Weight Gain Tips For Men And Women - Part 1

The most common excuse that people are fond of giving for not going to the gym is 'It's in my genes.' If you are a thin man or woman, you may believe that you cannot build a strong physique. This is actually incorrect and far from the truth.

Why You Can't Gain Weight

It is true that children of slender parents can have the same body shape. That is, however, only one part of the story because it is not uncommon to see tall and bulky parents with skinny children. If you find it difficult to gain weight, don't just blame your genes. The fault may be with your metabolism, because it is difficult to gain fat or muscle if your metabolism is faster than normal.

Metabolism, the rate at which your body burns energy (calories), is an important factor to consider while choosing a training program. If your metabolism is fast, it means that you are burning calories at a faster than normal rate.

There is no end to training programs. Every trainer seems to have his or her theories about muscle building. Some of them work, while others are simply a waste of time. However, if you have a thin frame and find it hard to gain weight and build muscle, there are some things that are universally accepted.

Weight gain for a person with fast metabolism is as difficult as it is for an obese individual to lose weight. Muscle building, on the other hand, is a different ballgame altogether. Neither of these can be accomplished overnight because much as you would like to believe, there is no secret or magic formula for gaining weight (for a person with fast metabolism) and/or muscle building.

Below are some of the fundamental weight gaining tips for skinny individuals who want to build a solid physique:

Gain Knowledge

Just as it is with any other project, you need to gather adequate information. In this case, it is information pertaining to your specific condition, which is your body’s inherent inability to gain weight.

You may be highly motivated, but you cannot do anything unless you have access to adequate information. Not only do you have to collect relevant information, but you also have to pick a reliable and authentic source.

It is no use seeking advice from people who have never followed a weight gain problem. Look for a person who has already faced a problem similar to yours or a fitness expert.

Plan and Goal Setting

Information or education is of no use unless you put it in action. Based on the knowledge you have gained, you need to prepare a plan and act on it. Goal setting is primary to any plan. Unless you have a plan and a goal in mind, you are liable to lose track.

It is no use going to a gym and doing whatever comes to your mind. That is a waste of time. If you are serious about gaining weight and building muscle, you need to have a specific goal and make a plan to achieve it. Once you have done that, you should act with single minded devotion and not lose heart midway.

While structuring a weight gain program, do not forget that you cannot achieve your goals by mere training. Training is only one half of a muscle building project. Diet plays an equally important role. You can achieve your goals only if you develop healthy weight gain eating habits along with a well structured training program.

Motivation

If you are able to start on your journey, you have already won half the battle; as they say, well begun is half done. However, half done does not mean anything unless you are able to achieve your goals, which is a different thing altogether.

In case of weight gain and muscle building, it is even more difficult. You need to maintain a high level of motivation, because you are likely to face many hurdles on the way.

Here too, motivation is simply one half of the story. You need to have confidence in yourself and what you are doing. Keep in mind that people around you are prone to discourage you, not because you are doing something that cannot be accomplished, but out of jealousy.

Once you have set out on the road to improve your physique, no amount of negative and critical remarks from co-workers, friends, and others at the gym should deter you from accomplishing your goal.

Now that you've learned the fundamentals, it's time to dig a little deeper. Read more in next part...

Continue to Weight Gain Tips - Part 2.