Are You Underweight? Here’s How To Gain Weight The Healthy Way!

Are You Underweight? Here’s How To Gain Weight The Healthy Way!

Most women complain about being overweight, but being underweight can be just as bad. You eat all you want (read: burgers and fries), but you just can’t seem to move the needle on that weighing scale. Putting on the right amount of weight, the right way, is not just necessary for a flattering Instagram picture, but also to increase your stamina, build muscle and even help you conceive! So, we decided to show you how.

Check out these 7 ways to increase your calorie intake and gain weight the healthy way!

1. Work on building muscle

Muscle weighs more than fat, so in order to gain weight start building more muscle. To do this, you should cut down on your cardio workout, and instead try to lift weights and work on strengthening your muscles. Start with lighter weights and increase as you start to build more muscle.

2. Opt for nutrient dense food

Instead of eating empty calories, opt for high protein foods that will help you build muscle. You can also add nutritious carbs to your diet for that energy boost.

3. Eat multiple small meals

Ensuring you meet your required calorie intake is essential to gaining weight. Instead of eating large meals, opt for smaller meals multiple times during the day. This will help your body maintain a continuous stream of digestible energy.

4. Drink Your Calories

Make sure that your drinks don’t have empty calories that just fill you up. Sip on protein shakes or healthy smoothies throughout the day, which is a great way to take in extra calories.

5. Pour on the oil

Drizzle a little extra olive oil on your salad. Healthy oils are high in calories and low in volume so they won’t fill you up quickly. They contain unsaturated fats that help lower your risk of heart disease.

6. Be BFFs with nuts in any shape and form

Have ½ a cup of nuts on a daily basis whether it is a handful when you walk out the door, or in your cereal/oatmeal, stir fry, or yogurt. You can even opt for a nut butter of your choice with sliced apple, celery, carrot sticks or even on a slice of bread or a home-made muffin. Nut butters are high in calories and helpful to boost heart health, because they contain nutritious unsaturated fats.

7. Opt for high calorie ingredients

Sweet potatoes, avocado, dates, beans and coconuts are high in calories and can increase your caloric intake drastically. Grains, rice and quinoa are also high in carbs and a good source of protein. Eat these complex carbs within an hour and a half of your workout to keep your metabolism running efficiently.

Kreena Desai

Hauterfly's Content Writer and Video Producer, Kreena is a sucker for all things DIY. In love with nail art, beauty, fashion, textiles, and all things creative under the sun, she follows the mantra: Why buy, when you can DIY?!

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