Gaining Weight
I'm not real motivated to do a whole lot of physical exercise, never have been. But if I do happen to come across the decision to start getting in some kind of shape, what could I do? I'm sorry I don't know metric I'm about 5'9" and 130 pounds. My BMI must be something around 24.

When it comes to height/weight I don't know metric either. At 5' 9" and 130 lbs you definitely want to put on some weight (muscle), so you'll need to increase your calories. However by just eating more you will only gain fat. You will have to start some sort of working out/physical exercise in combination with the increased calories to put on muscle........ T

Hi Todd, Since there is talk about gaining weight, I thought I should send my story in. I have been working out/training for about a month and a half now, keeping at it regular for 5 days a week. In that short amount of time I have gained weight going from 135 lbs 10 139 lbs (gaining on 140 lbs quickly). Am I do something wrong? Perhaps I am eating too many calories and not enough cardio/training? Here is what a typical day of eating looks like for me: Breakfast-Kashi Go Lean Crunch Protein and Fiber cereal (non-fat milk, half a glass of apple juice for the vitamins), Protein Shake Mid-morning snack-wheat bagel with power peanut butter Lunch-Sandwich (bread is Flax and wheat, either chicken and swiss with mustard, or ham and american with mayo). Baby carrots, quaker oats granola bar. Mid-afternoon snack- Apple Afterwork, I do my workout/cardio, then go home for a protein shake. About an hour after that, I eat dinner. I have a spinach salad with mandarine oranges and a small bowl of cottage cheese with every meal. I will have either brocolli or green beans and chicken or tuna or eggs. No other meals for the rest of the evening. I also drink 70-80 ounces of water per day. Am I gaining weight because I am turning some of my fat into muscle? I was thinking, perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to cut out the protein shakes, at least until my body gets more fit and lean. What are your thoughts around this? I have looked all over for those shakers. I even checked wal-mart and they did not have them. I asked more than one employee. I found some at GNC but they were $9.00 each, and I said no to that haha. I like the idea of 3 for $3 much better. Thank you Todd. I appreciate your input and advice! Talk soon, EA

Eric, you are gaining MUSCLE my friend. I highly, highly doubt you are gaining bodyfat on that diet coupled with that training. Your body is building muscle. Muscle is very heavy so a little bit shows up as a lot: thus the 4lb. weight gain. Nice. Enjoy it now it will slow down as time goes by. The beginner always packs on muscle the fas-*test*-('"). You can't turn fat into muscle, they are two totally different types of body tissue. You can burn off or store bodyfat, and lose or gain muscle. Your diet is very good, here's a few simple suggestions to tweak it even better: -Take a multi-vitamin/mineral with your breakfast and a 500G chewable Vit. C. (If you aren't already.) -On the mid-morning snack throw the wheat bagel in the bin and use rye bread w/ sunflower seeds. or spelt bread with wild rice. (Both are wheat/yeast/allergen free) They can be found at the deli counter at major grocery stores. -I'm guessing you are using processed lunch meats on your sandwich? I'd skip those and use canned salmon or tuna sandwiches. -If you are hungry before bed feel free to eat some cottage cheese and/or nuts: almonds, walnuts. $9 for a shaker is a rip. I bought mine like 3 years ago at Wal-Mart. (They last a long time, I bought a dozen of them and have given more than a few away...) I am going to Wal-Mart tomorrow morning and will see what I can find. I suggest you take a few mins to snap a couple pics of yourself asap. Then in another 6 weeks (say mid-May) snap another set and check them out side by side. That is the ultimate comparison/-*test*-('"). E-mail them to me or post them up here. Keep pushing, beach weather is coming up fast... T

I guess it is good that I am gaining weight then since it is probably muscle. I am already taking a multi-vitamin but it is almost gone. Do you have a recommendation for a good brand (not centrium)? I also take 1000 mg vitamin C and 500 mg Calcium + D. I will switch my mid-morning snack to the spelt bread/wild rice. Your guess is right on the processed lunch meats lol. Pretty much everything else I eat is all organic though. Do you have any thoughts around organic vs. non-organic? Also, I like tuna sandwiches but I like to add the mayo. Obviously that part is not good for me. Do you have another suggestion of how to make it somewhat tasty and less dry? I will think of taking some pictures but I will not be putting them up on here haha. My beer belly is still there lol. Also, another question about food. I have tons of oatmeal (the good kind) but I have tried 3 times now to eat it with different combinations (fruit, raisons, cinnamon, berry protein, honey). It still tastes like crap and I just can't eat it. I know you said it is really good for you so I want to eat it but I also want it to taste somewhat bearable. Talk to you soon.

You can mix the tuna/salmon with light mayo, dressing, relish, etc. Still way better than any processed meats. Yuck. Organic is good, if you can afford the extra $ it isn't gonna hurt you that's for sure. Fruits and vegetables are the best to step it up to organic. Oatmeal can be tasteless, and if you don't like it then you aren't gonna eat it. Definitely mix it in a bowl with yogurt, your whey protein, (I'm using Whey Gourmet, a natural artificial sweetner free Dutch chocolate) and any and all fruit. I use kiwi, oranges, prunes, blueberries. Strawberries are really cheap right now. Some mornings too I will have the rye/spelt toast with natural peanut butter. Yum. Keep at it, take your pics for comparison. You will be surprised in 6-8 weeks. T

Hmm, I've always liked cinnamon or fruit and that takes away the taste. Eh, if you don't like it you should find an alternative. I've never seen sense in eating healthy if you don't like what you eat. Eat healthy things that you like. Of course, I know nothing of dieting, I just know what makes me happy. Hehe

I am 184 cm. tall and put only 62 kg on the scale. My muscles look sinewy, but I do have a six-pack! Gaining weight? I'm a lean, mean fighting machine... :wink:

And you appear to be a Trabant enthusiast as well Grasshopper! :shock: Good lord :P