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How to gain weight?

planehazza

planehazza

Active Member
Messages
40
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hey all,

Do any of you have trouble putting weight on? I'm 27, 6ft and only weigh 10st. No matter what I eat, the heaviest I've ever been is 10 1/2st. Anyone got any tips aside from eat more? :D I think it's just my metabolism which I can't change, but it seems that no matter what/how much I eat, I stay at 10st.

Thanks!
 
Hi,
my daughter is exactly the same, they told her to eat more carbs and protein but still nothing weight wise so hope someone can come along and help you
 
Get older. It may not happen to you but most people start to put it on when they get to their 30's and 40's
 
I have no trouble at all putting weight on! Wish I was like you!!

On a serious note, high blood sugars can cause people to lose weight and have trouble putting it on so be sure to monitor this.

All the best

Indiana x
 
planehazza said:
In my case I'll be 50 lol. I'm 27 but barely pass for 18.
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Don't knock it mate, of the 2 issues this is definitely the least bad of the pair. I am similar but I am only 5'8. I have never been big and am positively skinny now. However I notice that when I put weight on it just goes to my belly so putting on weight is not necessarily a good thing as you could end up being skinny with a big gut! It does not distribute evenly I'm afraid when it goes on. It will select a spot and just go for it.
 
Auckland Canary said:
Don't knock it mate, of the 2 issues this is definitely the least bad of the pair. I am similar but I am only 5'8. I have never been big and am positively skinny now. However I notice that when I put weight on it just goes to my belly so putting on weight is not necessarily a good thing as you could end up being skinny with a big gut! It does not distribute evenly I'm afraid when it goes on. It will select a spot and just go for it.
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Yeah I have noticed that too. I'm skinny with a little pot belly haha. I've never been to the gym and I'm not sporty so it's my own fault really.
 
Indiana91 said:
I have no trouble at all putting weight on! Wish I was like you!!

On a serious note, high blood sugars can cause people to lose weight and have trouble putting it on so be sure to monitor this.

All the best

Indiana x
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Cheers Indianna, cool name btw :) I thought this as well and asked at my last checkup, but I was told I would have to have constant bloody sugars of 15+ before it started to affect my weight etc.
 
Thank you! :)

You must just be a skinny-minny then! ;)

Indiana x


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Eat more meals (healthy meals for course) and exercise frequently especially hypertrophy weight training! I don't mean go gym and do the heaviest possible but aim to do exercise such as squats of 12 reps, 3 sets at 60-70% of your one rep max. This will allow you to gain muscle, again your not going to turn out like Arnold S but you will tone up first and then build muscle.....training like this three times per week would also increase your appetite so you would gradually put on weight :) but exercise is definitely the key!! :)


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Kelsie said:
Eat more meals (healthy meals for course) and exercise frequently especially hypertrophy weight training! I don't mean go gym and do the heaviest possible but aim to do exercise such as squats of 12 reps, 3 sets at 60-70% of your one rep max. This will allow you to gain muscle, again your not going to turn out like Arnold S but you will tone up first and then build muscle.....training like this three times per week would also increase your appetite so you would gradually put on weight :) but exercise is definitely the key!! :)


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Thanks, this is good to know. My only real excercise is ice skating which I enjoy. Unfortunately it's not consistent - some months I'll go 3 or 4 times, other times I'll not go at all depending on commitments and friends' plans etc. Typically I'll go once or twice per month, but that's it other than the odd walk. I skip breakfast 90% of the time too but try to make up for it by having supper an hour or so before bed.

My excuse is I don't have anyone I can go to the gym with and wouldn't feel comfortable going alone, which is really stupid I know.
 
That's understandable, I know a lot of people who don't like to go the gym alone however is the reason you don't want to go alone because you don't know what to the in the gym? Or a different reason? Reason I ask is because I'm a gym instructor and found in the past that new members who use the reason as yours is generally because they don't actually know what to do in the gym therefore don't want to go alone. If that's the case, then ask for a gym induction, they're generally free on joining a gym and in that induction they can give you guidance as well on what equipment to focus on for yours goals etc. Go to the gym with an idea in your head of the session your going to complete eg squats, bicep curls, crunches, press ups and calf raises 12 reps x 3 with 90 seconds recovery as this increases motivation :) after going a couple weeks with doing planned sessions you will probably find you prefer training on your own! I love my friends but I would never train with them as I chat to them continuously and not get my session done! Haha. Also definitely don't skip meals!! I know it's a bad habit but you having breakfast would increase your energy levels, set you up perfectly for a good gym session and increase your appetite after! If your stuck for gym ideas, just type in on google 'circuit examples' and loads will come up :) hope this helps? Good luck!


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Kelsie said:
That's understandable, I know a lot of people who don't like to go the gym alone however is the reason you don't want to go alone because you don't know what to the in the gym? Or a different reason? Reason I ask is because I'm a gym instructor and found in the past that new members who use the reason as yours is generally because they don't actually know what to do in the gym therefore don't want to go alone. If that's the case, then ask for a gym induction, they're generally free on joining a gym and in that induction they can give you guidance as well on what equipment to focus on for yours goals etc. Go to the gym with an idea in your head of the session your going to complete eg squats, bicep curls, crunches, press ups and calf raises 12 reps x 3 with 90 seconds recovery as this increases motivation :) after going a couple weeks with doing planned sessions you will probably find you prefer training on your own! I love my friends but I would never train with them as I chat to them continuously and not get my session done! Haha. Also definitely don't skip meals!! I know it's a bad habit but you having breakfast would increase your energy levels, set you up perfectly for a good gym session and increase your appetite after! If your stuck for gym ideas, just type in on google 'circuit examples' and loads will come up :) hope this helps? Good luck!


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Nail on the head mate. It's a self conciousness thing - I'd be that puny weakling that can't last 5 mins on a treadmill and can barely lift a coke can haha. I do seriously need to join one though and I think getting a level of fitness (I'm really unfit generally) would work wonders to my physical and mental well being. I work in town and get discount from local gyms as I work in the local authority so I have no excuse really.

Thanks mate, that's a really good bit of help. I'll see which gym I like the look of. Any tips for snacks and keep the BG level up whilst training?
 
Ah perfect-make use of that discount then!!!! Ha :) you'll be amazed how much you improve after just a month of consistent training-I promise! If that gym offers classes such as circuits or pump, go to them! They're great for beginners building a basic fitness level up. Take your bg tester with you for the first few weeks and test your bg before, 45 mins into session and after to see how the exercise affects your sugar. Generally a weight session increases your sugar levels but this isn't the case for everyone, for some it lowers it so hence why it's good to test lots initially. If your sugar levels are consistently high with weight training then I have a extra unit of insulin couple hours before. I generally have a lucozade with me and sip little and often during training and finish my session with a banana and a glass of milk for recovery. Only other thing to be careful with, is if your exercising in the evening reduce your background insulin before bed by up to a third as exercise affects yours sugar levels up to 10 hours after and can cause night time hypos if not reduced-I found this out the hard way and was never told this advice by the hospital.


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Kelsie said:
Ah perfect-make use of that discount then!!!! Ha :) you'll be amazed how much you improve after just a month of consistent training-I promise! If that gym offers classes such as circuits or pump, go to them! They're great for beginners building a basic fitness level up. Take your bg tester with you for the first few weeks and test your bg before, 45 mins into session and after to see how the exercise affects your sugar. Generally a weight session increases your sugar levels but this isn't the case for everyone, for some it lowers it so hence why it's good to test lots initially. If your sugar levels are consistently high with weight training then I have a extra unit of insulin couple hours before. I generally have a lucozade with me and sip little and often during training and finish my session with a banana and a glass of milk for recovery. Only other thing to be careful with, is if your exercising in the evening reduce your background insulin before bed by up to a third as exercise affects yours sugar levels up to 10 hours after and can cause night time hypos if not reduced-I found this out the hard way and was never told this advice by the hospital.


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Awesome thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I know a lot of people in the council are members of a particular gym so I'll hunt them down for advice on joining. The cross training sounds exactly like what I need - I have real problems with my posture (very tight should muscles giving me round shoulders) so I'm hoping strengthening my upper body will help that too. Basically I need to improve my fitness whilst toning up a bit :)

Thanks!
 
Brilliant, glad to help :) I'm a sports therapist too so if you ever want any help with training/posture help then drop me a message. Strengthening upper back and stretching your pectorals (if you have tight pecs, massage a golf ball into them. It's painful but relieves the tension) would definitely help with correcting rounded shoulders. Let me know how you get on :)


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Yes, don't be scared of going to the gym. I go by myself even though my wife is also a member. Most attendees go by themselves; male and female. It can be daunting at first with all this strange equipment, but gym staff are always very helpful and you soon settle in. There are also group classes you can join
 
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