Q: I am 41 have have always been very thin (105-110) regardless of what or how I eat. I have tried for years to gain weight with no real success. At this point I am also extremely out of shape and have lost most of the muscle mass I had in my younger years. I tire easily and have low little strength overall. I also tend to get a bit dizzy when I do even the mildest workouts like yoga or pilates - kind of like when you stand up too fast and things kind of go black and buzzy. I would like to be in better shape and build muscle but am always afraid of anything that is even remotely cardio because I don't want to lose any weight. What is the best way for me to get some muscle back and get back in shape at home?

A: If you have difficulty just performing everyday tasks it's probably a very good idea to see a doctor about this. Aside from that, your priority should be gaining weight and not even worrying about working out for now. I am not a doctor and can't tell you if you have a more serious medical problem, but I've seen numerous cases of underweight people with symptoms similar to yours (lack of energy, weakness, dizziness) which completely vanish after a person gains some weight. So if your doctor doesn't think there's anything else wrong with you, I would strongly recommend focusing on eating, especially more calorie-rich foods.

Calorie-rich does not have to be unhealthy! Dry-roasted nuts of all sorts and natural peanut butter (only ingredients should be peanuts and salt) are a great way to add quick calories to any diet. Whole grains like brown rice are also full of good calories. Don't forget healthy protein-rich foods like fish, poultry and lean meat. My personal favorite for putting on weight is a natural peanut butter and banana sandwich: take two pieces of whole-wheat bread, slap some natural peanut butter on them, slice a banana and make a sandwich out of it! That's 400-500 quick, healthy, and tasty calories. Or you can make your own smoothies by blending various fruits and berries with milk and maybe some of that natural peanut butter again. Or just keep snacking on dry-roasted nuts throughout the day, in addition to your regular meals. The point is find a way to eat more and start gaining weight.

It probably won't be easy, especially if you've always been thin and are not use to eating much, but if you are otherwise healthy, then gaining weight is what you should be focused on to get you back to feeling normal. And then you can start thinking about working out as well. Best of luck!