Weight Gain...shakes?

SilverLiner

Hi guys. Sorry if this is the wrong place or forum...but I'm getting to the point where I need to do something about my weight. I'm about 5ft10 and weigh just under 8 stone. I've always been really skinny but I've always been happy with it. But just lately I'm realising just how unhealthy I look, how skinny I look and I just generally feel unhappy with how I look.

With regards to eating habits I'm usually on junk food, anything from pizza to pies to takeaways. I often eat takeaways, fast foods, chocolate, coke etc...I don't eat a lot but if I do I guess I would consider it unhealthy foods which most people assume would make me put on weight. I have a high metabolism so it doesn't affect me weight wise, it just messes up my teeth and most likely my insides. I'm tired with people telling me I need to put weight on, asking if I have aids because I'm so skinny etc I'm absolutely fed up with it. You wouldn't get people going up to overweight people telling them how fat they are, asking if they ever stop eating etc and I'm sick of people thinking it's ok to do that to thin people.

I've recently joined the gym in an effort just to tone up a bit and to feel more motivated, both mentally and physically. Of course this means I need to put on weight even more so now. My friend has suggested trying these weight gain shakes and wanted to ask what they were like, whether they work etc I'm not planning on using this as the only way to put on weight as I would like to change my diet but I just wanted to know what I could use.

I'd really appreciate any help you could give me as I'm fed up with the way I am. I feel like this is the only place who can offer something constructive as apposed to the usual 'omg, you're so lucky being, I wish I could eat and not put anything on.'

Thanks :-)

splinter

With regards to weight gain shakes yes they can happy when trying to get that increase of carbs and fats in your diet but personally I find them far too filling and im 4 stone heavier then you, so you most likely will as well.

Really if you wanna gain weight the "bodybuilding" way you need put your self on a bulk up diet with a regimented weights training programme.

Have a little read on some basic routines and basic bulk up diets on the site.

Its better to use food sources to gain weight then weight gain shakes.

Gazz

My mate Wayne was in the same boat as you.Tall skinny and incredibly Ectomorphic.

Firstly.Find the ar*ehead who called you an Aids victim,give him/her a nice black eye from me,then focus your attention to putting some muscle on that body.

Weight gain shakes may help but i'd just go ballistic on protein if i were you and just try to grow some muscular weight.You may not be thinking it now because of all the negative,uneducated pooh brains who keep calling you names.But you are actually very very lucky to have the body that you've got.It does'nt store fat.No!

But it will store muscle mass.Keep going to the gym.Try to build yourself a good muscular base over the course of the next few months or so.Swat up on healthy eating plans.Give the junk food the heave ho,be diciplined and patient.Your body will change and increase in muscle weight.

Keep coming back here and picking the lads brains,all will help.

This time next year,if you've kept focused you'll be able to proudly flip your middle finger up to all the doubters,blow a big rasberry at them all and say 'now who looks unhealthy f**kers?'

Tall

Sorry to be picky....

But going ballistic on protein won't really help him a great deal - his body will just convert the excess protein into glucose to be used for fuel.

30% Protein, 50% Carbs and 20% Fat would be a better option IMHO.

So - Lots and lots of heavy carbs. Making sure you got Protein, Carbs, Fat and Fibre at every meal.

At 8st and 5ft 10in I'd be looking to eat everything in sight personally - you can make pizzas at home if you enjoy them.

Training wise - 3x per week using a full body routine based around heavy compounds should see you well. Make sure you get your sleep and drink plenty of water.

Initially I'd be looking for something like 1lb weight gain each week (weigh yourself once per week, at the same time with the same clothes on - i.e. boxers only) and only increase the amount you eat if you aren't gaining weight.

You will gain some fat, and the above is somewhat over simplified as I don't want to over complicate it for you...

Eat Lots, Train Hard, Rest Up. Grow.

Young Gun

But you are actually very very lucky to have the body that you've got.It does'nt store fat.No!

Couldn't agree more

Good luck mate just echo the advise given above really. Eat every three hours and you will be well on your way. You might be sick at first but struggle through it. Good lcuk buddy. Also I think 1 pound a week is a low estimate really go for it and you will see results in no time.

FAT BOY

hello m8
as regards the weight gain drinks they have there place its hard work eating a lot of good food day in day out . use try eating four solid meals a day with two weight gain drinks making up your meals to 6 a day.

you could always just throw everything in a blender,

whey, icecream bannana , peanutbutter mmmmm nice


good advice from the others a well m8

SilverLiner

Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate it. It's taking some time to get my head around carbs, fat, protein etc and what I need to eat. It's difficult to eat 6 meals a day as I have a vomiting phobia and so it makes me want to eat as little as possible for some reason. I am trying to get past it though and eat more. I've planned out a list of what to try and stick to every day so if theres any chance you could let me know if it sounds good, what I need to change etc :-)

Breakfast
Orange juice
Cornflakes/Allbran with sugar and milk
2 slices of toast
or
Glass of milk
Beans on toast

Lunch
Pasta with tuna and sweetcorn
Yoghurt
Chocolate bar
Milk
Clementines/grapes
bottle of water
or
Chicken and tomato (with mayo) sandwich
Crisps
Grapes/oranges
bottle of water

Dinner
Chicken with gravy/carrots/sprouts
Orange juice
Biscuits
or
Chicken pie with beans
Milk
Biscuits

I'll try to get in two sessions of weight gain shakes a day as well...what would be the best one to go for?

Thanks again everyone for the replies, it's really helping me to motivate myself.

Gazz

Sugar on your cereal?NO.And all bran is high fibre which im all for but first thing in the morning you need quality carbs and protein IMO not the ability to drop your guts come lunchtime.I'd go for Shredded wheat or oats then poached egg on wholemeal toast.Wash it down with a protein shake if you can.Keep your portions small-ish.

Pasta with tuna and sweetcorn is a good lunch.I hope that chocolate bar's a Snicker's!Chicken breasts are good too but i'm not a big fan of Mayo or any homoganized fat for that matter so go steady on it.Crisps are another enemy to watch out for,high in saturates.Rice crackers are a better choice.It's good to see you adding regular pieces of fruit and drinking plenty of water too.

There's an unusual amount of biscuits in your dinner there.Watch that sugar.I dont see any fish on the menu or nuts either.A handful of brown rice would'nt go a miss too.No spuds either!

A vomiting phobia sounds a grim affair but if you keep your meals small and regular then that should be easily over come.You do not need to stuff yourself like a pig just keep your system drip fed with moderate amounts throughout the day.

Try adding some Moltodextrin to your protein shakes Maltodextrin - Carbohydrates | myprotein.co.uk

or just buy an all in one mass gainer Bodybuilding Supplements, Fitness Clothing : Performance Mass 2.2kg+FREE Shaker. [XPMass] - £31.95

both will aid your weight gain regime.

SilverLiner

Thanks for the advice, it's much appreciated Gazz. I'll swap a few things around...I'm sure you can tell by my plan I'm not too adventurous with food. I also have a problem where I don't like potato, cheese or nuts. It seems to horrify people when I tell them I don't like potato and it's difficult to find a decent substitute for it. I'll try to cut down on my biscuit intake though as I know I snack a heck of a lot.

Thanks again, it's good to be put in the right direction.

Extreme

Half an hour before you eat put 2 dessert spoonfulls of dextrose or glucose in water and drink it along with some vitamin B12, the subsequent insulin release will help you shuttle the nutrients into the the muscle cell and help you increase your appetite.