Struggling to put weight on
Discussion
I’ve always had a fast metabolism (5’10 & 67kg) but ever since my stomach got upset after a bad takeaway a few months ago I just can’t seem to put weight on.
Doc put it down as some kind of IBS following a bug. Been tested negative for coeliac and all other blood work came back fine.
Could it be that my body isn’t digesting and absorbing fats the way it should? The bowel symptoms (loose-ish stools, bloating, gas) are pretty much gone so I’m quite perplexed. Any specific tests I should be pressing my GP for?
Doc put it down as some kind of IBS following a bug. Been tested negative for coeliac and all other blood work came back fine.
Could it be that my body isn’t digesting and absorbing fats the way it should? The bowel symptoms (loose-ish stools, bloating, gas) are pretty much gone so I’m quite perplexed. Any specific tests I should be pressing my GP for?
Eat more food.
I used to live with a tall skinny bloke who said he couldn't put weight on. He basically ate microwave meals with no snacks or anything in between (and no breakfast). Probably 1500 calories a day max.
Once we joined a gym and I showed him how much to eat he put on plenty of weight.
I used to live with a tall skinny bloke who said he couldn't put weight on. He basically ate microwave meals with no snacks or anything in between (and no breakfast). Probably 1500 calories a day max.
Once we joined a gym and I showed him how much to eat he put on plenty of weight.
witko999 said:
Eat more food.
I used to live with a tall skinny bloke who said he couldn't put weight on. He basically ate microwave meals with no snacks or anything in between (and no breakfast). Probably 1500 calories a day max.
Once we joined a gym and I showed him how much to eat he put on plenty of weight.
Any tips on what to eat? Good stuff not junk?I used to live with a tall skinny bloke who said he couldn't put weight on. He basically ate microwave meals with no snacks or anything in between (and no breakfast). Probably 1500 calories a day max.
Once we joined a gym and I showed him how much to eat he put on plenty of weight.
Otispunkmeyer said:
witko999 said:
Eat more food.
I used to live with a tall skinny bloke who said he couldn't put weight on. He basically ate microwave meals with no snacks or anything in between (and no breakfast). Probably 1500 calories a day max.
Once we joined a gym and I showed him how much to eat he put on plenty of weight.
Any tips on what to eat? Good stuff not junk?I used to live with a tall skinny bloke who said he couldn't put weight on. He basically ate microwave meals with no snacks or anything in between (and no breakfast). Probably 1500 calories a day max.
Once we joined a gym and I showed him how much to eat he put on plenty of weight.
Peter3442 said:
It's not unknown for a coeliac to be misdiagnosed as IBS. I have always been thin and progressively lost more weight. And I've had a few attacks of 'IBS' over the years. In January iscovered I'm coeliac, started a gluten free diet and gained over 5 kgs since then.
Was tested for coeliac via blood test but came back as negative. Assuming you had a biopsy done? Did you have any other symptoms?
So after doing some reading last night I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m going to go back to my GP and request further blood tests for Coeliac and even a biopsy.
Was tested negative a few months ago but I do seem to have a lot of unexplained symptoms such as bad dandruff, bad gums, random tongue sores that come and go and the inability to put on weight. I do have a family member who has the condition so hopefully that will persuade GP to do the further testing.
Was tested negative a few months ago but I do seem to have a lot of unexplained symptoms such as bad dandruff, bad gums, random tongue sores that come and go and the inability to put on weight. I do have a family member who has the condition so hopefully that will persuade GP to do the further testing.
Apologies for the slow reply.
I had no clear symptoms. I'd had low bone density for several years. During a control for that, the medic said that she couldn't understand why I had a bone density problem. All she could see was that some of my blood test results indicated that I might be coeliac. She referred me on to the gastrointestinal department. They did the biopsy and confirmed that I'm coeliac. A biopsy is the only way to a sure diagnosis.
It seems that my case is relatively mild, which is probably why I don't have severe gastrointestinal symptoms. However, it is severe enough to affect my weight and bone density.
I'm 67 and suspect that I have been coeliac, progressing in severity, all my adult life.
Another, not obvious symptom was cluster headaches. This is the worst pain imaginable. Since I started the diet, they have also stopped, which is wonderful.
The diet, no wheat, rye or barley, is tolerable. It's awkward when I want a sandwich or a cake when I'm out, but there's always crisps.
The biggest downside is that I've started having break outs of urticaria. It may be a coincidence, but my suspicion is that I'm absorbing stuff that my body's not seen for half a century and is still adapting. However, it's a small price for all the benefits.
I had no clear symptoms. I'd had low bone density for several years. During a control for that, the medic said that she couldn't understand why I had a bone density problem. All she could see was that some of my blood test results indicated that I might be coeliac. She referred me on to the gastrointestinal department. They did the biopsy and confirmed that I'm coeliac. A biopsy is the only way to a sure diagnosis.
It seems that my case is relatively mild, which is probably why I don't have severe gastrointestinal symptoms. However, it is severe enough to affect my weight and bone density.
I'm 67 and suspect that I have been coeliac, progressing in severity, all my adult life.
Another, not obvious symptom was cluster headaches. This is the worst pain imaginable. Since I started the diet, they have also stopped, which is wonderful.
The diet, no wheat, rye or barley, is tolerable. It's awkward when I want a sandwich or a cake when I'm out, but there's always crisps.
The biggest downside is that I've started having break outs of urticaria. It may be a coincidence, but my suspicion is that I'm absorbing stuff that my body's not seen for half a century and is still adapting. However, it's a small price for all the benefits.
No worries and it’s certainly got me thinking that I could have it especially considering I have a first degree relative with the condition.
No luck with my GP today though. Mentioned all these things but my blood test a few months ago for coeliac was a ‘heavy negative’ apparently so she refused to refer me to the gastro.
No luck with my GP today though. Mentioned all these things but my blood test a few months ago for coeliac was a ‘heavy negative’ apparently so she refused to refer me to the gastro.
Try eating a s
t ton of nuts. Failing that, spoon peanut butter into your mouth. Do it everyday for a month and see what happens.
I used to be skin and bone until my late 20s, then just thin until my mid-30s then started to get a bit fat because I was going climbing once a week and eating a 150g share bag of crisps a day in addition to whatever else I was eating.
t ton of nuts. Failing that, spoon peanut butter into your mouth. Do it everyday for a month and see what happens.I used to be skin and bone until my late 20s, then just thin until my mid-30s then started to get a bit fat because I was going climbing once a week and eating a 150g share bag of crisps a day in addition to whatever else I was eating.
67kg and 5'10" tall puts you roughly slap bang in the middle of a healthy BMI weight based on your height.
If you're not happy with your appearance, you're unfit, or you have underlying health issues you suspect may be caused by diet, fair enough do something, but otherwise is there really a problem? Are you perhaps just worrying too much?
There's a lot of fat blokes who skip leg day who will try to convince you that you need to gain weight... This usually isn't true!
If you're not happy with your appearance, you're unfit, or you have underlying health issues you suspect may be caused by diet, fair enough do something, but otherwise is there really a problem? Are you perhaps just worrying too much?
There's a lot of fat blokes who skip leg day who will try to convince you that you need to gain weight... This usually isn't true!
Hoofy said:
Prof Prolapse said:
There's a lot of fat blokes who skip leg day who will try to convince you that you need to gain weight... This usually isn't true!
How very dare you. I'm not fat nor do I skip legs day. But you know what I mean, there's a general unhealthy prevailing social attitude to perception of weight, and blokes can be pressurised into wrongly believing they are being healthy (or attractive) by being fat with disproportionate biceps and chest muscles, when conversely the best thing for them would be to take the strain off their bodies by keeping the weight sensibly down and balancing their exercise with cadiovascular as well as better distributed strength exercises.
The OP won't be "skinny" based purely on his BMI
Edited by Prof Prolapse on Friday 13th September 11:26
I’m 6’0 and I seem to sit at around 10st4, which is comfortably within the healthy BMI range.
A couple of years ago I managed to put on almost 2 stone though. I followed the 5x5 programme at the gym and ate a load of full-fat dairy and extra carbs. For breakfast, a big bowl of 10% fat yoghurt with banana, peanut butter and extra nuts or a four egg omelette with cheese. For tea I’d force as much food in as I could then late after the gym I’d have a protein shake with full fat milk and 2-3 tablespoons of raw porridge oats (put in the blender dry and mixed in the shaker, worked ok).
It took a lot of time and effort and that’s probably why I’m back down to 10st4.
Edit to add: Don't have the yoghurt for breakfast then do a morning gym followed by a pint of milky protein shake, way too much lactose in a short period.
Took me a couple of goes to work that one out.
A couple of years ago I managed to put on almost 2 stone though. I followed the 5x5 programme at the gym and ate a load of full-fat dairy and extra carbs. For breakfast, a big bowl of 10% fat yoghurt with banana, peanut butter and extra nuts or a four egg omelette with cheese. For tea I’d force as much food in as I could then late after the gym I’d have a protein shake with full fat milk and 2-3 tablespoons of raw porridge oats (put in the blender dry and mixed in the shaker, worked ok).
It took a lot of time and effort and that’s probably why I’m back down to 10st4.
Edit to add: Don't have the yoghurt for breakfast then do a morning gym followed by a pint of milky protein shake, way too much lactose in a short period.
Took me a couple of goes to work that one out.Edited by SamR380 on Friday 13th September 12:08
Prof Prolapse said:
Hoofy said:
Prof Prolapse said:
There's a lot of fat blokes who skip leg day who will try to convince you that you need to gain weight... This usually isn't true!
How very dare you. I'm not fat nor do I skip legs day. But you know what I mean, there's a general unhealthy prevailing social attitude to perception of weight, and blokes can be pressurised into wrongly believing they are being healthy (or attractive) by being fat with disproportionate biceps and chest muscles, when conversely the best thing for them would be to take the strain off their bodies by keeping the weight sensibly down and balancing their exercise with cadiovascular as well as better distributed strength exercises.
The OP won't be "skinny" based purely on his BMI
Edited by Prof Prolapse on Friday 13th September 11:26
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