I realize that's the exact opposite of everything we’re hearing this time of year, with commercials advertising cleanse diets and weight loss pills (scary) and with magazine headlines screaming, “Drop 10 Pounds Instantly!” (not a good idea either). But that’s where I’m at. Admittedly, for the typical person it’s much easier to gain weight than to lose it, but add nausea and diarrhea to the picture (either that, or a teenage boy’s metabolism), and you have a different story.
With my defunct sense of taste and medication-induced nausea, it’s been difficult to think of anything that sounds remotely appetizing, let alone to then eat it. However, every so often, I’ll get a flash of inspiration such as Vietnamese chicken pho (a big hit) or Taco Bell nachos (my worst idea yet). Last week I had a craving for an icy fruit smoothie which, with the help of my Magic Bullet, proved to be successful. Though I was grateful to consume anything without experiencing nausea, the average smoothie isn’t exactly formulated to bulk you up, so I decided to explore some calorie-adding techniques.
My doctor referred me to the clinic’s nutritionist, a woman with an (in)famous reputation amongst the patients, probably because almost all of us experience some level of nausea and don’t want someone telling us what our BMI is when all we can think about is trying not to throw up our breakfast. She is, however, a great resource for a patient actively trying to gain weight, and sent me home with a bag full of different supplements to try in my smoothies. I think I just entered the world of body builders and marathon runners.
Did you know that there’s an 8 oz. “breakfast drink” on the market made by Carnation that contains an outrageous 560 calories?? I’m pretty sure an 8 oz. tube of lard doesn’t even pack that much of a punch. I don’t understand how something made entirely of ingredients such as sugar, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and oil is somehow good for you, but I do understand how it might help you to gain weight. If nothing else, at least it’s got some vitamins added in there. How ironic would that be if I suffered a heart attack while drinking a “nutritional supplement”? Wish me luck.
With my defunct sense of taste and medication-induced nausea, it’s been difficult to think of anything that sounds remotely appetizing, let alone to then eat it. However, every so often, I’ll get a flash of inspiration such as Vietnamese chicken pho (a big hit) or Taco Bell nachos (my worst idea yet). Last week I had a craving for an icy fruit smoothie which, with the help of my Magic Bullet, proved to be successful. Though I was grateful to consume anything without experiencing nausea, the average smoothie isn’t exactly formulated to bulk you up, so I decided to explore some calorie-adding techniques.
My doctor referred me to the clinic’s nutritionist, a woman with an (in)famous reputation amongst the patients, probably because almost all of us experience some level of nausea and don’t want someone telling us what our BMI is when all we can think about is trying not to throw up our breakfast. She is, however, a great resource for a patient actively trying to gain weight, and sent me home with a bag full of different supplements to try in my smoothies. I think I just entered the world of body builders and marathon runners.
Did you know that there’s an 8 oz. “breakfast drink” on the market made by Carnation that contains an outrageous 560 calories?? I’m pretty sure an 8 oz. tube of lard doesn’t even pack that much of a punch. I don’t understand how something made entirely of ingredients such as sugar, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and oil is somehow good for you, but I do understand how it might help you to gain weight. If nothing else, at least it’s got some vitamins added in there. How ironic would that be if I suffered a heart attack while drinking a “nutritional supplement”? Wish me luck.
I'm always praying for you Becky. I wish I could give you the weight I'm trying to lose.
ReplyDeleteThanks for continuing your sense of humor....wish someone knew the magic to get you to want to eat (and keep it).....don't give up as you haven't!!! Love you
ReplyDelete