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I'm 19, male, 55kg, 6'. I feel okay, sometimes depressed and without energy but I don't think that's to do with my low weight, but my I'm much too thin. I've always been underweight, but now as I get older I seem to stay at 55kg. I've tried eating more for weeks at a time, I stay at 55kg, I don't eat much for a long time, I stay at 55kg. It's really frustrating. I don't want to be muscular or anything, I just don't want to be so ridiculously thin. Basically I just don't like eating, and I never feel hungry. Eating is a chore like brushing your teeth or mowing the lawn. I'm not anorexic because I fully know I'm underweight and it looks terrible, but I just don't like to eat. Reading over guides on the web about what I should eat makes me sick. "Spread peanut butter on everything, put chopped eggs in your salad" *barf* How can other people not avoid gaining weight while I can't gain weight if I try? Anyone have any advice?

For a good 3 or 4 years (at around 18 - 20 years of age) my brother was 6'5" and 60kg.  It did take time to put on weight- I think at 27yo he's now around 75kg.  I think my brother found that with the transition from school to working life his body changed- it takes a little longer for men than women to finish growing & hormones to stabilise etc (weird I know but that's what the doctors said at the time).

 The most important thing is not to go overboard eating the wrong thing trying to gain weight.  Have you tried some of the protein drinks out- maybe one a day for a couple of weeks?  A dietician / nutritionist might be able to help you out.

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Nat

You might want to get with an endocrinologist to make sure everything is ok there. Sounds like you might actually have an OVERACTIVE thyroid happening there. If you can find one, on intergative health care physician is good. The one I go to in Perth is really good.

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Sally

I'm in Perth myself actually. But I don't think I have an overactive thyroid gland as I'd imagine that it would make me hyperactive, but I'm not hyperactive.

hiya

if it's any help, i think a lot has to do with your age and body type & metabolism. my hubby is 6ft 2, and from the time we met when he was 17, until about 21ish, he was about 60kgs. now, at almost 34, he's a healthy muscular 80kgs.

the only thing i'd advise you to do is to not worry, cos time will take care of it, begin weight training at a gym (if you can't afford that, then you start to do push ups & get a book out from the library or pick up Men's Health Magazine, which has excellent exercises in it) and have a protein shake after gym each day.

oh and my best mate is 32 & he is 5ft9 and is 55kg too - and he can't put on weight, despite his best efforts - but he's healthy & nothing medically wrong. if ever in doubt tho, go see your doctor.

hang in there, don't stress about it, and enjoy each day as it happens!

kaz x

 

justsomeguy:

I'm in Perth myself actually. But I don't think I have an overactive thyroid gland as I'd imagine that it would make me hyperactive, but I'm not hyperactive.

A hyperactive thyroid doesn't make you hyperactive.  Just means your metobolism is so fast you can't gain weight. It still doesn't hurt to check out all possibilities, though, to rule out anything physically wrong. Otherwise, don't stress too much about it if you're otherwise a healthy bloke.

(I can PM you the name of my dr, if you'd like.)

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Sally

Your doctor should steer you in the right direction - seeing an endocrinologist is a good idea so you can rule out any medical problem (if that is the cause).

Otherwise I would suggest Sustagen shakes.  I work with a client who is underweight (weird food likes/dislikes, and dementia as well) and we give him milkshakes of Sustagen and another powder called Polyjoule, both available from chemists.  Basically polyjoule is flavourless and is just 'empty calories'  that ups the calories of the shake and will help you to put on a bit of weight - it can be used in tea, and coffee too to up the calories you're taking in.

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Overall: height 174cm cw113.1kg gw80kg

Now that you mention it we do give Sustagen to my elderley grandparents to help them maintain their weight & was recommended by the doctor. 

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Nat

I have similar problem...

17 years old, 60 kg. I'm quite an active person, pretty long walks almost everyday (nature photography, swimming, rock climbing etc).

Yet for some reason, I can barely get over 60kg. Highest I've went was 64kg, but than got pretty bad flue and went back to 60... since then I can't gain.

I've never eaten meat in my life (religion), which I'm sure is a big factor, but noone else in my family (2 other brothers) seem to have or had the problem.

The reason I say it's a big factor is because, I find it sometimes hard to find snacks around the house that motivate me enough/worth my while to get up and make. A lot of times I just feel like going out and wasting money at some take away.

I'm yet to try protein drinks,  do they really help a lot?

Any advice much appretiated... at my age it brings down the confidence in myself and makes it difficult to really enjoy life, like I should be at the moment.

 

Greg
 

Your case seem to be the opposite of what many people are experiencing.

I don't think stuffing yourself with food is the solution to gaining body mass and weight. You should check with a nutritionist to see if your diet can be further customised to suit your needs, if this still doesn't work, check with a doctor to see if there is any imbalance of your metabolism or hormones.

Hey guys, I'm 6ft 5in (195cm) and have spent most of my life on the lightweight side.  I'm now 97kg which is much closer to where I should be, if anything I'd like to reduce my body fat at the moment.  The solution to your problem is really fairly simple but often hard to execute.  Eat, eat, eat, eat and lift heavy things.

There's a book called "Scrawny to Brawny" written by Michael Mejia and John Berardi and published by Rodale that can really help you.  One of the first things you will learn is that what you think is eating a lot now is nothing compared to what you need to add weight.  The next is that normal training programs won't work for you like they do for most.  A lot of weight, compound lifts and a lot of rest in combination with very little cardio is what you need.

Protein drinks are a real waste of money to be honest.  You can do the same thing with skim milk powder and castor sugar (with some cocao powder for chocolate flavour if you like) at a small fraction of the cost.  Your body doesn't need that much protein anyway but it does need excess calories.

I know where you guys are because I've been there myself and it's disheartening but there is light at the end of the tunnel it just takes hard work.  You do have to force yourself to eat whether you are hungry or not.  It takes 7700kc to to lose a kilo of fat but it takes much more to gain a kilo of muscle.  Depending on your individual circumstances some guys have to eat 4600kc on days that they train!  It's really insane.

If you PM me I can pass on some of the info from the book after I get some info from you.  A summary I guess but otherwise I would look at getting the book yourself.

Good luck!

Travis

My brother was 48 for 2 (19-20) years and was neither gaining, nor loosing weight....

 

He started eating vegetables and a lot of em... Initially it was difficult for him to eat, but with time, he gained weight and still is gaining em...Heard that he was also into drinking beer, but i won advice you to do the same....

 

justsomeguy:

I'm 19, male, 55kg, 6'. I feel okay, sometimes depressed and without energy but I don't think that's to do with my low weight, but my I'm much too thin. I've always been underweight, but now as I get older I seem to stay at 55kg. I've tried eating more for weeks at a time, I stay at 55kg, I don't eat much for a long time, I stay at 55kg. It's really frustrating. I don't want to be muscular or anything, I just don't want to be so ridiculously thin. Basically I just don't like eating, and I never feel hungry. Eating is a chore like brushing your teeth or mowing the lawn. I'm not anorexic because I fully know I'm underweight and it looks terrible, but I just don't like to eat. Reading over guides on the web about what I should eat makes me sick. "Spread peanut butter on everything, put chopped eggs in your salad" *barf* How can other people not avoid gaining weight while I can't gain weight if I try? Anyone have any advice?