h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have a problem that might seem strange to the general populace. I can't seem to put on weight. Any good ideas on some excercise that would give me some muscles, wihtout burning any fat? Or just on how to gain weight in general.

I reckon I must be pretty similar to you - I can eat anything I want without gaining weight (much to the annoyance of many of my friends!). And I'm afraid that without resorting to weight gain powders and the such like (that I'm sure can't be good for you) it's just good old-fashioned exercise and weight training that's the way to get bigger muscles.
I started University last year and got into rowing so felt the need to build up my muscles. I started with pretty puny muscles and the rowing itself built them up a bit but I didn't notice any huge difference until I started going to the gym. In the easter holidays I went to my local gym for 1 and a half hours 3 times a week doing mostly weights and by the end I could lift about twice as much as at the start and gained about half a stone. It does take time and effort but overall it was worth it and I secured my place in the rowing team I was aiming for

Half a stone? That`s hardly anything is it? I think I`m about 10 stones underweight. Though I`m not that clear on how much a stone is.

10 stones underweight would make you dead, it's about 6 kilos

a stone is 6 kilos, I mean.

Or 14 pounds to the old-fashioned.

Seriously, as the Wise Rhubarb suggests, lifting weights is the key to muscle growth, particularly of the high-weight/low repetitions variety.

BUT

(There's always one, and this is a biggie)

BE VERY CAREFUL

Find out what you're doing first: get expert instruction if at all possible, and always have "spotters" around if you're lifting free weights. All those home videos of lifters dropping barbells are a lot less funny viewed from underneath. Without due care, any weight gain can be of the sort that results from "being unable to do anything but lie in bed and eat cake because I'm so badly injured" variety.

Hmm, then it is about 5 stone underweight. Or at least used to be, I think I`m even more underweight now after my asia trip.

If you eat a lot of carbs in the evening, pasta, bread bits like that, that helps put on weight.

Add to that lots of quality protein (lean meat and fish - or pulses, beancurd and mycoprotein - aka funghi - if you're a veggie). Make sure your fat intake is reasonable (you can't function without it) and from unsaturated sources (e.g. vegetable oils - particularly rapeseed and olive). Saturated fats will just clog up your arteries.

Hope this helps - it's just as much of a pain being underweight as it is being overweight, worse in some respescts as you also have to contend with irritating people wondering why you want to put weight on! Good luck.

I agree you need protein that's what your body uses to build muscles, stay away from a high carb unless you want to lose more weight. Try some weight gain powders they aren't bad for you most of them are just potein and keep lifting weights.

You might want to check with a doctor if you haven't already because sometimes losing weight without trying can be a syptom of something else,like graves diesase, thyroid condition?

Good Luck!

I read about thyroid on here and I thought I might have some of the symptoms. I mentioned it to a doctor in a casual conversation and she just laughed at me

Why what syptoms do you have? I have thyroid disease and was miss diganosed several times before they found out what it was. If you do truly think it's a possible find a doctor who will check you for it. Depending on if your hypo or hyper it's farely easy to treat and if it isn't treated you can die. Your thyroid controls everything in your body heart rate,blood pressure, body temputure, metabolism,etc.

Well, my hands will start shaking if I haven`t eaten for a while. And some others that I can`t remember.

Honestly I think I just have irregular eating habits, and need to do some excercise.

It also be low blood sugar I know before I started taking my meds my blood sugar was low all the time(because my thyroid wasn't working properly) and I would become shakey and even passed out once.

Hey it's better to be safe than sorry!

I agree 100% with California Blonde - fight for a blood test if you have to - blood glucose levels and thyroid.

If there's a medical reason why you can't put on weight (i.e. it's not 'just the way you are') then, hopefully, a blood test will find it. Good luck!