How can I gain weight if I am too skinny?

Author: Lindsey Ferry  |  Last update: Monday, July 28, 2025

Do
  1. gain weight gradually by adding healthy calories – adults could try adding around 300 to 500 extra calories a day.
  2. eat smaller meals more often, adding healthy snacks between meals.
  3. add extra calories to your meals with cheese, nuts, and seeds.
  4. have high-calorie drinks in between meals, such as milkshakes.

How can I gain weight if I'm too skinny?

  • 1) focus on eating calorie-dense,
  • 2) nutritious foods like nuts, seeds, avocados, dairy, and lean proteins.
  • 3) Include strength training to build muscle and eat more frequent meals with healthy fats, carbs, and proteins.
  • 4) Avoid junk food for healthy weight gain.

Why can't I gain weight if I'm skinny?

Skinny people who don't exercise may not gain weight for several reasons, largely related to metabolism, genetics, and lifestyle factors: Metabolism: Some individuals have a naturally higher basal metabolic rate (BMR), meaning their bodies burn calories more efficiently at rest.

What should a skinny person eat to gain weight fast?

Carbohydrates
  1. Rice. Rice is high in carbohydrates. ...
  2. Whole grain bread. Whole grain bread contains complex carbohydrates and is higher in protein than white bread. ...
  3. Whole grain cereals. Whole grain cereals include foods such as oats, wheat, barley, and rice. ...
  4. Dried fruits. ...
  5. Dark chocolate. ...
  6. Other starches.

What is the fastest easiest way to gain weight?

Tips to help you gain weight
  1. gain weight gradually by adding healthy calories – adults could try adding around 300 to 500 extra calories a day.
  2. eat smaller meals more often, adding healthy snacks between meals.
  3. add extra calories to your meals with cheese, nuts, and seeds.

How To Bulk Up Fast As A Skinny Guy | My Complete Guide

Do protein shakes make you gain weight?

Since protein has calories, consuming too much can make it harder to lose weight. This can happen if you drink protein shakes along with your usual diet and you're not eating less calories or exercising.

What diet is best for weight gain?

Weight Gain Diet Chart For 7 Days
  • Breakfast: 2 cucumber potato sandwiches, 1 cup orange juice, handful of nuts.
  • Mid-morning: 1 cup sweet potato chaat, 1 glass buttermilk.
  • Lunch: 1 cup lentils/ chicken or fish curry, 2 cups rice, 1 cup salad.
  • Evening: Milk smoothie, 2 bananas.

How to flush out water weight?

  1. Exercise Regularly. Daily exercise provides several health benefits, including preventing water retention. ...
  2. Drink More Water. Drinking water to reduce water weight sounds counterintuitive, but it helps. ...
  3. Manage Salt Intake. ...
  4. Cut Carbs. ...
  5. Focus on Certain Foods and Herbs. ...
  6. Try Supplements. ...
  7. Up Your Caffeine Intake.

How to bulk up from skinny?

To bulk, you only need to do two things: Stimulate muscle growth with resistance training. The more muscle growth you can stimulate, the more calories your muscles will use, leaving fewer to overflow into fat gain. Eat enough food to fuel muscle growth.

Which medicine is good for weight gain?

Megestrol (Megace ES) comes as an oral liquid. Dronabinol (Marinol, Syndros) comes in oral capsules or a liquid. Growth hormone analogs, such as somatropin (Serostim), are typically administered as injections. These options provide various ways to help you gain weight gain effectively.

Why am I super skinny but weigh a lot?

Muscle is denser than fat, meaning a kilogram of muscle takes up less space in your body than a kilogram of fat. So, even if you gain muscle and your weight on the scale increases slightly, you can appear slimmer and more toned.

Why do skinny people struggle to gain weight?

You may become underweight for many different reasons. You may be born naturally small and your low BMI can be due to your genes. You may have a very high metabolism and find it hard to put on weight, even if you eat foods that have a lot of calories.

How thin is too thin?

Underweight is a condition when the body weight is 10-20% less than the average expected for one's height, age and sex. If the body weight is less by 20 % or more than ideal body weight, the individual is grossly underweight and it is a matter of higher concern.

What kills water weight?

Water weight is not usually a cause for concern, but it can be uncomfortable and recurring. Reducing salt and carbohydrate intake, keeping hydrated, and frequently exercising are all good ways to lose water weight and prevent it from returning.

How to gain weight fast?

In general, your plan may include:
  1. Eating more frequently. Slowly begin to eat 5 to 6 smaller meals during the day. ...
  2. Choosing food with lots of nutrients. ...
  3. Top it off. ...
  4. Try smoothies and shakes. ...
  5. But watch what and when you drink. ...
  6. Exercise.

What is the number 1 food to gain weight?

Diet Plan for Weight Gain
  • Dried Fruits. ...
  • Whole-Grain Bread and Pasta. ...
  • Lean Red Meat. ...
  • Salmon and Fatty Fish. ...
  • Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Granola and Oats. These are calorie-dense, packed with fiber, and can be consumed as breakfast or snacks to increase calorie intake.
  • 2 slices of whole-grain toast with avocado spread or nut butter.

How to gain weight fast for skinny people?

Successful weight gain requires that you increase your daily intake of carbohydrates. Avoid low carbohydrate diets. Eating vast amounts of dietary protein won't make your muscles grow faster and will put unnecessary pressure on your body, especially your kidneys. Avoid high-protein diets.

How many eggs for weight gain?

If you're underweight and trying to increase your calorie intake, eggs are an excellent option. Packed with protein and essential fats from the egg yolk, you can safely consume 2–3 eggs per day.

Is it OK to have 2 protein shakes a day to gain weight?

If you work out regularly and you're trying to build muscle, two protein shakes per day is plenty. And if you're not that active, you likely don't need more than one protein shake per day.

Is peanut butter good for weight gain?

Peanut butter is high in protein, aiding weight loss, but it is rich in calories, so it can help you gain weight if you consume too much of it. Nuts are some of the healthiest things you can eat, providing proteins, healthy fats, and a range of vitamins and minerals.

How to gain weight when you have a fast metabolism?

5 Ways to Gain Weight With a Fast Metabolism
  1. Consume More Calories.
  2. Eat More Often.
  3. Focus on Protein-Rich Foods.
  4. Incorporate Healthy Fats.
  5. Create an Exercise Plan.
  6. Still Not Gaining Weight?
  7. What's Different Between Females and Males?
  8. Summary.

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