Nutrition

Supplementing Your Diet for Weight Gain

Many people need to eat a diet that allows them to gain weight. Yes, you heard that right!! A diet for weight gain. It seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Believe it or not, there are those out there that have a hard time gaining or even maintaining a healthy weight. In order to gain weight, you could always scarf down the entire Ben & Jerry’s ice cream you have available, but that’s not exactly a healthy way to sustain your weight. So, if ice cream is not the answer, how do you eat or supplement a diet that helps you gain or maintain your weight? HPFY may be able to shine a light on some options for you.

How Many Calories Should You Eat?

Our weight is directly related to the number of calories we intake versus the amount that we burn off during our daily activities. If we take in more than we burn, we get heavier and the opposite goes for if we burn off more than we intake. It’s simple math really. The estimated daily calories each of us should intake is dependent upon several factors. Age, sex, height/weight, and even level of physical activity are all mitigating factors into how many calories you should take in. Both men and women (and children) have different caloric needs to maintain a healthy weight. Even this is adjustable depending upon how physically active or which medical conditions each individual has. Below is a chart with recommended caloric intake for different demographics:

Source: HHS/USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Supplements to Help

As humans, we get the majority of our nutrients through the food we eat. Sometimes we may need to supplement our everyday diet in order to ensure we get the proper amount of nutrients we need. There are medical reasons for involuntary weight loss that may require dietary supplements. These can be categorized as:

1. Increased Energy Expenditure: Issues such as hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, and intense exercise can burn more calories than we take in, leading to weight loss.
2. Increased Energy Loss: These issues can include Diabetes Mellitus, chronic pancreatitis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease leading to involuntary weight loss.

Some of these causes are derived from malabsorption syndromes and can even include Celiac Sprue and can have other health ramifications. Even a traumatic experience, such as the death of a loved one, can be cause for under eating and unintended weight loss. Any unexplained weight loss can be cause for concern and worthy of a call or visit to your physician. A trip to the doctor is a good idea if you have lost more than 5% of your body weight within 6-12 months as a rule of thumb. It may be nothing, but better safe than sorry. Your doctor may suggest dietary supplements such as:

• IForce Nutrition Mass Gainz Weight Gainer Dietary Supplement: Iforce Nutrition Mass Gainz Supplement is made up of a large amount of protein. It is best apt for those who want to put on lean muscle and bulk up.
• BSN IsoBurn Fat Burning Protein Powder: 100 percent protein isolated powder that helps burn fat and helps in growing muscles. It can be used at any time and is great for a healthy and active lifestyle.
• Eclipse Sport Supplements Deluxe Whey Protein Dietary Supplement: Specifically designed for recovery from intense workouts, this supplement also allows for healthy, muscle gain by suppling additional protein to recovering muscles, which can also improve fat loss.
• Eclipse Juice Bar Gainer Protein Supplements: Ideal for juice drinks and smoothies for proper, healthy muscle growth and weight gain, this blend of instantized and non-instantized whey and milk proteins offers two flavors: chocolate and vanilla.
• Pre-Protein 15 Liquid Predigested Protein: A dietary supplement containing all indispensable and dispensable amino acids with added L-Tryptophan and L-Cysteine. 
• Nestlé Boost Very High-Calorie Vanilla Drink: This calorically dense beverage combines high calories with high protein to preserve muscle mass and maintain a healthy weight. Great for diminished appetites and fluid restricted diets, as well as, increased calorie/protein needs.

Weight loss can be a New Year’s resolution or just a health goal, but when it is attached to an underlying issue the need for a dietary supplement may be in order. Supplements can give you your best chance at smart and healthy weight gain or maintenance. You should discuss any supplement program or diet change with your doctor before beginning any such program.

 

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