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

Linda Robinson49 said:Not really. 🕺

I know it’s a hassle, but you really ought to go get your bloodwork done. All the advice and dietary supplements in the world won't mean a damn thing if there's an underlying physiological reason for your weight loss.

Look, if we're talking about Hyperthyroidism, you can try every trick in the book, but nothing is going to move the needle much until those hormone levels actually stabilize.

Hey everyone, I'm new here. Sorry if this has been covered before, but my situation is pretty weird, so if anyone's dealt with something similar, I'd really appreciate some direction or advice.

So, this isn't actually about me. It’s about my mom—she’s over 50 and dealing with some health stuff. The biggest issue right now is that she's losing weight way too fast and just can't put any on, even though she eats regularly and in decent amounts. I mean, she's not eating like a competitive eater or anything, but given her daily calorie intake, her weight is just way too low. Right now, she's sitting at about 108 lbs at 5'0".

The real headache is her food allergies. She's allergic to a ton of different foods, plus preservatives and flavor enhancers. On top of that, she has a histamine intolerance. Because of all that, most things she tries to eat make her feel terrible the next day, or she breaks out in rashes and redness. But here's the kicker: even with the "safe" foods she's allowed to eat, she still won't gain weight.

So, my question is: has anyone ever been in a similar spot, or do you know someone who might be able to help? We've seen plenty of doctors and run all sorts of tests, but nothing serious has ever come up beyond what I already mentioned. One last-ditch idea she had—since she's heard of similar cases—is that it might actually be related to her teeth. She has porcelain crowns, and she's wondering if the food intolerance is actually a reaction to the material used in the dental work.

Hyperthyroidism, most likely...

Rachel Brooks63 said:Hyperthyroidism, most likely.

I forgot to mention, her thyroid levels have always been fine—at least, it was never officially diagnosed. She has some cysts on her thyroid, but nothing worth worrying about.

My mom was about 49 back when this started—she’s 63 now—and she was only 117 pounds at 5'8"... which is actually 21cm taller than your mother, by the way. I should probably mention that she looked just like Angelina Jolie. She stayed incredibly slender her entire life—never really going over 125 or 130 pounds, except during her pregnancies—but back then, she was actually dealing with an acute ulcer and a H. pylori infection. It might be worth having you guys look into that as well.

Lisa Perez37 said:My mom was 49 back when this started (she’s 63 now). She was only 108 lbs at 5'8", which is about 7 inches taller than your mom... should I even mention she looked just like Angelina Jolie? She stayed super thin her whole life—usually hovering around 125 lbs, except during pregnancy—but back then she was actually dealing with an acute ulcer and H. pylori. You guys should probably get that checked out too.

Exactly..
From saying that being 110 lbs at 5'0" isn't actually a crisis, all the way down to suggesting you check for ulcers and H. pylori..

Maria Reyes35 said:yeah..
going from "hey, your weight is fine for your height (110 lbs at 5'0")" to suggesting we go hunting for ulcers or H. pylori...

Sure, my current weight might not be a crisis, but what *is* a crisis is the fact that the scale keeps dropping and dropping even though I'm eating enough calories. It just doesn't make sense.

As for the H. pylori or an ulcer, nope—already had those tests done..

I don't want to sound like a total doomsayer here, but rapid weight loss can sometimes be linked to tumors too.

I have a serious issue here. I’m naturally lean, and gaining weight is an uphill battle for me. I’m 24 years old, 5'8", and currently sitting at about 136 lbs. I've always been on the thin side. About two months ago, I started vomiting almost every single time I ate. Naturally, I went in for a full battery of tests. My blood work came back perfect. I even had a gastroscopy where they checked for bacteria and everything else, and the results were flawless; the doctor told me I can eat whatever I want. Since then, the vomiting and nausea have stopped, but my appetite hasn't returned. It seems the root cause is stress. I can't stand my job anymore, I recently broke up with my girlfriend, and the biggest weight on my mind is the fact that I'm moving to Germany this winter. I simply cannot put on weight—if I have two days off, I might gain 4 or 5 pounds, but the moment work starts again, it vanishes. Is seeing a psychiatrist a good move? I’ve become incredibly insecure, and frankly, it's destroying me. My head has been a mess for the last three months, even though I am physically healthy. Will a psychiatrist actually help? I've been under constant pressure for years like most people, but lately, it has spiraled into depression. I've also started smoking more heavily. During those two weeks when I was constantly vomiting, I dropped 11 pounds, though I managed to bounce back quickly once the doctors assured me nothing was physically wrong. Now, I'm forcing myself to eat several small meals a day. I used to be able to polish off a massive plate of food without thinking twice, but now I struggle to finish even a few bites.