Trying to Gain Weight

Hang around me for a while!

Actually, it's not a stupid question at all. Being too heavy or too thin can be unhealthy.

Really, it's just a calories game. You just have to eat more calories. Personally, I think you're wise to avoid "junk" foods, though many can be high in calories. If it were just calories, maybe it wouldn't be too bad. But, many junk foods contain other problematic compounds. So, I commend your decision.

Here's one of many articles to consider:

/www.healthline.com/nutrition/18-foods-to-gain-weight

I consider products like protein powders to be processed/junk foods, too. But, you'll have to make that decision for yourself. If you search Google for something like "calorie dense foods for weight gain," you will find lots of articles and opinions.

While High-Fat and Ketogenic diets are en vogue now, I wouldn't recommend them. We need fat in our diet, no doubt. But, some people take this to extreme by eating entire sticks of butter, infusing their coffee with butter and coconut/MCT oil, eating lots of fatty cuts of meat, lots of eggs, eating coconut oil by the spoon, etc. Maybe these will turn-out to be a revelation (kind of like this scene in Woody Allen's film SLEEPER), but I think the mounting opinion and evidence is suggesting otherwise. But, I'm no Doctor or Dietician. This is just my opinion.

Good Luck!

Dude, I can't thank you enough for the wealth of info. AND for the good "Sleeper" laugh!

I have been leery of protein powders and the like. Thanks for the confirmation.

Will have a look at the link you sent and will google calorie dense foods.

You may not be a doctor or dietician, but you have helped me and I thank you and respect your opinion..

I had horrible problems with weight loss. Mostly related to treatments and bartonella, I think. The "eating more calories" treatment worked somewhat, but I just couldn't seem to get to a normal weight eating a "normal diet". It was very exasperating, and I'm sure I lost weight just worrying about it.

Strangely, what really helped was the GAPS diet. I didn't do the "stages" like they recommended. I eliminated grains, starches, sugar and processed foods. I ate a lot of soup and vegetables and meat in the crockpot. After about a year, I gained about 20 pounds and felt much healthier and stronger in general. Strange how eliminating things helped me gain weight.

One very important thing: this diet will not help you gain weight if you have liver or gallbladder problems or are somehow fat intolerant. I ate a lot of butter, coconut oil and nuts. People I know who don't like fat who have tried it, lost a lot of weight.

Some people are better off eating more carbohydrates, and if you are really underweight it might help, but it seemed like the more carbs I eat the less I feel like eating. Even now if I start eating a lot of starches, I don't feel like eating. which is fine now that I'm a normal weight.