what I was looking for: something to use in addition to my normal food intake and something I can drink after I exercise to replenish what I have expended and then some.

thats actually great advice.

i was a solid 10 pounds underweight 2 yrs ago. im NOW a healthy 105 and it shows.

i eat whatever i want but try to eat healthy harty food when i can. also stay active like dancing, hiking, good sex stuff like that ;)

Hey Missy, I also need to gain some weight!! I suffered problems and they finally took out my gallbladder (maybe check with your doctor on testing you for gallstones or other digestive problems). However I still CAN'T eat many foods, i.e. deep fried food, high fat stuff like breakfast sausages & bacon, etc.
I eat fairly healthy, but try to eat lots all day, i.e. snack snack snack on stuff like fruit, NUTS, granola, oats, and of course lots of pasta etc.

Good luck!!

Thanks for the input. I have wondered if it could be medical, although I was thinking more along the lines of thyroid issues. My best friend's mom had problems with her weight for years until she was finally diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Once they got that stabilized, she reached a healthy weight and was feeling much better within just a couple of months.

I did ask my doc a few years ago to test my thyroid and she just told me "As long as you are healthy and feel good, you shouldn't worry about it. You should just be glad you don't have to worry about your weight like so many women do!" What she didn't seem to understand was that I DO worry about my weight, just in the opposite direction of most other women. Gotta love doctors :1orglaugh

generally thyroid issues are also reflected in your body temperature. you can check your temperature each morning to see if its consistently above where it should be (indicates faster metabolism), consistently below (indicates slower metabolism) or where it should be.

if you had an overactive thyroid which was making it difficult to gain weight (fat/muscle), typically your body temperature would be a degree or so above normal when you get up in the morning.

Go to a dietician (not a nutritionist, they aren't necessarily qualified).

Hmmm... interesting. I had not heard that before. So if it were possibly a thyroid issue, my body temperature may be a bit higher in the morning than it would be in the evening? Or just higher in general?

Chocolate and burgers works fine for me,,,

I am jealous that you have difficulty gaining weight as I just watch a commercial that has a big mac on it and I gain 5 pounds. LOL
I have to ask though, how old are you as I have known many young females struggle to keep weight on but once they hit a certain age there body changes and they discover they have a hard time keeping weight off.

generally, yes.

i really think that if you want to get good answers on nutrition and weight gain.. you should go to a forum like bodybuilding.com and ask people make nutrition and bodyfat management a lifestyle. people on a porn messageboard (myself included) aren't going to give you the most well qualified info. everyone gives advice based on personal perspective and there is always quite a bit of individuality to results, methods etc. if you read a site like bodybuilding.com, you will instantly see a few things... 1) its not so simple... and 2) ... people that have been playing with and tweaking their diets for years, are still playing and tweaking, 3) there are many very qualified people with degrees in nutrition and medical related feilds AND have practical experience to help you and 4) people will need details. specific details about diet, habits, exercise etc to be able to help.

losing weight is one thing... trying to increase your bodyfat without paying proper attention to how you are doing it can result in unintended consequences like jacking up your cholesterol for example. most likely you will be able to achieve your goals by increasing your calories and fat intake. but that requires a solid understanding of what you are doing now, what you are eating, where your calories are coming from so that adjustments can be made.

your situation is not unique. just in the same way you are finding it hard to gain weight (fat), there are endless male aspiring bodybuilders for example on these forums who have a hard time gaining muscle... its usually happening for the exact same reasons and you will find that the dietary issues and solutions for both cases will be similar.

I hear that a lot from people who have to watch their weight. But trust me, it's a struggle on my end too. I guess the grass is always greener no matter what side of the fence you are on...

Anyway, I'm turning 32 next month. I did noticed that when I hit about 27-28, my metabolism started slowing down a bit and for the first time in my life, I was able to get up to my ideal weight. But in the last year or so I have lost weight again. I sometimes drop down to a point where I have zero energy and just feel like total crap in general, and it takes me weeks to gain any of it back. But then I seem to reach a point where I just top out, like I can add on pounds up until that certain weight and then I just stop gaining even though my eating habits haven't changed. It's strange...

First off seeking health advice from here is not a good probly not a good idea. But if you want to gain weight, soda will do it. If I dont drink soda for a week I loose 10 pounds. If I drink it I gain 10 pounds.

You are better off getting your bodyfat % checked out. Women should be around 15-17%.

If you serious wanna bulk up then the quickest way to gain weight is taking high calorie supplements that are high in carbs. Ive seen some that have serving sizes of like 3000 calories per drink!