Trouble getting in enough calories

[Fbmb]

Hi all,

i need some ideas for upping my calorie intake without eating processed crap. I posted back in January about weight loss, as I was kind of chunky before I was diagnosed (weird, and this was why I knew I couldn't have celiac - I was never skinny) and I have lost about 19 lbs since November. I haven't tried. Before I was diagnosed I had to work so hard to lose weight. It was a nightmare. Now I lose it really easily. Like I can lose a pound overnight if I don't keep up calories the day before. Before I was diagnosed I could eat nothing but rabbit food and my body was like, "Nope. This chub is all I've got left lady." 

So here I am laying in bed feeling perplexed about why I have lost another pound. I decided to count the calories I ate yesterday and it was around 1200. So, duh. I need to be eating 1600 to maintain at where I am. 

I'm going easy on dairy for now. I've been dealing with a funny tummy so I'm just watching that. But yogurt has been ok. I know I can add lots to yogurt, like walnuts pecans almonds. Gluten free breads don't seem to bother me. Eggs and avocado are ok, as long as I only eat 1/2 of the avocado. 

Can anyone who struggled with this give me some tips? I know a few of you said you dropped a lot of weight when you gave up gluten. I told my GI about it in January and he just smiled. So I assume it's ok. But I would like to give my body what it needs, and 1200 colories isn't enough. 

[Ennis-TX]

Protein shake, I like to use vegan protein powders in almond milk with coconut yogurt and almond butter. Blend it up really nice high calorie shake if you  want it thicker/goopy you can add  ground flax or chia sees for more omega but they will really mess with the texture.  Other thoughts try making creamy soups with full fat coconut milk, I have a great recipe I used to make using butter nut squash,  coconut milk, ginger, thai kitchen curry paste, bit of maple and whilted spinach.

I have a bunch of other recipes for simple snacks like a sugar free almond butter cookie, and my cinnamon cake I posted to the forums is great. I got to say constantly snacking on nuts and seeds helps. Also try taking BCAA pills between meals. it protects your muscles and makes your body burn fat for energy. I take pumpkin seed protein mixed with a vegan blend of proteins before bed myself to help my body recover and build up when I sleep. Pumpkin is high in zinc and various other minerals along with the healthy fats and protein keep your body form eating itself when you sleep.

NOTE alot of times the weight you loose when you sleep is water weight you sweat out or get up and pea during the night. I myself have crazy night sweats get up once to pee and lose 2-3 lbs before bed and morning.  Recently just managed to hit the 129lb mark on wake up (up from 126lb from 2 months ago) been doing a bunch of resistance training and hogging down Julian Bakery coconut bread, butter flavored coconut oil in all cooking, and about 6-8oz of almond butter a day and about 36-48 egg whites a week along with my standard protein powder, nut, and seed intake.   Recently started adding in Daiya and Julian Baker Cheeses for a bit of extra fats. 

Need help finding anything I am a master at sourcing stuff lol. >.> I recently spotted some new processed snacks that look keto friendly, Vegan meats made with pea protein, and tortilla chips made with pea protein...low carb high protein/fats.

[Gemini]

Like Ennis suggested.....protein, healthy fats and bread.  Yup...gluten-free bread.  I am a thin Celiac and I did not really gain until I started eating gluten-free bread. Udi's has a couple of choices that are very healthy breads........they are very whole grainy.  I sometimes eat PB&J sandwiches for snacks. Or load it up with tuna, luncheon meat and cheese. I agree...it can be hard to get enough calories in when you eat healthy.

[Ennis-TX]

OH forgot the links on this, Julian Bakery Breads can be ordered online, nice and full of fats and low carb so no bloat and great for putting on healthy weight. The cheese can also be ordered online. While not the best non dairy cheese, and it has a odd melt (low and slow or you burn it). It is great to eat cold and I sometimes just cut off a few chunks of a block and snack on them >.> I literally just take a peice and fold spinach around it and eat a chunk raw, or mix a hand full of little cubes with nuts and have snacks. Open Original Shared Link

>.< I made baked french toast this morning with the coconut bread, dipped it in a eggwhite, cinnamon, nutmeg, xylitol,and coconut milk, batter then baked it in the toaster oven.

[Victoria1234]

Here's a page that can help you figure out what you need to gain, maintain or lose. Open Original Shared Link

[sddave]

You might try drinking one Ensure Plus a day...not cheap though.

[TexasJen]

Ennis- Where do you get your Pumpkin seed protein powder?

[Victoria1234]

I got this link from another reply from him, I think. I'm scoping it out too... Open Original Shared Link although I'm sure he will be on here soon enough!

[Ennis-TX]

I buy in bulk on amazon Open Original Shared Link

Pure pumpkin seed protein.

Also in reference to the other guy saying use ensure, it is dairy and I have multiple reasons to suggest a non dairy option. I posted somewhere else but there is a company called pioneer labs that makes a protein shake mix that is specifically made for celiacs with a nutrient balance to promote healing and digestion. There is also MRM Veggie elite that I use for on the go meals.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

There is also Garden of Life RAW MEAL but that is a bomb of ground up foods, while it does have about everything you need it has so many other foods in it that the intolerance and allergy concerns really outweigh using it.

PS reasons I am against dairy are both personal and out of concern. first off celiac have damaged vili early on this can cause digestion issues with lactose from dairy as the vili tips produce the enzymes to break them down. Second are personal reasons like lactose intolerance, the effects of dairy on people with autism (I have a form of it and it really makes it worse), and third the way dairy milk is genetically made for bovine not homosapians.....think about that for a bit hormones, amino acids, enzymes, etc. meant for the calf of a cow.....you know how the mothers milk is supposed to help its baby and everything right?  I mean really would you drink from your dog? How about a cat, pig or any other mammal? Heck I would consider drinking human breast milk before I considered cow. Now back in the middle ages they actually marketed butter milk for weight gain to make women plump and fat, this was a indicator that a woman could support children.....OK enough of the history lesson rant lol got way off topic.

[cyclinglady]

Here is my suggestion....eat more fat.  ?

[icelandgirl]

I had the same issue after diagnosis.  I also wasn't thin at diagnosis.  I lost 30 pounds very quickly.. it was kind of scary.  Then I took a look at what I was eating and like you, realized I was short on calories daily. 

Eating good fats really helped me.  Nuts and seed butters are a great source of calories.  Olive oil, butter and coconut oil are great.  For a long time I was putting a tablespoon of coconut oil in my coffee.  Avocados and salmon are both delicious, highly caloric and full of good fats.  I love Canyon bagels!  Yum...so good toasted with sunbutter.

For a while I tracked my calories daily to make sure I got the 1700 I needed to maintain and I did.  Apparently I'm now absorbing much better.  I went to the Dr today and I've gained 5 pounds.  ?

 

[squirmingitch]

Great suggestions above. Anything I was going to suggest has been covered except this:

Baker's sweetened Angel Flake Coconut has 70 calories per 2 tablespoons.

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And this is what I make with it:

Open Original Shared Link

Oh golly! These things are scrumptious!!!!! I just finished devouring 2 of them. 

[gilligan]

I had the same problem for about three years, and finally last year I started gaining weight and am back to normal plus and feeling great.  I worked with a dietician and my g.i.   I used a product called Muscle Egg which is essentially liquid eggs that come in flavors.  It comes in quart and gallon size and is delivered frozen. The only ones I could stand were the plain and chocolate.  Google it - it's an excellent product (also pricey, so watch for free shipping specials). I drank a couple cups a day and added it to smoothies,  My dr. recommended medium chain triglyceride oil.  Walgreens ordered it for me.  I don't remember what it's called, but they should be able to help you.  It has a coconut taste and isn't bad at all.  In addition, my diet was rich in tuna, salmon, olive and coconut oil, peanut and almond butter, nuts, eggs, steak and eggs for breakfast, and avocados.  Steak and eggs was my "go to" meal.  I tried hiding avocado in anything I could come up with.  I ate so many of them that I can barely look at them now. I was dairy intolerant during this time and luckily that is no longer a problem.  If you can have dairy, go for it - full fat milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt!