Weight

Ave Sodalis

Hey. Recently I realised I have been trying to put on weight as I am quite underweight. This is not by choice, I'm naturally thin. I eat loads but tend to avoid sweets and I like sports. I can't seem to be putting on weight despite the amount I eat (this includes a good bit of veg, one or two portions of meat, and spuds for dinner, cereal in the morning and evening, a sandwhich for lunch with 2 pieces of fruit and maybe the odd bar. Snacks include fruit or something).

I am a teenage girl and I would really like help as I don't know what I'm doing wrong!

Thanks

Kevster

Eating such foods will actually serve to help you to lose weight (or remain at a static weight). Fruit is great for keeping your metabolism high without putting too much calories into your system, and it goes without saying - obviously - that there's 'no' fat in fruit. What you should do is eat a slightly larger breakfast and incorporate some cheese with your sandwiches. Also, consider drinking more fluid.

LaMortis

As you're a teenager your body is still growing and won't stop till you're around 20/21. I was very underweight as a teenager myself but when i hit 20 i put on a bit of weight without changing any of my diet. It will probably be the same for you.

LegacyUser

Hi OP,

The thing to realize is that the visual image you have of yourself is a negative one if all you see is skinny skinny skinny in your mind,

so to help you should start visualizing yourself as healthy and the way you want to be in a positive light, like get a positive roll model who you like and list all the healthy positive things about her, it is the best way to counteract any negative perception you have over yourself,

also, i was a twig when i was a teenager i filled out in my 20's and my boobs didnt finishing forming till i was in my late 20's but when i went on the pill i put on weight too,

You may fill out a bit when your older, does everyone keep tellig you your too skinny why are you upset about it, most girls want to be like lindsey lohan these days!

kjl

well, its great that you are healthy, but i understand your concern.

Have you tried eating more nuts, seeds, raisins and bananas, this should beef you up in no time.

alternatively, you could build up a little muscle. slim girls are hot anyway, so dont stress over it

shellyboo

I'd go with what other posters have said - firstly, give it time! If you're still in your teens, you're still growing; you might curve up and fill out in a few years' time.

As for putting on weight, if you're looking to do this, I would talk to your GP about it. They'll be able to refer you to a nutritionist who'll show you healthy ways to put on some weight - the last thing you want to do is to end up with an unhealthy diet simply to look a little fuller.

Lastly, I'll say that it may be the case you're just naturally slim - but that's ok! Magazines are full of articles telling us ALL (fat, slim, curvy, bony) that how we look is not ok. You don't have to have a J-Lo ass and a huge rack to be sexy; sexy comes from your inner confidence. So work towards your goals of putting on a little weight, but also work on accepting your body the way it is. We only get one, it'd be a shame not to appreciate it, however it looks

Ave Sodalis

Cheers guys. It is just that I eat more than anyone in the house and still not put on weight which I thought was weird. Also, I'm not worried about being thin, I just might be too thin. I'm just kinda tired of people asking if I'm anorexic when I'm not.

thefeatheredcat

It could be something relating to your glands or something else biological like that.

I wouldn't recommend bulking up on sugary/snack foods as could actually damage your body more.

Have you discussed this with your GP? They may be able to refer you to a nutritionist that can help with a better diet to what you need.

neuro-praxis

Agreed, talking to a doc is your best bet. But here are some high calorie foods if you want to up your calorie intake without eating junk food.

Nuts and nut butters are really high in calories. Try eating lots of peanut butter and almond butter. Even a tablespoon has a lot of calories.

Granola is a very high calorie cereal, and very nutritious, so that's a great option for the morning. Have it with full-fat natural yoghurt. Eat avocados and coconut too, as they are both so good for you but very high in fat. Drizzle olive oil on your salads, and add seeds too.

Cheese is also high in calories and makes a great snack, and can be incorporated into many meals. Try all the cheeses out there.

Try using full-fat butter in your sandwiches, and use high-calorie wholegrain breads too. Use full fat mayo and houmus. Mash cream into your mashed potatoes.

Full-fat milk is delicious and high in calories, you can have a glass of that with your meals.

These small measures should help somewhat.

pepsi1234

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned carbs. Eat plenty of them (rice, pasta, bread, spuds etc.) especially for dinner and breakfast. Since you like vegetables and fruit, turnips and bananas are high in carbs.

Wibbs

Unless you've a medical condition, chances are you're not eating as much as you think or you're burning off more energy than you think. Yes people do certainly vary and some are storers rather than burners, some fidget more all day, some don't move much by comparison etc. But in my experience every and I mean every (excluding illness) skinny person, male or female, I've been around for any length of time either eats a small amount or burns off a lot of calories through exercise, or does both. The ones who say they can eat anything actually objectively eat a lot less than they think, have lower appetites, snack much less and/or eat particular foods. Most aren't big stodgy carb eaters for a start.

As others have said if you're in your teens, you've a way to go yet. A lot of women(and men) don't fill out until their early 20's. I can remember very thin women at 16 that were much more filled out at 25. You're body is still growing so I'd be careful about stacking on any unhealthy weight now if this is the case with you age wise. It also seems to be a helluva lot easier to put it on, than lose it later.

Id take a trip over to the nutrition and diet forum here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=982 Fine if you want to build up, but loading up on unhealthy saturated fats or carbs is hardly a good bet for your heart for a start and insulin resistance down the line. Counter intuitive though it may sound I'd be looking into getting fit too. Lifting weights, light aerobics work etc. This way any gains will be toned, your body will make better use of the foods you eat and you'll be setting yourself up for a healthy body, not an underweight or overweight one, regardless of what shape you end up with. That said the majority of actually fit men and women have what are considered attractive bodies.