weight gain supplements
So this is a bit embarrassing....Yeah, so as some of you may or may not know...I'm recovering from and eating disorder and although I don't want that to be my identity- this is cyberspace so I guess....whatever....
Basically, I was doing really well with recovery but Ive hit a rough spot for a few weeks and have been losing, um..too much weight. So choking down an actual meal can be a real challenge for me sometimes and its occasionally easier to drink a boost or ensure, just to maintain weight. Checked out the boosts, ensures and such and none of them are vegan (haven't had one sense going vegan, so I didn't know) So, what sucks is...I'm gonna be readmitted to the hospital if I lose any more weight, where they will promptly de-vaganize me. Yeah so, basically, I need to find a vegan meal replacer that has high calories, fat AND vitamins and nutrients. Something canned would be better than something I have to prepare,l cause odds are that if I have to do the level of thinking required to make it (and see whats in it) I wont use it.
Another thing is, Ive been bruising really badly and I heard this often a vegan problem due to low protein? Is that true or just something they are telling me in missguided efforts to get me to eat a fellow creature?
Dietitian: So, you are vegan...Do you eat sea food?
Me: (furrowed brow) Well, Ive had seaweed a few times...but its hard to come by...sometimes at Japanese restaurants they have it...
Dietitian: Thats not really what I meant...
Me: Then I'm not sure I follow you....Unless you are referring to aquatic dwelling members of the animal kingdom as "sea food"....
I don't have and ED but my dietitian acts like I'm crazy. She doesn't get that cheese isn't vegan. I don't know why that is so difficult.
Anyway... DH has lost what he thinks is too much weight in the last 6 months. He does a lot of weight lifting and likes to keep some weight on. He would have used a chemical shit-storm protein drink before... But now he is drinking soy protein isolate in shakes with PB to gain some back. Basically he just adds a scoop of the soy protein to soymilk and organic natural PB and a scoop of soydream sometimes. He just started so i don't know if it will work yet. He's only looking to put on 5 pounds or so. See I'm a baked goods addict... i love my veg too... but he's alllll about the roughage so he eats and eats salads and still loses weight. unless he drinks beer but i don't think that'd help you out in a healthy way ;)
But if you're not into making the shake yourself.... Clif bars are vegan (at least some are)..... larabars (YUM!) are raw and full of good fats
Remember you want a meal supplement probably not a meal replacer because I'd assume that meal replacing may not be good for ED recovery.
I know you said having problems with actually eating "meals" but a good way to get some added fat and protein would be to add nuts and seeds to everything you eat. Just sprinkle some on top.
What does a typical daily menu look like for you? Maybe that way vegwebbers can see it and try to bulk it up a bit.
Ensure is basically milk (for protein, carbs and other nutrients), a vitamin/mineral pill, and oil (for calories/weight gain) with sugar added (for carbs/calories).
To imitate this in a healthier form, I would get a good nutritional powder from the health food store (Spirutein is not perfectly vegan, as it has bee pollen, but it is way ahead of Ensure - and there are vegan ones, too). A vegan baby formula powder would even work. Blend it in a blender with some vegan "ice cream" and a little soymilk - for a milk shake. This way, you're getting Protein and vitamins/minerals from the powder, and calories and fat from the "ice cream" (do not pick a low fat ice cream!)
There is also a meal supplement that comes in a can called "Balanced" - I think it is vegan - blend it with "ice cream" for extra calories.
As mentioned before, this is not a meal replacement, but a meal supplement - be sure you eat, too!