Right now, I'm 5'11" and 135 lbs., which gives me a BMI of 18.8.  "Underweight" is < 18.5, so I'm very close to being "officially too skinny".

When I first started the BTD in August '07, I weighed 170.  I was still kind of skinny (arms and legs), just with a little fat hanging around my waist and neck/chin.  In the following months my weight gradually fell until it was down to 125!  I did put it back on, and was almost back up to 150 in the summer of '08, but stress seems to make me lose weight, so it has fluctuated since then with various other stressful events/circumstances.

All this time I've been wondering what was the problem.  I am eating good food, and getting exercise to build muscle, but with no results.  At first I thought, "my gut hasn't finished healing from years of eating gluten, so I'm not absorbing nutrients well."  Next I thought, "there must be other things that need healing worse than my muscles need growing, so nutrients are probably going there instead."  Perhaps those theories had some merit, but the time has passed and still no results, and I should have long since been done with healing.

So now, at long last, I believe I have finally found the solution, the missing piece of the puzzle as to why I haven't gained up to a healthy weight:  I'm not getting enough total calories.

Now you might be saying at this point, "shouldn't that have been the first idea to consider?"  And of course, you would be 100% correct in that observation.  But a few of you here who have become acquainted with some of the idiosyncracies of my brain already know that it's perfectly natural for me to come up with the most obvious solution only after considering the more obscure and complicated ones first!

Members of my family have expressed some concerns that I need to fatten up a bit, and I have been stubbornly assuring them (and myself, too) that I've been eating plenty (honestly, I do eat frequently).  That thought that I'm not eating enough has been nagging at the back of my mind for a while, but I've tried not to think about it.  You all know that real food is expensive, and I don't have much money.  I've been in this sort of "scarcity" mindset, just trying to eat enough to get by and convincing myself that it's enough, thinking this is a good way to save money.  On top of that, I just don't like the necessity of cooking and eating.  PLUS I'm terrible about listening to what my body is trying to tell me, so everything has just combined to put me in a bad situation.

I stumbled upon this "revolutionary" insight just last Thursday.  I finally confronted the idea, and started thinking about what I typically ate in one day.  I looked up some calorie information, and thought about the numbers, and realized I was well below 2000 calories.  So that was a wake-up call.  Starting Thursday night, I resolved to stuff myself whenever I sit down to eat (if I can).  I haven't put on any weight yet, but I'm already feeling more energetic (which means I will probably need to eat even more in a day than I am now to gain).

I have realized that only part of my trouble with eating enough is the factors above.  Another factor is that my diet is so restricted, and that I enforce it very strictly.  With that in mind, I am experimenting with relaxing some restriction to make it easier to load up on the calories.  I'm allowing myself some sugar again; tomatoes and stevia (black dot on SWAMI) not because they have a lot of calories but because other things taste better with them (and I'll eat more of them).  The focus has shifted from eating specific foods to eating LOTS of food, especially fat since it is the most calorie-dense.  I'm still going to be mostly compliant, but I'm going to allow myself more cheating and see how it affects me.

Well, it's time to eat again!

I remember the first picture you posted years ago!

maybe something in between might be just right?

  

Hi TJ, In The Genotype Diet book, Dr. D says, "Nomads have the enviable gift of controlling calorie intake." This might be a piece of the puzzle for you as a Nomad. I'm  a thrifty Warrior and I have the opposite problem...once I start eating it's hard for me to stop. My mom and brother are Nomads and they are very good about not overeating. They don't even give it a second thought. I also need to have something to eat before I go to bed or I won't fall asleep.  My Nomad brother and mom can eat dinner at 5:00p.m. and go to bed at 10:00 p.m. with nothing else. My brother can leave food over on his plate and save it for the next day. That was something I always envied in him because I wanted to finish everything on my plate even if I was full.

Have you tried eating rice cakes with ghee, butter, or nut butters? Maybe eat a big meal right before you go to bed and see if you gain weight.  My 35 year old Nomad brother still eats a SAD of french fries, chicken wings, pastries, etc and does not gain a pound. My mom was as thin as a rail until she had kids. It might just be a Nomad thing.

Best wishes.  I was only low weight during one period of my life.  It was like I didn't have enough time in the day to get enough food in.  Calorie dense foods are important!  Eating a carb meal late in the day may be helpful.  "dinner" for breakfast and "breakfast" as an evening snack.

Tj, I wish you the best of luck with your new direction. Soon enough you will be able to evaluate the results and decide on your continued course of action.

Cheers to your health!

Good for you TJ!   I have had the opposite problem of carrying about 15-20lbs more than I would like for many years.  I too, have learned a similar but opposite truth.  If I wait until I am hungry before eating, and yes, regular meals, but do not stuff myself uncomfortably, as I have done in the past, the weight comes off.  That and of course following my swami.....it's been working now since I have started this "program"....I am down about 9lbs, which for me has broken a plateau of many years.  For you,
it makes such logical sense that you need to eat more to start gaining the weight back.  Keep us posted as you go.  The "scarcity" mentality is interesting, I wonder if some of us overeat because of the same reason, like the food will disappear if we don't eat it all now.  Or like in my family, we pretty much cleaned our plates, or one of our siblings, or my dad would finish it up.  My dad has been heavy for a long time because of cleaning up after all of us!  

Hi TJ...glad to see you here again.  I wish only good things for you...keep working at it...we're all here for you.

Thanks everybody!

Quoted from Sharon

I also need to have something to eat before I go to bed or I won't fall asleep.

Me too!  And the same goes for my dad, also a Nomad.  I have tried rice cakes, but they are all air.  I'd rather just eat cooked rice with butter and salt and whatever else I feel like topping it with atm.  FYI, I was about 120 out of high school, and very very slowly gained weight over the years, living on frozen pizza, ice cream, potato chips, PB&J, cold cereal w/ milk, and fast food.

Quoted from Paula 0+

For you, it makes such logical sense that you need to eat more to start gaining the weight back.

I know, right?

It's always good to hear from you, TJ!  

It has always been grains that put weight on me.  I could eat a ton of meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, even my 10 oz of goat yogurt everyday, and never pack on weight.  But grains in any form will start my scales moving upward.

Quoted from TJ

Thanks everybody!
Me too!  And the same goes for my dad, also a Nomad.  I have tried rice cakes, but they are all air.  I'd rather just eat cooked rice with butter and salt and whatever else I feel like topping it with atm...  

Well... rice cakes spread with ghee, almond butter and a little honey or cherry preserves aren't so bad...  

I know I've said this before but I have never followed the recommended servings nor portion sizes of either the BTD or GTD. And especially the suggested daily menus. If that's all I ate in a day I would disappear into thin air! My BMI is now around 20 and I have added back in more vigorous exercise (which I feel best on) with my weight staying within range. So when I "follow" the BTD/GTD it is in food choices, not in the recommended daily/weekly servings, especially with the fats and oils. And I eat waaaay more eggs per week than recommended. Way more.

I'm right there with you TJ. Since I've started eating for my blood type (2+years) it is extremely hard for me to keep on weight. You should go to this website http://www.fitday.com. This was extremely helful in making sure I was getting over 2,000 calories a day. For someone of my size it is very difficult. I am 95lbs. I cannot afford to skip a meal. Now I have it down to a pretty good science, and I just make sure every meal is pretty calorie dense. I also eat a lot of nuts in between meals.

nodoubt,
Wow!  It must be great to have such a fired-up metabolism.  I've always had the opposite problem, of getting my systems all up and running  

Kristen, how many eggs do you usually eat in a week (if you don't mind telling me)?  

Quoted from Sharon

Hi everything on my plate even if I was full.

Maybe eat a big meal right before you go to bed and see if you gain weight.  and  

Should'nt eat a meal @ least 3 hours b4 bed.

Victoria, I do eat a lot of brown rice.  Others just aren't available in this area (well, not counting the quinoa at $7 for a 10 oz. box).  Maybe if I started eating corn again...   Filling up on rice just doesn't hit the spot for me!  I wish it did, it would be way cheaper.

Kristin, that would be a better way with rice cakes, but I am doing even more.  I am letting myself have milk, too (also a black dot).  And remember how I mentioned sugar above?  Well, I have some of this in my freezer:

Mixed with plain yogurt, of course, when I eat it.  It seems to be quite clean except for the sugar.  Generally, I haven't followed the portion recommendations either.  If I ate all those veggies I wouldn't have room for anything else!  Eggs I still have to be careful with.  I used to have a sensitivity to them.  I allow myself one per day right now, and that seems to be going fine.  I may try to increase that, though.  Regarding BMI, if I can get up to 150, that puts me over 20.

Wow, nodoubt, you need it even worse than I do!  Well, maybe...how tall are you?  Maybe our thyroids are a bit too excitable.

TJ,
You are on the right track.  B4 BTD, I had lost around 20 #'s & I was NOT fat.  I had digestive issues big time.  Went to GTD because something was still causing stomach/reflux & discovered it was soy.  Neutral on BTD & avoid on GTD.  

I never paid attention to the portion sizes because I needed to gain some of the weight back.  Felt good, but skinny.  Now I have gained 7#'s & must not gain anymore because I do not want to buy new pants right now.  Portions are now watched carefully.

TJ,

I am a Warrior, but I find that I have to stuff to keep weight on.  I also need to eat lots of protein to continue healing the nerves, etc. because of the long-term candida infection damaged them.  I also am continuing the detox, which can feed candida - so it is a constant balancing act.  Sweets are never on my food list, except for the beneficial 72% chocolate...

Have you looked into buying bulk grains online?  There are 2 places we have ordered from that had much better prices.  The shipping is expensive, but the combined price is still less than what you quoted above.

http://www.bulkfoods.com/grain.asp - has an offer that if you have a $75 order, shipping is $5 for the whole order - UPS Ground...

http://waltonfeed.com/category/28 - another source...  

I haven't compared prices between these two for some time, so included both for you.

Quoted from kauaian

must not gain anymore because I do not want to buy new pants right now.

I have a nearly new pair of 30" waist, 32" leg Levi's I'd love to outgrow!  ...even if they aren't cheap to replace.

Quoted from ABJoe

I also need to eat lots of protein to continue healing the nerves, etc. because of the long-term candida infection damaged them.  I also am continuing the detox, which can feed candida - so it is a constant balancing act.  Sweets are never on my food list, except for the beneficial 72% chocolate...

I have considered the risk with candida myself.  I still have it on my tongue.  Being a nonnie I will likely never be rid of it!  I am still going to allow myself sweets for now, but this is an experiment, to be sure, and I might have to Hershey's Kiss them goodbye.

Quoted from ABJoe

Have you looked into buying bulk grains online?

Yes, I just need to get off my butt and do it, I guess.  I'd also like to visit in Raleigh again soon, and I can buy a fair supply from the Whole Paycheck bulk foods isle.   I can get millet and quinoa there, and cheaper too.

TJ, Nice picture of the Breyer's ice cream tub! That made me smile.   Since you're a B, I think you can have milk and cream, right?  Here is a little trick to make your own ice-cream w/out an ice-cream maker. I make this for my B mom and B brother when they come to visit. It'll save you money and hopefully give you some extra pounds.

  Mix 1 cup of milk with 2 cups of cream and 3/4 cups of maple syrup (any compliant sweetener) and freeze overnight and you have homemade ice cream!

Can you eat oatmeal? Maybe that will also add some pounds.

TJ, I am 5'2". So I'm a little one. I have an insane metabolism. When I get dental work done, they have to shoot me up pretty good otherwise the numbing will wear away too quickly. I've always had a fast metabolism like this. It's quite difficult, and like some people deal with obesity and a single meal can have them gain a pound or two, well I have it the same. I have to be careful as to get enough calories and protein in for my body or I do not run optimally.

Eat consistent, protein/fat enriched meals and you can gain the weight steadily. Just remember that 1 lb is an entire 3500 calories! So add a teaspoon of olive oil here, and an ounce of chicken there! Everything in moderation. Oh and another little tip to add calories to a meal, nuts and seeds! I will make a meal and add some pine nuts or pumpkin seeds for an extra 200 or so calories.

Quoted from Sharon

Can you eat oatmeal? Maybe that will also add some pounds.

It's a black dot for me.  I've got all kinds of white lines in my prints, so glutens and gliandins aren't good stuff.  I do eat oatmeal occasionally, but I don't want to undo my gut healing so I don't want to eat it more often.

I thought you had to mix the ice cream as it freezes to make it creamy (air bubbles?).  Otherwise it's just a frozen chunk of dairy!  But never fear, the Breyer's was half-price when I bought it.

Quoted from nodoubt147

Just remember that 1 lb is an entire 3500 calories! So add a teaspoon of olive oil here, and an ounce of chicken there! Everything in moderation. Oh and another little tip to add calories to a meal, nuts and seeds! I will make a meal and add some pine nuts or pumpkin seeds for an extra 200 or so calories.

All that in only one pound.  I had no idea!  Yes, I think you and I are definitely in the same boat.  I'll take turkey instead of chicken though, and almonds, pecans, and brazil nuts!

I made some olive oil "mayonnaise" tonight for some tuna salad.  As I posted on Facebook, it tasted like mayo but looked like pancake batter.  BUT it made a great dressing for the salad!  Maybe next time, I'll skip making mayo first, and just mix olive oil, lemon juice, and egg directly into the tuna...

Nodoubt, have you looked into the GTD yet?  I bet you are a Hunter.

I am looking in here with envy.. BUT I would remind all who do BTD .. it was once meant to help those who wish to also LOOOOOSE weight, so portions are meant for me on o with diabetes .. there it would be right, but with young and still healthy people , forget about portion size when you get to be 42 you will stop losing weight and when your fifty you will need to cut down, and by the time you are 60ti (goosh so far away but just around the corner) then every year you need to cut last years portion in half.. so skinnies.. that is what the diet is all about INDIVIDUALISM>> so eat for me and say a silent prayer.. maybe it will rob of on me.. hahaha   

Quoted from Victoria

Kristen, how many eggs do you usually eat in a week (if you don't mind telling me)?  

Well, I buy 2 dozen eggs each week.  

Of course, I do use some in cooking and my son eats eggs when he is with me. But I would say I 'eat' about 15 eggs per week. At least.

TJ - ah, yes, "The Ice[cream]man Cometh!!"   Only a B could get away with it!

And although a rather despairing play, I have always liked the title of this one for some reason.

Quoted from Kristin

Well, I buy 2 dozen eggs each week.  

Of course, I do use some in cooking and my son eats eggs when he is with me. But I would say I 'eat' about 15 eggs per week. At least.

You sound like my type B daughter!  She makes her ground chia seed bars and breaks a dozen eggs into the bowl!  She used to put away the batch in two days;  at least now, they're lasting her 4 or 5 days.  

Quoted from Goldie

so skinnies.. that is what the diet is all about INDIVIDUALISM

Exactly!  And even more, it's about health.  We look at weight because it has something to say about how healthy we are.  But it's too easy to just focus on fixing the weight problem, when that is just a symptom.  In my case, the symptom of not eating enough!

Quoted from Kristin

TJ - ah, yes, "The Ice[cream]man Cometh!!"   Only a B could get away with it!

Oh, yeah.  But I'd still love to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, all you As.

Just saw this thread.  Way to go, TJ!  I'm glad you figured out what might be the answer.  I hope the sugar in the delicious-looking Breyer's doesn't throw you for a loop.  But......Strawberry?  Really?  Not mint chocolate chip?  Or vanilla?  You know....the vanilla with little black specks in it.

Good luck TJ! Hope  you gain some pounds. I am still struggling with that, over 5'7 and down to 110 pounds. I think I eat a lot of food. Ah yes, I remember ice cream! Just a dream now.
When you are eating healthy food, 2,000 calories is not so easy to take in daily.

Lisa

Yeah I have looked in to it vaguely. I read the book, but was not quite able to come out with a determination. You know I do so well off of meat and vegetables, that I suppose I just felt comfortable here

Quoted from Ribbit

But......Strawberry?  Really?  Not mint chocolate chip?  Or vanilla?  You know....the vanilla with little black specks in it.

Mint choc chip is my very favorite!  But it's a lot of other people's favorite, too, since it was sold completely out.

Quoted from Wholefoodie

When you are eating healthy food, 2,000 calories is not so easy to take in daily.

Ain't that the truth.  Maybe I'll start buying that cheap 73/27 ground beef and not draining...ugh, that almost turns my stomach to think about!

Quoted from nodoubt147

Yeah I have looked in to it vaguely. I read the book, but was not quite able to come out with a determination. You know I do so well off of meat and vegetables, that I suppose I just felt comfortable here

GTD was tricky for me, too.  At first I thought I was a Nomad, but some of the superfoods weren't super for me because I'm a nonnie.  Then I thought Gatherer b/c of different finger lengths on each hand, but the Gatherer diet was NOT what my body wanted.  I went back to the BTD until I got the GTD SWAMIXpress a couple months ago.

Quoted from nodoubt147

Yeah I have looked in to it vaguely. I read the book, but was not quite able to come out with a determination. You know I do so well off of meat and vegetables, that I suppose I just felt comfortable here

You are most likely a Hunter or possibly a Gatherer.  No need read more when you know you have good health.

"If ain't broken, don't fix it!"    

TJ, your digestive absorption capability still needs repair.  Slippery elm has worked for me in the past, and is not expensive.  What are you using?

Quoted from paul clucas

TJ, your digestive absorption capability still needs repair.  Slippery elm has worked for me in the past, and is not expensive.  What are you using?

How can I know if it still needs to be repaired?  I went (mostly) gluten-free in summer 2008, then toward the end of that year (when I tried the Gatherer diet) I started eating a little gluten again (barley) for about two months.  Since that, I've gone back off gluten again, except for the occasional bowl of oatmeal, and a small piece of sacramental bread on Sunday.  I think I've had plenty of time to heal, and that my metabolism is the biggest culprit now.

I've made a little headway.  I think I've gained about 2 pounds.  Not much, but it's a start.  I did have a setback, though.  I did a fast with my church on Sunday, and I should have ended it sooner.  Sunday night I couldn't sleep, and by Monday morning I had a migraine.  I don't know if it was the fasting, the sugar, or the raw egg in the mayo, or some combination thereof, but I'm betting on the egg.  So Monday wasn't a good day.  Tuesday was a bit better.  I had dinner at a friend's house, and dared to eat some french fries (I've been wanting to eat some potatoes again just to see what happened).  I got a headache and I've been feeling off again today.  I think I'm done with experimenting for now!   Time to take a break from eggs again, but fortunately, the sugar doesn't seem to trouble me in the small amounts I've been using it.  The next time I try eggs, I'm going to see if I do ok on just yolks.  I suspect that the whites are my culprit.

French fries=bad news for DH when they're cooked in soybean or peanut oil.  You never know what's used unless you ask.

They were baked.  I can only imagine if they hadn't been...maybe another migraine instead of just a simple headache.

Quoted from kauaian

Should'nt eat a meal @ least 3 hours b4 bed.

Why? I keep hearing that, but that's when I eat best.  And I'm super skinny.  So if there is another reason, healthwise, I'd like to hear it.  Or maybe that is just true for some people and not others.

Potatoes are no good for me.  They don't move.  And sweet potatoes make my stomach all messed up.

A couple of years ago, when I was getting skinny from having stomach problems, my son and I would eat a huge bowl of ice cream every night, with peanut butter, all this other stuff.  It was soooo good.  But my cholesterol went through the roof.  And shortly thereafter I learned about yeast.

This has been a very interesting thread.  I've learned some things by listening to some of you as I have the same problem as TJ.  First off, I'm not as skinny as a couple of you, which makes me feel better.  Secondly, I probably am worrying too much about the recommended amounts on the diets also.  I also always have cholesterol on the back of my mind, but I'm not really sure which things make cholesterol go up.  I know ice cream does.  hehehehehe  I need to learn to add a few things here and there.  I can't overeat at one meal and stuff myself though.  I feel terrible and am no good for nothing.  So I need to learn to stretch this out, or add here and there.

I'm 5'7-1/2" and just weighed 126.5 on the scale with my jammies and slippers on.  What you up to now TJ?

It's good to see you back.  I have another thought for you.  From what I understand, it can take years to get the delicate balance back in your gut.  I know mine isn't back to what it should be and I've been working on this for over 2 years.  Pretty strictly. So.........  It may be a contributing factor for us.

Quoted from JJR

Why? I keep hearing to eat at least 3 hrs. pre-bedtime, but that's when I eat best.  And I'm super skinny.  So if there is another reason, healthwise, I'd like to hear it.  Or maybe that is just true for some people and not others.

Dr. D talks about, #3 on page 182 of "The Genotype Diet", eating the MAIN meal after 7PM causing weight gain in test subjects, where people who ate their main meal earlier did not gain weight.  My assumption is that they used same foods, but shifted when they ate them...  If this is the case, there is a change in the way the body deals with calories eaten later in the day that is less healthy, ie. causes more of it to be stored as fat, rather than utilizing it efficiently...  

If you are skinny, maybe that is what your body's norm is and added weight will be unhealthy for you.  For me, that is the case.  I look exactly like my uncle, so much so that my WW mistook a picture of him for me.  We are very thin - kind of like gluing 5 sticks together to make me ~6ft. tall and ~155 lbs.  Some people thought I looked better when I was at 195, but that was when I was the most unhealthy that I have ever been...

Well Joe, maybe that's my problem.  Just acceptance.  It just scares me sometimes. Especially when I'm still losing a little and I'm at the bottom of the BMI chart like TJ. But maybe it's just sort of a normal fluctuation.  My Mom says I have an Uncle that was always real thin also.  

I don't know. I have been feeling better lately, and maybe I should just quit worrying about it.  I don't really know if I'm doing it all correctly though.  I don't think I get enough calories because my stomach doesn't let me eat as much as I'd like to all the time.  

Do you drink lots of water too?  

I would love to see pictures of you all who are skinny!!!!  Who's up to posting their picture?  

Quoted from JJR

I also always have cholesterol on the back of my mind, but I'm not really sure which things make cholesterol go up.  I know ice cream does.

Doesn't inflammation cause an increase in cholesterol production?

Quoted from JJR

I'm 5'7-1/2" and just weighed 126.5 on the scale with my jammies and slippers on.  What you up to now TJ?

See your thread!
----------------
Scratch that.  Someone may come along later and want to know what happened, so I'm editing to add what I said there:

Quoted from JJR

TJ, what are you up to weight now?

Funny you should ask...   I had some bad fish yesterday and got food poisoning.  I spent most of last night with everything in my digestive system running for the nearest exit and probably lost everything I had gained and then some.  I don't have a scale at my house so I can't be sure until I go back to the gym.

So I just got off the phone with mom and told her about this last miserable 24 hours.  She said there's been a stomach virus going around, so maybe it had nothing to do with the fish.

Then again, maybe the sugar and potatoes and tara gum (from the Breyer's ice cream) and chocolate (which is neutral but I just started eating again) were all just too much, and my guts decided to reboot and start from scratch.

If eating after 7 pm causes weight gain, pick your favorite snack (nuts/dried fruit/yogurt for me) and chow down at 8 pm!

TJ, many of my FB friends have a rather violent stomach virus right now.

JJ, have you done a parasite cleanse lately?  Just in case?

TJ, I hope you get feeling better.  Getting a flu bug will kill the gaining weight thing real quick.  hehehehhee.  I'm skeptical of the ice cream and treats helping you much, but hey, it will taste good while you're trying!!!!!!!  I'm not that brave.

ribbit, I eat probably 1/4 or more of my calories after seven.  In fact sometimes dinner isn't until then, and then there's my after dinner grain.  I don't even get started eating until night time, and that's the way my system works best.  That's why I don't relate to that don't eat after seven stuff.  My body is like don't eat before 9 am.  Water, yeah, good, but not food.

I take a supplement called proto cleanz and at one time took a bunch of it and got die off.  I think it mainly killed yeast.  I'm not quite sure which system you had in mind.  I've seen products and claims and all that, but my doctor has me taking what he has me taken and I've got a lot better.  That said, I'm all ears as to what you got.  They did tell me on the phone the other day they want to try some new tricks up their sleeves to kill bacteria in the guts.  One is Manuka Honey and the other was called BioFilms, which I guess is some kind of regiment you do.  If I test out on them I'll be doing something new.

Quoted from TJ

maybe the sugar and potatoes and tara gum (from the Breyer's ice cream) and chocolate (which is neutral but I just started eating again) were all just too much...

...and the eggs too, forgot about them!

Quoted from Ribbit

TJ, many of my FB friends have a rather violent stomach virus right now.

Hmmm, more evidence.

Quoted from Ribbit

JJ, have you done a parasite cleanse lately?  Just in case?

To whom was this directed?

Quoted from JJR

I eat probably 1/4 or more of my calories after seven.  In fact sometimes dinner isn't until then, and then there's my after dinner grain.  I don't even get started eating until night time, and that's the way my system works best.  That's why I don't relate to that don't eat after seven stuff.  My body is like don't eat before 9 am.  Water, yeah, good, but not food.

Good for you.  I have been good at eating plenty for breakfast and lunch but not for dinner.  I think this is a big point for me.

I just figured out my total calories for today and it came to 1971.  I ate a little more nuts than I usually do.  And I was wrong about how many calories I get after 7 PM.  It's more like 2/3rds of my calories come after 7pm.  Interesting, eh?

That's more than interesting, that's slightly disturbing.  You really need to eat more during the day!

My body just doesn't want to digest during the day like it does later.  I don't know why.  But dinner and the grain after dinner are my biggest times for eating.  If I try to do that during the day, which I do sometimes, I feel terrible.

The stomach bug seems to have passed now, and I'm trying to get back into the habit of eating plenty again.  I have mainly increased my intake of fat to increase my calorie consumption, but I was reading here, and have had some second thoughts.  I was reminded that we nonnies have less IAP to work with (about 20% of what our secretor peers have).  We need IAP to digest fat, and the less of it we have, the less fat we can break down and absorb.  When you eat more fat than you can absorb, it makes your poo float if I recall correctly, and mine has been doing that, so I think I'm eating about as much fat as I can utilize.

I wish my protein sources weren't so expensive.  It sure ain't cheap bein' a nonnie!

I'm on a defend the secretors rampage tonight.  I hear so much talk about how nonnies have this and nonnie have that problem.  Well guess what you all, you can be a secretor and have some things not work like they should.  Or maybe that's an AB thing?????  I don't know, but TJ, I spend a bunch of money on good food and supplements and have to do without a lot of things because of it.  So I can relate.  I know you're reaching out to your brother secretor over here though.  But no nonnie is an island.  Hehehhehahahahhaha.  Just a little play on words there.  But really, I saw that list in another thread about all these problems a nonnie could have and I think I have every one of them, besides the bad teeth.  Although I've had some dental problems.  But I think that was due to neglect more than anything else.  So.........

Hug a secretor today.  bwaaaaahahahahhahaha    

I'm glad you're feeling better.  I wonder if upping your compliant nuts isn't a bad idea.  Not all fat but lots of calories?  I've upped mine a little.  Not terribly, because I already eat a lot.  

Quoted from JJR

I hear so much talk about how nonnies have this and nonnie have that problem.

Well this is the "Nonnie Clubhouse", after all!

Quoted from TJ

.
To whom was this directed?

JJ (aka ABNW).  I pick up some herbal cleansing stuff at the health food store for the children.  I can't do it because I'm always either pregnant, nursing or both.  One day....one day.....when I'm too old to care......

Maybe we need a BTD/GTD/SWAMI "skinny" clubhouse since we are also in the minority! I have been trying desperately to add some pounds in the last two weeks. I can't bare that I am not even on the BMI chart.

I made a few adjustments, and if SWAMI knows all, them I'm making a mistake but I just don't think it's healthy to be over 5'7 and hanging onto 110 pounds, sometimes down to 108. Can't even buy clothes, I am tall with long arms and legs and everything looks 3/4 length, sleeves and pants, in extra small or size 2.

I am still eating only compliant foods, I adjusted the amounts. SWAMI reduced ghee, butter, oil and the few cheeses I can have. I was following this for awhile but it caused me to lose even more weight. I added more of these fats and also a little heavier on grain some days, but only compliant ones.

I am eating everything else I should, 2 big portions of protein per day, 6-7 servings of veggies and 4 of fruit, 6 servings of nuts per week. I just don't think I can add any more meat in my diet. I also go over the egg limit. More veggies is not going to add pounds.

I managed to put on about 2-3 pounds but I am hoping to do better. I also stopped exercising every day, like a Hunter should, and do a pretty intense workout every other day. 45-50 minute cardio and 25-30 minute weight training.

I am hoping not to look like a bean pole for summer. I can see my ribs. I am almost 50, so I am not looking to sport a bikini, just don't want to look like a bag of bones. Although thankfully my "O" genes got me nice and toned.

I am another late eater, but I eat all day, just flows into the night as well!

Lisa

WF, I don't know if you read through the whole thread (I usually don't if I chime in late), so I'll review a couple things we discussed.

First, bye-bye food combining (eat carbs and proteins together).  We need our digestion to slow down so we can extract more calories from what we eat.

Eat a few big meals, instead of several small ones.

Eat more fat (this will be even more help to you than me, with all your intestinal alkaline phosphatase ).

Add (or estimate) your calorie intake for a typical day.  You might not be getting as much a you thought.

And for you, you made a good move cutting back on your workout.  Might I suggest going even further?  Aerobic is going to be the worst calorie burner, so I'd cut it back to 20-30 minutes max.  If you still want your exercise fix every day, alternate between cardio and weights.

Quoted Text

Maybe we need a BTD/GTD/SWAMI "skinny" clubhouse since we are also in the minority!

  

keep popping those delicious rice cakes you re concocting and you ll be
in our weight nonnie club in no time!

Well, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but those oil recommendations on SWAMI are pathetic.  It has me eating 6 teaspoons of ghee or other oil per week.  CMON.  I eat more than that.  I try and take it easy, and not go overboard.  And maybe that's my problem.  I don't know.  I've been adding more nuts lately.  And that's another joke.  4 servings per week of nuts.  That might be an OK idea if I start eating more red meat.  Which it does want me to do, so....  but some of those redommendations I think are a little skewed.

So yeah!!  Lets get a skinny forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We can talk about how we should put pounds on!!!!

It is comforting to know I'm not the only one struggling with this, even though I don't really want others to struggle.  I wish all of our bodies were perfect and as they should be!!!

With my Jammies on tonight I was 128.5.  The other night I was 130.  It's getting a little better.  I feel like my stomach is working a little better this last week or so. Yes LORD!!

If I eat too little I get stressed out. I think my intestinal health has more to do with it than the amounts. Next comes my cardiovascular system which seems dependent on a few things.

I find myself craving vegetables even thinking about eating lamb (I think my thyroid likes it). I mix rice with it too. Then I have lots of beans and vegetables... at least sometimes. I find myself without the muscle or ability to think clearly when I try and eat less for weight reasons (fat, I have re-occurring muscle loss when I do not eat carbohydrates and when I go real lean like on warrior diet). My thyroid suffers too when I eat little (or ingest too much fructose). The hard part is keeping my intestines healthy to absorb the brown rice.

The recommendation on nuts though I am starting to agree with in some ways... I feel like eating too much of them does not benefit me much and other things get what I want done better. Plus I feel like they are harder on my kidney. Beans though... I can eat two cans a day and still need rice.

Right now I am trying to eat other good things for me instead of over doing the beans and especially lentils. I just think other things will benefit me, not that I should eat less of certain foods. I feel like this is a healthy outlook. I do try to make the things I eat a ton of to be diamonds though, well at least with beans. I also skip fish because the only stuff I think I like is probably a real bad choice (right kidney trouble, mercury?)