<p>I'm having a big problem with weight loss. I've never been much of an eater back home. My weight has always been constant around 120-130 lbs. Now I just moved to campus and the food is terrible. I've tried eating the different foods they have but most of the time it turns out to be too bad to eat. I'm also not trying to eat the junk food they serve (ie: french fries, pizza, etc) because it just isn't healthy (and not very good either). Now in my dorm I have some food to munch on but it isn't like a meal or anything of that sort. I don't know how to cook either unless it's microwaveable (which isn't allowed in the rooms). My question is what should I do? I'm looking thinner every day. I want to go to the gym but I can't because I know that I need to consume a certain amount of meals and nutrients a day or else I'll just be losing even more weight. Does anyone know what I can do about this?</p>
<p>See if there's a dietician at your student health center. There's one at my school and a friend of mine who was having the same problem as you went to see her and got some good idea. She goes out to eat more (alot of places are nearby) and still workouts regularly with me at the gym. A dietician or nutritionist can help you gain weight if that's what you need.</p>
<p>The solution to your weightloss is really simple.</p>
<p>EAT!</p>
<p>It doesn't matter if the food is healthy or not. It will keep weight on you. Having more weight on you is alot healthier than getting too thin. Calculate your BMI, if you are underweight by more than .5 of a point you need to gain weight. When your BMI is too low, your brain is not getting the energy is needs to function and your body fat to muscle ratio slips dangerously low. You could be at risk for anemia, bone loss, hair loss, and other health problems.</p>
<p>I have an amazing metabolism. I have always been underweight but this year I gained 15 pounds for health reasons. I was naturally thin, but now that i am at a higher weight I have alot more energy.</p>
<p>Seriously consider seeing your school nutritionist. You shouldn't be losing weight when your in college. College is stressful enough</p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>p.s. Nuts, cereal, peanut butter, ice-cream, beef, cake, eggs, grits, bacon, protein bars (the ones that pack in like 400 calories) are good weight gain choices. To gain weight, if you are a 120 pound person over 5'6" you need about 3000 plus calories a day.</p>
<p>I have to check that out then. By any chance was that a free service your school offered or did you have to pay for the dietitian's advice? All I have for income is my workstudy job and it isn't exactly a great deal to buy 2-3 meals a day outside. I try to spend as much as I can reasonably spend on food if I'm hungry but it becomes increasingly difficult with my schedule and the income I rely on. (Damn workstudy takes up so much time when you add in class time, but I need it because it's my only source of income and it's flexible with the class schedule.)</p>
<p>The dietician's advice was free I believe. At my school any visit to the student health center is free unless they prescribe meds, flu shots, and any testing like x-rays. I wasn't the one who saw the dietician--I'm trying to lose weight actually. You probably paid a health fee in your tuition and fees...use it if you need to :)</p>
<p>If you're looking for high density, energy foods invest in these reasonably-to low priced items:</p>
<p>Cottage cheese, peanut butter, bananas, avocados, Kashi cereals, almonds, eggs (whites only).
^Sorry, I don't know much about meat items. I'm a veggie runner. But I can assure you that those foods are nutritionally dense and energizing foods. </p>
<p>If you can do anything, I would recommend eating **vast **amounts of meat. It's high protein, high calorie food. This will allow you to also lift weights which will add muscle and size to your body.</p>
<p>Another thing to try is making simple meals for yourself in your dorm or apartment. For example, try getting a blender and making yourself fruit smoothies with yogurt, fruit juice, frozen fruit and maybe a meal supplement like slim fast (hey, it works, lol) or ensure (the ones I make are very healthy and about 600 calories for a 24 oz serving, for example). Simple snacks like quesadillas in the microwave with various wrap flavors are also an easy way to do it.</p>
<p>Anyone else have simple recipe ideas...?</p>
<p>The solution to eat is not exactly that simple. It's like telling an obese person to stop eating. And I'm not saying that to argue here, but just pointing out that whenever you are at either side (extremes) of a spectrum and not in the middle, it is never just simple to get to the middle (norm).</p>
<p>Now, I've tried forcing myself. Let's just say the end result is me in a bathroom with my head facing down on a toilet seat.....So forcing myself defeats the purpose of getting food in me when it go right back out. With the menu they have at that cafeteria I have no choice but to try different foods which is good. I like trying new food but the food at my school just sucks so much.</p>
<p>How do I calculate my BMI? I remember doing it once a while back with a doctor but forgot the formula. I'm 5'5 (65inches), ~125lbs, and 18yo.</p>
<p>PS: I'm vegetarian so that makes it even harder to eat some of the stuff in the cafeteria. Normally I'm not one to eat a meal if it has meat in it, even if it is removed from the plate, but under these circumstances I've had to even change that habit since my options are limited. So I'm trying here to cope with the food they have there but it's just awful.</p>
<p>Well I don't know how to cook. Although right now I really want to learn. Is there a book I can read up on to help guide me or something like that? There isn't a microwave or oven in my room, but in the student lounge there's one I believe.</p>
<p>im like 5'77'' and am 120 lb. i've always been underweight since i was two.<br>
suppose i eat normally in college next year, 2+ meals per day tho the food is crap, would I definitely gain weight?</p>
<p>i wouldn't mind gaining a few pounds, since i've been 120 for like the past year.</p>
<p>Dude, especially since you're a veggie you should heed my suggestions as a compadre in your nutritional way of life.</p>
<p>Basically, I'm a D1 track (person?) competing in 800m and mile. I weigh between 138 and 143 at 5'9''. I run around 70 miles a week in training in addition to core and upper body strengthening. I realize that being veggie makes it hard to replenish necessary nutrients. </p>
<p>Trust me when I say that high protein dairy foods are your best bet to refueling and building you up. Cottage cheese is mighty affordable along with eggs (dozen pack) and peanut butter. Buy some bread and lather peanut butter on every slice-even some honey. Three eggs for breakfast with peanut butter and bread is a solid 630 calorie meal. If available at your cafeteria, get any pasta based dishes EVERY TIME. There is NO NEED to compromise your nutritional status just because of your cafeteria (complain if necessary). Having to pick meat out of your plate degrades your nutritional or religious beliefs (if the latter is applicable).</p>
<p>I love the suggestion of going to your school nutritionist to see what you should eat from the dining options in the short term. Also in the short term, although I'm not a vegetarian, I hate meat and I'm lazy...so I make a lot of quick and easy meals for myself. I love making pancakes or waffles (easy...you don't need to know how to cook), oatmeal, fruits, milk, toast...you can even do this all in one day :). For lunch you can make yourself a veggie sandwhich on whole grain, egg sandwhich, or quesadillas are soooo good (put in all kinds of sweet peppers...yum). For dinner I do pasta...from the grocery store you can definitely mix it up...there are lots of frozen pasta options, from ravioli to whatever. In fact you'll be surprised how many easy, good-tasting frozen type stuff there is, like bags of mixed vegetables to steam or whatever.</p>
<p>In the long run, you should wean yourself off the meal plan, get an apartment, and learn to cook! I just did a quick google search for "vegetarian recipes" and there seems to be a wealth of resources. This site looks really fun: <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipes/vegetarian/main.aspx%5B/url%5D">http://allrecipes.com/recipes/vegetarian/main.aspx</a>. Just look at cooking as an adventure...you learn through experience unfortunately, lol. </p>
<p>In short, don't be too lazy to eat. Get to the grocery store and make what you can...it won't taste all that good at first, but from my experience as a picky eater, for some reason if I make it I'm more willing to grin and bear :).</p>
<p>the gene pool flushes itself out every once in a while, luckily the people who aren't smart enough to eat die and aren't able to pass on their genes</p>
<p>Thank you for that, Corroborator. On a more relevant note...I definitely second the pasta/protein route. Also try to stock up on protein, energy, granola, or cereal bars--cheap, yummy, available in bulk, and high-calorie. When you eat, add something to whatever you're eating: cheese, dressing, toppings, spreads, etc.</p>
<p>It may be easier to eat 5 or 6 smaller balanced meals per day rather than eating 3 large meals, especially if you are not used to eating much at one sitting. </p>
<p>Check this out:
<a href="http://www.vegsoc.org/info/increase.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.vegsoc.org/info/increase.html</a>
<a href="http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:gGGYRsaFQUMJ:www.snac.ucla.edu/pages/Resources/Handouts/HOWtGain.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:gGGYRsaFQUMJ:www.snac.ucla.edu/pages/Resources/Handouts/HOWtGain.pdf</a></p>
<p>At 5'5", 125 lbs, I calculated your BMI to be just under 21 -- on the thin side of normal.<br>
To calculate your BMI:
Multiply your weight in pounds by 703 -- 125 x 703 = 87875
Divide that number by your height in inches -- 87875 / 65 = 1352
Divide that number by your height in inches -- 1352 / 65 = 20.8</p>
<p>I agree with all the comments about finding calorie dense foods. Nuts and cheese. I never advise anyone to drink whole milk, because it gets over 50% of its calories from fat. I would make an exception in your case because you need the calories.
You say you can't microwave in your room. Isn't there some kind of common kitchen are in your dorm where you could whip something up?</p>
<p>Thanks, LWMD. I never knew how to calculate BMI before. Mine's just under 17.</p>
<p>^^Wow! That's pretty low. I guess your name is appropriate then...:)</p>
<p>I hope you know you have no chance of modeling in Milan anytime soon...:)</p>