Trouble gaining weight back.

[CaptainJeemy]

Hey Im new here, thought I'd ask see if anyone else has had this problem too. I read there no drug discussion here but Im just trying to give background. For about two years I was using something nearly every day, usually MDxx, meth, K, acid, things along those lines. I was a sloppy mess. I cut all (okay most of) that stuff out a little over a year ago. I feel better than I've felt in years; Im finally happy again, relatively motivated and mostly just don't feel like my brains melted, haha.

But I lost a lot of weight in all that and Im having a terrible time trying to gain it back. Im so skinny I gross myself out a bit when I look in the mirror. Before all the drugs my weight was usually around 145 (Im 5'11), skinny but not too offensive. Now Im having trouble even keeping my weight at 120. I eat constantly and I get a fair amount of exercise but Im just not gaining anything back.

Anyone else been there?

 

[Maya]

Maybe a visit to the doctor will help? To get your blood levels checked etc?

 

[CaptainJeemy]

I had blood work done six months ago and everything came back fine. I guess it couldn't hurt to go back though.

 

[RedLeader]

You need to calculate your caloric equilibrium - the number of calories you need to have per day to maintain your current weight. And then you increase it by 15-20% to gain weight, or decrease it by 15-20% to lose weight. Forget anything too complicated or sold in expensive bottles, this is how you change your weight. So if you need 2000calories a day to maintain at 145, then a surplus of 300-400, meaning a total of 2300-2400 calories per day, is what you need to consistently eat. This pace will move you about a pound each week. Any faster and it gets unhealthy.

Muscle weighs more than fat, so keep exercising. Your weight is really just a number, it is how you wear it that matters. You are taller and with an athletic frame, so putting on 10lbs of lean muscle will make you have one of the most attractive body types.

 

[xxxyyy]

yes, i've been there. during the worst times, i was maybe 120 pounds soaking wet at 1,85m (roughly 6'1' i think). i looked like i just walked out of a concentration camp. however, alcoholism fattened me up gradually.
then i started taking mirtazapine and a year later i weigh 40 pounds more. my weight isn't bad for my height, i'm at about 180 pounds now, unfortunately none of the weight i gained is muscle. i really need to start working out but every time i start i become frustrated very quickly because i am so incredibly out of shape. years of alcoholism and a pack of unfiltered camels a day really took their toll.

 

[Corazon]

Hey Im new here, thought I'd ask see if anyone else has had this problem too. I read there no drug discussion here but Im just trying to give background. For about two years I was using something nearly every day, usually MDxx, meth, K, acid, things along those lines. I was a sloppy mess. I cut all (okay most of) that stuff out a little over a year ago. I feel better than I've felt in years; Im finally happy again, relatively motivated and mostly just don't feel like my brains melted, haha.

But I lost a lot of weight in all that and Im having a terrible time trying to gain it back. Im so skinny I gross myself out a bit when I look in the mirror. Before all the drugs my weight was usually around 145 (Im 5'11), skinny but not too offensive. Now Im having trouble even keeping my weight at 120. I eat constantly and I get a fair amount of exercise but Im just not gaining anything back.

Anyone else been there?

you aren't "offensive". Lack of confidence is probably more offensive than being skinny.
You made a good life choice, now you have to work to get back to baseline physically...

It takes a while to get some momentum going with appetite and weight gain.
Favor weight training(or bodyweight like pullups,pushups...) over anything aerobic.
Favor big muscles or total body(compound) movements over isolation like bicep curls.
Eat big after you exercise(no more than 20-30 min later - if impossible down a shake or something)
You can repeat this cycle a couple times a day time permitting.
Don't miss any meals.
When I was an athlete, there was a time when I would set my alarm for the middle of the night and eat a peanut butter and jelly lol. Not sure how healthy that is.

 

[CaptainJeemy]

Thanks everybody!

Im going to keep a long of what I eat this week and see how many calories Im actually taking in. I do miss meals fairly often because I work pretty long hours.
The little work out regimen I have going is in step with most of what Corazon said. I don't do any aerobic exercises but I usually play drums for about two hours a day so that's probably considered a good bit of cardio.

A decent bit of my weight is muscle, they're defined at least. I think what may be happening is Im burning off all my calories and just gaining muscle slowly.

I've been wondering about protein shakes, like buying the powered whey protein and mixing them up but I've heard differencing opinions as to weather they're actually good for you. Is that crazy talk?

 

[RedLeader]

Protein shakes are a very cheap source of protein, so they are definitely good if you are on a budget. Make it a goal to consume 1g of protein per day for your bodyweight (so around 150g per day right now). You're better off getting your protein from real food during a bulk, so maybe 4 meals with 30g each and then a 30g protein shake after working out.

Protein powder also often contains BCAAs, which go well in addition to daily vitamins. One shake per day would be ideal in your shoes.

When you want to cut bodyfat, so go into a caloric deficit and cycle carbs, protein shakes become more important. They are low calorie, low carb and high protein, which is how your diet should be to lose fat and retain muscle ("cut").

But for now, grab a cheap protein powder from Vitamin World or similar. You should be able to find one for about $30 for 30 servings. If you feel overwhelmed, find a "whey isolate" one.

 

[Foreigner]

My constitution is prone to being under weight, drugs or no drugs. Right now I'm stable and fit, and I attained it by taking adrenals like rhodiola and ashwaganda, gradual weight training (increasing by smaller increments over a longer period of time), and by consuming a diet higher in protein and fat than carbs. For the fats, I consume both unsaturated and saturated. I don't fancy red meat, but I consume bone broth regularly, along with occasional chicken.

If you are just chronically exhausted with poor appetite, I recommend you start with adrenals, especially given your history of drug use. I don't support taking pharmaceuticals simply for their weight gaining side effects because that is not really healthy weight. Strength training more gradually over a longer period of time teaches lean bodies how to hold muscle. If you do power house training and then stop it will disappear quickly. YMMV.

 

[SirTophamHat]

Listen to RedLeader, he is giving you sound and simple advice.

My favorite weightgainer is whole milk. Combine with steak for extraordinary results

 

[xx001]

What kind of diet do you currently eat? Any idea of your average calorie consumption?

Protein shakes are not a bad idea. After a workout, you may not feel like eating, so the shakes are a good way of getting extra nutrition. If you are trying to gain muscle, creatine is a good, safe supplement.

Any easy and healthy way to add calories to a meal is by supplementing with healthy fats. A bit of olive oil with every meal is a good method.