Struggling to gain weight / Can't seem to put on any muscle

maybe check those thyroid levels..

So I’ve been struggling with my weight my entire life—basically an uphill battle just to gain *any* mass. Lately, though, it feels like I'm shrinking even though I eat normally; I honestly look like a toothpick. My collarbones are sticking out more every day, and you can literally see my ribs... it looks terrible and it's honestly driving me into a depression. Is anyone else dealing with this? Any advice on what to actually do? I’m stuck at 100 lbs at 5'8", and I haven't been able to budge from that number in forever. 🤦 🙂

My doctor offered me B-complex vitamins a while back, but—spoiler alert—that did absolutely nothing for me.

Every single time I catch my reflection, it's like I'm getting thinner and thinner... like I'm just slowly fading away... 👎

Maybe get checked for parasites? A ton of people have them without even realizing it. It could also be an overactive metabolism or some thyroid stuff going on. Honestly, you should probably take it easy on the workouts for a bit.

I’m not exactly hitting the gym or anything—mostly just sitting around most of the day. ☕ I mean, I know my metabolism has always been lightning fast and I've been thin my whole life, but lately, I've noticed I'm getting even thinner and I honestly have no clue why. Plus, I eat a ton—I seriously love food and can polish off an entire meal without blinking—but I just can't put on a single pound. My face looks fine and hydrated, but the rest of my body? Total disaster. 🤦

Then you've got parasites to deal with.

crimsonfalcon38 said:Then we're talking about parasites.

How can you just claim that without any proof?!

David Ross3, I’m dealing with something similar right now and I'm still in the middle of testing.
So far, they've diagnosed me with esophagitis and gastritis. I actually put on a few pounds since I started taking Zoloft for it :-D
Just to be clear, I didn't even have issues with my esophagus or stomach before; I was honestly confused why my doctor was even sending me for a gastroscopy.

They also ran tests for celiac disease, so I'm still waiting on those results.

And no, I don't have parasites. :-)

Anyway, my doctor over in Oakland told me not to sweat the weight too much if I've always been thin—which I am—and if I feel fine. And I do feel okay; I'm pretty active and have plenty of energy... It would only be an issue if I suddenly started dropping weight.

Guess I’ll have to go get checked out too—honestly, my only goal is to actually put on some weight and look healthy, because right now? My physique is borderline anorexic.

Yeah, you're actually weighing even less than I am. I finally managed to hit 132 pounds at 6'0".

Both of you are way too skinny. Especially you, David Ross3. I’m sitting at about 185 lbs at 6'1". I actually spent a huge chunk of my life being super underweight because I had zero appetite and was dealing with some nasty parasites back when I was a kid. Eventually figured things out, though, and now I've just got a bit of a beer belly. 🙄

While we’re all just sitting here twiddling our thumbs waiting for those gluten enteropathy test results to come back:

-Just curious, how does your family tree stack up against yours? Like, what’s the general build of your parents, grandparents, the whole crew?
-And what does your actual daily intake look like—I mean, strictly speaking—over a typical two-week stretch? Are you tracking everything in a food diary, calculating the numbers, getting into the weeds of both calories and quality?
-How old are you, anyway?

Have you ever checked your thyroid levels?

velvetmoose9 said:While we wait for those gluten enteropathy test results to come back:

Compared to you, how’s the physical constitution of your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents?
So, how many calories are you actually taking in on a daily basis? I mean, looking at the last 14 days—both the numbers and the actual quality of the food. Do you guys actually keep a log and track everything, or what?
How old are you?

None of my friends are fat, I guess, but they aren't exactly thin either. They're all a lot shorter than me, too.
I guess I'll try keeping a journal.

I mean, I think I eat enough. I try to keep things healthy, but honestly, I love McDonald's too much to deny myself. Yesterday I polished off half a jar of peanut butter, and I guess I'll be finishing the other half today.
My appetite went through the roof once I started taking Zoloft. I definitely put on some weight because of it. It’s leveled out now, but it's not like I stopped eating.

38 years old.
I walk a lot—mostly because I have dogs to take out—and I spend a ton of time on my bike. A few years back, I was actually pretty active with sports, too. Plus, I’m under a fair amount of stress lately. I guess all of that probably plays a role.

melloworca6 said:Have you maybe checked your thyroid levels?

I did it a few years back and everything seemed fine at the time, but I guess I could probably go in and double-check it again. Thanks for the suggestion :-)

Most of my family is pretty curvy—it’s mostly my mom, grandma, and sister who carry more weight, while on my dad's side, you've got a couple of tall, thin aunts and then the rest are shorter and a bit fuller 😬
. I'm basically the outlier when it comes to weight.
I honestly don't get how I stay so lean—I mean, I live for good food, I love eating, and I definitely don't hold back at mealtime. I can polish off an entire bag of chips by myself, and I'm constantly snacking just because I'm bored... so it's wild to me that none of those calories actually stick. 🤷

Hey everyone—let’s just jump straight into this mess. I’ve always struggled with being way too thin—basically, my metabolism is a freak of nature—and no matter how much I stuff myself, I can't gain a single ounce. It's actually driving me insane because I somehow managed to drop two pounds even though I’m basically eating everything in sight. Fast food and junk have become my go-to lately, and honestly, I'm trying to fight that habit because I want to look healthy and fit, not skeletal and washed out. It’s seriously pushing me toward a depressive spiral. What am I supposed to do? I’ve tried B-complex vitamins and brewer's yeast capsules, but absolutely nothing works. Nothing. I’m starting to feel pretty hopeless since I'm quite tall, and my weight is sitting right where someone with anorexia would be—which isn't the case for me at all, I've never had those issues. I love food, I genuinely enjoy eating, I just want to hit a normal weight. Right now, I'm stuck at 95 pounds, when I used to hover around 100—I haven't budged from that number in years. I just want to get to at least 120 or 130... I don't get how I lost the weight or if any of this is even normal. I have no clue what the issue is—back when I saw my doctor, she just handed me some B-complex and called it a day. I'm at my wit's end here... 🕺

It’s like I wrote this myself.
My doctor sent me for a mountain of tests because she insisted I was underweight. I didn't feel undernourished at all—honestly, I wouldn't have minded losing a few pounds; I was 183 cm tall and only weighed about 121 lbs back then. Turns out, they diagnosed me with gastritis, esophagitis, and GERD. I’d never had any issues before this. I've been on medication, and I finally managed to bulk up to around 132 lbs. I'm eating just like I used to.

Same story here. Word for word.
First thing you gotta do is hit up a doctor to get your thyroid checked.
So what if it's fine? You just eat clean and hit the gym. What else is there?
Started at 108 lbs and now I'm sitting around 130-132, but honestly? The muscle mass is looking solid.
I'm not exactly built like a linebacker or anything, if you know what I mean. But hey, effort counts, right?
It's all about the diet and the training too. What else?

coastaltiger7 said:It’s like you’re reading my mind.
My doctor sent me through a whole gauntlet of tests because she insisted I was underweight—even though I didn't feel that way at all, and honestly, a few extra pounds wouldn't have hurt since I was 121 lbs and 6 feet tall back then. Turns out, they diagnosed me with gastritis, esophageal inflammation, and GERD. I never had any issues before this. Now I'm on medication and managed to bump up to about 132 lbs. And yeah, I'm eating just as much as I always did.

I'm 5'8" and currently sitting at 95 lbs.😢 Can you tell me what kind of meds you're taking?

Angela Anderson8 said:Same thing happened to me—literally word for word.
First, go see a doctor to get your thyroid checked.
If that comes back clear, just focus on healthy eating and hitting the gym.
I started at 108 lbs and now I'm around 130-132, mostly good muscle mass too.
Don't worry, I don't look like a bodybuilder or anything, but it takes work—
both with the diet and the workouts.

Even with the food I mentioned, I still eat healthy—like, I eat everything, love veggies and fruit, not a picky eater at all.
As for the gym, I thought about it, but I bailed because I just don't have the energy or the willpower right now—plus, looking "ripped" isn't really my goal.
Does anyone have suggestions on what to eat during the day or how much I should be putting away...

Linda Robinson49 said:I'm 5'8" and currently weighing about 95 pounds.😢 Can you tell me what kind of treatment this is?

I'm taking Zoloft, which helps manage acid levels. But I guess you shouldn't just start taking stuff on your own.

The tests I've had done include a CBC, thyroid hormone panels, a celiac test, plus a gastroscopy and colonoscopy.

So, what’s the food situation looking like for you during the day? Are you actually eating more than usual—or is the weight gain just a side effect from the meds?

My appetite just went through the roof. At first, I honestly felt like there was this massive hole in my stomach that I just couldn't fill up.
In terms of what I'm eating, the only real change I made was swapping out my usual breakfast pastries for a smoothie made with kefir, oats, and some fruit.