Food Talk  Discussion Forum

Hi everybody
I am 24 years old and married for 3 years now. I am underweight and thin by all means. There are instances where people commented me on my face saying that I just look like a skeleton. One common question I always face is 'don't u eat anything?' It really hurts me a lot. I was nicknamed 'somalia girl' by guys when I was in college. I worry about my weight all the time. I was underweight my whole life and tried so many things to put up weight but nothing really worked and I could gain not even a single kg. All of my family members are average persons.

My height is 5'3\"; and weight is just 35 kgs. By god's grace I am now married to a wonderful person but I can't even dare to think of getting pregnant because of my weight. Comments and odd looks from people is killing me from inside. I always try to ignore but it realy hurts you know :-(

Please can anybody suggest me how I can put up some weight and look healthy & normal? My husband says I take in only a little amount of food so I am thin. With only that little amount I feel belly full. Can anyone suggest me what should I do to increase my appitite?

regards
anu

Huzefa replied. Hi Anu,
I have the same problem as you had three years ago... I see that u had posted this message in 2002.
Please do let me know your experience after implementing the solutions people gave you and your suggestions for me.

Thx
Huzefa Naresh replied. Hi Anu
Have You Gain weight or not ?
did you tried the thing i suggest you ?
any way try sincearly...goodluck
Naresh Susan replied. Hi anu,
I too had the same problems like u guys. Even after my marriage I was 43 kgs (same like college) and that too being in US I didnt add weight (b'coz I've seen everyone going abroad adding weight). So whenever I used to visit India everyone used to comment on my weight & I used to get very irritated. But this time when I went, I found them telling me that now I look healthy and good. I've become 51 kgs now.
Like few of them have replied, I have started having 1-2 sps of ghee almost everyday in my diet but since u get pimples u can try adding half a spoon ghee alternate days or once in a week. Also this suggestion was given to me by my doctor friend. Everyday at nights soak 8-10 almonds in water, next morning peel it and have the almonds. U can also take them alongwith whole milk (or whichever milk is suitable to u). Have almonds everyday as they contain the necessary oils good for the body. Also try having other dry fruits like cashews, peanuts, etc. If u cannot eat them separately try adding fried cashews or peanuts in ur rice or vegetables, etc.
If u r a non-veg, then eat atleast 1-2 boiled egg whites everyday as they have a good amt of proteins. Chicken and fish too have a lot of proteins. Also eat a lot of bananas. Bananas r very helpful in adding weight. Take food items such as pulses (chole, rajma, soya, etc), potatoes, etc.
U have asked how to increase appetite. I have the same problem, even if I eat a little bit, my stomach gets full. But exercise is the answer to this problem. If u r in US, then u must not be getting good exercise. My husband and me have joined a gym here from a year and we do a lot of exercise in the gym for around 30 - 45 mnts. After that u feel very hungry. So if u dont exercise, then start exercising. If u cant join a gym, go for jogging, cycling, swimming, walking whichever is suitable to u.
One more important factor is to drink lots and lots of water. This helps in keeping the bowel movements clean. If the bowel movements r not regular, that also leads in lower appetite as ur stomach will always be full. So drink a lot.
Now u must be thinking how can I have so many items in one day. Early morning instead of drinking ur regular tea or coffee, drink a glass of milk with almonds and biscuits or some type of snacks (breakfast is the imp diet which keeps u going the whole day). Then after 2 hours have a banana. For lunch have dal or pulses curry or chicken/egg. Also take yogurt. Add cashewnuts/peanuts in ur curry or pulao. Then during tea time in the evening, instead of having tea/coffee have a glass or juice. And snacks like upma, poha, buttered or cheese toast, etc. And at night again have high calorie dinner. Thats it, do this and u will see an improvement. Please dont expect immediate results, give it atleast a month or so to take effect. After one month of this diet, take ur weight and see if u find any improvement. And do let us know. If u need any more help, write and I'll be glad to give u any more suggestions. Bye and all the best. friend replied. Hi Anu,
I've been underweight too.My height is 5'4\"; and weight used to be at around 45 Kgs while in college and later i went down till 42kgs and it remained at that level for so many years.I used to put on weight sometime around 1 to 2 kgs but then soon back to that 42 to 43 average.I remained same even after marriage and people used to comment to me or to my mummy that i have not put on any weight after marriage and some people even used to say that i have lost weight even after i tell them that my weight has remained the same.I really used to get irritated of such people becos its like u are supposed to put on more weight after marriage ! Am happily married and my hubby is very caring.I even used to eat lot of chocolates and icecreams becos i love both.Whatever i ate it never added to my weight.Some people called me even \";peanut\";.Well, i don't feel bad at such things.I feel what is more important is that we should be healthy.It is possible to be healthy even if one is underweight.Now that am pregnant with our first child am very happy and i started pregnancy with the same weight and i've been progressing normally.Recently , i crossed 100 pounds and even my doctor was congratulating me for that.
Don't worry too much about your weight.Eat healthy and remain healthy.Go for some high calorie healthy diet. abc replied. Hi,

I too had this problem, I was underweight through out my first 20 years.

Then I decided and followed the same thing which Nina has mentioned. I started eating meals more in between no matter if I have apetite or not. You will improve your apetite after few months if you continue seriously eating 4-5 times a day. Take more calories and fat in your food, some fruits too.

I too have oily skin and eating ghee, butter or oil make it not any good. But you have to adjust in someway. Eating a bit more of ghee or oil will not make that worst. You have to decide what amount of oil or ghee is your limit. And yes eat cheese too. Get couple of bread slices with butter and cheese every morning, this helps a lot in 3-4 months.

And donot expect results overnight. Also donot go and weigh yourself every week or now and then. It will put more pressure on you and this will definetly not help in gaining weight.

I hope this will help you. Wait for 6-8 months atleast with this improved eating habbit.

All the best !! chris replied.
akash sir

hopefully by now u've understud that this isn't da place 2 show ur filthy comedy

so move ur freaky butt out of here--quick!

good job ladies
akash replied. You have still not starved to death, Somalia Girl? Don’t bother these people – the inevitable will happen sooner rather than later. reshma replied. Hello there.. Thank u very much for ur message. This is really some useful stuff. I'll make a note of these suggestions too
Take care nirupama replied. Hi Anu
I have gone through all messages. I will follow these tips too and see.
Keep in touch

Naresh replied. Hi Anu
The good solution of your problem is take a glas of milk with Dates (Khajoor)
every day. it will be better in morning with empty stomoch....it heled my friend a lot....also take some kabuli chana black and put it it water for whole night and in morning take chana...do not add masala or salt...
may be in 2-3 month you will be alright...best of luck...
Naresh Nina replied. Hello Friend,

I understand your personal concerns with weight. Whether slim or plump, we women are always concerned with our weight.

Some people have higher metabolisms, many people would give anything to have it...

Well, if you want to gain weight, I cannot promise miracles, but, this worked for me...

before I tell you; I can say I used to be a thin, very thin girl. People called me names like featherweight, chicken legs...etc. :-)

I am 5'9\"; and I was under 120 lbs. I was tall and thin; that made me look really skinny.

I began eating 5 small meals per day rather than 3 average size meals a day. I increased the calories by using whole milk rather than low fat...I added ghee to my food rather than cut it from my diet.

Eventually, over time, I slowly filled out in my hips and arms. My arms used to look so thin and my face too.

I then sucessfully became pregnant and with my strict diet (one that is higher calorie), I had a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Now, I would say my issues with weight are no longer the same. I'm where I think I should be weight wise; or at least, I feel better and look better.

It took a good year or so before I fully filled out.

Take care,

Nina

(I live in U.S.)