Coconut Crazy

My mum has a book that my sister bought her, something about the best foods you can eat - and coconut has a gold star next to it. For those who want to gain weight, it can encourage weight gain and it has beneficial properties to help digestion. It is particularly good for those who have trouble with dairy.

Livestrong online states that "Coconut milk is an ideal weight-gaining beverage because it is calorie-dense; each cup of this beverage provides 568 calories, which comprises more than 28 percent of the daily suggested intake of 2,000 calories".

I have been drinking coconut milk everyday, the only coconut milk I could find in the health food store was 2% fat (Kara Organics Dairy Free Coconut Milk) - however with some research online I'm sure it is possible to buy coconut milk with more fat. (Suggestion: Dr Martins Organic Coconut Milk - £2.89 500ml).

However there is much debate about the fat in coconuts - some avoid it like the plague because those lovely calories stick around in all the unwanted places (FYI: I want fat in all the unwanted places). For others it can be a great way of gaining healthy fats. Yet, against popular perception the International Journal of Food Sciences suggested in their article on Triglycerides that the fats in coconut milk "enhance fat burning".

In my opinion I'm not sure if coconut milk is 'fat enhancing' or 'fat burning' - I think it has everything to do with how your body responds to certain foods. Have I seen a difference since drinking coconut milk? ...Sadly not -No evident weight gain. Although I would say the coconut milk is smoother than regular milk, easily digestible and less heavy. So I will continue to drink it. It makes the perfect bedtime drink.

I will order the Dr Martins coconut Milk to see whether that has a positive effect on my weight gain, at 568 calories a cup - its worth a try. :)

References:

Willett, B (2011) Is Coconut Milk Good for Weight Gain?, Livestrong. [Online]

A poor routine.....damages

This first week of weight gain has been a total failure.
I have managed to skip breakfast 4 out of 5 days and I still continue to have a light lunch and a massive dinner. (This combination obviously does not induce weight gain for me).

Thinking about my past routine I have been forced to accept some hard truths. Since I was 14 I have failed to get to sleep at a normal time. When I was at school this would usually be 1am/2am. When I started university this increased to 2am/3am. Now it can be as late as 4am on some days.

If I work the early morning shift (7am) I usually get around 3 hours of sleep.
This is how it goes....
- I wake late to get more minutes of sleep
- Therefore, I miss breakfast
- I work several hours on nothing but nervous energy.

I have started to call it 'nervous energy' after reading an article written by Schmidt in The Guardian titled 'Karen Carpenter's Tragic Story'. This article talks about Karen's routine during her anorexia years. Schmidt identifies that Richard and her managers expressed concern over her weight for years, and in 1975 Karen admitted she was emotionally and physically drained. She cancelled the four week European tour scheduled, giving her a break from her demanding schedule.

Under Agnes Carpenter's close watch, Karen slept 14-16 hours a day. "My mother thought I was dead," Karen told biographer Ray Coleman. "I normally manage on four to six hours. It was obvious that for the past two years I'd been running on nervous energy." 

Now, I'm sure Karen Carpenters schedule was much more rigurous and demanding - not to mention physically and emotionally draining than my educational years. However, our routines in terms of hours we sleep a night have similar traits.

It is very possible that I have also been running on 'nervous energy'.

Kora Organics started by supermodel extrodinaire Miranda Kerr identifies the best ways to gain weight. In the web article 'How to Gain Weight the Healthy Way', Sally Joseph the nutritionist identifies five reasons people lose weight. (or fail to gain weight)

1. Poor Absorption
2. Genetics
3. Illness
4. Poor Nutrition
5. Stress

I will explore this in more depth in my next post - however it is important to examine that weight gain or loss does not solely rely on food intake but also lifestyle routine.

References:

Schmidt, R (2010) Karen Carpenter's Tragic Story, The Guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/oct/24/karen-carpenter-anorexia-book-extract

Joseph, S (2012) How to Gain Weight the Healthy Way, Kora Organics.

http://www.koraorganics.com/blog/live-in-my-skin/all-things-organic/organic-certification/how-to-gain-weight-the-healthy-way/

Hi my name is Annabelle and I’m underweight.

If I told you that Karen Carpenter (who was anorexic) had a BMI of around 15.4, and I then told you that I had a BMI of 15.9. What would you think?

I know what you would think – You would think I’m anorexic too, but I’m far from anorexic, I eat normally and I never gain a pound.

Since I was fifteen I have wanted to gain weight, I noticed in my mid-teens that I was smaller, frailer, weaker and my body shape was different. I listened to people tell me “You will gain weight soon – it’s just a matter of time, enjoy your slim figure”.

With the New Year approaching I made a deal with myself that this was the last year that I would let my body be as underweight as it is. It isn’t healthy and it’s definitely not attractive.

This blog will document my attempt to gain weight – and the challenges I face discovering the reasons why my body repels weight gain. The Goal: 12 pounds in 12 months

Here is some information about me.

• I am 22 years old
• I weigh 6 stone exactly (84lbs)
• My height is 5ft 1
• My BMI is 15.9 (Far off the 18.5 minimum recommended)
• Ethnicity: Peruvian/ Hispanic
• Nationality: British

(I have noted my ethnicity because Latin American women are not identified for being skinny, but rather for their curvy figure.)

As a skinny girl, here I am starting a blog about my desire to gain weight. I hope this makes people realise that having a skinny and slim figure does not equal happiness, and a healthy body weight should always be the goal. Here is my journey to achieving it.

(Here are some pictures - for you to get an idea of my frame and size)

                                                                   

 

Full Body Shot

 

Skinny Arms

 

Skinny Shoulders

 

Arm Measurement (8 inches)

 

Thigh measurement (15 inches)

 

 

Below are the measurements of my best friend Jess

She is a healthy UK size 8/10, US 4/6  (Example of Not healthy (me) vs. Healthy (she) )

 

Arm 9.5 inches

 

Thigh 19 inches.