I am a senior. I lost my husband over a year ago. Since then I have lost 20 pounds. I used to weigh 130 pounds and it was OK. Now I am down to 110 pounds. I am 5' 2" tall. I try to gain and never can. Is there anything I can take to help me gain weight? Please help!
bettebee in Florida

Please send message quick.

Bettebee,
I am a senior. I lost my husband over a year ago. Since then I have lost 20 pounds. I used to weigh 130 pounds and it was OK. Now I am down to 110 pounds. I am 5' 2" tall. I try to gain and never can. Is there anything I can take to help me gain weight? Please help!
bettebee in Florida

Eat loads and lift weights!!! :tu:


(God, wish I had that problem)

I'm not sure exactly what to recommend because I'm not too familiar with weight gaining and being a senior complicates matters a little more for me in terms of giving advice...however, I would recommend a few things...

If you get a chance to talk to your doctor, thats a good place to start. He or she might be able to formulate a diet and excersize plan that can help, and perhaps some type of support group if that is necessary as well. It can be very difficult to lose a loved one, and its certainly understandable to react to it by losing (or in some cases gaining) weight.

I'd also recommend looking in to what products might help with weight gain. I believe that GNC and many health food stores carry weight gain powders that can be easily mixed with water and made in to shakes (although I can't vouch for the taste). I agree with Diamond Star that weight lifting could certainly help, so perhaps you should look in to a small set of weights or even just lifting soup cans (thats what my mom does).

Also, calorie-dense foods can help. All types of nuts would be a great way to start as they are very calorie rich and in my opinion not all that filling so you can eat a lot of them. Almonds, cashews, and walnuts are all very nutritious and calorically dense as well. You could, perhaps, keep a bowl of them around the house and snack on them whenever you pass by the bowl :) What kinds of foods do you like, and what are you eating currently? A sample menu might help us to direct you toward some higher-calorie alternatives that are still healthy and nutritious to eat.

Keep posting and we'll all help you put on some pounds!

:tu:

Try those "meal in a can" things. They are basically high calorie shakes that you can have anytime. You should be able to find that sort of thing at any GNC/other health stuff-store or supermarket. Also, I believe if you can get a doctor to justify the cost, cases of them can be bought at discount or entirely via health insurance. Just have one in between each meal, 2 a day or so. Shouldn't alter your normal eating habits but should help add calories.

Talk to your doctor, as it sounds like this is probably more a psychological issue that needs to be solved rather than a physical one. Goodluck.