How to Gain Weight
Eat More Than You Burn
Pay close attention to how many calories you are ingesting and how many you burn. Use a pedometer to measure your daily activity and keep a food journal to measure your daily categories. Track any changes you make to your activity or your diet so you can measure the effectiveness of your weight gain program.
Snack Away
Cheese, Peanut Butter, fruit, pretzels, oatmeal, a glass of milk - all this can be yours! Plan ahead and bring a snack with you for mid morning and mid afternoon. Chances are you can use the energy boost any of these snacks will provide and you will be getting closer and closer to achieving your weight gain goal! Once you have attained your goal weight, you don't have to eliminate snacks, just introduce celery or popcorn and you get your snack, without so many calories!
Visualize and Aim For Your Goal
Don't obsess over your BMI or your weight number. Focus on a weight at which you are comfortable and is within rough healthy guidelines. You and your doctor can assess the right weight range for your height and frame and once you have, visualize a more healthy you at that goal. Keep it in mind if you are struggling or just sick of your weight gain program. Make sure you surround yourself with supportive people and not those who will be insensitive to your unique health or self worth issues.
Be Consistent
Healthy weight gain is not a quick fix. You need to be patient and consistent. This doesn't mean you have to eat the same thing day in and day out. Be creative, invent new dishes, spice up old favorites and indulge yourself in some high calorie treats. There is nothing wrong with an ice cream prescription for what ails you!
Build Muscles
The most common way that men combat being a "skinny guy" is with weight training. Not only do you gain weight, but you get bigger muscles, more definition and you feel great. Stick to free weights and big muscle groups. Work hard and fast but don't over train. With an extra calorie boost and the energy that comes with it, you will bulk up in no time!
More Meals, More of the Time
Don't try to binge three times a day. Don't try to eat huge meals. Eat several small meals a day, of high calorie, nutrient rich foods. Even though this may increase your metabolism, but it will be an easy and slow weight gain, your ideal goal!
Vegetarians can Gain Weight Too
Just because you don't eat meat doesn't mean you can't create a successful weight gain program. Vegetarians and Vegans often have trouble consuming sufficient calories and nutrients but you can gain weight in a healthy way and maintain that healthy weight. Look to lactose free weight gain supplements and try to integrate more foods like avocado, cheese, nuts, rice, pasta and legumes into your diet. Use olive oil and other natural fats in your cooking.
Be Creative
Like weight loss, a weight gain regimen can be tedious if you don't get creative. Introduce new recipes and ideas into your program. Go back to basics in your cooking - make some delicious home made fried chicken if you never have, or make some cheesy lasagna or baked macaroni and cheese. Also, vary your activity. Even if it means you need to eat more, you don't have to live a sedentary lifestyle!
Keep Track
Document your progress and your process. If you are under the care of a physician, they may want you to keep track anyway, but you need to get to know your body. You may be one of those lucky few who can keep all that caloric data and calorie burning in your head, but if you are like the rest of us, you should write it down! You can track which foods and what number of calories is the most effective for your slow and healthy weight gain. You can also write down which food gave you the most energy and which made you feel the best.
Be Healthy
When people think of how to gain weight, they imagine eating piles of pizza, cakes and cookies. Truthfully, you should maintain as healthy a diet as possible with full servings of fruits and vegetables, lean protein and carbohydrates. Some of these foods are not going to have the caloric kick to spark your weight gain, but your health is about achieving a balance - hence trying to gain and maintain a healthy weight in the first place. Be healthy - but don't be afraid to indulge.
Weight Gain Aids
If you are working out a lot and building muscle, or if you are suffering from a wasting disease, or even if you have a super fast metabolism, you just may not be able to eat enough to gain weight. This is when calorie supplements and weight gain supplements like weight gain shakes come in handy. They can give you the boost you need without the hassle of another big meal. Look out for weight gain pills though, they probably don't contain the caloric punch of a powder supplement that can be mixed in with other foods or liquids.
Plan Ahead
Plan your meals for the week ahead of time to ensure you have all of the necessary ingredients and healthy weight gain foods in the house. Don't be tempted to run to the corner store for a snickers bar, have some peanut butter on whole grain bread or an extra piece of your extra cheesy lasagna to support your weight gain program. Also stock up on a variety of ingredients for weight gain shakes and weight gain smoothies which can make a huge impact on the success of your weight gain program.
