Well I have ran a site for overweight women seeking to lose weight for six years so I know all about the one end of it and very little about the other end.

It takes 3600 calories to gain or lose a pound. If you eat say 3600 calories and expend 3600 calories in your daily activity and basal metabolism ( breathing, existing, sweating and organ functions in the body) you will stay the same in weight. In order to gain 1 pound per week you need to add 3600 more calories to that week.

Thing about protein is that proteins and fats are burned hot in the body. Carbohydrates are burned slower and if they are not all "used" up in daily activity they are converted by the body to fat. This means if you eat a lot of proteins and fats and few carbohydrates you will indeed "lose" weight as opposed gaining it. The fats and proteins then become like coal in the fire as opposed to kindling. Therefor the carbs, if not used, will add the pounds if you eat plenty of them.

The best way to add weight is to eat the proteins and fats, staying away from the saturated fats, and to add lots of carbohydrates to the body. Starchy veggies like potatoes, peas, corn, winter squash and anything made with white flour like bread, rolls, muffins and the like. Plenty of pasta and creamed anything and everything. Milk of any kind even soy. Heavy cream however, contains no carbs and is all fat. You want the whole, 2% oir skim to get the sugar which is actually the carbs.

This is the concept of the Atkins diet which does work. Eating few carbs and plenty of fats and proteins will keep the metabolism running at high speed and burning calories 24/7 whereas eating carbs will cause blood sugar to drop more quickly sending you running for another cookie and another roll to get that sugar fix up again.

Any questions? Just ask. I am here to aid and abet.

Blessings,
barb~