Is There Any Way to Gain Weight Quickly & Healthfully?

Similar to healthy weight loss, healthy weight gain happens gradually. You can be underweight due to a lack of calories or a medical condition that reduces your appetite. Being underweight can also be hereditary. Eating unhealthy, fattening and sugary foods in the hopes of gaining weight is not recommended, because a poor diet can increase your risk for cancer, heart disease and stroke. You can gain weight healthily by adjusting your current eating habits.

Instructions

• 1

  Consult with your doctor if your weight loss is due to a medical issue such as depression or an eating disorder. Address medical issues before focusing on gaining weight.

• 2

  Increase your daily calorie intake by 500 or 1,000 calories to gain 1 or 2 pounds. One pound has 3,500 calories. Eating 500 calories each day, for seven days equals 3,500 calories.

• 3

  Consume foods that are high in calories and nutrients per serving. Avoid low-calorie and no-calorie foods. Eat canned fruits in heavy syrup or consume dried fruits because these are higher in calories than fresh fruits. Drink fruit juices, milk shakes and whole milk instead of water, coffee, soda and tea. Add dry milk powder to mashed potatoes, soups and casseroles and add cheese to foods such as eggs and pastas to increase the calories.

• 4

  Use healthy fat when consuming and cooking food. Cook with unsaturated, heart-healthy fats such as canola oil and olive oil. Spread trans-fat free butter or margarine on muffins, bagels and bread and add some to vegetables.

• 5

  Increase your portion sizes or consume more frequent meals per day to consume your extra calories. If you cannot eat a lot in one sitting, eat a meal every two to three hours to still get the extra calories.

• 6

  Drink a liquid supplement such as Ensure Plus, if you don't feel like eating a meal. These canned supplements are high in calories and essential vitamins and minerals.

• 7

  Workout with weights to increase your muscle tissue. Strength training keeps your body from getting fat due to your extra caloric intake. It will tone your body and increase muscle tissue. Muscle tissue weighs more than fat, so your weight will increase. Use challenging weights and increase them as you get stronger. Take on a whole body approach instead of just focusing on one part of your body.