How to gain weight.

[mids1999]

Type 1 diabetic
Age 27
Current H/W 5'8" 140lb
I want to gain some weight but I am having a hard time.
I was told by my doctor that I should be somewhere around 155-160

Heres an example of what I am eating

Breakfast Breakfast Wrap 394 Cal 47 Carb
Morning Snack Sour Cream Fruit Dip with Nectarine 183 cal 30 carb
Lunch Quick Hot Bean Dip with Chips 513 Cal 76 carb
Afternoon Snack Ham Lettuce Wrap 190 Cal 27 Carb
Dinner Greek Chicken with Minted Couscous 592 Cal 74 Carb
Evening Snack Cereal and Milk 202 Cal 34 Carb

Daily totals 2074 Cal 288 Carb

What should I change to gain weight?

[Cyborg]

I'll assume you are a male. Boost your caloric intake slightly and put emphasis on proteins in your diet. When you work out, work on muscle building exercises such as power lifting and free weights. Take liver pills or protein shakes as protein supplements if necessary. Take your vitamins before going to sleep and get a good nights sleep.

[mids1999]

Yes I am male. Sorry I forgot to mention that.

Cyborg
Thank you for the quick responce.

How much should I boost protein and cals?
Would adding a daily protein shake like myoplex carb sense (made in water) be enough?

Myoplex carb sense has
25 grams of quality protein
25 vitamins and minerals
5 grams of impact carbs

[Shotokan]

I envy you. All I have to do is smell food and I gain 5 pounds. To gain weight you have to eat more calories than you burn. Obviously, you want to be choosy about the calories you eat.

[Cyborg]

Yes I am male. Sorry I forgot to mention that.

Cyborg
Thank you for the quick responce.

How much should I boost protein and cals?
Would adding a daily protein shake like myoplex carb sense (made in water) be enough?

Myoplex carb sense has
25 grams of quality protein
25 vitamins and minerals
5 grams of impact carbs

I never kept track of the exact number of protein grams or calories. I've always had enough calories. I did try to eat in proportion, protein/carbs/fats. I forget the exact percentages for the ideal. Being a diabetic, how many carbs you need is dependent upon the type of diabetes you have and the type of exercise. For bulking up, that would be anaerobic exercise which will probably raise your bg. If you are type 1, you may need insulin before a workout, rather than carbs. You will need to test before, during and after workouts to determine how you react. Protein is important to build muscle mass and so is insulin, but I don't fully understand how insulin comes into play. Amino acids also come into play and are an important part of the process. I actually started a new thread on insulin and building muscle tonight. Someone else started a thread earlier today about some of the amino acids involved.

[DeusXM]

If you're male then you're simply not getting enough calories a day to put on weight. Your basal metabolism alone is probably taking up about 1700 cal a day - that's the energy you need just to keep you breathing and doesn't include anything like thinking or moving.

The recommended intake of calories per day for a male is about 2500, but if you're trying to put on weight you probably need nearer 3000 cal a day.

Also, how good is your control? If you're running high most of the time then you won't put on weight anyway.

[Cyborg]

If you're running high most of the time then you won't put on weight anyway.

If he takes enough insulin to keep from running high and can manage near 3000 calories a day, he'll gain weight. Insulin is the fat drug. The goal should be to gain it as muscle. ;)

[DeusXM]

Yes but running high will likely result in DKA and prevent the building of muscle.
Ideally to put on weight as muscle, your BG control should be very good, the majority of your calories should come from protein, and you should also be weight training.

However, even if you do all this, if your total calorie intake is lower than your calorie expenditure you will lose weight instead of putting it on. To put on weight you will need to eat more calories than you burn, plain and simple. I'd estimate that you're probably eating about 300 cal less than you need to as it is, and if you start weight-training then you will need to eat significantly more.

[mids1999]

My tests are ranging from 80 - 160. Mostly in the middle.

[DeusXM]

That's a great start. Work on increasing your protein intake - maybe start snacking on jerky and increase the number of chicken breasts you have for your evening meal. And of course, get on those weights.

[sugarfree76]

Cheesecake, anyone? :deal: