How do I GAIN weight??

Hello everyone,
I have been on here keeping up with everyone and am happy to hear so much good news.  First of all "Congrats Leslie".  I am so happy for you.  My question for all my friends is how do I gain weight?  I am at 119 and have been asked  many times if I am anorexic, which makes me very sad.  As many of you know, I lost my husband this past Nov. and went into a downhill spiral.  I got ulcers in my pouch and intestines.  By Feb.12th the ulcer had completely eaten away my pouch.  I underwent 5 1/2 hours of surgery by 2 surgeons and almost didn't make it.  That day I weighed 104.  I am now at 115 lbs, but can't, even eating 2500 calories a day, put or keep weight on.  The doctors are no help so I was hoping that one of our wise friends on here could give me some suggestions.  I am willing to try anything.  I am so sad and upset about being this thin, mostly because this week I was told by a male friend I hadn't seen in 3 years, that I wasn't as attractive since I lost weight. :(  In other words, "You look old and ugly" , my words, but probably his thoughts at the moment....:(  Please help.

Brenda

Hi Brenda,
Sorry I don't have any advise on how to gain (never had that problem!) but I do want to say that I am sorry you have had such a rough year!  I can't imagine how the conversation went with your friend, but I would feel the same way if someone said that to me.  You look great in your avatar though!
Have you thought about doing some weight exercises to tone up?  Not sure what your health situation is, but maybe that would help put on weight or at least make you feel a little better? 

Nancy

Hi Nancy,
Thanks for the kind words.  In my avatar I weighed 140-145 and worked out with weights 3 times a week.  I have been back to doing that for the past 2 weeks. But I still have NO fat on my body. As I said, I eat 2500 calaories a day and can't gain a pound.  I would like to put back on about 25 lbs, and like you I never had that problem before. I never thought it would be so hard to put weight ON.  BTW I see you used Dr. Steiner.  Dr. Newton started my surgery the night I was sent to St. Joe's for my rupture, but he called in Dr. Steiner because it was so bad.  Dr. Steiner is a great doctor with a lot of passion for his patients.

Thanks again,
Brenda

Hey Brenda,

Hate to hear you have had such a rough time.  I knew about your husband's passing but did not know you had the recent surgery and issues.   Glad you are doing better.  I think the most important thing is to eat healthy, take your vitamins, and do what exercises you can.  Your body and mind have been through a lot of stress so simply take care of yourself.  I would never advise anyone to start up bad habits again or to sabotage their weight loss.....but if I was TRYING to gain weight, I'd probably eat more carbs.........often.......you know....the things we used to do that got us to the point of having to have RNY!  lol

Also make sure you are relaxing and stay in touch with family and friends.  Stress and isolation within itself can make you look stressed so get out and enjoy life...........I know you don't feel great but look at the positive side.  You are recovering nicely, it may take some time, and just take one day at a time.  Even if you simply sit outside and listen to the birds or read a magazine.

If you need anything, let me know.   You can pm me or call anytime!
Take Care!

Leslie

Thanks for your concern Leslie.  I am trying to eat a lot more carbs, but nothing s happening.  I am going this Friday to a dermatologist in Lexington just to get fat injections into  my face.  I really look awful there.  Actually it isn't fat, because I don't have any, lol, it is a synthetic fat injection.  Maybe I will feel better about myself after that.  BTW, I wanted to know if you Facebook?..I'd love to keep in touch and get together sometime soon.  I really need to get with a support group.  My family is always worried so I try not to let them know how down I really feel.  It's great to have people wround who know what you are going through.
Brenda

unfortunately I don't facebook anymore.  It has been months since I have been on there.
I will pm you the email address I use and my #!
I know what you mean about not letting people know how you really feel!  It will be ok!

Sorry to hear about your loss.  Have you tried doing what you did before you had your weight loss surgery.  We had bad habits so if you were to do some of those for awhile maybe you could gain some weight.  Do the doctors not know why you can't gain weight?

My PCP thinks that when I had to have  the new pouch made in Feb., the doctors had taken out about 3 inches of my intestines where there was another ulcer, maybe it is effecting my ability to absorb calories.  I really don't understand and neither do the doctors as to why I can't gain weight.  I thought losing weight was hard, this is down right frustrating. I eat and eat and eat and the next day I have lost 5 lbs. :(

I, personally, would not try to step back into old habits like eating junk to put weight on. Speak with your doctor about digestive enzymes such as Creon. They will lessen your malabsorption. In the big scheme of things, you are still early out, and trying to gain a couple of pounds can quickly turn into a completely different direction, and it's MUCH harder to get off than it is to gain. JMO.