Gaining

I've been growing increasingly intolerant of heavy whipping cream. The thickness and texture of it is starting to gross me out. I've tried adding flavoring, but it's not helping enough. I'm thinking of switching to half & half when I start my next gaining cycle.

Has anyone gained weight with both heavy whipping cream and half & half? If so, did switching between these two cause a change in fat distribution, or did your body gain weight in the same places as before?

I have had both while trying to gain. I usually have stuck to heavy cream as it has so many calories. But it is pricey. Funny enough I noticed it became easier to chug it the more I drank and got used to it. It took a few weeks. But now I can easily drink a whole quart with no issues and no digestive issues either. Anyway, I have read or heard that the less fat milk or dairy has the more lactose and sugars are there to replace that fat. Lactose is almost nonexistent in heavy cream, where as milk, especially low fat milk has more and more. Half and Half being half cream and half milk is gonna have less fat and more milk sugars. Which may lead to more visceral fat as opposed to subcutaneous, BecomingOverweight should know more. Maybe try light cream? Check the back and see where the calories come from fat or carbs to see where the fat may go. It most likely depends on each person. But the usual is suger becomes visceral deep fat and fat becomes soft subcutaneous fat. Hope that helps!

I've looked into light cream and would be open to trying it, but I don't remember seeing it in stores. Do you know of any major store chains that carry it?

I've seen a store brand at Stop & Shop/Giant chains. Not sure if they are around you. I think they are mostly northeast and east coast. Any big grocery place should have it right next to the heavy cream. A lot of chains have online shoppig too. So that could be an easy way to see if they have it in stock. Walmart super stores may too. Last resort, call around to various dairy departments and straight up ask. Good luck!
Oh another idea. There is a coconut cream usually in international or Hispanic food sections that has close to the calories of heavy cream if I remember. All from plant based fats. So if you like the coconut flavor the plant based fats may be easier on the digestion than animal based fats. Just a thought. I tried it back in the day to limited success. Cause I can't stand the taste of coconut and it was thick. Finally, there are Ensure weight gain shakes that have decent calories, good nutrition and I think they have dairy free. They are expensive, but I know walmart has a store brand that is cheaper. Hope that helps!

Yay you replied! I knew you of all people would know all there is to know. I've tried to become an apprentice and read all your posts to obviously help in my own weight gain journey. As my wife seems to do so well on her own, lol. Thank you so much for all your knowledge and sharing it so often!

I've come to love and crave the smooth, silky texture of heavy cream. I've varied it as by itself, it's rather bland. Two ways I enjoy are: 1) mix a little cocao powder in, 2) mix a little pumpkin pie spices, cinnamon, and cloves in. The latter two are antimicrobial. And the cinnamon and ginger in the pumpkin pie spice are soothing to the digestive system. It takes a bit of stirring but it folds in. Sometimes I mix it with Greek yogurt and kefir. You could put it in smoothies or milkshakes.

A little half and half with heavy cream thins it. You get some sugars, but if you're eating a low carb diet, that may be OK as you want 50 carbs (I heard somewhere) to use as daily fuel so you're storing the heavy cream fat rather than using it for fuel. Half and half will also have more protein which builds more muscle.

Too much fat at a time can affect your digestion, and too much in a day. I read about 250-300 g of fat a day should be digestible. I wonder if the body will adapt to more fat per day slowly. I find taking a digestive enzyme supplement with lactase helps. Also probiotics geared toward the digestion help.

I'm just getting started (1 month now) and hope I don't get sick of heavy cream. I'm now cooking with it in more things too. I love what it does to the body. And I sleep really well when I have it before bed.