How to gain weight?

Ugh... I actually tried once out of pure frustration because I couldn't gain any weight. I overate so aggressively and consumed so many calories that I ended up throwing up; my stomach simply couldn't handle it.😂
Gaining weight isn't easy at all. It’s incredibly frustrating when you force yourself through seven days of nonstop binge eating only for the scale to show you've gained maybe 0.000001 kg. Too much suffering for zero results. People who are overweight think it's a luxury to have to gain weight, but they just have larger stomachs, so it isn't an issue for them. I think the most important thing is expanding the stomach capacity a bit. For instance, if I eat a standard large pizza, I can barely move because of the pain, whereas a colleague of mine—who is the same height as me (6'1")—can polish off a jumbo pizza😁 and it's honestly infuriating knowing he could easily put on another 110 lbs if he wanted to. But damn, I can't eat nearly that much, even if I try the tactic of eating many small snacks; I end up feeling nauseous by the last meal.

Hey everyone! 🙂

I've been struggling with being underweight for years now—honestly, just trying everything to gain some weight. I eat basically anything under the sun, from healthy stuff to total junk, fruit, veggies, blah blah blah... but nothing seems to stick. 😢😢 I’m about 5'9" and only 112 lbs. Summer is right around the corner and I'm starting to feel pretty desperate about it. Does anyone have any solid advice on how to actually put on some mass?? 😕

I'm about 5'11" and 143 lbs, and honestly, I'm not really seeing any progress either..

I am offering you my surplus 😛

A few years back, there was a television feature regarding women struggling with being underweight. I believe there is even a specific institution in a major US city dedicated to this issue, though the name escapes me at the moment... they focus on helping people gain weight...

hehe sure thing—as long as you're willing to gift me your leftovers 😉 man, seriously, everyone is out here dropping endless tips on how to lose weight or go on diets, but nobody ever gives actual, solid advice on how to gain weight. 😢

Have you checked your thyroid levels? Usually, people with hyperthyroidism can't gain weight no matter how much they eat.😁

Brian Cruz2 said:Hey everyone! 🙂

I've been struggling with being underweight for years now—honestly, just trying everything to gain some weight. I eat basically anything under the sun, from healthy stuff to total junk, fruit, veggies, blah blah blah... but nothing seems to stick. 😢😢 I’m about 5'9" and only 112 lbs. Summer is right around the corner and I'm starting to feel pretty desperate about it. Does anyone have any solid advice on how to actually put on some mass?? 😕

Well, there’s an endless mountain of advice out there on how to lose weight... so just do the exact opposite.

Like it was mentioned before, go get your thyroid levels checked—and seriously, check your blood sugar too (especially if you've dropped weight suddenly).
Basically, if you want to gain weight, you need to be hitting 3,000-4,000 calories a day and maybe just stay off your feet all day.🙂

It’s actually quite simple—you have to exceed your basal metabolic rate every single day. That’s just the energy your body burns just to keep your organs functioning and everything running. To figure it out, you convert your weight into pounds—say, if you're 143 lbs, you multiply that by 2.2—then add about 15 to that number to get your daily caloric baseline. Let’s say that comes out to 2,000 calories. Well, that means you need to be hitting at least 3,000 to 3,500 calories a day because those initial 2,000 don't account for physical labor, training, or anything else you do. You follow me? Now, look—if a pound of fat is roughly 3,000 calories, you need to "load up" on those extra 3,000 over time. If you stay at a 500-calorie surplus every day, it’ll take you about six days to pack on a pound of fat. Of course, if you're lifting weights, that ratio shifts slightly toward muscle rather than just pure fat. And honestly? Load up on carbohydrates—white bread, white rice, pizza, bananas, things with a high glycemic index. That’s how you gain weight fast. You aren't going to bulk up much on just meat and vegetables.

Yeah, I could totally look into the turtle thing—I've been playing around with metabolism and calorie counting for ages now—but I'm definitely not a driver, so I have to do a ton of walking and staying active 😉

Brian Cruz2 said:Hey everyone! 🙂

I've been struggling with being underweight for years now—honestly, just trying everything to gain some weight. I eat basically anything under the sun, from healthy stuff to total junk, fruit, veggies, blah blah blah... but nothing seems to stick. 😢😢 I’m about 5'9" and only 112 lbs. Summer is right around the corner and I'm starting to feel pretty desperate about it. Does anyone have any solid advice on how to actually put on some mass?? 😕

Seriously, who does this person think they are? Who gave them the authority to tell me to go see a gastroenterologist just so I can get actual tests done instead of playing amateur doctor and guessing what’s wrong? Give me a break.
There are honestly so many reasons why nutrient absorption might be hitting a wall, even if you think you’re eating enough fats and calories. Are you really getting what you need? Maybe not.
It’s all just guesswork if you don't actually understand how your own body works.
You can play around with it yourself, or you can go see a professional. Your call.
Look, I get it—most people can't stand doctors. But when you start trying to play amateur medic just to fix yourself, you end up becoming your own worst enemy. Is it really worth the risk?
Good luck! 😉

pandora_5 said:but you’re actually doing okay. my brother is 22, stands 5'11", and only weighs about 123 lbs. he’s got you beat 😁 plus I really want to gain some weight myself—I’m 5'6" and barely hit 99 lbs. honestly, I don't think I've ever been over 110. my legs look like toothpicks. I eat constantly, and I swear, the more I eat, the thinner I get. It makes no sense, I guess. 👎

Same deal here, honestly. I'm 5'5" and only around 99 lbs. My high school prom is coming up soon, and whatever I wear, I know I'm just gonna look like a toothpick.😢

Hey, does anyone have advice on which proteins or supplements to take to put on another 5 kg... I'm not talking about muscle, just straight fat...

I’m running into the exact same issue... though if we’re being realistic, it isn't really an issue at all. At the end of the day, staying healthy is what actually matters. And honestly, if a girl can't accept you exactly as you are right now, I suppose one has to wonder why she was even bothering to spend time with you in the first place... As for me, I finally started using one of those stationary machines at the gym this past Saturday—something similar to a stationary bike—and I'm holding onto the hope that it might help tone up my arms and legs a bit. I still eat quite a lot, and I've always just had a smaller frame. It doesn't matter, really; I think the key is just to find some kind of activity that challenges your muscles, but I should emphasize—you have to do it for yourself, not because of some girl!

I've always stayed around 105 pounds at my height of 5'4"...but then over the last year or two, I lost about 5 pounds...my immune system tanked and everything else went with it. I eventually recovered, but I just haven't been able to gain any weight back...in fact, I dropped another couple of pounds...and it's starting to really get to me. 😠 My diet is completely normal, actually I try to be careful about what I eat since I've had some stomach issues. I honestly don't know what to do anymore. I've even started exercising every morning...just to tone up, since gaining weight seems impossible.

Look, I’m about 5'7" and weigh around 110 pounds. It never goes higher than that. No matter how much I eat, I only ever gain maybe four or five pounds at most, and then I'm stuck.
I stay active. I'm out on rollerblades almost every night, and I always walk to the station before taking the bus to school 😁 I also enjoy swimming, running, and dancing 🙄 My morning routine involves stretching first thing, followed by breakfast, and so on. I'm not sure if my activity level is why I can't put on weight. I want to gain weight, but I don't mean becoming an overweight mess with cellulite; I just don't want to look scrawny. My main priority is my legs—they're incredibly thin—and my glutes are pretty flat, to put it bluntly.
Do you have any suggestions on balancing activity with nutrition, sleep schedules, or what foods to cut out or add? For context, I'm 16. I know I'm still developing, so spare me the lectures about being too young. 🙏

Thanks in advance 🙂

I was wondering if anyone has advice on how to actually gain weight when you're dealing with chronic gastritis and GERD? I'm sitting at only 97 pounds at 5'5"...

I'm 18 years old, about 5 feet tall, and currently weighing around 101 pounds. I've been dealing with some health issues—I won't go into all the specifics right now—but basically, everything I eat makes me feel terrible. I’m dealing with constant nausea, whether I've just eaten or not. I was wondering if there might be any specific pills out there that could help me actually keep food down without feeling like I'm going to throw up? My doctor did prescribe Reglan for the nausea, and while that helps quite a bit, I still can't seem to gain any weight.

Hey everyone. New here, and honestly, I’m a bit lost, so hopefully this is the right spot... I've been dealing with one massive issue for as long as I can remember: I CANNOT gain weight. No matter what. I had blood work done and everything with my thyroid came back normal, but it turns out I had mononucleosis. That's cleared up now, but even before that, and still today, the scale just won't budge. Nobody believes me, but I seriously eat a ton. I've tried everything from mindless binge eating to strict meal timing. I’m about 5'10" and stuck at around 132 lbs... it’s always the same story. Lately, I feel like I’m getting a little belly when I flex, but then I step on the scale and I'm down to 130 lbs -.-'.. Please, I need help. Any advice? Thanks! P.S. My bones are sticking out pretty bad too :S

Given your height, your weight is a bit under what most would call "ideal." If you're looking to gain weight, try incorporating higher-fat foods and more bread into your diet—maybe grab some fast food at McDonald's now and then. Just make sure you don't cut out the nutritious stuff like soups, veggies, and fruit. That should definitely help you get where you want to be.