Am underweight. How to gain weight?

[Klippy]

Hi all,

I posted here some months ago about my weight issue (some of you might remember). I am female, turning 17. I am 177 cm tall and weigh 55 kg. My doctor tells me I need to gain some weight because I am underweight. He says my diet needs more calories. Over the past three days I have added more calories to my diet and some more fat (healthy fats from nuts and seeds and a little bit of "bad" fats eg. chocolate) by snacking on dried fruit and nuts in between meals. I have also added more carbs to breakfast. eg. An apple scroll and a croissant with a glass of milk.
I know that it is healthy for me to gain a few pounds but I dislike the idea of it being a pound of fat; and am also afraid that it will build up in the spot where it usually has in the past- buttocks and thighs. I really do not want to be any larger in those body parts and am afraid of gaining fat there. I want to gain weight but do not want to get larger in those areas; I would rather put on more weight on my upper body, such as my arms which are very skinny, and I would like to have more muscle tone in them. How will I achieve this? can somebody please give me some tips? I have started lifting a 2.5kg weight, and am doing reps for each arm (targetting biceps and triceps). Will it help me gain muscle in my arms? HOw can I build muscle to gain weight? Please help.

Klippy,

 

[TENNIS_IS_FUN]

Oh man how i wish i was in your position...just eat as much as possible, whenever possible...just stuff yourself. Eating late at night helps as well.

 

[superman1]

The biggest mistake women make is thinking that they shouldn't lift heavy weights, because they will look like Arnold. If that were true, then all of us men would look like Arnold, and not the girly men that we are. The fact is, women can't get bulky like that unless they're on horse 'roids. Lifting heavy weights is the best way to tone your body.

This is the workout routine used by a lot of skinny (and smart) young males who want to bulk up: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=998224

It's a simple routine and it will work for women too. The main idea is to do 3 full body workouts a week and eat like crazy. You won't get fat as long as you keep it clean and keep working out. You won't get buff either. Instead of all going into fat, the extra calories you eat will also go into muscle, which will make you stronger and better toned. But you certainly won't look buff by any means - you'll still look like a girly girl.

 

[Klippy]

thank you so much for your reply superman. I will defintely check the site out. Thank you kindly

 

[stormholloway]

Good advice above.

I don't think you need to do arm specific workouts. Do compound exercises like bench press and pull ups. Your arms will grow and tone, along with the rest of your body.

If you're worried about getting fat, then cut the fats lower. Eat lots of carbs and proteins, and limit your fats.

Eat sushi.

 

[Katlion]

Good advice above.

I don't think you need to do arm specific workouts. Do compound exercises like bench press and pull ups. Your arms will grow and tone, along with the rest of your body.

If you're worried about getting fat, then cut the fats lower. Eat lots of carbs and proteins, and limit your fats.

Eat sushi.

I agree. Good advice. :idea::mrgreen:

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

If you eat appropriate foods in proper amounts and you are physically fit, your weight is irrelevant. Some are naturally leaner or fatter than others, some have larger versus smaller frames than others, some retain water more than others. There are many factors that determine ones weight.

Its just a number.

Time will take care of this for a vast majority of people much to their chagrin, trust me.

At 17 you aren't fully developed, so let nature do what its going to do over the next 3-4 years and focus on healthy eating and physical fitness not a number on a scale.

 

[racquet_jedi]

It can also be your metabolism, this one guy I know said that he can eat so much junk food and look the same over a period of time...(though I do find it hard to believe)

 

[Jackie T. Stephens]

Eat then fall asleep then when you get to the weight that you want to excercise in the gym to turn fat into muscle.

 

[LanEvo]

Oh man how i wish i was in your position...just eat as much as possible, whenever possible...just stuff yourself. Eating late at night helps as well.

eating at night really helps to gain weight especially like at midnight go to mcdonalds or taco bell and get some of that food and youll be gaining weight in no time

 

[samster]

Try protein shakes.

 

[Jackie T. Stephens]

Try protein shakes.

That's like ex-lax, your going to be just going to the bathroom.

 

[soyizgood]

Hang around with a suburban American family. Those folks get fat without even trying.

 

[chroix]

Chocolate peanut butter shakes. One big one every day. Exercise hard while doing this or you will just get fat.

 

[stormholloway]

I recommend Jay Robb protein powders, specifically the chocolate egg protein. Throw in a scoop with some peanut or almond butter, milk of some kind, some organic honey and a banana and you have the ultimate muscle building shake.

http://www.jayrobb.com/jayRobbProtein.asp

 

[Tempest344]

go on tour with Nalbandian?

 

[Babb]

go on tour with Nalbandian?

Lol. (10 char)

 

[Hokiez]

Believe me, I've been there. From 14-19 I was 193cm and only 65kg. Beanpole anybody?

My solution, get older, get a desk job, weight gain will take care of itself!

Seriously though, the only thing that ended up working for me was to exercise less (I played 4 hours of soccer/day + 2 hours bball/day), lift more weights in place of cardio, and plenty of protein powder and weight gainer. By the end of college I'd added 20kg of pretty much pure muscle. At the end of the day you have to take in more calories than you're burning so either eat more, or get less exercise.