Any Healthy Weight Gain Tips?

Question

Please help me :)

Answer 1

First, see a doctor to make sure you don't have any glandular/hormonal conditions that are making you hypermetabolize (causing you to be underweight). A lot of time, a hyperactive thyroid gland is the culprit. The thyroid controls metabolism in the body. If it's running too fast, it'll wreak havoc on your body. Left unchecked, hyperthyroidism will cause the thyroid gland to finally give up and die, causing even MORE hormonal and metabolic issues. Thyroid disorders are SERIOUS, but can be controlled with hormone therapy or radioation therapy in severe circumstances.

Second question, how's your BMI? Some people are naturally thinner (but never runway model thin -- that's almost never natural!). But if you're within normal range, you shouldn't worry about your weight. Just make sure your overall habits are healthy. Calculating BMI is easy. Just take your weight in kilograms and divide by the square of your height in meters.
BMI=kg/(m^2) or, if you suck at math, go to this website and fill in the numbers as directed http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/

If you are HEALTHY (no hormone issues, no eating disorders, etc.) and your BMI is less than 19, you can build some mass. Don't start eating junk food. That'll just fill you with fat and clog your arteries. BAD STUFF! Instead, you wanna build up LEAN MASS. That means you want to build muscle.

To build lean mass, you will need to eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise. Eat foods rich in protein. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies. And make sure your carbs are whole-grain. You still have to avoid fats and refined sugars, though. Get plenty of exercise. Do cardio, but don't overdo it. 20 minutes per day is more than enough; try a brisk morning walk to keep your heart healthy. do LOTS of weight training. You don't have to bench 350lbs, but you should do enough to tone and build up your muscles. A good fitness magazine can give you some ideas. HOWEVER, it's even better if you can do a session (or 5 sessions) with a trainer at the gym. A certified personal trainer can show you lots of good weight-training exercises.